Gannon University
Annual Report of the President
Gannons’ mission
Gannon is a Catholic, Diocesan, studentcentered University which provides for the holistic development of undergraduate and graduate students in the Judeo-Christian tradition. As such, it offers each student outstanding teaching and a value-centered education in both liberal arts and professional specializations, in order to prepare students for leadership roles in their careers, society and church. The University faculty and staff are committed to excellence and continuous improvement in teaching, learning, scholarship, research and service. The University’s environment is to be one of inclusiveness and cultural diversity.
contents President’s Message ...................................... 2 Doorways to Knowledge ............................. 4 Doorways to Community .......................... 14 Doorways to Faith ..................................... 22 Catholic Higher Education Speakers Series .......................................... 29 Financial Stewardship ................................ 30 Year in Review ........................................... 32
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door shall be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7
Doorways represent opportunities for movement from one state of being to another. We often speak of “standing upon the threshold” of new ideas or abilities, or of opening doors wide to welcome others. Thus we have chosen doors as fitting metaphors within The Annual Report of the President to represent Gannon University’s focus upon Knowledge, Faith, and Community. This was a year filled with both challenges and achievements as we worked collaboratively to execute our Strategic Plan and to fulfill our Mission. As you shall see from the accounts in the report, Gannon students, faculty, staff, and alumni continue to excel in academic, faith, and service endeavors. One tremendous challenge and major accomplishment for the entire community— The Middle States Commission on Higher Education Review—was completed in June 2003 and resulted in Gannon’s successful accreditation for the next 10 years. On page five, you can read about the results, which affirmed that Gannon’s accreditation process is an institutional model of exemplary practice. Toward fulfilling the seven goals of our Strategic Plan, approved by the Board of Trustees in 2002, the faculty and staff of the University have expanded the curriculum, improved facilities, weathered the constantly shifting economic situation, and served an ever-growing community in fulfillment of our Mission. We have increased enrollment by identifying more highly qualified students and planning activities in which they can expand their knowledge of Gannon. Alumni support has grown as we have encouraged more Gannon and Villa Maria alumni to return to our everchanging campus—alumni who have not only contributed financially, but also have offered their own unique perspectives to current students through guest lectures and personal interaction. We have increased and diversified course offerings to encompass new technological requirements and opportunities, supported by improved information technology services. These include a new bachelor’s degree in software engineering, expanded educational degree programs, and a doctoral degree in physical therapy. The Strategic Plan also focuses upon Catholic identity and encouraging faculty development and scholarship. Our Catholic Higher Education Speakers Series brought three noted theologians to campus last year who spoke on several different topics of concern. Two thousand, five hundred and seventy-seven (2,577) of our students truly lived our Mission— serving local, national, and international organizations for 22,281 hours. In support of faculty development and scholarship,
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the University recognized 76 faculty members last year for their research and publications. While Gannon continues to focus upon teaching, scholarship enriches our work in the classroom and encourages the development of new methods, ideas, and abilities. Gannon’s dedicated facilities staff continues improving classrooms in order to enhance learning. Renovation and expansion of existing buildings has improved efficient use of our space and extended our technological capabilities. But the sum of Gannon is not limited to a physical location. The University is an intellectual, social, academic, and Catholic entity with an impressive past and a promising future. The legacy of learning so proudly bequeathed to us by Villa Maria College endures and thrives. It lives on in the continued excellence of our nursing program—which continues to achieve 100% employment for its graduates—and in the experiences and aspirations of our education majors. Students Casee Campbell, Mark Sandidge, Keary Wagle, and Jen Toney offer their own insights into the strength of the education major in the following pages. Clearly, the commendations of the Middle States Commission recognize our collaborative success as a University in striving to meet the seven goals of the Strategic Plan. The Commission commended Gannon for “developing and sustaining a community that is so strongly dedicated to the support of students in both academic and co-curricular enterprises; for the strong commitment of its faculty to teaching and supporting students; and for sustaining a supportive and cooperative relationship among all academic and administrative departments and between faculty and staff”; for financial management; and for commitment to significant transformation. The Commission commends us for those things that we have done well for many years—our teaching, leadership, and collaboration. The Gannon faculty, students, staff, and alumni whose stories follow illustrate those strengths, are a great source of pride, and inspire our entire community. I am confident that they shall do so for you as well.
Antoine M. Garibaldi, Ph.D. President
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Penny Smith and Jan Friedman ’81VMC Gannon’s academic community faced a huge task over the last two years—preparing for, conducting and coordinating Middle States reaccreditation. Steering the University through the process were the dedicated co-chairs, Assistant Professors Penelope Smith, Ph.D., and Jan Friedman, CRNP, MSN, CS. “The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is the accrediting body for colleges and universities in this region of the country. Reaccreditation is required every 10 years. Without it, the University could not continue to operate,” according to Friedman. In preparation for the Middle States visit, Friedman and Smith held regular steering committee meetings and helped coordinate the compiling of each of the surveys used as one of the data sources for the Self-Study done by the University. “We were in frequent contact with the chairs of the 15 working groups to answer questions, offer encouragement, provide guidance and feedback,” says Smith. “We also provided regular updates to President Garibaldi, his staff, Provost’s Council, Faculty Senate, and the Gannon community.” Regular community meetings enabled feedback at various stages of the process. Friedman notes, “we also worked closely with Dr. Kate Marsters, the general editor, reading multiple drafts of each working group’s reports and other portions of the final SelfStudy. She did a phenomenal job of weaving everything together.” The job didn’t end with the study. Following that, Smith and Friedman wrote the Introduction and Executive Summary of the Self-Study and revised the recommendations in order to link them to Gannon’s Strategic Plan in consultation with the President. They also worked with the President and his staff to plan and coordinate the visits for the full Middle States Site Visit Team. In fact, President Garibadli asked them to join his weekly staff meetings from February up to the date of the visit in April. In the process, both discovered new things about the University community. “As I see it,” Smith says, “Gannon’s chief strength is its employees. We have a gifted, dedicated faculty; a knowledgeable and caring student development staff; a helpful, responsive ITS department; a creative and hardworking professional library staff; and administrators who encourage participation in governance.” “We could never have completed the project without the organizational skills of Colleen Cipriani,” Friedman says. “She kept everything going as Penny and I tried to provide feedback, support, and encouragement to the working group chairs.” They didn’t want to take over the process, instead trying to ensure that the final report fairly and accurately represented a collaborative, communal view of the University. Their success and the success of all the working groups is evident in the Middle States Commission’s highly favorable report and reaccreditation of Gannon for the next 10 years. It was so favorable, in fact, that Friedman and Smith were asked to present Gannon’s SelfStudy at the next Middle States meeting in the fall as a model for other colleges to follow. Both feel that the Self-Study offers excellent points for the University to address in considering the next stages in fulfilling the strategic plan. “It’s important to address those recommendations not in isolation, but as part of our larger vision of where we should be heading for the future,” Smith adds. She is confident that her colleagues are quite capable of meeting the challenge. Nearly 300 faculty, students, trustees and staff members participated in the process. Smith says, “I expected that the Gannon community would ‘mobilize’ and participate actively in the entire process, but I wasn’t prepared for the degree of dedication shown by everyone who was involved. It was truly a community-wide effort.”
