Commencement speakers named for May 20 ceremonies
Honorable James A.W. McLeod and the Honorable Lynne (Bona) Ruda.
An alumni duo - the Honorable James A.W. McLeod and the Honorable Lynne (Bona) Ruda - will be keynote speakers for Commencement at the State University of New York at Fredonia.
Commencement is slated for Saturday, May 20, in the Steele Hall arena on campus. Judge McLeod will speak at the 10 a.m. ceremony, and Mayor Ruda, the 3 p.m. ceremony.
Judge McLeod served for many years as a judge in the Buffalo City Court in the Eighth Judicial District of New York.
A native of Utica, Judge McLeod, after earning his associates degree from Herkimer Community College, transferred to SUNY Fredonia, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science in 1971. He then attended the State University at Buffalo Law School, where he earned his J.D. degree.
Judge McLeod began his legal career by becoming the second African American attorney in Buffalo history to be hired as an associate attorney with a major law firm, the then firm of Doyle, Diebold, Bermingham, Gorman and Brown.
He was admitted to the New York State Bar in March 1975. Subsequently, he was also admitted to the Federal District Court, Western New York District of New York; the Federal District Court, Northern District of New York and the Federal District Court, Court of Appeals in 1976.
Judge McLeod became the first and only African American attorney to head the Buffalo/Erie County Legal Aid Bureau’s Public Defender Office, as well as the first and only African American to serve as Erie County Second Assistant County Attorney. His past or present legal affiliations include the Minority Bar Association of Western New York, Western New York Thurgood Marshall Organization, New York State Bar Association, and the Erie County Bar Association where he was the first and only African American to serve as the association’s Treasurer.
Judge McLeod was elected to the bench in 1999, then re-elected in 2009 and 2018. He retired in 2019. He currently serves as Treasurer and Trustee of the Western New York Foundation, and a Trustee of Medaille University. Judge McLeod has been awarded the prestigious Buffalo Branch NAACP Medgar Evers Award. He has lectured for the New York State Bar Association Continuing Legal Education Program, as well as schools and community groups.
Mayor Ruda serves her community as the first female and youngest Mayor of the Village of Lancaster, N.Y., as well as its Director of Economic Development. She is chairperson of the Grants Committee and has been a vital part in bringing in over $25 million back to the community through local, state, and federal grants. Mayor Ruda also serves as the chairperson of the Climate Smart Committee, and has been a driving force in the village recently receiving the designation as a New York State Bronze Certified Climate Smart Community.
Mayor Ruda earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education in 2008, the coveted Performer’s Certificate, and a Master of Music degree in Music Education in 2009, all from SUNY Fredonia. A cellist and a member of the Buffalo Musicians Association – Local 92, she has performed throughout Western New York in classical and popular music arenas.
Mayor Ruda has been a volunteer firefighter for the village for 15 years. She is proud to be the first female driver and interior firefighter in the Eagle Hose Company and received the 2016 Chief’s Award and the 2015 Administrative Member of the Year Award. She is also a founding member of the Lancaster Beautification Committee.
In addition to her civic duties, Mayor Ruda is a music teacher at Lancaster High School, serving as Director of Orchestras since 2008. She is also advisor of the First Responders Club, and runs the Swingin’ Strings Ensemble. Additionally, Mayor Ruda is conductor of the Greater Buffalo Youth String Orchestra, and during the summer an Assistant Faculty Member at the Bravo Workshop.
Mayor Ruda is proud to have been named a 2022 Buffalo Business First 40 under 40 award recipient. She was also a national finalist for the GRAMMY Music Educator of the Year award in 2020 and 2021, and was the 2019 recipient of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra/Erie County Music Educators Association Award for Excellence in Music Education.
