Gannon Magazine - May 2020

May 2020

forever

TOGETHER The Class of 2020 connects in a way they never imagined.

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IN THE NEWS

Read the latest news from Gannon University to stay in the know.

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STILL LIFE

Amid an unforeseen pandemic emerges generosity and ingenuity.

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A NOTABLE YEAR FOR ANNIVERSARIES

A milestone year for Gannon anniversaries brings reflection.

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mid-March. Faculty donated medical supplies from their classroom laboratories to hospitals. And some innovative staff and faculty even used 3D printers to create face shields for regional health care workers. Students are also humbly stepping forward, including one who is creatively promoting literacy to local children through online videos.

from the

president

Home has taken on a whole new meaning for many of us this spring. Stay-at-home orders drove most of us there to help deter the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

But judging from the messages I received from many students and alumni, the idea of “home” is not necessarily limited to a house or an apartment. For many, this university is home – and a profound blessing through all of this experience has been hearing from those who miss Gannon, who miss the ability to come back to this home.

And though the immediate future seems cloudy, sunnier days are ahead. We will get through this moment together even if – for now – together means keeping six feet apart.

In spite of the distance, there are clear signs of how our Gannon family continues to inspire and transform the lives of those around them.

On these pages are stories of members of our Gannon family who’ve embraced a spirit of courage to become bearers of light. In humility, they’ve given their talents, resources, ambitions and faith to a community of vulnerable, uncertain, but hopeful people.

Hundreds of our Gannon family members generously provided funding to meet students’ basic needs and to help them return home when our campuses closed in

Doug Oathout Chief Marketing and Communications Officer Brianna Mariotti Marketing and Content Strategist

Vol. XXXV, No. 1 • May 2020 Gannon University • 109 University Square Erie, Pennsylvania 16541 • (814) 871-7000 www.gannon.edu

We’ve seen lives and traditions disrupted in these last several weeks. We recently celebrated our Class of 2020 through a virtual degree conferral in advance of our inperson events planned for August and October. When we reunite at that time, we will honor our graduates not only for their determination in completing their educational journeys, but also for how they’ve stepped boldly into their communities to make a meaningful difference.

Our campus landscape is changing, too. We’re blessed that I-HACK’s renovations are once again underway.

Construction of the first and second floor Pierre McCormick Cyber Learning Center classroom and laboratory spaces are expected to be complete in Fall 2020. We welcomed our first company, Extreme Networks, to their home in this building to elevate the delivery of our cyber programs and to provide professional training opportunities. We’ve also continued the transformation of the Mary, Seat of Wisdom Chapel, which is scheduled for a wonderful reopening this fall.

This continued movement of the gears of progress show that even when the world seems to stop around us, positive change continues to happen at home at Gannon.

Much of what you read in these pages are stories of incredible accomplishments and admirable resilience.

They are reflections of a Gannon family that creates lifechanging opportunities through moments of innovation, leadership, service and togetherness. How honored I am to share these stories with you in this issue of the Gannon Magazine.

Ever grateful for God’s and your blessings and support,

Keith Taylor, Ph.D., President

Gannon Magazine is published

by University Marketing and Communications: Mallory Bottoni ’14 Haley Figurski Michael Gorski ’11M Laura Hinsdale Matthew King Andrew Lapiska ’09M Nicole Lossie ’11 Raechel Miller Kristine Rilling

We value your input; please direct any comments, questions or feature ideas to magazine@gannon.edu.

photography student, staff and alumni contributors Rick Klein ’84

printing Royle Printing

class notes and address changes Jana Hunt Assistant Director, Gift Recording hunt001@gannon.edu • (814) 871-7469

contents Gannon Magazine May 2020

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16

Still Life

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In the News

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Super Bowl Exclusive

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Forever Together

Read the latest news from Gannon University to stay in the know.

Gannon business students headed to Hard Rock Stadium for a real-world work experience leading up to Super Bowl LIV.

Knight Brigade

One Gannon student’s original idea launches a collaborative community effort to bring social and emotional education to Strong Vincent Middle School’s sixth-grade students.

A Notable Year for Anniversaries

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Out of the Spotlight

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Front Runner

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Class Notes

Leading four of Erie’s theaters are Gannon alumni.

We got in touch to talk about what theater – and their theater education – means to them.

Gannon cross country runner Joseph Westrick ’20 has run off a string of firsts to become the most decorated runner in program history.

Keep up with the latest news from Gannon Alumni.

On the Cover: Together Forever We put out a call for photo submissions from our students and were overwhelmed to receive more than 450.

These photos together represent many of our wonderful Gannon memories in honor of our graduating Golden Knights. To learn more, turn to page 16.

View the Gannon Magazine Online Edition To view the Gannon Magazine online edition, visit: magazine.gannon.edu/May2020.

To receive the Gannon Magazine online edition directly to your inbox or to manage your subscription preferences, visit gannon.edu/magazine.

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#GUPOSSIBILITIES

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I-HACK BUILDS MOMENTUM

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Extreme Networks, a leading

Center for Workforce Excellence building and the adjoining

provider of network infrastructure equipment and services for

114-space parking garage in downtown Erie. This purchase will

enterprises, data centers and service providers around the globe,

accommodate growth in student enrollment as the building will be

is the first company to be housed within Gannon’s I-HACK facility

transformed into apartment-style housing for 80 to 100 students.

in Knight Tower. This partnership will elevate the delivery of

Renovation and repairs to the parking ramp will begin this spring,

the university’s cyber programs, bring new professional training

in the NEWS

with completion planned for this fall. Renovations to the building

opportunities to the region, and equip I-HACK with state-of-the-

sports sponsored by Gannon heard some great news at February’s

art networking technology. I-HACK’S RENOVATIONS ARE

NCAA Convention, as both acrobatics and tumbling and women’s

UNDERWAY

Interior demolition of the first through sixth

wrestling were approved to enter the NCAA Emerging Sports for

floors began in October. Construction to the first and second

Women program in both Division II and Division III. The program

floor academic learning and laboratory spaces are expected to

supports the advancement of women’s sports to championship

be complete in Fall 2020. Renovations of the entire building are

status. The sports will officially join the Emerging Sport program

expected to be complete in Spring 2022. DEDICATING OUR

on Aug. 1, 2020. GANNON TAKES MAROON AND GOLD ON

STATUARY

THE ROAD

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Gannon University celebrated the dedication

OF MARY, SEAT OF WISDOM CHAPEL UNDERWAY

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Renovations to the Mary, Seat of Wisdom Chapel are nearing completion, thanks in large part to a lead gift by Monsignor Robert L. Brugger. The generous lead gift sparked a campaign to complete renovations to the chapel with a total projected cost of $1.5 million to $2 million. NCAA EMERGING SPORT PROGRAM TO INCLUDE TWO GANNON SPORTS

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A pair of

Gannon revealed its first-ever branded team bus

and blessing of our statuary of Mary, Our Lady of Lourdes

during a roll-out on Jan. 17, 2020 at the Erie campus’ iconic arch.

and St. Bernadette in the courtyard of the Morosky College of

This 48-foot, 57-seat bus makes a bold statement that the Golden

Health Professions and Sciences on Nov. 19, 2019. GANNON

Knights have arrived when transporting student-athletes to the

PURCHASES RCWE BUILDING

campuses of opponent athletic teams.

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Gannon announced in

April its purchase of the former 40,000-square-foot Regional

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are planned to be complete by Fall 2021. RENOVATIONS

GANNON MAGAZINE MAY 2020

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GANNON MAGAZINE MAY 2020

Alex Schroeck can check one thing off his bucket list: the Super Bowl.

Schroeck was one of 12 business school students from Gannon University who worked at the Super Bowl at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium in early February – an opportunity reserved for students from only 30 universities from across the country. This was the second time Gannon had students at the NFL championship game.

“Working to help put on one of the greatest sporting events in the world … was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said Schroeck, who is a junior majoring in risk management and insurance.

Eric Brownlee, Ph.D., associate professor in Gannon’s Dahlkemper School of Business, and Jinhee Yoo, Ph.D., assistant professor of sport management and marketing, coordinated the learning program to help students gain hands-on work experience in hospitality, marketing and media.

Schroeck said the entire week was like a highlight reel, but his favorite part was working at the NFL House in the days before the actual game.

The NFL House is a hospitality rest area for VIPs, including current and former NFL players, celebrities and NFL inner-circle partners such as executives from sponsoring

companies. Students helped with the setup and execution of events, and they assisted security with monitoring the arrival and departure of VIPs, among other responsibilities.

Brownlee said the Super Bowl experience positions students like McLaughlin for jobs in the sports industry.

spared, and the goal was to give a white-glove experience for the VIPs,” he said. “It was a blast being able to interact, network and work at such a high-profile event.”

Students in Gannon’s sport management and marketing program have worked in the past with the local Erie SeaWolves, Bay Hawks and Otters sports teams, Brownlee said. He’s also taken students to four MLB All-Star Games and to one ESPN Summer X Games.

“Overall, this was an amazing experience that provided the students Schroeck’s own role as concierge with significant experience working included scheduling appointments at a major sports and travel “Students are working event,” he said. “They arrangements, alongside somebody were able to network selling NFL with high-level sport merchandise, and who could hire them in industry professionals, answering guests’ the near future.” - Eric Brownlee and this has already questions about led to multiple job opportunities for the downtown Miami area. students.”

“At the NFL House no expense is

On gameday, the students helped guests navigate events held during the NFL On Location Experiences, which is the official hospitality partner of the NFL that gives VIPs priority access to the stadium.

The trip culminated with the game itself between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers, which the students were able to watch.

Sarah McLaughlin ’20 said she found it to be a surreal experience. “The Super Bowl itself was amazing. It was so hard to actually pay attention to anything specifically,” she said.

