Kris J. Kraus, Esq.

Mr. Kris J. Kraus graduated from Buffalo State in December 1996 with a bachelor’s degree in Theater Arts. While a student he was a member of WBNY 91.3 FM. Following Mr. Kraus’ graduation from Buffalo State, he earned a master’s degree from the University at Buffalo in American Studies. In 2004, he was awarded a Juris Doctorate from the City University of New York School of Law. Mr. Kraus then relocated to San Diego, CA where he served as a trial attorney at the Federal Defenders of San Diego for ten years and an adjunct professor at the Thomas Jefferson School of Law for three years. Currently, he is in private practice and focuses exclusively on federal criminal defense.

Mr. Kraus established this scholarship in honor of his former advisor and professor, Terence McDonald, who was an associate professor of Theater and Director of CADET at Buffalo State for over three decades, teaching film and theater. With his late wife, Lorena, Mr. McDonald co-founded the Playhouse of American Classics to revive American plays that were in danger of being lost.