“It was truly a communitywide effort.”
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Renae Pryjmak Though she considered Point Park College, Mercyhurst, and the University of Pittsburgh, Johnstown, Gannon University’s strong academic programs drew Renae Pryjmak here. “Gannon really focuses on teaching,” she notes. “I did a lot of research on various prephysical therapy programs, and Gannon’s was very impressive. The fact that Gannon has its own graduate physical therapy school was the deciding factor. When I talked to faculty, they were professional, yet friendly—a very attractive combination.” Renae is in the pre-Physical Therapy program at Gannon, and hopes to add a Theater or Liberal Arts major. She values the support that her professors have provided. “The sciences demand discipline and a rigorous method of reasoning that can be useful in many aspects of life. Gannon subscribes to many journals and magazines as well as webbased search engines like Proquest and First Search. I have found these sources helpful. Many professors give thorough instruction on how to use these facilities efficiently. As far as hands-on research, there are many opportunities. I had the chance to observe research in wound care techniques as a freshman.” An Honors student, Renae is in Lamda Sigma National Honor Society and the Schuster Scholarship Program, as well as Physical Therapy Club. “I’m interested in understanding the physiological and anatomical workings of the body in order to help people prevent and recover from injury,” she says. “Outside of class, I’m involved in Dafmark Dance Theater, music, intramural football, and theater, and I volunteer at the Erie Art Museum.”
“Students are encouraged to think creatively about every subject.”
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“Money is tight for many students, so the availability of scholarships and work-study at Gannon makes it easier to concentrate on school,” Renae says. “Professors work with students and vary the pace of learning in a particular class depending on their needs. Also, Gannon has various groups like Chemistry Club, Women in Science and Engineering, and PT Club that allow people with similar interests to share ideas and gain experience in their field of study.” Renae notes, “There are many different ways to learn. In the classroom, things are usually based on theory, but we gain practical knowledge of topics, socially, economically and historically. It is important to understand how different subjects relate to, and influence each other. Students are encouraged to think creatively about every subject; not to just accept the facts, but to build on them. Innovation and new ideas lead to progress. Last year, there was a debate on the war with Iraq. It made students think about pertinent issues and defend their positions. They searched for new answers. I think that having events like this in and out of the classroom encourages learning.” It has been important to Renae to work with others who share her passion for learning. “There are people here who have the same interests and goals I do. It is nice to be able to share ideas and help each other. My advisor, Professor David Gustafson, has really helped me figure out my options. Theater and physical therapy tend to clash, and I have had a hard time making decisions. He has been positive and encouraging.” It is impossible to be anything but positive about Renae.
Leah Nehrebecki ’03
Leah Nehrebecki ’03 isn’t one to ignore the challenges of life—in school—or in “the real world.” At Gannon, the Finance/Risk Management double major excelled in and out of the classroom, a trait that continues today. Leah is now a Financial Analyst for Ford Motor Company, working at the Lorain and Ohio assembly plants in Cleveland, Ohio.
“No other school could compare with Gannon,” she says. “Gannon offered a well-rounded education, a favorable teacher-to-student ratio, and a resource center exclusively for commuters.” In addition to participating in the usual student activities and on-campus events, Leah was a member of the Commuter Advisory Board, Delta Mu Delta business administration honor society, and was the president of the Risk Management Club. Leah also enjoyed playing on basketball and soccer teams at local athletic facilities. Though this slate of activities would be impressive for any student, Leah did all of this while raising her fouryear-old daughter, Allie. “A benefit of attending Gannon is that your professors know your name and who you are. They guide you in developing as a student and as a professional. Many professors encouraged discussions that were challenging and offered a new view on an old concept. Some professors required that we read business magazines to stay abreast on current issues and news. Professors Abe Aburachis and Michael DeSanctis greatly influenced my learning experience at Gannon.” Leah notes, “The University needs to continue to challenge students and push them to their limits. I enjoyed the quantitative methods of Finance, while also using my creativity and presentation skills with Risk Management.” Leah learned many things in school, but she says the most important lesson was more about living than academics. “I’ve learned to enjoy life by doing what will make me most happy,” she says. “The professors at Gannon made sure we understood that life is about more than just work.” “Ford offers me a challenging work environment and the ability to advance my professional career while being a single mother. I work in Cost Analysis, which is the accounting and finance department of Ford’s assembly plants. Some of our major responsibilities include establishing financial controls for the daily operations of the plant, assessing and tracking performance to metrics, providing analytical studies for areas of cost savings opportunities, and, most recently, developing our plant’s total operating budget for the 2004 Ford Escape and 2005 Mercury Mariner.”
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“It’s wonderful here,” Leah says. “I enjoy what I do, and I find it more interesting and challenging each day. Gannon prepared me for an excellent career and provided me with the skills to be an asset to my company.”
“The professors at Gannon made sure we understood that life is about more than just work.”
Tim Laskowski ’78
Author and alumnus, Tim Laskowski ’78, switched to Social Work as a major in his sophomore year at Gannon. He was enamored with the idea of being able to make a living while helping people. “Social work is something I do for a living, and it has been fulfilling emotionally and spiritually,” he says, “but I also spent six years studying literature and writing and teaching.” Since earning his B.A. from Gannon, he has focused on both social work and literature, earning his M.A. in English and his M.F.A in Creative Writing from the University of Montana and his Ph.D. from Ohio University.
Tim’s interests as a writer and as a teacher are in how people communicate with each other—how meaning is expressed. “Contemporary literary theory emphasizes the impossibility of accurate communication among people, but I like to explore the ways people find to bridge the emotional and intellectual distances between them,” he notes. This is the thematic driving force behind his book, Every Good Boy Does Fine. Tim says, “It was very important to me to portray the brain injury experience accurately. I approached the subject with as much humility as I could muster, knowing that I was trying to get inside and describe an experience I do not know directly.” At times, the disparity between Tim’s academic interests and working life feels like two different worlds. “My social work life keeps me grounded,” he says. “I have gone directly from a meeting talking about a client’s bowel program into a classroom to teach Shakespeare. I never worry about being too removed from the ‘real world’ because of my art. I value that grounding.”
“Gannon offers a wellrounded program that intends to educate the whole person.”
Tim feels that Gannon’s liberal arts core program encouraged him to reflect on and explore all of life and philosophy. “Gannon offers a well-rounded program that educates the whole person—not just training people for specific jobs—but truly educating many different aspects of the person by making us think and reflect on some of the big questions of life. My social work Professors, Charles Murphy and Tony Rao, were always supportive of me, and I think they appreciated my level of dissent. I enjoyed the liberal arts classes and the theology and philosophy classes as well. Twenty-five years later, I still remember those classes and the ideas that were raised.” Tim feels that all institutions of learning should foster a spirit of questioning—questioning both of authority and the answers we’ve internalized for ourselves. “A university should ask students to challenge themselves and the world around them,” he says. “Life is short and the best way to get through it is to enjoy yourself while being gentle to others, to the earth, and to yourself,” says Tim. “There’s no sense in being harsh; it will only bring you grief. I’m not talking about hedonism, which I define as a kind of shallow and temporary merry-making. I’m talking about identifying and taking care of your emotional and physical and spiritual and intellectual needs. If you do that, you become a lot more valuable to others. As I get older, I relate more and more with Voltaire’s advice in Candide: ‘Cultivate your own garden.’” Tim’s garden should be flourishing indeed.