Like Schroeck, McLaughlin said she hopes to move into sport marketing and management after graduation.

Gannon faculty and students working at Super Bowl LIV.

Brownlee said he makes sure each experience gives students opportunities to both work and network.

“Students are working alongside somebody who could hire them in the near future,” he said.

In fact, similar experiences have led graduates of the program to secure jobs with the Buffalo Bills, Pittsburgh Pirates, Memphis Redbirds, Erie SeaWolves, Erie Otters and Erie BayHawks, Brownlee said.

#GUPOSSIBILITIES

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KNIGHT

BRIGAD What started with one Gannon University student’s idea last spring has since grown into a collaborative community effort that has established the Knight Brigade program at Strong Vincent Middle School, a community school, bringing social and emotional education to sixth-grade students.

“It wouldn’t have happened if Hannah (Rhodes) didn’t come to me with the idea,” said Nancy Morris ’03, ’12M assistant professor in Gannon’s education program.

Hannah Rhodes ’20 – a recent graduate of the early childhood special education program at Gannon – had approached Morris to share her idea following a positive behavior supports class.

“I was working at Strong Vincent Middle School … and realized the strategies we were learning in class could benefit the students at the school,” Rhodes said.

Morris has participated in service-learning with Strong Vincent for several years. So, when Rhodes came to her with the idea, she said it was easy to contact Katrina Byrd, the community school director at Strong Vincent Middle School, to figure out a way to put the idea into action.

Strong Vincent Middle School works with United Way of Erie County, Lead Partner Gannon University and Corporate Partner Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield.

As a lead partner, Gannon helps to mobilize community assets and coordinate resources in cooperation with Strong Vincent’s school staff. The community school model is a strategy (Left) Hannah Rhodes ’20 and a Strong Vincent Middle School student in the inaugural Knight Brigade program.

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GANNON MAGAZINE MAY 2020

(Top and right) Knight Brigade participants and Gannon education majors came together for a final celebration.

DE

that organizes school and community resources around student success. It is both a place and a set of partnerships that help address health, wellness and the social needs of its students, families and the surrounding neighborhood.

The Knight Brigade program that Gannon and Strong Vincent collaborated on was the first program of its kind for the school and has brought social and emotional learning skills to about 50 sixth graders over two semesters. Gannon students were responsible for working with the middle school’s teachers to identify what skills needed to be developed, and they designed lesson plans around each skill to teach in small groups.

Social and emotional skill development has recently garnered more focus in the K-12 system, Morris explained. “Students are coming in with a gap in these skills. It’s impacting their academics, and schools are putting more social skills

curriculum into their day because of it,” she said.

and working together. These types of partnerships can only enhance the K-12 and higher Rhodes was “These types of education experience. one of several partnerships can only It’ s a win-win for Gannon students everybody.

We’re enhance the K-12 who developed making our community and higher education and delivered stronger.” these lessons experience. It’s a winto the middle Morris said she is win for everybody.

We’re school students proud of what her making our community through the students have done and program. proud to be part of the stronger.” - Nancy Morris partnership.

“We heard feedback from teachers on how their (students’) grades had gone up,” Rhodes said. “It was rewarding to see how much of an impact we had. I was grateful to be in Dr. Morris’ class to experience this. It strengthened my confidence to become a public-school teacher.

“Gannon’s partnership with Strong Vincent … benefits both bodies of students,” Rhodes said. “In this project, we learned just as much from our students as they learned from us.

The partnership builds a community and mentorship aspect that I think is … a positive experience for us to be able to provide.”

Morris added the Knight Brigade “was created through idea (Above) Makenna Peoples and sharing, collaboration Oliva Burton, Strong Vincent Middle School students.

“Hannah has such a passion for this and for the Erie Community Schools and Erie City School District,” Morris said. “She really went above and beyond to make sure it happened and it was successful.”

The Strong Vincent students in the program were happy her idea was successful, too.

“I’ve learned how to be nicer to people and the teachers are helping me reach my goals,” said sixth-grader Olivia Burton. “They understand us and are helping us get to where they are.

They’re great at teaching us.”

#GUPOSSIBILITIES

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Gannon University’s Erie and Ruskin campuses are largely quiet now, waiting out what’s left of the stay-at-home orders in Pennsylvania and Florida.

Students, faculty and staff were abruptly sent home in mid-March as COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, began to sweep across the country. It had already spread across China and Italy, causing the university to call home nine students studying at American University of Rome just ahead of a State Department travel ban.

Commencement ceremonies planned for both campuses were postponed, given that large gatherings are not currently permitted by the health departments in either state.

And the dorms were largely emptied out, with the exception of about 150 students who either had no other place to go or who could not leave because their home countries were also under lockdown.

Classes resumed about two weeks later – but online.

Most campus employees started working from home almost immediately, replacing in-person gatherings with conference calls or Zoom meetings.

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GANNON MAGAZINE MAY 2020

While it is not the same, the work of the university continues.

As Gannon plans to resume in-person classes th the fall, teams of staff and faculty are at work on creating a safe environment that will promote learning while minimizing the health threat.

So far, the Gannon family has demonstrated its generosity and its ingenuity. When we learned some students didn’t have money to get home as school was closing, hundreds of staff and alumni stepped forward to create a fund that helped those students. Also, faculty – upon hearing of shortages of much-needed medical supplies – emptied out our labs in Erie and Ruskin and donated ventilators, masks, 3D-printed face shields and other items to nearby hospitals. Many students, too, are using their talents to creatively serve needs in the community.

The urgency to close the university has been replaced with a resolve to reopen it carefully and safely – and soon.

After all, the quiet halls just don’t feel right.

still life #GUPOSSIBILITIES

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“It was important to us to share whatever resources we had available to help keep our colleagues safe as they strive to keep caring for our community.” - Sarah Ewing

Faculty in the Morosky College loaned ventilators and ventilator equipment, and donated much-needed personal protective equipment to local hospitals.

Sarah Ewing, Ph.D., dean of the Morosky Gannon University’s Morosky College of Health Professions and College of Health Professions Sciences, expressed the desire to support and Sciences faculty donated the community in this way. the school’s cache of personal “Gannon University works closely with protective equipment to health health care professionals throughout the care providers on the front lines Erie and Ruskin communities. Many of of the COVID-19 pandemic. them are alumni, clinical educators or

preceptors for our students and colleagues.

As of the last week of March, the It was important to us to share whatever university has donated 425 face masks, 93 resources we had available to help keep goggles, 60 mask and shield combinations, our colleagues safe as they strive to keep 72 N95 masks, 36 cases of gloves, 728 caring for our community,” Ewing said. pairs of surgical gloves, and 196 isolation gowns to the following hospitals: Erie’s “Our science and health professional UPMC Hamot, Saint Vincent Hospital, faculty reached out immediately to EmergyCare, and a physician’s clinic in coordinate efforts to organize and donate Spartansburg where a Gannon faculty any supplies that we had available that member works. could be used by our local health care providers in both Erie, Pa. and Ruskin, Fla.,” The college has additionally offered Ewing added.

“The actions of our faculty and loaned ventilators and ventilator are a testament to their generosity and equipment and circuits, which are typically our commitment to our communities and used in its respiratory care program, to colleagues within the health professions.”

UPMC Hamot, Millcreek Community Hospital, and Allegheny Health Network.

Similar efforts have been made at Gannon’s Ruskin campus to source supplies to health care providers at Manatee Memorial Hospital in Florida.

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GANNON MAGAZINE MAY 2020

“What I really care about is how the kids Concerns over the spread of respond,” Rhodes said. “They will make COVID-19 caused the sudden requests for certain books or talk about closure of schools across their own books. That’s awesome.”

Pennsylvania in mid-March. In a The goal, Rhodes said, is to bring a sense matter of days, student-teachers of normalcy and routine back to students. like Hannah Rhodes ’20 found But it is also about promoting literacy, themselves out of the classroom even in times of change. and with a lot of time on their “Students in the area either previously hands. didn’t or don’t yet have curriculum coming Rhodes, who recently graduated with an early childhood special education degree, had been working at Tracy Elementary School in Millcreek when her first-grade classroom closed.

Hannah Rhodes ’20, creates read-aloud videos for local children.

their way, but are still encouraged to participate in enrichment activities,” Rhodes said, which is why she wanted to make reading an option for them.

It didn’t surprise Nancy Morris ‘03, ‘12M, assistant professor of the education program at Gannon, that Hannah had taken it upon herself to create these readaloud videos.

“I suddenly found myself not doing what I was doing every single day, but still wanted to contribute to my class and other children in the area in some way,” Rhodes said.

“That’s the kind of person she is – someone who is imaginative, creative, a problemThat’s when Rhodes posted a video of solver, and who is the first person to herself on Instagram reading a children’s jump in to help when she sees a need, book. The first response to the video came especially if it involves children,” Morris from her nephew, who after watching it said.

“Hannah never stops, and I’m always requested another book. impressed with her level of drive and Rhodes said she found the request to be determination to make a difference in this “super sweet,” and so she did more. world.”

She has been posting videos almost daily since the initial one in late March – and her 15 first-grade students at the elementary school along with other local children have become devoted followers.

“I suddenly found myself not doing what I was doing every single day, but still wanted to contribute to my class and other children in the area in some way.” - Hannah Rhodes

#GUPOSSIBILITIES 11

Gannon Lab Engineer Nicholas Devine ’17, ’19M had observed several 3D printers lying idle around campus when he decided to initiate his own fight against COVID-19.

Devine collected the printers – which had become available after the university moved its classes online – into a single laboratory space and launched a production of face shields for local health care personnel to use on the frontlines of the pandemic.

