Meet Our Alumni

Paige Carozzolo, MSW is Tuscarora Nation, Bear Clan. She graduated with a masters in social work. She is planning to open up a practice with a speciality in family & relationship therapy and EMDR with children.

John J Casali, PharmD, RPh is staff pharmacist at John R. Oishei Children's Hospital, which specializes in comprehensive pediatric medical care, including neonatal, perinatal and obstetrical services. Casali is an enrolled member of the Cayuga Nation (Heron Clan). He received his bachelor of arts in chemistry from the University at Buffalo. In his undergraduate career he was a member of the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) and The Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP). He later completed his doctor of pharmacy program, during which he attended a pharmacy practice experience in Napo, Ecuador, working with bringing healthcare to indigenous tribes of Ecuador, while learning aspects of Kichwa culture including use of medicinal plants, oral storytelling, songs and dance and artisan crafts.  Since graduating Casali has been working on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, including immunization education and patient care. 

Sharon Francis, MSW is Seneca Nation, Wolf Clan. She graduated with a masters of social work. She plans on helping her communities heal from personal, intergenerational and historical traumas.

Rodney C. Haring, PhD, MSW, is director of the Roswell Park Center for Indigenous Cancer Research, research faculty at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Office of Community Outreach and Engagement, Department of Cancer Prevention and Control and adjunct faculty at the Native American Research and Training Center, University of Arizona. An alumnus of the University at Buffalo School of Social Work, he is also a past fellow at the National Congress of American Indians and Mayo Clinic. Haring (Beaver Clan) is an enrolled member of the Seneca Nation of Indians and resides on the Cattaraugus Indian Reservation (NY). He holds a doctoral degree in social work with over 15 years of social work practice and is a former delegate on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, American Indian and Alaska Native, Health Research Advisory Council. He is also the lead delegate for the historic MoU between Roswell Park and Indian Health Services with the common mission of addressing health burdens in Indigenous communities. In 2017 he was awarded an Impact Award by the National Indian Health Board and in 2021 he received the National Federation of Just Communities Hero Award. His research interests intersect eliminating disparities and encouraging resiliencies within First Nations and Indigenous societies. 

Eliese Maybee, BS is from the Seneca Nation, and graduated with a degree in psychology and a minor in Indigenous studies. She is continuing her education by attending graduate school to be an physician assistant.

Delaney McNulty, MA is Cherokee and graduated with a masters degree in philosophy. She is continuing her education and pursuing a PhD in Indigenous Studies at UB.

Dakota Mettler, BA is Tuscarora, and graduated with a degree in sociology and a minor in Indigenous studies. She is continuing her education by attending graduate school for a masters of social work degree at UB.

Sierra Morton, BS is Tuscarora Nation, Bear Clan and graduated with a degree in pharmacology and toxicology. She is continuing her education by attending graduate school for a masters of science in pharmacology and toxicology at UB.

Lindsey Parker, MPH is Seneca Nation, Wolf Clan. She graduated with a masters of public health degree. She plans on entering the workforce.

Rouge Rodriguez, BS is Tiano, and graduated with a degree in public health and a minor in Indigenous Studies. They are continuing their education by pursuing a masters of public health degree at UB.

Bernadette M. Scott, MA (American Studies) is currently the assistant at the Seneca Nation of Indians Higher Education Program, a Seneca-Iroquois National Museum Board of Trustees member, and a participant in the Artist Residency Program at the Seneca-Iroquois National Museum. Scott (Deer Clan) is an enrolled member of the Seneca Nation and resides on the Cattaraugus Territory, well-known in the community for teaching, sharing, and making traditional Seneca (no-face) cornhusk dolls. In addition, she creates traditional braided cornhusk moccasins in various sizes. 

Cornhusk doll making has been passed down through many generations on her maternal side. For many years, she has been sharing and teaching how to make Seneca (no-face) cornhusk dolls throughout Turtle Island with her family, the Iroquois Doll Makers. Scott has been making cornhusk dolls since she was a young girl and learned mainly from her (late) Grandmother, Lillian Kane.

Dean S. Seneca, MPH, MCURP, serves as the CEO of Seneca Scientific Solutions+, a Public Health and Urban and Regional Planning LLC.  In this position, he provides capacity building assistance for tribal nations, states, regions, cities and territories in economic and community development that embraces the concepts of “healthy places for healthy people.”  Services provided include public health policy, program, training & science; strategic/master planning; community, economic development; grant writing; architectural site planning & building design; performance programing; health research; data collection & management; and program evaluation. Areas of health expertise include epidemiology, chronic and infectious diseases, emergency preparedness and response, environmental health, social determinants, and global health. Seneca holds an adjunct position at the University of Buffalo in the School of Public Health and Health Professions where he instructs a class on “Indigenous Health Disparities” and is considered a national subject matter expert.  Previously, he served as a senior health scientist in the Partnership Support Unit within the Office for State, Tribal, Local and Territorial Support at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  His main responsibilities were to build CDC’s national public health partners ability to provide greater capacity building assistance to state, tribal, local, and territorial health departments. Seneca has over 20 years of experience in the field of infectious disease outbreaks having been a first responder to Anthrax, H1N1, Ebola, Zika and now Covid-19.  Before arriving to CDC, he held the position of tribal planning director for the Seneca Nation of Indians.  He received both of his master’s degree(s) from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

Maddie Tighe, BA is Seneca Nation, Turtle Clan.  She received her degree in Health & Human Services with a Community Mental Health Concentration and a minor in Indigenous Studies.  She is currently the Indigenous Health and Wellbeing Promotion (IHAWP) Program Coordinator at Native American Community Services.

Alyssa Warrior, BA is from the Seneca Nation with a degree in physics. She is continuing her education by pursuing a masters degree with the Department of Indigenous Studies.