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Steve Ropski ’78 Steve Ropski ’78, Ph.D., conducts his research in consummate hands-on fashion. He delights in taking his students out into the field with him and teaching them about the myriad facets of environmental and ecological studies. Ropski’s academic and personal interests harmonize perfectly, since he spends almost every other day outside with his family at Presque Isle. “To me, a bad day in the field beats a good day in the lab anytime,” says Ropski. The collaborative learning he and his students share enhances his research and teaching.
“Despite its growth, the University hasn’t lost that personal approach.”
“The majority of my field work must be done outdoors,” Ropski notes. “I can show my students photos of nature, but to truly understand it they must experience it for themselves, firsthand. On our last trip to Yellowstone National Park, we watched a female bison going into labor. Then a wolf came out of the nearby trees and attacked. We watched the struggle unfolding right before us. Seeing the bison succeed in driving away the wolf was not something I could ever have planned, nor could it have achieved that power and immediacy on film.” Though quite successful in finding internal and external funding for his research, Ropski considers the primary focus at Gannon to be teaching, as it was when he was a student here. “Ken Anderson (Professor Emeritus, Biology) was a great influence on me,” he notes. “It was his research on the mammals of the Wattsburg Fen that first drew me into mammalian studies. Stan Zagorski (Professor Emeritus, Biology) interested me in field ecology and ecological ethics. What Gannon is good at hasn’t changed. We get to know our students—they are more than faceless forms in a crowd. Despite its growth, the University hasn’t lost that personal approach.” Ropski considers the values explored in Gannon’s liberal arts curriculum to be crucial in training the next generations of scientists and field biologists. “Unless people explore ethics and philosophy—unless they truly think about what they believe and why—they may make decisions based solely upon money as the bottom line. I teach my students that even making small changes such as using less energy, recycling, and buying recycled products can have a huge impact if enough people take part.”
Jackie Metheny
Senior Biology major Jackie Metheny chanced upon her eventual academic interest one day on campus. “Dr. Ropski was carrying a ladder around with a student to tag bats, and he asked me to join them,” she remembers. “I did and he hasn’t gotten rid of me yet. I can’t get bats out of my mind—the more I learn, the more I want to know.”
Jackie confirms Dr. Ropski’s description of Gannon as an institution where collaboration between faculty and students adds a richness to the learning process that universities with larger class sizes simply cannot offer to undergraduates. “I took a summer class at West Virginia University with over 80 students,” she says. “It was too large to ask questions. At Gannon that’s never a problem. Students receive individual attention in and out of class. We participate in shaping the campus by joining clubs and groups or starting our own, as we did when we formed the Environmental Campus Committee with the help and guidance of Dr. Ropski and Gary Garnic (Associate Vice President of Campus Services). We actively changed our campus.” Jackie notes that the Biology Department encourages undergraduates to participate in research. “Professors help out as much as possible with directing students in their endeavors,” she says. “Dr. Ropski is committed to our research but also has the time to care about all his students. He, Dr. Elisa Konieczko, and Professor David Gustafson have changed my life with their guidance, knowledge, and encouragement when I most needed them.”
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Brian Bixby Finding time to serve his community has not been easy for freshman football player Brian Bixby, but he thrives on challenges. The Computer Science major holds the teenage record in Pennsylvania for power lifting; competed in the Junior Olympics in Cleveland, Ohio; earned Erie’s All-Metro First Team honors for two years; and graduated at the top of his class at Cathedral Preparatory School. Despite the myriad demands upon his time, he has spent four years volunteering his summers with the Second Harvest Food Bank in Erie. An intense but gentle giant (off the football field, at least), Brian has also been involved in serving his local parish, St. Jude Church, where he helped to create the commemorative garden. Brian is a talented artist and enjoys working with Artists Incorporated of Erie doing art and theatre projects for underprivileged and mentally challenged children. “I would like to get more involved with the community, but it can be hard because football takes up a lot of my time and most of my energy,” he says. “I see my role as a student-athlete enabling me to use my athletic ability to help out Gannon’s football program. I hope to set a good example as a student-athlete for people outside of—as well as within—the University.” He’s already setting a great example for us all.
Monteiá M. Goodwin
Criminal Justice major Monteiá (Monty) Goodwin cites Dr. Michael J. McSkimming, Assistant Professor and Director of Gannon University’s Criminal Justice Program, as the teacher who has most affected his life. “As a freshman, I was undecided as to what I wanted to do with my life. I took the Introduction to Criminal Justice course that he taught and I was immediately drawn to the field. He helped guide me onto the path that I am on right now.”
Monty chose Gannon in part for its location and urban setting. “Most of the other colleges I looked at were in rural areas,” he says. “At Gannon, in my spare time I don’t have to try too hard to find something interesting to take part in. There’s plenty to do right here.”
“Everyone here genuinely cares about each other.”
As a talented student-athlete on Gannon’s football team, Monty says, “Gannon is unique because the professors, administrators, and coaches really go out of their way to help when I need it. Everyone here genuinely cares about each other, and if they are able to lend a helping hand they will do so. Gannon’s writing and math centers really support learning. If a student is behind in a class, it is relatively easy to talk to the professor or set up an appointment with a tutor.” Learning directly from criminal justice professionals is key. “Guest speakers are a big part of the learning process,” Monty says. “Just last semester, I listened to three guest speakers who spoke on subjects ranging from Theology to Criminology.” Monty feels that Gannon challenges him as a student with new concepts and high expectations. “Time flies by when you’re working hard,” he says. “Therefore, I don’t even have a chance to get bored. Professors here at Gannon help me by always expecting a little bit more out of me. I’ve yet to reach my full potential as a person, and until that day comes, I wouldn’t mind if everyone pushed me a little harder academically and personally.”
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“The most important thing I’ve learned thus far is to take advantage of every opportunity that presents itself,” he says. “Never regret something that you did in the past. Only regret the things you never tried to do.” Words for us all to live by, Monty.
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Keary Wagle Freshman Keary Wagle has been planning for her first semester with great anticipation and some careful research into her chosen field. The Leadership Scholarship winner is pursuing a double major in Elementary Education and Special Education. “The dual major is more marketable,” she says, “especially since inclusion is so important now in elementary and middle school classrooms. Gannon’s education department is one of the best.” Keary was drawn to Gannon because of the intellectual community she saw here. “The learning atmosphere at Gannon is very inviting,” she says. “From the very first time I visited Gannon, I was warmly welcomed. Any questions I had were answered right away. Students and faculty alike were enthusiastic about the classes. I felt I’d be very comfortable here academically.” As an Education major, Keary will be required to participate in service learning, a task she approaches with her customary enthusiasm and energy. “The expERIEnce Children’s Museum seems like a great place to get some excellent experience working directly with children. I plan to volunteer there.” “Dr. Patricia Pollifrone has been a great contact,” Keary says. “She worked in the field so she knows what she is talking about. She was so enthusiastic about Gannon and helped me in so many ways. She stayed in contact with me, inviting me to different events going on at the school so that I could attend lectures before I even started as a freshman. Every time I visited, she would set aside time to sit down and talk with me.”