Davide Piovesan, Ph.D., chair of the biomedical engineering program at Gannon, had contacts with local Erie hospitals that led to conversations about the need for protective equipment for health care workers. Devine recognized his own resources could lend support and teamed up with Steven Rowland ’18, lab engineer for the electrical engineering program, to begin printing.

health care facilities and other groups including LECOM, Saint Vincent Hospital, EmergyCare, Sarah A. Reed Children’s Center, Erie VA Medical Center, the Erie Police Department, a hospital in Clarion and another in Cannonsburg, and Gannon’s Health Services Center and Police and Safety Office. They also donated remaining supplies to others who are making face shields.

The team received a $23,000 grant from the Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority and a $5,000 contribution from LECOM for the project. A further $2,500 came from Gannon alumna Michelle Schryver Peck ’93, BSN, and David Peck, and $2,500 from other individuals and local businesses.

Two Erie companies – Industrial Sales and Manufacturing and Leader Graphics – also helped obtain the needed material for the project while Fairview High School has remained engaged as a second 3D printing site under STEM and gifted administrator and Gannon adjunct Ryan Bookhamer.

Nine engineers from LORD Corp. also aided in Gannon’s 3D printing efforts.

“There’s a movement in the open-source community to 3D print and laser-cut face “It is great to see the power of the Gannon shields for the hospitals to use,” Devine family rallying around each other and said. “We found some designs online, rallying around our community to make a and since we have a lot of 3D printers difference,” Gannon President Keith Taylor, and a laser cutter here in the biomedical engineering department, (we were) able to Ph.D., said. “So I want to say from the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for start producing these.” all that you are doing and all of you who Their efforts quickly garnered support from local businesses, community members and are contributing to this project.” the Gannon family.

“We originally planned to do maybe 300 of these shields,” Devine said. “The project is absolutely exploding with companies and individuals who want to help us out. That’s been really neat to see for us.”

A partnership with Polymer Molding Inc. shifted production from 3D-printing to a process of injection molding, which allowed the team to increase production to about 6,000 face shields to date with the donated supplies and help in assembling from Gannon and PMI members. They’ve donated them to local hospitals,

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GANNON MAGAZINE MAY 2020

Gannon lab engineers Nicholas Devine ’17, ’19M and Steven Rowland ’18 3D-print face shields for local health care facilities and groups.

(Below) The face shields pictured are some of the 6,000 that have been produced to date.

“It is great to see the power of the Gannon family rallying around each other and rallying around our community to make a difference.” - Keith Taylor

“The amount of money raised so quickly represents the connectedness of the Gannon family and the care we have for one another, especially the most vulnerable.”

- Father Michael Kesicki Need has a tendency of uniting communities in powerful ways.

And so it was at Gannon, as the university closed suddenly with the approach of COVID-19. The closure left many students struggling to find money to buy groceries or to get home.

In response, the University Advancement Office in collaboration with the Office of Mission and Ministry launched a campaign that resulted in nearly $20,000 in emergency funding to alleviate student needs associated with COVID-19.

To date, the funds have supported about 180 students with food and housing assistance, domestic and international travel expenses, and resources for remote learning.

Father Michael Kesicki, associate vice president of University Mission and Ministry, said trustees, alumni, faculty, staff and other caring students revealed Gannon’s generous heart.

This swift community response proved impactful for many students, including some who had requested support for international flights home, for example.

“Students were anxious about the possibility of air travel being suspended with no possibility to travel back home,” Kesicki said. Two of these students were able to return to their homes in Australia and India 20 hours in advance of airports closing international flights, thanks to the funding.

Many other students received help with groceries and gas purchases.

Kesicki said the initiative to fund support for students in need holds a broader impact for the future, as well.

“This has raised an awareness of the kind of needs students face and the opportunities for us as a university to alleviate some of those needs,” Kesicki said. “Moving forward, this will be a regular thing.”

Nash Library remains vacant during finals week - normally a popular place for study.

“The amount of money raised so quickly represents the connectedness of the Gannon family and the care we have for one another, especially the most vulnerable,” Kesicki said.

#GUPOSSIBILITIES 13

out of the spotlight If all the world’s a stage, Gannon University is filling it with leading characters.

Erie is home to a number of theaters, and leading four of them are Gannon alumni. Gannon’s own Schuster Theatre is managed by Director of Performing and Visual Arts Alaina Manchester ‘07; Penn State Behrend’s Theatre operates under Director of Theatre Emily Cassano ‘05; at the helm of Dramashop is Artistic Director Zach Flock ‘05; and the Erie Playhouse serves the community under Executive Director Kate Neubert-Lechner ‘03.

We got in touch to talk about what theater - and their theater education - means to them.

degree in theater (acting). She has since returned to serve as the director of the theater program here at her alma mater.

As an arts educator and advocate, Manchester said she feels a responsibility to explore major 14

historical styles and movements, “as well as providing opportunities for our students to take risks.

We also should

provide a space for new forms and pieces, because we are a place of discovery,” Manchester said.

Manchester, 34, said she appreciates the Schuster as a black box space – and the only in the area – where students engage in all aspects of the productions alongside passionate

GANNON MAGAZINE MAY 2020

faculty. She has provided these opportunities for students, including having them create and perform their own devised theatre at the internationally acclaimed Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland.

“It’s the heart and imagination” that make the arts so important – particularly now, Manchester said. “If this terrible COVID crisis has shown us anything about ourselves, it has shown us the importance of the arts to comfort and entertain us. In the months to come, it will help us as we try to make sense of it all.

And soon, it will bring us together again.”

Kate NeubertLechner took a longer road to Gannon. She began her collegiate career at the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music before moving to New York City three days before Sept.

11, 2001. Six months later, she returned home to finish her degree at Gannon but made one more move to NYC to work for the legendary Tony

KATE NEUBERT-LECHNER

ALAINA MANCHESTER

Alaina Manchester earned her bachelor’s degree in theater and communication arts from Gannon in 2007 before traveling to the University of Florida to achieve a master of fine arts

Bennett’s RPM Productions before setting back for

Erie to take the reins of the Erie Playhouse following the retirement of Gannon alumna Almitra Clerkin ’85, ’17M. “The arts are a powerful agent of change that can begin conversations, bring people to a new point of thinking, and can truly bring purpose to some individuals’ lives,” said

NeubertLechner, 40, of her perspective on the field.

As executive director of the Erie Playhouse,

emotions on every level.” Cassano – now a full-time professor of theater history, musical theater, acting, gender and theater at Penn State – earned her bachelor’s degree in theater and communication arts

“The arts are a powerful agent of change ... and can truly bring purpose to some individuals’ lives.” - Kate Neubert-Lechner – and one that she never thought we’d need to be prepared for, and yet we are.

“I think that all of my collective experiences in college, in the workforce and as a director and performer have helped prepare me for leading during this time. Gannon raises students to have a compassionate global view and that view helps me today,” she said.

after transferring to Gannon in her sophomore year. She earned a master’s degree in educational theater from New York University in 2007 and a post-baccalaureate certificate in educational technology from Penn State in 2017.

For Cassano, learning to adapt as a theater instructor during the Spring 2020 semester has been a priority

so that her students can still find the arts accessible and beneficial during difficult

times.

“I had to give up some goals that I originally had hoped we’d reach, and I set some new goals that I thought were more attainable with remote learning in mind. One thing all of the professors at Behrend have been attempting during this time is kindness; I have always had kind, understanding and helpful professors myself – at Gannon and beyond – so I hope to emulate those approaches,” Cassano said.

At the time of this writing, Broadway is dark in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. “[But] we are turning to the arts right now for comfort and entertainment and peace,” said Cassano, 36.

Zach Flock, 37, received his bachelor’s degree in theater and communication arts in 2005 and a

Master’s of Public Administration in 2019 from Gannon.

He now works at his alma mater as associate director for communications in the Office of Admissions and leads the Dramashop as artistic director.

“Dramashop focuses primarily on contemporary theater, and theater reflects the society in which it’s written,” Flock said. “So we often find ourselves tackling contemporary issues, telling stories that are sometimes painfully relevant. Theatre holds a mirror to society.”

current COVID-19 pandemic has forced and encouraged leaders in the arts to be even more creative and innovative than before.

“At Gannon, I always felt empowered to be creative and innovative, and the MPA program prepared me to be a leader in a difficult time. So, as challenging a time as it is for Dramashop and all arts and cultural organizations, I feel prepared for the challenge,” he said.

“It’s a humbling time to be in a

ZACH FLOCK

Neubert-Lechner reflected on what is an unprecedented time as a leader of a performing arts nonprofit – and a leader in the general sense

Emily Cassano, Penn State Behrend’s director of theater, said that for her, “arts are one of the most magical parts of life – exploring

EMILY CASSANO

she oversees all day-to-day and bigpicture activities of the community staple, from fundraising to new program development, to creative work on productions themselves.

“Ultimately, I work with our staff, volunteers, community partners, patrons and donors to ensure that we are providing services and entertainment opportunities that serve the entire Erie community in the best possible way,” she said.

“The great thing about our Gannon education is that we learned by doing,” Flock added. “The byproduct of that is that I learned you can’t be prepared for every situation, but you can be quick to adapt and to roll with whatever situation presents itself.”

position of leadership, and we’re all just doing the best we can. I recognize that a lot of people are doing work that’s far more important – medical personnel and first responders – but the arts and humanities are important, too.

It’s our job to tell our stories, and we’ll keep doing that as best as we can,” Flock said.

Flock reflected on how the world’s #GUPOSSIBILITIES 15

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David Long ’20, Student Government Association president

“Dear class of

2020”

It is a great privilege to address you. As I gathered my thoughts around what I was going to say in this letter, my first point was very clear: I want to congratulate each and every one of you. The milestone you’ve just accomplished is no small feat, and you should be proud of the work you have done to reach this achievement. Even more remarkable is that this is only the beginning. As each of you prepare to take the next step in life to live out the visions, goals and dreams you have, I want to leave you with a few thoughts.

