About the Distinguished Alumni Awards
The Distinguished Alumni Awards were established in 1986 as a way to recognize those graduates who have made a difference. With each graduation ceremony emerges a new group of leaders from the hallowed halls of this University. Upon graduation, our alumni are ready to represent the best Daemen has to offer in the fields of business, finance, medicine, health sciences, education, law, government, and the arts. Award selection is determined by the governing body of the alumni association. The awardees are chosen by a committee of alumni representatives. We have recognized the vast array of growth, achievements, and societal contributions of our alumni.
To nominate someone for future consideration, please go to the Distinguished Alumni Award nomination form.
Trina Burruss is President and CEO of United Way of Buffalo & Erie County. She recently led United Way in launching the Community Resilience Fund as an ongoing vehicle for strengthening the community and providing support in the face of emerging needs and disruptive events.
Burruss currently serves as a member of the United Way Worldwide Disaster Resiliency Committee and the United Way of New York State Board of Directors. She was recently appointed by Governor Hochul to the Erie Community College Board of Trustees. In addition, she serves as Vice President of the First Shiloh Housing Corp, a member of the Board of Directors for Intersect Buffalo, Buffalo Niagara Partnership, and the Bank on Buffalo Advisory Council, and is co-chair of Live Well Erie. Burruss is also a member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Buffalo Alumnae Chapter.
She maintains a strong commitment to education and workforce development as a current Adjunct Professor at Daemen, where she teaches Modeling Branding/Marketing Leadership. She has also served as a guest lecturer in ethics courses and created a partnership between Daemen and United Way’s network of more than 200 coalition partners, providing students and their families with a 40% tuition discount to expand access to higher education.
Burruss has received numerous awards and accolades, including a Business First C-Level Executives Award, recognition as part of the Power 250, Power 100 Business Leaders of Color, and one of Buffalo’s Most Powerful Women, as well as the Daemen University Distinguished Alumni Award, Black Achiever Award, Community Service Banker Award, and Diversity Award.
She received her bachelor’s degree in business administration from Medaille College and her Master of Science in Executive Leadership and Change from Daemen.
Burruss lives in Buffalo with her husband of 39 years, Cedric. They have four children and are also proud grandparents of four.
Geoffrey Gatza is the founder and publisher of BlazeVOX [books], an independent press based in Buffalo, N.Y., dedicated to innovative fiction and contemporary poetry. Over the past two decades, BlazeVOX has become a respected platform for emerging and established writers, reflecting Gatza’s commitment to literary innovation and the advancement of independent publishing.
His career as a writer, publisher, and arts advocate bridges accounting, entrepreneurship, and contemporary literature. In addition to his publishing work, he maintains an active creative practice that includes poetry and visual art.
Gatza’s work often integrates text and collage, demonstrating a consistent interest in experimentation across artistic forms. Through both his professional and creative efforts, he has built a career centered on sustaining and expanding contemporary literary culture.
He earned a degree in accounting with a minor in literature from Daemen, a combination that reflects both analytical discipline and creative focus.
Phyllis Murawski is the Chief Quality Officer at Erie County Medical Center (ECMC), where she leads organization-wide initiatives focused on patient safety, quality improvement, and clinical outcomes.
Her professional career began in critical care nursing and evolved into healthcare leadership, where she now oversees systems designed to enhance care delivery and patient experience across the organization.
In 2016, Murawski and her husband, Ken, became guardians of a newborn family member with only 48 hours’ notice, an experience that reshaped their understanding of foster care and child welfare. This moment led to the creation of Amelia’s Backpack Project, a 501(c)(3) organization founded with family and friends to support children entering supervised care.
The organization provides backpacks containing essential items and clothing to ensure each child enters care with dignity, comfort, and support. Through this initiative and her professional leadership, Murawski demonstrates a sustained commitment to service, advocacy, and community well-being.
She earned her B.S. in Nursing (2003) and Master of Science in Executive Leadership and Change (2010) from Daemen.
Phillip “PJ” Tudisco is a Ventures Development Lead within the Office of Innovation at M&T Bank, where he manages strategic venture capital partnerships and startup collaborations focused on digital assets, blockchain infrastructure, and emerging financial technologies.
Prior to joining M&T Bank, Tudisco held leadership roles within high-growth technology companies, including ACV Auctions, Buffalo’s first unicorn. In that role, he contributed to the company’s growth from an early-stage disruptor through its initial public offering, gaining experience in scaling operations and advancing organizational development within fast-paced environments.
Tudisco is also the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of FastBreak Football, where he applies his professional expertise to the development and modernization of flag football. He remains actively engaged in supporting innovation across Western New York and mentoring emerging entrepreneurs.
He lives in Clarence Center with his wife, Erin (Cogan) Tudisco ’05, and their two children, Timothy and Oliver. He maintains a strong connection to Daemen and continues to support the region’s innovation ecosystem through his professional and entrepreneurial work.
Tudisco earned his B.A. in psychological sciences (2005) and Master of Science in Executive Leadership and Change (2011) from Daemen.
Ricardo Márquez is an Intensive Case Management Services (ICMS) Case Manager at the Koreatown Youth & Community Center (KYCC) in Los Angeles, providing direct support services to older adults experiencing housing instability. His work is conducted in coordination with multiple public agencies serving vulnerable populations.
Márquez also serves in elected and appointed civic leadership roles, including Treasurer of the South Central Neighborhood Council and as a Homelessness Liaison and Budget Advocate on the Ad Hoc Budget Committee. In addition, he is an executive officer and board member of the Latino Coalition of Los Angeles, supporting civic engagement, coalition building, and public policy advocacy.
He is a 2026 United Leaders Project Fellow with the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, through which he engages in state-level policy advocacy in Sacramento, focusing on community safety, anti-hate initiatives, and the protection of essential social safety net programs.
Márquez is a political advocate and civic leader dedicated to advancing social equity and addressing systemic barriers.Through his professional and civic work, he remains focused on expanding access, strengthening communities, and advancing equitable public policy.
Originally from El Salvador, he earned a B.A. in Political Science with minors in Spanish, Pre-Law, and Criminal Law from Daemen. During his time there, he served in student government, including roles as Student Body Vice President and President, with a focus on inclusion and community engagement.