“I know it will provide me with a strong academic and ethical foundation.”
Keary already understands that not all her growth and learning will happen within the classroom. “I was very involved in student government at the high school level and would like to continue that at Gannon to help me improve my leadership skills. It will also serve as a good place to meet people. I would also like to become involved in campus ministry. That’ll be a good group to help me continue to grow in my faith.” Noting that she wanted to attend a Catholic university, Keary says she found Gannon to be the best match for her. “I know it will provide me with a strong academic and ethical foundation for when I begin to search for jobs in my profession. Gannon has many good contacts.” Gannon’s president made a particular impression upon her. “Dr. Garibaldi’s eyes light up when he talks about the University. He learns all of the students’ names and gets to know them. That really shows something about his character.”
mmunity Keary’s thoughtful plans for her own education and her life show us a great deal about her character.
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Michael DeSanctis
Michael DeSanctis, Ph.D., began working at Gannon and in the Erie community in 1985 when he joined the faculty. He wanted to teach at a university where he would not have to separate his faith from his subject matter. His books on church architecture reflect this, as does his Ph.D. in Comparative Arts, with concentrations in architectural and musical history. He is fascinated by the interplay of faith and art in both liturgical and artistic settings. Erie has been a rich location for DeSanctis’s interests. He is deeply involved in the Catholic and Christian communities of Erie. He led the second of two diocesan pilgrimages for the sesquicentennial of the Diocese of Erie this summer, explaining the variety of architectural influences and styles. He teaches liturgical history at his home parish of St. Jude and consults with other parishes locally and nationally on making their worship places more open to the directives of Vatican II. He says that his community involvement allows him to bring practical experiences back to class, as in the course he teaches once a year on Erie architecture.
DeSanctis considers teaching to be a transformative act. “Because of our Catholic identity, Gannon allows that to happen more explicitly than it might elsewhere. The classroom and the community can become sacred spaces. Teaching is not indoctrination. It is more like opening a door to knowledge...a door the teacher has already been through. Students need a framework, as art forms do. Picture frames, window frames, proscenium archways, and door frames focus our vision just as faith focuses our vision as a community.” “I didn’t want my students to be numbers to me,” he says. “I get to know them individually and they know me by name. That allows us to become a community and to reach out to the Erie community as well. We’re not so large that we become anonymous to each other. The University encourages us to be involved. I’ve never encountered anyone at Gannon who felt that our jobs were limited to the classroom.”
Phil Zimmerly
Service to both the Gannon community and the Erie community is an integral part of Student Government Association (SGA) president Phil Zimmerly’s life. His interests (and talents) range broadly from musical and theatrical performance, rhetoric and literature to sports and drawing. “At Gannon, I’ve learned that I’m most content when I can serve others. That’s what makes SGA so exciting for me— knowing that if I work hard, I can make positive, lasting changes.” Phil chose Gannon because he saw it as a place where he would be encouraged to participate. “I knew a smaller school would offer me the opportunity to become involved. I’ve had the opportunity to do all that I wanted to do—SGA, theater, and other social organizations. What makes the University click is the fact that so many different voices and backgrounds are coming together for one purpose.” In addition to SGA, Phil is active in Gannon’s Honors Program, as a Resident Assistant, as the Gannon Mascot, in Campus Ministry and intramurals. He participated for the last two years in GIVE Day, and last year was a part of the Student Day of Caring. “Working with the Honors Program’s mentoring program tutoring children after school was the greatest,” he says.
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Phil credits Gannon’s Center for Social Concerns with providing opportunities for students to become involved in the Erie area, but adds that the professors here are a huge part of the community spirit as well. “Theology of Moral Responsibility last semester totally blew me away. I never thought about issues like social justice and natural law until I was sitting in the Honors conference room, debating tough subjects like abortion and euthanasia with other students. Students learn that they are a part of a greater human community, and that they should become involved in changing the status quo.”
“I’ve learned that I’m most content when I can serve others.”
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Jen Gwin
In 2002-03, the Lady Knights produced the nation’s 15th highest team grade point average (GPA), and advanced to the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Women’s Basketball Tournament due in no small measure to the talents of Jen Gwin both on and off the court. She has repeatedly been named to the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) basketball honor roll since beginning her career at Gannon. Many on campus know of Jen’s talent as both a scholar and an athlete. She was named GLIAC Freshman of the Year for 2001-02—a major accomplishment. They may not be aware of how involved she has been in the community. Every year, the women of the basketball team spend hours working on service and outreach projects. Jen volunteered at the Annual Social Work Club Christmas Party last year, celebrating with a diverse group of individuals. She also helped out at the Health Fair held by the Villa Maria School of Nursing at Franklin Terrace Apartments. One might wonder where Jen finds the time to work out in the morning, maintain a 3.23 GPA, play basketball and serve her community. She says, “As a student-athlete, the number one ability a student must acquire to succeed is time management. I have learned that the education you receive at Gannon is not only acquired in the classroom. Your service and social interactions with Erie community organizations can teach you even more.”
“I have learned that the education you receive at Gannon is not only acquired in the classroom.”
Women’s Basketball Coach Cleve Wright enjoyed having Jen and her teammates help out with several free clinics that Gannon offered at St. Andrew and Emerson Gridley schools for students who might otherwise never have the opportunity to work with experienced players. Jen and her teammates also volunteered at the Thrift Store, Shriners Hospital for Children, and Martin Luther King Center, and participated in the Race for the Cure. They plan at least four more projects in the coming year. Last spring, Jen served as the assistant coach of the Erie Saints (a 14-and-under Amateur Athletic Union team) and spent part of her summer helping with Gannon’s basketball camp for girls from grades three through 12. The camp improves girls’ skills and knowledge of the game. Jen assisted in teaching them the value of good character and proper attitude in both basketball and life. Jen values the close relationships she has developed with the professors and staff at Gannon. “My favorite staff member truly cares about the students and the University. The circumstances under which he and I met weren’t the greatest but he has the ability to see past the mistakes people make and realize that one experience doesn’t necessarily show a person’s true character.” “As a student at Gannon, I benefit from the small size of the school. I receive a lot of one-on-one time with my professors whenever I need it.” Jen hopes one day to be able to offer that same degree of involvement to her own team if she can pursue her dream of coaching. If not, she says, “I’ll pursue a career in either finance or human resources,” positions in which her confidence, commitment, and academic credentials will serve her equally well.