In 2018, at the Lead365 National Conference, Dr. Ann Marie Klotz gave this advice during one of her keynotes: “Be unapologetically bold in your quest of life.” We have all spent the last four years learning and growing, and undeniably for many of us, will continue to do so. I challenge each of you to work daily to be your best selves. Be the Golden Knight you are, wherever you are. I encourage you to use this message and this time to continue to build strong relationships with your family, friends, peers and people in your community, and to not take a single day for granted. As we 18

GANNON MAGAZINE MAY 2020

join the more than 40,000 Gannon University alumni around the world, it becomes our responsibility to serve as the next generation of great leaders.

I wrote out a thank you to everyone who has made an impact on me, it would cover the entire magazine.

So, to everyone: thank you. Gannon University is a place that has changed What I hope you remember about your time at Gannon is the amazing my heart forever. three-and-a-half years we got to Members of the Class of 2020, this spend together. We have had many one’s for you. Each of you are special experiences to remember: women’s and amazing individuals, and I varsity and club sports, TRAVEL, hope to see you return in the fall for ABST, Fraternity and Sorority Life, the graduation. This is only the start of Honors Program, Saturday mornings our legacy. participating in GIVE Days, and so many other opportunities, we got to -David Long ’20, Student Government take advantage of. For me, my time Association president at Gannon will always be special. If

What Our Students Say

THEY WILL REMEMBER

Q

For graduating and returning students alike, Gannon University has become a place to call home. Many of our students have shared with us their moments of learning, growth, encouragement and accomplishments while at Gannon. As we conclude this year together – and many of you begin new journeys – we are delighted to leave you with some of these messages.

A

Meeting my fiancĂŠ and my best friend at Gannon - Caitie Strout International Night - Priya Shrees Magar Homecoming/family weekend!!! - Avery Stevens Seeing my first real patient during lab for PA school - Abigail Printz Thursday community mass - Rachel Praetzel Hosting nationals for Acrobatics and Tumbling in 2018 - Nicole Pizzi Detroit ABST - Aidan Kerlin

What is your most memorable experience at Gannon?

â?¤

Who had a positive impact on your time at Gannon?

What’s an achievement you’re most proud of at Gannon?

Getting above at least a 3.5 every semester - Haylie Szalanski Putting GU women’s rugby on the map at regionals in 2019!!

- Gannon Women’s Rugby My experience as an ABST leader has changed my life - Katie Gress Getting a PR at PSAC swim meet - Abigail Printz

đ&#x;˜€

What message do you want to leave with the Class of 2020?

đ&#x;˜€

A’Darius Porter - by helping me to see things outside my default perspective - Megan Loibl Dr. Hawkins for pushing me to be my best - Haylie Szalanski Campus Ministry and Commuter Life - Rachel Praetzel Becky Perry! - Nikki Johnson All of the OT faculty!! - Haylie Szalanski Dr. & Mrs. Ropski - Priya Shrees Magar The athletic training staff - Brooke Hepditch Caroline Palmer and Jen Majewski in the PA Dept. - Catie Strout My amazing coach Alia Nolan - Nikki Pizzi

â?¤

Congrats! Even though this semester has been far from normal, you still did it! - Catie Strout Shout out to the best class ever - Cassidy Burns Live every moment like it's your last - Sydney Oyatta Your impact was not lost on the rest of us. You’ve changed us for the better. - Katie Gress You are all going to be greatly missed - Haylie Szalanski We you - Gannon Alpha Kappa Psi We’re here for you! Now and always! - Gannon Office of Career Development and Exploration

â?¤

#GUPOSSIBILITIES 19

2020 1990 1980 1970

A NOTAB FOR ANN THIRTY YEARS AGO, AN INTEGRATION WITH VILLA MARIA COLLEGE CHANGED THE TRAJECTORY OF CATHOLIC HIGHER EDUCATION.

FORTY YEARS AGO, GANNON CELEBRATED ITS NEWLY ACHIEVED UNIVERSITY STATUS.

FIFTY YEARS AGO, WOMEN WERE FIRST ENROLLED FULL-TIME AT GANNON.

This is a milestone year for anniversaries at Gannon, and we celebrate these moments that have become such an influential part of our history.

There’s much to appreciate about the people who make up this history, too. After all, numbers don’t tell the whole story – but we know some remarkable alumni who can. We’ve invited them to share some perspective with us.

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GANNON MAGAZINE MAY 2020

1969-70

BLE YEAR NNIVERSARIES Gannon began enrolling female students on a full-time basis into all of the school’s programs during the 1969-70 academic year. We have seen remarkable strides in the 50 years since then.

Today, the university’s student body is more than 60 percent females. And serving as the official voice of this student body in the upcoming academic year will be newly elected Student Government Association president, Beth Kropf.

The university’s three colleges are each headed by women. It is the first time in Gannon’s history that all of its deans are women.

In 1964, Gannon began accepting women into limited programs and only in afternoon and evening classes, so as not to compete with Villa Maria College. That changed in 1969-70, when Gannon welcomed females into all of its programs full-time and set a precedent for women’s success.

Women have become an influential part of leadership at Gannon in other ways, too.

MARY KLUPP ’73

to become a highly successful automotive market researcher with Ford Motor Co. We asked her to share some insights with us.

Mary (Freeman) Klupp graduated from Gannon in 1973 as one of the school’s first female alumnae. Her graduating class included the first women who had enrolled full-time at the university after co-educational policies that previously only allowed part-time enrollment changed. At the time, the university did not offer female housing and programs primarily included male students. Klupp, who earned a degree in mathematics, drew on her Gannon experiences

What are some lessons you’ve learned that you would pass on to women in business?

FORD MOTOR CO., RETIRED AUTOMOTIVE MARKET RESEARCHER

Be prepared for someone to ask why you were hired and why you are where you are. Be prepared for comments that insinuate you are not qualified for the job.

Have a prepared answer to your qualifications and expertise, so you’re not caught off guard.

Find a way to build credibility within your organization. Become the expert in some facet of the business. Be the person with the facts, the person with knowledge of the competition, and the “go-to” person for relevant information.

This will give you confidence and show your knowledge of the business.

Find someone in senior management you can talk to. Every organization has the formal way things get done, but there also is the “informal way.”

This can involve access to highvisibility assignments, new training opportunities, or international assignments. If your organization has a mentoring program, get into it. If not, find a person who will share their insider knowledge with you.

How you handle a mistake is more important than what happened.

Mistakes happen, and how you handle it can define your career.

When you make a mistake, admit it, apologize, have a plan to fix it and move on. If you’re a perfectionist, a mistake will feel like a huge failure. In any case, don’t be too hard on yourself, but recognize this won’t be the last time something happens.

#GUPOSSIBILITIES 21

1979-80

Gannon College officially became Gannon University on Jan. 1, 1980.

It was a milestone for a college that had started during the Great Depression. The college was known for its tenacity – such as in 1943 when all but 35 of its 250 students were drafted and yet the college persisted.

The State Department of Education’s announcement that Gannon was approved as a university was a tribute to this resilience and to the college’s continued growth in student enrollment and academic offerings.

university offers 26 master’s, 11 pre-professional, 20 cooperative, and six doctoral programs and additional research opportunities to 1,000 students across two campuses.

Bishop Michael Murphy emphasized Gannon’s vision as a new university through the words of Pope John Paul II in a speech made after the announcement in 1979.

“The Catholic university or college must train young men and women of outstanding knowledge, who having made a personal synthesis between faith and culture, will be both capable and willing to assume tasks in the service of the community and society Becoming a university allowed Gannon to capitalize on its existing graduate programs. The first master’s in general, and to bear witness to their faith before the world,” he said. “To be what it ought to be, the degrees in English and education had already Catholic college or university which bears witness launched in the 1960s and included nearly 50 students. The first doctoral program – organizational to a living and operative Christianity – a community learning and leadership – was offered later in 2007. where a sincere commitment to scientific research and study goes together with a deep commitment to Gannon’s university-status has contributed to our authentic Christian living.” growth in the years since. This academic year, the

PARRIS BAKER, PH.D., ’92

GANNON UNIVERSITY, DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WORK AND MORTUARY SCIENCE

How have you seen Gannon grow from a college to the university as we know it today?

I grew up as an African-American in the ’60s during the time of Parris Baker first Malcom X and Martin Luther King attended Gannon Jr. At the time I went to Gannon, in 1979-81 during diversity was not present at all. I its transition from was first an engineering student, a college to a and I would engage in incredible university. With conversations with James Freeman the announcement about issues surrounding race. He came much pride told me it was a myth that Africanfrom his fellow Americans cannot learn science, students, Baker and that he is here to change that. said. But significant That was amazing for me as an changes could be African-American to hear that. felt gradually over Contrast this with now, as Gannon the years of growth has grown from being primarily that came for an all-white, all-male school to Gannon University. Baker, who integrating Villa Maria College is with us again as the director and becoming more diverse to the of social work and mortuary point where we’re literally inviting science, shared with us his the entire world to campus. perspectives on this.

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Another point of growth is how Gannon now relates to the surrounding community. Two of the poorest ZIP codes in Pennsylvania, 16503 and 16501, are close to Gannon. Today, we’ve really engaged in how to touch communities through our university, as well as through the Our West Bayfront and Erie-GAINS. Before, we were too young to have this figured out. We’ve now positioned ourselves to be a vibrant part of Erie’s transition.

1989-90

In July of 1989 Gannon integrated with Villa Maria College to strengthen the delivery of Catholic higher education.

