Dr. Lori V. Quigley, professor and chair of Niagara University’s Ph.D. in leadership and policy program, was among five women honored as “Living Trailblazers” during an awards ceremony on March 4, presented by the Erie County Commission on the Status of Women and hosted by the Buffalo History Museum in honor of Women’s History Month.
The award was given as part of the Trailblazing Women of WNY Monument Project, an initiative whose mission is to elevate stories of the many contributions women from across Western New York have made in shaping the community.
Dr. Quigley’s academic achievements, which include numerous awards, are complemented by her deep commitment to preserving Native American histories and promoting Indigenous language reclamation. She is an enrolled member of the Seneca Nation, wolf clan, and has made it her life’s work to raise awareness about the truth and complex legacy of Native American boarding schools, offering both a scholarly lens and personal connection to this painful contemporary history.
Dr. Quigley is also a founding member of the Trailblazing Women of WNY Monument Project, and provided critical leadership as a board member of the YWCA of WNY during the challenges of the COVID pandemic and the tragedy of May 14. In her role as president of Medaille University, Dr. Quigley’s tireless efforts to make education accessible to all, especially those from marginalized communities, had a profound impact on those around her.