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Sanjay Naga ’02 MS MBA student Sanjay Naga ’02 traveled to Erie from India on a cold January day. His first weekend was difficult. He arrived on a Friday, and, after he was picked up at the airport and dropped at his new apartment, he had no idea where to go or what he should do. He had never cooked for himself and knew no places to eat, so he lived on tap water until Monday morning, when Dr. Mehmet Cultu, advisor of the International Students Association, took him to breakfast and showed him around. The following semester, Dr. Cultu asked Sanjay to help other international students with their transitions to Gannon. He leapt at the chance. “Dr. Cultu was so welcoming, so helpful and kind. The entire Gannon community was awesome. That inspired me to serve my fellow international students and make the transition easier for them.” Sanjay created a brochure with key information on rent, clothing, food and other basic facts about Erie. Sanjay doesn’t limit his volunteer efforts to Gannon students. Sanjay is also involved with the non-profit International Trade Organization (part of the Manufacturer’s Association of Erie). He offers his financial management and information technology skills and discusses export and import opportunities between the U.S. and India. Sanjay works in the Erie community to help refugees from places as far flung as the Sudan, Bosnia, the Ukraine, and Somalia. He helps them learn English, teaches them how to decipher the bus schedule, and helps them adapt. “They lived lives of poverty, drought, and want in their regions. They aren’t familiar with day to day life here when they arrive,” Sanjay says, “but now they are doing really well. It is wonderful speaking with them and learning of all that they have overcome to be here. Hearing of their sorrows can be hard, but it is truly marvelous to share in their joy.”
Mark Sandidge Intellect and heart unite to serve a common focus for Math/Education double major, Mark Sandidge. He has been fascinated by mathematics since he was a boy—playing chess with his uncles and solving problems. “To me, math just makes sense,” he says. “But even though I love it, I could not see myself doing math problems eight hours a day for forty hours or more a week. Education seemed to be the avenue that was best suited to combine my math skill with a more social environment in which I could use my knowledge to help someone become a better person.” As a Gannon Ambassador, member of Truthseekers (a bible study whose main goal is to seek the truth, know the truth, and live the truth in Jesus Christ), a member of the Peer Ministry team of Campus Ministry, threeyear Resident Assistant, and member of Minority Cultures United, Mark might appear too busy serving the University community to serve the Erie community as well. Such is not the case. He has volunteered with the youth at Glenwood United Methodist Church in programs designed to provide students with positive after-school alternatives. Mark says his community efforts have benefited him rather than interfering with his education. “Getting involved and taking advantage of all my opportunities at self-advancement made a world of difference. It seemed that the busier I became, the better I was able to handle it.”
“Getting involved and taking advantage of all my opportunities at selfadvancement made a world of difference.”
doorways to
Fa
Father Chris Singer ’99 When one considers the academic life of a seminarian, philosophy, theology, and Latin are probably the first areas of study that spring to mind. Father Chris Singer ’99 certainly took his share of those courses. But his major and his interests were much broader than that. Physics was his major with a Mathematics minor.
“The faith of the people around me, whether Catholic or not, challenged me to understand.”
To some, reconciling the worlds of science and faith might seem contradictory, even impossible. Not to Father Chris. “My years at Gannon taught me otherwise. I met men and women who were experts in their fields of physical and human sciences who deeply believed and lived their faith. The faith of the people around me, whether Catholic or not, challenged me to understand and live my own faith more deeply. That experience, combined with solid courses in theology and philosophy, showed me that there is one Truth about ourselves and the universe and that all fields of study can use their own respective tools to honestly come closer to that Truth.” When Father Chris talks about the faith character of the University, he does not limit it to Christianity. “At Gannon I came to know students from a variety of cultural and faith backgrounds. The presence of priests, sisters, and experts from other denominations and religions on the Gannon campus provided a constant reminder to me of the centrality of faith in all our lives. My experience was that the religious leaders and professors of all faith backgrounds respected each other and genuinely wanted to help the students come to the know the Truth.” Now serving the parish of St. George in Erie, Father Chris remains close to his alma mater. “In looking back at my entire Gannon experience, one fact comes immediately to mind. As good as the education was that I received, the people that I met were by far the most rich and valuable aspect of my Gannon years. From my perspective, the quality of the students, faculty, and staff is the most valuable resource that the University has to offer to others. In my four years there I met people from all walks of life, experts in virtually every field of human endeavor, who still managed to keep their faith as the focus of their lives. This witness has helped me to do the same.”
aith
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Sam Van Eman
How does a Catholic university respect all religious traditions while staying true to its own heritage and mission? Sam Van Eman, Campus Ministry Associate in the Chaplain’s Office, has first-hand experience with this very subject. Sam wondered how his own faith would intersect with the Catholic identity of Gannon, but found that to be an opportunity rather than a conflict. “As a Protestant, I’ve always felt very welcome here. From an ecumenical standpoint, I take seriously my opportunities to work with the variety of traditions represented at Gannon,” he says.
“As a Protestant, I’ve always felt very welcome here.”
Sam says that working on the Chaplain’s staff has sparked many conversations on faith. “I took two graduate courses here in the Pastoral Studies program that challenged my thinking. We must meet the needs of all students, not just Christians. We make sure that they know where they can go to worship, at the University and in the community.” Leading groups of students on journeys of discovery during alternative breaks has given Sam a great deal of insight into the role of faith within the Gannon community. “There are many opportunities for pursuing spiritual depth here and yet Gannon, while its identity is clearly Christian, does not force itself onto non-Christians. I have backpacked with and come to know several Hindu students who seem to enjoy Gannon and what it offers. One Indian student said, ‘Gannon is Catholic and that’s fine. I came here knowing that. I’m getting a good education and I can worship elsewhere if I want to.’” “The better we model the integration of academia and our Christian heritage and mission as a University, the more effective we will be in the community.”
Christina Linehan
Psychology major Christina Linehan just returned from three weeks teaching English in El Salvador amid poverty that she had never imagined before her family began their service trips. “Most of my service trips have been in the U.S., such as Kentucky and West Virginia,” she says. “But my family also works a lot with El Salvador. I don’t see teaching English as the essence of what I did there. I see the most important thing I did as just being with the people and loving them. El Salvador went through a civil war which ended about 10 years ago. Since then many of the people in villages do not see their own selfworth. Being there with them shows that they are important. My trips have shown me reality. I’d be very sheltered, otherwise.” Christina’s activities at Gannon include the Honors Program, Student Advisory Board, Lambda Sigma Honor Society, Program for Students with Learning Disabilities, and Campus Ministry. “Campus Ministry goes backpacking as part of Impact, which is a Christ-centered wilderness experience,” she says. “I thought that was the coolest thing in the world.” “The University has helped my faith to grow. There are many different groups to join which challenge their members in different ways. I live in the Kirk House, which is an Intentional Christian community. We make a point of knowing what is going on in each other’s lives and faith traditions and how we can care for one another.”