Sister Ann Stephanie Stano, Ph.D., SSJ, dean of the School of Education at the time, called this integration “a new, exciting educational dynamic.”

Notably, the new collaboration expanded Gannon's academic offerings. Villa Maria introduced new programs to the university, which led to a newly formed School of Health Sciences and School of Education. Many of the programs in these schools still exist at Gannon today, including nursing, physician assistant, respiratory therapy, early childhood education, elementary education and secondary education.

And growth continues. Today, the university’s health professions and sciences programs include 35 percent of Gannon’s total enrollment. The School of Education has since launched additional education programs in specialized areas of the field – most recently in special education. Both offer continued graduate education opportunities.

BECKY KOLODYCHAK ’91

UPMC PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL, FORMER CLINICAL DIRECTOR OF NEUROLOGY/VASCULAR SURGERY AND NEUROSURGERY

Stano said that through the integration, “lifelong learning opportunities for women expanded exponentially and created pathways for future success.”

Specifically, the integration provided women access to programs in business, science and engineering, which existed at Gannon prior to the integration. A larger faculty body also increased opportunities available to students as the university was enabled to apply for other new programs and grants.

Many in the university remained devoted to Villa’s original commitment to women. Among them was Sister Leonie Shanley, former president of Villa Maria College, the first female vice president at Gannon, and dean of the Villa Maria College within Gannon. Shanley, Stano and these university leaders created many of the educational, recreational and social opportunities that laid the foundations for our female students and leaders today.

recently at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital. She later transitioned to a stay-at-home mother, but still values the education she received through Gannon and Villa Maria. She offered to share some thoughts around her experiences.

Becky Kolodychack was among the What are some of your first graduates of memorable Gannon/Villa Gannon University Maria experiences? after its integration The education I received while with Villa Maria at Gannon as a nursing student College. She was, first, one of uniqueness. The entered Gannon’s nursing program at that time nursing program required the students to attend during a period the Villa campus for all nursingof significant specific classes and all other transitions for didactic occurred downtown at the university the main Gannon campus, thus and went on making for a great deal of traveling to pursue a back and forth. Our nursing group successful nursing career with tightly bonded over the years with the University of Pittsburgh our exclusive manner of training.

Medical Center and most

We were always together in all our classes and clinical rotations, which occurred at the two local Erie hospitals. While the driving between campuses and going from two different styles of classroom learning required some getting used to, in the end it became very much a contributor to the nurse I became. I grew to know my nursing instructors well and cherished hearing their nursing experiences and clinical advice.

The Villa campus culminated that environment with its small and intimate setting. The class of students all working hard together to prepare for future nursing careers was small in size, which fostered openness in discussion and learning. While always a Gannon Knight, Villa Maria College contributed to my nursing education.

#GUPOSSIBILITIES 23

Joseph Westrick ’20 has become the most decorated runner in Gannon cross-country history.

Joseph Westrick ’20, didn’t come to Erie with his sights set on becoming the most decorated runner in Gannon crosscountry history. But in four years with the Golden Knights, Westrick, 21, has run off a string of firsts in program history to achieve just that.

FRONT RUNNE

Atlantic Region championships, earning him a spot at the national meet for the second consecutive season. There, he became the first Gannon student-athlete in any sport to earn the prestigious By: David Rung, director of athletics media relations NCAA Elite 90 award, which goes to the top overall structure my time as well.”

GPA in the championship field.

His sophomore season, Westrick won Westrick won additional honors, including CoSIDA Academic AllAmerica laurels and two PSAC Top 10 awards, both of which recognize student-athletes who excel in both the classroom and their athletic arena.

Westrick, who recently graduated with an environmental engineering degree, earned the NCAA’s first conference championship as a senior in 2019 after qualifying as a junior. He also For Westrick, the work that went into became the first individual to win achieving low times and high grades a PSAC title and the conference went hand-in-hand.

Champion Scholar award – given to the runner with the highest “I think that the two suit each other cumulative grade-point average at the well,” he said. “(Running) takes a championship meet – in the same lot of time, so that forces you to be season in the league’s history. diligent in how you organize your time.

I don’t know if I would have Two weeks later, he became Gannon’s done this well in school if I didn’t first three-time all-region performer have something that forced me to with a fourth-place finish at the 24

GANNON MAGAZINE MAY 2020

individual titles at three of Gannon’s first four races of the year. A 17thplace finish in a large field at the Greater Louisville Classic ramped up the expectations, and he cruised to first-team finishes at the PSAC Championships (11th) and Atlantic Region Championships (19th).

He started off his junior year with four straight top-three finishes, then ran the fastest 8k time of his career to finish 19th out of more than 300 runners at a preview race of the national championship course.

That was followed up by a fourthplace finish at PSACs – then the best

HIGH HONORS FOR GANNON ATHLETES Joseph Westrick isn’t the only athlete being celebrated this spring.

Westrick is celebrated as the first Gannon student-athlete and only the 23rd PSAC student-athlete and third male to earn the prestigious NCAA Elite 90 award. The award honors the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average at the finals site of each of the NCAA’s 90 championships.

The individual must be at least a sophomore both academically and athletically and either qualified for the national championships as an individual or as part of the designated squad size in a team sport.

T ER

finish by a Golden Knight in 11 years in the conference – and a fifthplace finish at the regional meet that would secure a bid to nationals, where he would finish higher than any other runner from the PSAC in 81st.

Lydia Lukomski picked up the Elite 90 honor just three weeks later as the Gannon volleyball team made its second appearance at the NCAA Division II Elite Eight in the past three seasons.

Both Lukomski and Westrick also earned the PSAC’s version of the honor, the PSAC Champion Scholar award, during the 2019-20 academic year.

They joined Ethan Bennett (Men’s Golf), James Randall (Men’s Soccer) and Joey Deemer (Men’s Swimming and Diving) to give Gannon five Champion Scholar awards in the abbreviated calendar – the most in the conference.

Two weeks later, he Sixteen different Gannon student-athletes was fourth have won the Champion Scholar award at the regional a total of 22 times since the award was championships, locking Gannon cross country coach John initiated during the 2011-12 academic year.

Carrig has watched as Westrick’s career up his second bid to nationals. He learned two days progressed. later that his teammate Ryan Garich “I think his junior year, he broke had also earned an at-large bid to the “We through,” Carrig said. “He’s the kind NCAA, giving the program its first year had of kid that has a goal, puts his mind of multiple national qualifiers. nine to it, and goes after it. His junior year, freshmen on his goal was to make nationals, and he The progress the team has made may the team this year. be the accomplishment Westrick is just worked all year and he did it. His They got to see what you most proud of.

“I always felt that if senior year, his goal was to win PSACs, have to do to get there, and you set a good tone for the group, the and he did it.” they bought in,” Carrig said. “Joe is group is going to follow,” he said.

Westrick clocked three of his first one of those kids that you wish you In both of his final two seasons, the five 8k races of the year under 26 had one of every year, a whole team Knights finished eighth in the team minutes and continued strong in the of them. You can’t always be that standings at regionals, the best in postseason, closing the final 1,000 fortunate, but he showed them what program history. meters to win the PSAC title by more you can do.” than nine seconds.

#GUPOSSIBILITIES 25

BAXTER D. WELLMON has been inducted into the Union City Wall of Achievement. Wellmon began working for the New York Central Station in 1967 and traveled on the Hudson Line of the railroad to work in Manhattan until late 1968. He then moved to West Chester, Pa. to work for the Penn Central Transportation Corp. in Philadelphia. Wellmon worked in Washington, D.C. for the federal government to revitalize the railroad industry from 1974 to 1975. During that time, he was a member of the United States Railroad Association that oversaw the creation of Conrail.

Since 1996, he has been one of the principal owners of QEM Inc. and its affiliated companies including Big Spring Rail System, Transport Handling Specialists, Transport Rail Sector and Chester & Cumberland Investments, among others. He has also held senior management positions at Consolidated Rail Corp. in Conrail. Wellmon is currently chairman and CEO of Transport & Handling Services Ltd. and QEM Inc., co-founder and board member of Jacinto Rail Corp. and Big Spring Rail System Inc., and managing partner of Transport Handling Services Inc. and Chester and Cumberland Investment LLC.

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LUTHER R. MANUS, JR. ’71M has been honored with Edinboro University’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Award in recognition of his selfless contributions to the Erie region, distinguished military career and steadfast commitment to education and social equality. Manus received the award during the university’s 24th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Awards Luncheon on Feb. 27. At age 92, Manus continues to model the character and teachings of Dr. King through his community service efforts.

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DIANE M. DUDZINSKI, PH.D., VMC has received the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award after being recognized by the Marquis Who’s Who Top Educators for dedication, achievements and leadership in the field of biology. Dudzinski worked as a biology professor at Mercyhurst University for five years before teaching at the Washington State Community College from 1991 to 2012. In addition, she has excelled as an environmental consultant for the EnvironmentalMedical Laboratories and Controls for Environmental Pollution between 1979 and 1981. Dudzinski was recognized for her accomplishments as the first female participant of the US-USSR Joint Oceanographic Expedition to the Bering Sea. In 1986, she received the Distinguished Alumni Award in Career Achievement from Villa Maria College.

72

JOSEPH V. SCHEMBER, JR., Erie’s mayor, was among the community leaders who joined the current Erie County Poet Laureate, Chuck Joy, to read a favorite passage from the endearing Edgar Lee Masters’ Spoon River Anthology. The event is a part of Joy’s term project and explored the meaning and relevance of Spoon River Anthology to contemporary times in Erie County.

73

JOHN F. CHERRY, a judge for the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas, was unanimously elected by the 10-member county court to serve as its 27th president judge. His five-year term began on Jan. 1, 2020. Cherry, now age 68, was first elected to the bench in 1999 and retained in November of 2009 and 2019, marking his third 10-year term on the Court of Common Pleas. He currently handles civil and dependency matters.

