AMHERST, N.Y. – Daemen College will usher in the academic year and officially welcome more than 550 new students to the college community at its 2015 Fall Convocation scheduled for 11 a.m. Sept. 10 in the Lumsden Gym.

Remarks will be given by Daemen President Gary A. Olson; Dr. Michael Brogan, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the college; and other speakers from the college’s administration, faculty, staff, and the student body. A luncheon in the Wick Dining Room will immediately follow the college-wide event.

“Convocation is an opportunity for the entire campus community to come together to mark the beginning of each new student’s academic journey and to celebrate this special moment in their lives,” said Olson. “As we start another successful year at the college, we look forward to this joyous event to welcome our students into the Daemen community.”

This year’s welcome on behalf of the Daemen College/Rosary Hill Alumni Association will be presented by graduate Dr. Adair White-Johnson, a best-selling author and leading authority on motivating and inspiring others to make positive changes in their lives to overcome life’s challenges.

White-Johnson has authored several books that offer inspirational messages, strategies and techniques that empower individuals to become change agents in their lives. 

After retiring from a successful career as a professional school counselor, White-Johnson created The Empowerment House where she coaches teens and women to become more resilient through life changes. In addition, she developed an empowerment and resiliency curriculum for teens, which won the Writer’s Award for Excellence, the highest honor for writing from the Georgia School Counselor Association.

Currently a member of the University at Buffalo Alumni Association Board of Directors, she previously served on the executive board of the Cobb School Counselors Association and was the 2012 “Face of Lupus” for the Lupus Foundation of America, Georgia Chapter.