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Christina doesn’t limit her involvement to Gannon. “I visit the House of Prayer about once a week. This is a house opened to the public for prayer. During the week there is Mass and Contemplative Prayer. On Wednesdays I babysit for kids at the First Presbyterian Church of the Covenant while their parents are at Bible Study. I also work at L’Arche, which is a community for adults with mental retardation.” “Gannon does a wonderful job supporting faith and differences in faith traditions. The staff in the Chaplain’s Office is GREAT,” Christina says. “The first time I met them they were friendly and welcoming. After I got to know them better, I found that that
friendliness was based on a strong spirituality. They are people with great insight and from whom I truly learn.” After graduation, Christina would like to do a year or two of service, “maybe with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, or independently in El Salvador. After that I would like to go back to school for a Master’s in Theology. These are tentative plans. I try not to be too stuck on my own plans so God can do what He wants with my life.“
Father George Strohmeyer ’58
For Father George Strohmeyer, Chaplain of Gannon University, faith and community are inextricably intertwined. In the 25 cumulative years he has served Gannon, in positions as varied as Residence Director and priest to Assistant Dean of Students and Director of New Student Services, Father George has seen enormous changes across Gannon’s campus. Father George seems to relish the challenges facing him as Chaplain. “The cultural support for a reasoned, ethical life isn’t there for our young people today. They have to reach for it and find it on their own. Gannon’s Catholic identity must be expressed not only in the classroom or the chapel on campus, but to our neighbors. We must practice social justice—not charity—but justice.” “I want to continue broadening our community. Honoring diversity is one of our challenges in the Chaplain’s office. I want us to expand on the excellent work of the last few years and keep building a responsive, compassionate faith community.” Father George credits his deep involvement with L’Arche Erie with fueling his ministry at Gannon. He went to Toronto in 1971 with Sister Barbara Karsznia of Gannon to hear Jean Vanier, the founder of L’Arche, speak. The moment transformed his life forever. They returned and founded the Erie L’Arche community in 1972. L’Arche communities seek to be places of peace and hope, where people with developmental disabilities and assistants live, work, and pray together, sharing suffering and joy as brothers and sisters. Erie is the oldest L’Arche community in the United States.
“I want to continue broadening our community.”
“I learned incredible things about life through the community of L’Arche, Father George says. “I learned about how I can hurt and be hurt; how I long for my deepest aspirations and prevent them at the same time. I also learned about the simplicity of accepting weakness and brokenness and letting it exist alongside of aspiration.” “L’Arche rendered me human and humane,” he says. “It softened my heart and gave me a sense of humility and endurance. We all create the barriers that we fall over. I found my place in the rough and tumble of human relating.” The quiet priest immersed in rough and tumble relating is also fascinated by contemplative mystical spirituality and Zen meditation. Father George sees them as very compatible with the teachings of Jesus and enjoys introducing students to them in his Nursing and Social Work guest lectures. “It’s another way of seeing into the heart of things as they are—life as it is. That is very important for me. I am driven to know what’s at the heart of everything.” Gannon’s Chaplaincy is in good hands with this founding Father.
Jen Toney
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It would be easier to count the Campus Ministry activities at Gannon in which Jen Toney is not involved than it is to list those in which she plays an active role.
The Elementary Education and Early Childhood double major is part of ICHTHI (a Catholic faith group), Truth Seekers (a nondenominational Bible study group), Intercollegiate Gathering Team (which plans workshops and prayers for gatherings with the other diocesan colleges), and Ministry Meetings (where all the religious groups on campus meet to plan events for the whole campus to attend.) “I am the Honors
Executive Board Secretary, a Resident Advisor for Student Living, serve on the Activities Planning Board movie committee, and am a member of Phi Eta Sigma and Lambda Sigma honor societies.” That is hardly enough to keep Jen busy, though. She is a mentor with the Honors Program at Holy Rosary School, volunteers at the expERIEnce Children’s Museum, and works on the Student Day of Caring through Gannon’s Center for Social Concerns. Many of these activities help her fulfill her service learning requirements as an Education major, but Jen feels called to service as part of her faith as well as her academic life. “I pray every day that God is guiding me and that I will be the best teacher that I can. I have had the opportunity to meet some amazing people at Gannon who know and have a deep faith in God. I have grown in faith with the help of the people I meet here everyday. Peers in class have brought up issues that really make me ponder my views and think about what my religion says about those issues.” “Gannon’s diversity gives all students the opportunity to express their faith,” Jen stresses. “They encourage different groups to exist and reach out to the students. All students of all faiths are included in all of the events. Gannon is a very welcoming and open school to all.” It would be difficult not to welcome such a dedicated and enthusiastic young woman.
Casee Campbell
Casee Campbell cites her peers at Gannon as the most important influence upon her faith. “Being around people you can talk to about faith is important,” she says. “Many of my professors lead by example. My sacred scriptures professor made everyone feel comfortable no matter what their faith background. He respects everyone.”
“People here help us grow spiritually as well as cognitively.”
Winner of the St. Catherine Medal (awarded to a Gannon sophomore with an outstanding record of scholarship, leadership, and service who exemplifies the highest ideals of a Catholic University), Casee chose her Education triple major as the result of her experiences as a child. “When I was a little girl, my father was severely hurt in an automobile accident. My second grade teacher took me into her home while my family recouped. This teacher had the grace of God shining so brightly in her. She touched many lives. It is my hope to touch lives the way mine was touched and I can’t think of a better career than working with children.” Casee is involved in sign language and deaf ministries, and singing, as well as basketball and competition cheerleading, dance team, SGA, the Committee for Social Concerns, Council for Exceptional Children, Phi Eta Sigma and Lambda Sigma honor societies, Good Schools PA, Hooked on Books!, Big Brother/Big Sister, and the Erie Playhouse.
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“Gannon is special because there are people here to help us grow spiritually as well as cognitively,” Casee notes.
Catholic Higher Education Speakers Series What does it mean to be a Catholic university?
As a university, Gannon is dedicated to teaching, learning and research. As a Catholic university, Gannon is called to ensure that faith informs its academic culture. This commitment is grounded in the Catholic belief that faith does not compete with reason, but that faith and reason complement each other in the pursuit of truth. This vision of education is clearly manifest in the witness and writings of Pope John Paul II. Himself a former university professor, John Paul has marked his papacy with a passionate call for the renewal of Catholic universities. In Ex corde Ecclesiae, he identifies four essential characteristics of a Catholic university: · Christian inspiration of the individuals and of the university community as such; · Continuing reflection in light of the Catholic faith upon the growing treasury of human knowledge; · Fidelity to the Christian message as it comes through the Church; · Institutional commitment to the service of the people of God and of the human family in their pilgrimage to the transcendent goal which gives meaning to life. At Gannon, these characteristics are evident and in harmony with our commitment to cultural diversity, academic freedom, and the welcome extended to students of diverse religious backgrounds. These characteristics are the focus of thoughtful discussion through Gannon’s Catholic Higher Education Speaker Series. Over the course of last year, one symposium and three esteemed speakers contributed to this effort. On April 5, 2002, as part of the Inauguration of President Antoine M. Garibaldi, Gannon held a symposium on “The Role of Catholic Higher Education Today” featuring a panel discussion led by the presidents of four nationally known Catholic colleges and universities: Reverend George F. Lundy, S.J., Ph.D., of Wheeling Jesuit University, Mary Pat Seurkamp, Ph.D., of College of Notre Dame of Maryland, Norman C. Francis, Ph.D., of Xavier University of Louisiana, and William P. Garvey ’57, Ph.D., of Mercyhurst College.
Reverend Edward A. (Monk) Malloy, CSC, Ph.D.