SHARE YOUR NEWS LET US KNOW WHAT YOU’VE BEEN UP TO! Submit a class note at www.gannonalumni.org

80

LISA (WIEN) HILL, M.D. has joined the staff of Wheeling Hospital as a family medicine physician. She is also a physician at the Wheeling Clinic.

Hill earned a bachelor’s degree in health sciences from Gannon University and her medical degree from Saba University School of Medicine. She completed her residency at Wheeling Hospital, where she became chief resident in her third year.

SISTER JEAN M. SQUIRIC VMC ’94M is the new campus minister for St. Thomas Aquinas High School and Middle School located in Louisville, Ohio. Squiric began her career at St. Francis Cabrini as an elementary school teacher. She worked for more than 20 years with St. Francis Cabrini in various roles including high school youth minister, religious educator, director of Pastoral Ministries, and leader of prayer and bereavement ministries. Most recently, Squiric was the director of religion at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Massillon, Ohio and served as caretaker for the Emmaus House.

82

BRUCE L. BOWER, M.D. has been named the new clinical director and mammography lead interpreting physician for Sharp Coronado Hospital in California. Bower joined San Diego Imaging in 1990 and became a member of the Sharp Coronado Hospital Medical Staff in 1996. He is board certified by both the American Board of Radiology and the American Board of Internal Medicine. He also is certified in angiography and interventional radiology.

WILLIAM J. DOAN, PH.D. has created the Anxiety Project to better explain his episodic depression to family and friends. Doan has made about 500 drawings in addition to creating graphic narratives and giving performances that display what it is like to live with anxiety and depression. “I hoped others

would find [the work] helpful because I knew that for it to have meaning beyond my own therapeutic needs, it would have to mean something to others,” Doan said.

83

JAMES J. RUTKOWSKI, JR. has again partnered with students from Gannon University’s College of Engineering and Business to participate in the CEB Ornament Challenge. This is the second year of this collaborative project in which students design a holiday ornament using computeraided design programs. Last year’s first- and second-place winning Christmas ornaments were laser cut with industrial, scientific and medical equipment. Through this alumnistudent-professor partnership, the CEB Ornament Challenge gives students the opportunity to hone their skills in a workplace environment. Rutkowski is a 1983 mechanical engineering graduate, university trustee and general manager of Industrial Sales Manufacturing Inc.

86

ANTHONY J. (A.J.) MICELI ’86M has been honored as Gannon University’s sailing coach with the Erie Yacht Club’s Thompson Memorial Trophy for his “outstanding service and achievement in the world of yachts and yachtsmen.” Miceli was recognized specifically for his work in developing the Gannon University Sailing Team, or G.U.S.T., which he began in 2014 to share his love of sailing. The program currently boasts nearly 20 student-sailors. In the past year, G.U.S.T. has competed in regattas at Cornell University, Ohio State University, the University of Michigan, the Pennsylvania State University (State College), and Syracuse University.

Miceli joined Gannon in 1975 in the School of Communication and the Arts where he later became director. Miceli continues to work at Gannon as an adjunct professor and as adviser and coach of the sailing team.

Newly inducted members of the Old Main Society and Universitas Society are honored for their generous contributions to the university.

Gannon inducts members to Old Main, Universitas Societies Gannon President Keith Taylor, Ph.D, recognized four members of the Old Main Society and 18 members of the Universitas Society during an honorary ceremony on Nov. 15.

Old Main Society members are those individuals, corporations and foundations who have generously committed $1 million or more cumulatively to the university. The Universitas Society includes those who have given $100,000 to the university.

Old Main Society honorees include: • C. Chris Cooney ’63 • Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority • Orris C. and Beatrice Dewey Hirtzel Memorial Foundation • Pierre McCormick ’79 and Kathryn McCormick Universitas Society honorees include: • Fred P. Deverse ’64 and Carolyn Deverse • Joyce R. Fairman • Reverend Leo J. Gallina ’66 • Gwendolyn M. (Ralph) Garbarino, Esq. ’82 and G. Barrett Garbarino, Esq. • Francis W. Haas ’61 and Marie Spaeder Haas ’73VMC • Thomas B. Hagen and Susan Hirt Hagen ’80M • Stacy M. Juchno ’98 and Scott Dibble • Kenneth L. Koessler, Jr. ’70 and Paula Koessler • Kiran Rajasenan, MD ’93 and Rosemarie Mankosky Rajasenan ’93 • Keith Taylor, Ph.D. and Mary Jean Taylor, Ph.D.

#GUPOSSIBILITIES 27

STAY CONNECTED WITH YOUR GANNON FAMILY View our virtual events at gannonalumni.org/events

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BRIAN W. BOLASH, JR., ESQ. has been appointed senior vice president and general counsel for Erie Indemnity Co. and its affiliated companies of the Erie Insurance Group. Bolash previously served as vice president, corporate secretary and senior counsel. In his current position, Bolash will serve as the company’s chief legal officer, overseeing the company’s Law Division, Internal Audit and Corporate Legal Department.

Bolash will also continue to serve as ERIE’s corporate secretary and has joined the company’s executive council. As corporate secretary, Bolash serves as a key liaison to the Board of Directors and manages board operations.

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ROBERT “BOB” A. LOWRY has been named head of Retail Banking at Rocky Mountain Bank. Lowry joins the team from Wells Fargo, where he most recently served as senior vice president, business acquisition manager. Lowry has spent 20 years in banking. His background includes experience in retail, small business and commercial banking, wealth management, credit and risk analysis and operations.

DANIEL A. ZARECKY has been appointed the newest CEO of Lancaster Behavioral Health Hospital. Zarecky was previously the CEO of Strategic Behavioral Health, an organization that oversees two psychiatric hospitals in Colorado.

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BRAD K. GLEASON has been named the inaugural director of entrepreneurial operations at Gannon

New Titles from your Gannon Family FRANK GARLAND assistant professor of communication and the arts “Three Rivers Stadium: A Confluence of Champions” The History Press Garland joined the Association of Gentleman Pittsburgh Journalists – some of the most preeminent authors and sports historians of Western Pennsylvania – in writing a history of Pittsburgh’s iconic Three Rivers Stadium. Erected on the city’s Northside in 1970, Three Rivers Stadium was Pittsburgh’s home of champions for three decades. Join local sportswriters as they recall the roaring crowds, rocking stands and greatest moments of Three Rivers Stadium.

AARON KERR, PH.D. associate professor of philosophy “Encounters in Thought: Beyond Instrumental Reason” Wipf and Stock Publishers Thinking is a dynamic process resulting from practices of integration. Thought encounters in openness, wonder, receptivity and contemplation confer upon us intellectual work that is uniquely our own. Digital patterns, however, distract us from these creative encounters. Our intellectual searching is weakened and fragmented by frenetic consumption of information. We miss out on reason’s innate pull toward integration and concrete reality. This book is an invitation to enter into openness, wonder, receptivity and contemplation with deeper understanding and intentionality.

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University’s Center for Business Ingenuity. In this newly created position, Gleason will oversee and coordinate Gannon’s business development initiatives. In addition, he will lead operations and guide companies to resources in the Beehive Network, including mentoring and incubation opportunities in the Erie Technology Incubator. Gleason will also help to grow academic-industry collaborations for new business and product development in The Hatchery, which will be located in the university’s Institute for Health and Cyber Knowledge, or I-HACK.

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SEAN D. DUGAN has been promoted to senior vice president of Human Resources for the Erie Insurance Group. Dugan will oversee teams for Talent Acquisition, Community Outreach, Diversity and Inclusion, Human Resources, Business Partners and Employee Relations, and Talent Management and Strategic Workforce Planning. In addition, he will oversee the company’s Learning and Development team and Workforce of the Future. Dugan most recently worked as corporate human resources officer for Erie Insurance. His prior leadership roles include vice president of Talent Acquisition and Community Outreach, vice president of Recruiting, and vice president of Corporate Training and Development.

LAURA (STROZEWSKI) RUST GLOSS has been hired as director of Procurement for the Syracuse Research Corp. Inc., a research and development company focused on defense, environment and intelligence and is based in Syracuse, N.Y. In this role, she will be responsible for leading SRC’s procurement process and supply chain management. Gloss has more than 26 years of procurement and supply chain management experience across various industries.

She joins SRC from Moog, Inc., where she worked as the supply chain manager of Space and Defense Group.

marriages 1

4

Rosalie Smith ’13M married Kenneth Bonus on Aug. 3, 2019.

Stella G. Bechakas ’15 married Blake J. Zaccagnino on Sept. 7, 2019.

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Garrett B. Sturges ’10 married Erica Fiorentino on Oct. 11, 2019. 1 Sgt. Thomas L. Lenox ’98 married Kristen Bergquist on Oct. 12, 2019.

Stephanie Clark ’13 married Michael Groesch ’13, ’16M on Oct. 12, 2019. 2 Kathleen Cahill ’11 married Patrick Washington ’09 on Oct. 12, 2019. 3 Julia Duncan ’16, ’17M married Matthew Mascharka ’17 on Dec. 14, 2019 4 Ashley Brianna Chismar ’16 married Zachary Ryan Langer on Feb. 29, 2020.

Jennifer Jones ’12 married Ronald Bronakoski on Dec. 14. 2019 5

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TRACEY MCCANTS LEWIS, ESQ. is working to make Pittsburgh a more livable city. McCants Lewis has made it her goal to help make AfricanAmericans aware of the opportunities available to them through education and training opportunities after a report from Pittsburgh’s Equity Commission revealed the city as being least livable for African-American women. McCants Lewis has been a longtime resident of Pittsburgh. She currently works as deputy counsel and director of Human Resources for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

She previously spent 10 years at Duquesne University as a tenured law professor, where she also managed the university’s law clinic.