The Reverend Edward A. (Monk) Malloy, CSC, Ph.D., president of the University of Notre Dame, lectured on the “Future of Higher Education in America” on September 26, 2002. Malloy, who teaches in addition to his administrative duties, spoke of crises both inside and outside of the Church as opportunities for Catholic higher education to help people think about complex issues in sophisticated ways. On October 24, 2002, Monika K. Hellwig, LL.B., Ph.D., Executive Director of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities spoke on “Catholic Higher Education: The Challenges and Opportunities in a Rapidly Changing Society.” Gannon presented Hellwig with its Ut Diligatis Invincem award, inspired by the motto of founder Archbishop John Mark Gannon, “That you may love one another.” Hellwig noted that Catholic universities help students look beyond the boundaries of their academic disciplines to develop their characters, an understanding that all human life has meaning, and that faith cannot be kept “in a separate box” set apart from our lives. The Reverend Dennis Dease, Ph.D., president of the University of Saint Thomas, delivered a lecture on “Promoting Catholic Intellectual Tradition and Interfaith Understanding” on January 30, 2003. The University of St. Thomas is the largest Diocesan university in the United States, with 11,500 students. “The broad range of skills that a Catholic university develops in its graduates creates for the church a cadre of lay leaders who know and live their faith,” Dease said.
Reverend Dennis Dease, Ph.D.
Monika K. Hellwig, LL.B., Ph.D.
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Financial Stew Due to prudent fiscal management, Gannon University maintained operating expenses at levels consistent with current revenues and completed operations with a balanced budget for the 27th consecutive year, with one exception of an extraordinary depreciation expense of almost $6 million on the engineering software gifted to the University in Fiscal Year 2001. The depreciation is not being funded as we do not intend to replace the software in the future. As of June 30, 2003, the University endowment totaled $23.6 million. Endowment returns for Fiscal Year 2003 stand at a 0.5% loss due to a strong fourth quarter and the implementation of a new asset allocation. Net tuition, fees, and auxiliary enterprise revenues increased $2.2 million over the prior year. Compensation and benefits increased approximately 3% over the prior year mainly due to rising health care costs. Operating costs increased by only 1% due to careful fiscal management and efforts such as energy management programs which have been successfully implemented to contain utility expenses.
Linda L. Wagner, Vice President for Finance and Administration ’81, ’84 MBA
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Gannon continues to make strategic investments in state-of-theart technology. New computers were installed in student labs and Nash Library’s Cyber Café. A wireless network was installed in Zurn Science Center this summer. In addition to Zurn, wireless networks are also available in Beyer Hall, Nash Library and the Waldron Campus Center. All campus classrooms now have network connections for instructors, 30 classrooms have a digital dais or ceiling-mounted projectors and 10 classrooms have a network connection for each student. Several other strategic capital investments were also made at year-end from unused contingency and operating budget funds. These items include: emergency call boxes, new furniture and carpeting in Nash Library, Liquid Matrix software for admissions, new copy machines, and new athletic equipment for the Carneval Athletic Pavilion. Each of these items was identified as a priority in the strategic planning process. The University continues to upgrade student residence halls and apartments. Sprinkler systems were installed in Wehrle Hall and Wickford apartments along with security screens and cameras in Wehrle Hall. New furniture was purchased for Wickford Apartments and Freeman Hall. An additional 58 new resident student parking spaces were made available this fall.
wardship The University received $3.6 million in private, state and federal grants, including funds for research and programs such as Science in Motion. 34 additional proposals were submitted by University faculty and staff during the past fiscal year than in the previous year. Gannon’s Annual Fund totaled $917,000 for Fiscal Year 2003. This represents the secondhighest amount ever given to support the University’s operating budget. Fiscal Year 2003 alumni donors were up slightly from the prior year and the average gift from alumni increased by 14%. Documented bequests to Gannon currently exceed $1.6 million. Thirteen new estate plans that include Gannon University as a beneficiary were created this year and $91,500 was received from estate gifts in Fiscal Year 2003. Gannon continues to be prudent with its resources and to make reinvestments in order to meet strategic objectives outlined in the University’s Strategic Plan.
2002-2003 Revenue ■ 71% ■
8%
■ 3% ■ 13% ■ 5%
2002-2003 Expenses ■ 58% ■ 19% ■ 3% ■ 18% ■ 2%
Tuition and Fees, Net of Scholarships Federal, State and Private Grants Contributions Auxiliary Enterprises Other*
Compensation Operating Expenses Interest Depreciation Auxiliary Enterprises
2002-2003 Expenses by Function ■ 49% ■ 2% ■ 12% ■ 25% ■ 6% ■ 6%
Instruction and Research Public Service Student Services Institutional Support Plant Operations Auxiliary Enterprises
( All fig ures in m ill i on s of d ollars )
Revenue
Tuition and Fees, Net of Scholarships Federal, State and Private Grants Contributions Auxiliary Enterprises Other Total
Expenses
Compensation Operating Expenses Interest Depreciation Auxiliary Enterprises Total **Unaudited financial statements
2001-02
2002-03**
$29.3 3.7 1.5 5.3 (1.7)* $38.1
$31.0 3.6 1.2 5.8 (1.9)* $43.5
$27.6 9.4 1.3 8.7 1.1 $48.1
$28.5 9.5 1.5 8.8 1.1 $49.4
Expenses by Function Instruction and Research Public Service Student Services Institutional Support Plant Operations Auxiliary Enterprises Total
Use of Funds
Student Scholarships Capital Spending Debt Retirement Endowment Additions Total
2001-02
2002-03**
$23.8 0.9 5.9 12.0 2.9 2.5 $48.1
$24.3 0.8 6.1 12.1 3.2 2.9 $49.4
$12.1 1.7 0.9 0.3 $18.0
$13.0 2.7 1.8 0.2 $21.3
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Year in Review July Gannon University’s Erie Technology Incubator (ETI), a growth tank for local entrepreneurship, received a $250,000 grant provided by State Senator Jane Earll in the form of a $100,000 grant from the Community Revitalization Program and a $150,000 grant from the Stay Invent the Future Initiative. This total was combined with nearly half a million dollars in federal funding received in March, 2002. Gannon’s ETI will provide assistance with business plans, access to cutting-edge communications technology, office space and other necessities to help new area businesses get started. The Regional Summer School of Excellence, which began over twenty years ago, continued as one of Gannon’s best programs for recruiting promising high school students. It offers intensive laboratory and field site studies in the life sciences for qualified high school sophomores and juniors. Gannon’s Annual Fund exceeded $1 million for the first time ever, increasing financial aid to students, expanding library and computer resources and helping to defray operating costs.
August At the Convocation and Welcome Mass, new Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Donna Dalton, Ph.D., welcomed 633 new students. Gannon’s undergraduate and graduate students hail from 34 states and 34 different countries. The State of Pennsylvania approved Gannon’s new Master’s degree in Environmental Studies. The program trains graduate students in applying science and technology to environmental problemsolving in industry and society. The first Gannon Alumni Sunday at Chautauqua brought together 40 Villa Maria alumnae and Gannon alumni at the Atheneum Hotel in Chautauqua, New York.