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DAVID M. FINK has been appointed president and executive director of The Plastics Pipe Institute

Inc. Fink most recently worked as senior vice president of WL Plastics, a PPI member company. He served as chairman of the PPI board of directors from 2017-2019, and currently chairs the PPI statistics committee. He also cochairs the newly established PPI safety committee.

KAREN A. (FAILS) SURKALA addressed the Rotary Club of Westfield-Mayville to highlight the year in review for the Westfield Memorial Hospital.

The Westfield-Mayville Rotary Club helped found the hospital in 1942 and has been a longtime supporter.

Surkala is president of WMH and has more than 30 years of health care field experience. She served as vice president and administrator at WMH from 2007 to 2011, helping to lead the hospital through a multi-year restructuring process. Most recently, she served as CEO of Select Specialty Hospital, a long-term acute care facility in Erie. Three years prior, she was the

senior director of Strategic Agenda Management at the Cleveland Clinic.

From 2012 to 2015, Surkala was a senior vice president at Saint Vincent Hospital and was an integral member of the C-suite team. In this role, she was responsible for various aspects of the hospital’s strategic, operational and business development performance.

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DAISY DENIZARD, ESQ. has joined the law firm of Hawkins Parnell & Young in the Chicago office.

Denizard advises and represents clients in complex litigation, insurance issues and risk management. She primarily defends corporations in litigation involving mass torts and toxic exposures to asbestos, talcum powder and a range of chemicals. Throughout her career, Denizard has handled a wide range of high-exposure and highprofile matters, including commercial disputes, business torts, environmental, #GUPOSSIBILITIES 29

Jean Marsh Anderson ’48VMC Kenneth R. Anderson ’82 Edward J. Bajorek, M.D. ’49 Daniel H. Baker ’56 Robert L. Baker ’59 Sister Mary M. Balizet, SSJ ’66VMC Lawrence E. Barger, CPA ’61 Dianne T. Bernard ’71, ’75M Raymond J. Bianchi ’53 Royal C. Bliley ’54 Mary T. Bottler ’87 John T. Brown ’49 Joanne Bruno Burke ’71VMC David W. Carone ’67 Walter J. Chevalier ’50 Robert D. Copeland ’73M Kenneth Crawford, Jr. ’75 John A. Cross ’66 David J. De la Rosa ’99 William A. DeSarro ’74 Mary A. DiBiagio-Suppa, D.O. ’78 Walter J. Doss ’69 Jean M. Downing ’89, ’93M Barry T. Drew, Esq. ’76 Dolores Williams Dutkosky ’52VMC Kaitlyn M. Eckelberry ’18, ’19M Tioinia T. Evans ’98 Joseph E. Ferlic, Jr. ’72

in memoriam

Alumni Elizabeth Angelo Finnecy ’51VMC John E. Flecken, Jr. ’75 Tammy Boyes Fluegel ’97 Thomas M. Flynn ’61 Joseph C. Germino ’75, ’86M, ’95 Ronald A. Gerono ’69 Walter Giblin ’59 Xavier S. Giunta ’64 Robert M. Gormley ’95 Betty Mensinger Grubbs ’39VMC Gerald F. Hagerty ’51 Michael J. Hajduk, D.M.D. ’68 Michael J. Hanley ’58 Russell C. Hannibal ’80 James P. Heberle ’83 Florence Williams Holland ’45VMC James F. Huber ’95 Joann M. Jofery, Esq. ’74 Robert A. Kaczenski, Sr. ’76M Mary Cochran Karney ’88 Mary Prawdzik Kelly ’63VMC Rita Kennerknecht ’76M Sheridan C. Kirkpatrick ’74, ’86M John A. Konopka, Sr. ’70 Daniel B. Kujawinski ’69 Larry L. Lacoe ’72 Rudy J. Lentulay, Ph.D. ’59 John T. Lichtenthal ’70M

Nicholas J. Luciano ’70 Daniel K. Lynch ’77 Bruce M. Mailahn ’91 James F. Malthaner ’53 Edward S. Matulevich ’62 Donald J. Maus ’84 Carmel Saleski Maxson ’69VMC Colleen Phelan McRoy ’76VMC Thomas J. Miller ’60 Zona Stouffer Miller ’54VMC Christina Daubler Mitchell ’75, ’76M Ralph L. Montana, Esq. ’68 Janet Carter Moran ’72VMC Ann D. Morar ’93M Daniel A. Morgado ’69 Simon N. Mpasi ’80 William B. Muckinhaupt ’77 Robert B. Mullen ’53 Nelson E. Murrin ’55 Ahmad Naimi ’84 Rockwell O’Sheill, Esq. ’59 Kimberly A. Ostrowski ’06M Sara Bendure Ouellette ’90 Mary Little Patterson, R.N. ’61VMC, ’70M Joseph P. Pedro, Jr. ’60 Richard A. Podbielski ’88 Ralph J. Pontillo ’83 Carole Rutt Preston ’64

Agnes Ruza Priscaro ’69VMC, ’77M Francis H. Raven, Ph.D. ’50 Alice A. Razzano ’60VMC John R. Roeback, Sr. ’48 C. David Rogers ’60 Louis D. Salen ’50 James F. Scharrer ’80M Louise C. Schaut ’73 Mary L. Scottino ’74 Edward L. Shellito ’50 Paul A. Skala ’72 Nancy Galeazzo Souder, R.N. ’72VMC Cyril A. Steiner, Jr. ’61 Betty Rentja Stout ’48VMC Francis J. Strobel ’73 Peter E. Swoger ’68 Sally Fleming Tate ’75VMC Thomas L. Timon ’71 James M. Triplett, Ph.D. ’00M Patricia DeCara Tullio ’82 David M. Tunney ’74 Eleanor Tarr VanTilburg ’59VMC William T. Wantuck ’59 Nancy J. Weiser ’71VMC James R. Wells ’52 Joseph A. Wilczewski ’56 Joyce C. Wilhelm ’82VMC Robert M. Wollman, PhD. ’85 Edward M. Yonders ’61

Yolanda Filippo Paul M. Foust Howard Friedman Jeffrey J. Golz Ricky Gore Lester Gowen Donald H. Hess D. Garth Hetz William M. Hilbert, Sr. Michael E. Hinkel, Sr. Christopher C. Howe Charles A. Kern Genevieve J. Kern

Benjamin F. Kimmel Lynn Sullivan Lombardi Thomas A. Ludwig Richard M. Lynn Norma Wright Lyons Alyssa M. Miller Rev. Thomas G. Parthenakis, Ph.D. Norman Plumb Frederick J. Roehm Marcia Lewandowski Russell Aaron W. Sanden Douglas M. Schneider

Vladimir Shkraba Gloria Fornelli Sinnott Sister Dorothy Szczypinski, M.Ed. Mary Benecki Toohey Charlotte Venesky Robert L. Wagner Thomas J. Weunski Mary H. Wheaton Deborah Hoisington Wnek David Yeaney

Parents and Friends Wesley Bell Wilma Stafford Bell Theresa Blakney Mary Mucha Carlotti Marie F. Cenedella Lee J. Cummings Geraldine Cunningham Herta Hess Danowski Richard C. Davis Ronald P. Dewalt Patricia A. Doss Holly Miller Ewing Gordon A. Ferguson

product liability, cost recovery and insurance coverage. Denizard received her law degree from John Marshall Law School in 2002. She is licensed in Illinois and Wisconsin.

ELIZABETH R. WILSON ’96M is the director of marketing for Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Central & Northern PA. She is responsible for all marketing and communication 30

GANNON MAGAZINE MAY 2020

activities, including public and community relations. She also directs the center’s public relations events and entrepreneurial initiatives. In addition, she reviews all submitted company proposals for funding.

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MELISSA (TENPAS) RANNEY made history as the first councilwoman in Clymer, N.Y., and the first woman to run for a position on the town board.

Hamels is a physician assistant with GLPP Gastroenterology in Jamestown, N.Y. She has worked as a physician assistant for nearly 23 years.

SUSAN (YOUNG) MALONEY, R.N.C. ’97M has been inducted to the Union City Wall of Achievement. Maloney holds 31 years of nursing and health care experience. She worked at Saint Vincent Health Center until she completed her master’s in nursing to begin work as a family nurse practitioner. She ultimately secured a full-time, tenured position at Edinboro University and has taught mental health nursing since 2004. In 2018, Maloney completed a second postmaster’s certification as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner and passed her national board certification in 2019. Her educational outreach garnered the attention of the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office for opioid education efforts. She was recognized with a public declaration and award as well as an appointment to the Pennsylvania Trauma-Informed Care Network.

Maloney was recently sworn into the Erie Veteran’s Medical Center’s Outpatient Behavioral Health Clinic, where she works as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, caring for veterans’ mental health needs.

DAVID S. RUSSO ’97M has been promoted to senior vice president of Customer Service for Erie Insurance Group. Russo most recently served as senior vice president of Services Operations & Support. In his new role, Russo will oversee service functions, including ERIE’s Center of Excellence and Claims Quality teams, Customer Care Operations, First Notice of Loss, Zone Operations, Policy Processing, and Mail and Document Services.

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the pitching staff and team recruiting efforts. Chalot came to Mansfield from West Virginia Tech University, where he worked as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the Golden Bears and assisted in the development of the strength and conditioning program.

THOMAS L. LENOX ’98 has been honored as an Erie police sergeant with the Northwestern Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association’s Officer of the Year Medal. The medal is given to an officer who epitomizes a lifelong desire and preparation for the police profession.

00

CHANEL M. COOK has been appointed as the director of Programs and Community Relations of Erie Arts & Culture. Cook brings to Erie Arts & Culture 17 years of experience working for federal and local levels of government. From 2005 through 2011, Cook worked for the U.S. House of Representatives as a district and constituent representative. From 2001 to 2019, Cook held several roles with Erie County government including refugee health manager, public information officer, and the manager of outreach services at the Erie County Public Library. In November 2019, Cook was also appointed to the Pennsylvania Humanities Council Board of Directors.

02

ANDREW J. CHALOT has been named the head coach of the Mansfield University’s Mountaineer baseball program in Mansfield, Pa. He previously worked as the interim head coach since May and as an assistant coach with Mountaineer baseball for the past eight seasons. In this role, Chalot was primarily responsible for

03

DEAN R. BORONYAK ’03M was named the Elementary Health and Physical Education Teacher of the Year at the annual Pennsylvania State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Convention in Lancaster, Pa. in December 2019. Boronyak is a teacher at Ingomar Elementary School in the North Allegheny School District. He began his career in North Allegheny in 2008.

06

MARISA A. MOKS UNGER ’06M has been appointed to The International Women’s Writing Guild’s Board of Directors. Moks Unger founded the Internet start-up, We Write It Right, which offers personal and professional growth to companies and

A daughter, Lillian Iris Fox (born June 27, 2019) to Allison Lesser Fox ’09 and her husband, Seth. 1

births

MARIO A. COMMERET-MEDINA, ESQ. has been named first assistant with the Crawford County Office of Public Defender. Commeret-Medina has been a practicing attorney since 2010.

He initially worked in Georgia and returned to Erie County in 2017. He has been serving as an assistant public defender in Crawford County since April 2019.

A daughter, Lucy Shine (born Jan. 24, 2020) to Timothy M. Shine ’99 and his wife, Erica. 3

A daughter, Quinn Elliot (born Sept. 27, 2019) to Brandon Kudasik ’16M and his wife, Amber. 2

1

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#GUPOSSIBILITIES 31

individuals through writing. Her 30 years of experience includes work with Department of Defense contractors, financial software companies and commercial and trade publications.

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CHRISTOPHER C. FRYE, JR. has made history as the first AfricanAmerican mayor of New Castle, Pa. and one of the youngest to be elected.

Frye took the oath of office on January 6, 2020 after receiving 58 percent of the votes. Frye has his sights on four pillars of change-making as the new mayor. These include bringing fiscal responsibility to the city, restoring the city’s deteriorated infrastructure, eradicating the blight, and building bridges within the social community.

Frye is an active member on New Castle’s YMCA board of directors.

He is a current participant on the Lawrence County Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Lawrence County program. He and his wife are additionally working to resurrect his family’s 40-year-old nonprofit organization that aims to empower women and families affected by domestic violence.

CODY L. HUFFMAN is the new director of Business Development in Clinical Technology Management at Sodexo USA.

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DESTIN S. DEMARION has earned elite status in the sport of competitive fishing after finishing in the top five professional fishermen at the 2019 Bassmaster Eastern Open at Oneida Lake near Syracuse, N.Y. He competed against hundreds of professionals for a chance to get the “Major League” call-up to the top level of the sport, the Bassmaster Elite Series, which will be featured on ESPN. DeMarion will be the lone Pennsylvanian in the 2020 Elite Series field, earning a spot in the competition involving anglers from Florida, Tennessee, Virginia and New York.

LAUREN “LO” M. MYRICK ’11 kicked off Gannon University’s spring #MakeChange: Stand up. Speak out.

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event series. Myrick’s talk, “Why Your Mindset Matters More than Your Major,” discussed the importance of a positive mindset and how positivity can lead to success.

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CHELSEA T. BARRETT is a secondyear doctoral student and the president of the newly created Biomedical Graduate Student Organization at the University of Kentucky. She currently works in the department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry with Rebecca Dutch, Ph.D., and studies paramyxoviruses and pneumoviruses.

The organization serves graduate students in the biomedical sciences in the College of Medicine by fostering collaboration and developing programming to help expand student skills and knowledge.

LANDIS E. ERWIN has become a living liver donor for a young Pennsylvania child. Erwin is director of development for Crossroads Foundation in Pittsburgh. She majored in journalism and communications at Gannon University and earned a master’s degree in organizational leadership and project management at Geneva College in 2018. A member of Pittsburgh Young Professionals and Association of Fundraising Professionals’ Western Pennsylvania Chapter, Landis was also named to Mercer County’s 2019 Class of “40 Under 40.”

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DONALD E. TRAPP has joined the coaching staff of the State College Spikes, a minor league affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals, as the strength and conditioning coach. Trapp previously worked with Eastern Michigan University athletic teams through an NSCA Assistantship Award. He also volunteered as an assistant strength and conditioning coach at Shippensburg University.

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JOHN T. HONHART, MD graduated from the Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia with his Doctor of

Medicine on May 22, 2019. He was the recipient of the Hubert Spencer Sear, M.D. Memorial Award as the outstanding fourth-year student in radiology. He is a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society.

Honhart will complete his internship at the University of West Virginia followed by a five-year Integrated Interventional Radiology residency at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, Mass.

JOSHUA HOSLER has joined the Colorado Springs office as the district director for Congressman Doug Lamborn. Hosler served in the United States Marine Corps from 2007-2011.

He moved to Colorado to serve as the regional director for the Beauprez for Governor Campaign in 2014 after graduating from Gannon University.

He then served as the El Paso County Republican Party Chairman from 20172019.

ALEXANDRA J. WEST has joined FARM Buffalo, a marketing and communications agency, as a project manager on the retail marketing team.

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DANIEL J. SMITH ’15M has returned for his third season with the Staten Island Yankees, the New York-Penn League affiliate of the New York Yankees, as their strength and conditioning coach. Smith served the same role with the Pulaski Yankees, the Rookie Advanced Affiliate, in 2017.

Before joining the Yankees, Smith was the assistant strength and conditioning coach for the University of South Florida in 2015 and 2016 and for Western Kentucky University in 2016 and 2017.

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DEBORAH D. LORENZO is a nurse from Ludlow, Pa., who has always enjoyed writing but never envisioned the day when she would become the published author of two children’s books, “Night Night, My Love” and “The Barnyard Ball.” Lorenzo is currently a registered nurse in the maternal children’s health unit at Warren General Hospital.

KENZIE P. RYBACK has joined the team at Knox Law firm in State College, Pa., as an associate attorney and will focus her practice on estate planning, trust planning, estate administration and business and tax matters. Her legal experience includes summer associate positions at the Knox firm during law school at The Pennsylvania State University. She also served as a certified legal intern at the Rural Economic Development Clinic in State College, creating LLCs, drafting and revising documents and contracts, and conducting legal research.

KIMBERLY C. THOMAS ’16M was among the presenters at the Economic Summit hosted by Gannon University and the Small Business Development Center.

Thomas is director of the northwest regional office of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.

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COLIN J. FEIKLES ’17M is the strength and conditioning coach in his first season with the Cedar Rapids Kernels, a minor league affiliate of the Minnesota Twins baseball team. Feikles previously worked as the head strength and conditioning coach for the Lowell Spinners, the Class A Short Season Minor League Baseball affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. Feikles was named the 2019 New York-Penn League strength and conditioning coach of the year.

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SHELBY L. GRAML has been appointed as the new events and outreach coordinator for the Erie County Historical Society. Graml began her new role on Nov. 18, 2019.

TYLER P. PALKA was named to the DC Defenders’ roster in the XFL prior to their opener on Feb. 8. The Defenders selected Palka during the league’s supplemental draft in November.

He survived minicamp and training camp cuts made by Pep Hamilton, the

franchise’s coach and general manager.

He was an all-PSAC player as a senior in 2017 for the Gannon Golden Knights.

He compiled 1,121 all-purpose yards and scored 11 touchdowns. Palka previously competed at the professional level at the National Football League’s Pittsburgh Steelers’ rookie camp, Canadian Football League’s Ottawa RedBlacks, and the Arena Football League’s Columbus Destroyers.

KELLY H. VINCENT ’18M has joined the coaching staff at the State University of New York at Fredonia as the assistant track and field and cross-country coach.

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KAITLYN M. COONEY PT, DPT ’19M is one of the newest members of the physical therapy staff at Jones Memorial Hospital in Wellsville, N.Y. She has a special interest in outpatient rehabilitation but also has a strong background in acute care and inpatient rehab.

The Gannon University Athletics Hall of Fame Welcomed the Class of 2020.

The 1985 men’s soccer team became the 11th team and second men’s soccer team to be inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame. Members of the team include: Michael Albertson ’86; Michael Celetti ’88, ’87; Bernard Maygers ’88; David Dix ’88; Frank Brown ’88; Glenn Cooper ’88; Bernard “B.J.” Centa ’87; Hans van Rheenen ’89; Dennis Villagomez ’88; Wayne van DeMerwe ’90, Robert van Rheenen ’86; Daniel Farrer ’86; Daniel Baldauf ’88; Thomas Thompson ’86; Thomas Cindric ’89; John Poisson; John Black ’94; Andrew Bromley ’87; Peter Kossis ’86; Louis Sweterlitsch ’86; Gerald Van DeMerwe ’88, ’01M; managers Richard Killian and Vincent Padalino ’90; Head Coach Robert Russo; and Assistant Coach James Herlinger.

Individual 2020 inductees include: Javar Cheatham ’02, Men’s Basketball; Jaime McLaughlin ’99, Softball; Jen Papich ’14, Women's Basketball; Stacey Reynolds ’00, ’01M, Women's Lacrosse; Jon Richardson ’10, Football; Brittany Tabron ’10, ’11M, Women's Basketball.

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