September Professor Emeritus John S. Rouch, Ph.D., Trustee William C. Springer '63, and Monsignor Addison R. "Bud" Yehl
U.S. News & World Report named Gannon University one of 15 “Best Values: Great Schools at Great Prices” in its annual college guide—the only school in the region to make the list. Gannon was cited for its affordability, academic quality, and excellent retention and graduation rates. More than 300 Gannon students participated in the University’s annual GIVE Day, performing volunteer work and community service at 31 local agencies and organizations. Gannon’s On-line Community debuted, linking alumni to the University in new ways. Over 1,000 alumni registered within the first week, a number which grew to 2,100 by June, 2003.
October More than 500 alumni and friends gathered for the Gannon and Villa Maria Homecoming/Reunion Weekend—a record crowd. They attended Alumni College classes, the Alumni of Color reception, Women of the 60s reunion, danced at the 8-Ball, and enjoyed many other activities.
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Monika Hellwig, Ph.D., LL.B., Executive Director of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, received the Ut Diligatis Invincem Award. The award memorializes founding Archbishop John Mark Gannon’s motto, That You May Love One Another. Gannon honored faculty members Monsignor Addison R. “Bud” Yehl and John S. Rouch, Ph.D., and Trustee William C. Springer ’63 with the Archbishop Gannon Medal of Distinction at the annual Scholarship Celebration. The Medal is awarded annually to individuals who have been instrumental in promoting the cause of Catholic higher education.
Elizabeth Rupert '02, Data Entry Recorder, and Britt Daehnke '98, Assistant Director of the Annual Fund
November The first Faculty Scholarship Awards Ceremony recognized the creative efforts of 76 Gannon staff, faculty, and administration members. Their efforts outside of the classroom enriched and expanded their interactions with students inside the classroom. Gannon University’s Model United Nations, coordinated in 2002-03 by secretary general Christine Wintermute, a senior political science and history major, celebrated its 50th year. It is the second-oldest Model UN in the country and strives to promote an understanding of the complex problems of international affairs. Over 300 students, faculty and staff members participated in the annual Golden Harvest Food Drive, which raised food and funds for Second Harvest Food Bank in Erie.
December Richard J. McGlinchey ’72 delivered the keynote address at Winter Commencement. Gannon University awarded 226 degrees—one Doctorate, 117 Master’s, 106 Bachelor’s and two Associate’s degrees.
Richard J. McGlinchey '72
The Social Work Club Dinner celebrated its 25th year of service to the Erie community. Students, staff and faculty volunteers at the Annual Christmas Party provided toys and meals to a diverse group of individuals and celebrated together. Sophomore Darmel Whitfield became the first quarterback in Gannon history to rush and pass for one thousand yards in the same season. He rushed for 1,032 yards and passed for 1,770 yards, broke Gannon’s single-season records for pass completions, pass attempts, passing yards, pass completion percentage, total offensive plays and total offensive yards (2,802). He was ranked sixth nationally among Division II players in total yards per game.
January Don Henry, Head Coach of Gannon Wrestling, received the prestigious National Wrestling Coaches Association Coaching Excellence Award. Henry has produced 14 All-Americans and 14 regional champions, along with 26 All-Academic wrestlers and 30 national qualifiers. Totem, Gannon’s student-edited Literary Magazine, won a First Place with Merit award from the American Scholastic Association, marking its seventh entry and seventh win.
Darmel Whitfield
Gannon took Godspell on the road. The cast of students from a variety of majors packed every performance on campus in December before performing for students at Villa Maria Academy, Erie Day School, and Dubois Catholic High School, and three other performances for youth in Harborcreek and Meadville.
February A survey of recent graduates confirmed the high placement rate for Gannon grads—91% were employed in their chosen field or enrolled in graduate or professional schools. Many majors achieved 100% placement, including accounting, biology, chemistry, elementary education/early childhood, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, environmental science, health sciences, international business, mathematics, nursing, paralegal, radiologic sciences and science. A number of events on campus celebrated Black History Month and the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., including a one-man show in the Distinguished Speaker Series, “Reflections,” by Jim Lucas; an ecumenical Gathering in Praise service, planned and celebrated by students from Gannon’s Minority Cultures United; and a memorial march. At the sixth annual Knight with Scholars Program over 90 accepted and prospective Gannon students were able to spend the night on campus; attend lectures and labs; and meet the president, faculty in their respective majors, deans, coaches, and current students.
Cast of Godspell
March Student Service Spring Breaks sponsored by the University’s Center for Social Concerns took over 30 students to Arkansas, New York and Mexico, where they volunteered with Habitat for Humanity in Fort Smith, at a New York City soup kitchen and homeless shelter, and in Aqua Prieta on a border awareness mission. Gannon’s chapter of the Beta Beta Beta Biology Honors Society received the Lloyd M. Bertholf “Outstanding Chapter in the Country” award for the third time. Service, scholarship, and social activities are evaluated in bestowing the award. Provost Donna Dalton, Professor Mahesh Aggarwal, and President Antoine M. Garibaldi
The Faculty Awards Convocation honored Dr. Michael J. Panza with the Distinguished Faculty Award, Dr. David Dees with the SGA Excellence in Teaching Award, and Reverend Scott Detisch with the Bishop Trautman “Feed My Sheep” Award. Dr. Mahesh Aggarwal, Dr. Mehmet Cultu, Dr. Sally LeVan and Dr. Richard Schauer were recognized for 25 years of service.
April The Third Annual Health Fair at Franklin Terrace, the Gannon-sponsored Nursing Center, served the community in a unique way as Nursing and Physical Therapy students were joined by other students, faculty and staff members in providing health care services to Franklin Terrace residents. As part of the Executive on Campus Program, which brings successful alumni to campus to interact with students in small group settings, Judge John Cherry ’73 lectured about juvenile justice and the court system to a Criminal Justice class. Bill Sanko ’62 joined an Engineering class and spoke on his successful engineering career and how it was enabled by his liberal arts education at Gannon. Both alumni held question and answer sessions after their lectures and also lunched with students. Academic Excellence awards were presented at the Founder’s Day Awards Ceremony to graduating seniors for superior academic performance in their majors and for contributions to their departments and fields of study.
May Former President of Villa Maria College, Sister Leonie Shanley, SSJ ’57 VMC, addressed 528 graduates, their families and friends at the May Commencement Ceremony. Graduates included 10 Associate’s Degree recipients, 355 Bachelor’s, 160 Master’s, and three post-Master’s certificates. Gannon received a Health and Human Services Department Health Resources and Services grant for Advanced Nursing Education and Nurse Anesthetist Traineeships. Dave Patronik became the first-ever Gannon golfer to win the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year Award. Patronik advanced to the NCAA Division II National Championships.
June The 23rd Annual Distinguished Pennsylvanian awards were presented to the Honorable Michael E. Dunlavey and to Barbara Chaffee. The award is presented to leaders in their careers and communities. Dunlavey and Chaffee both served the country after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Senior and seminarian Justin Pina created an archival display for St. Mark Catholic Center as part of the celebration of the Sesquicentennial of the Diocese of Erie. The display featured artifacts of previous bishops, documents and items of significance to diocesan history. Chris Knoll ’77, ’78M received the President’s Award at the Gannon SBDC luncheon. The SBDC had a tremendous year, receiving the U.S. Department of Commerce Export Achievement Award for its efforts in promoting exports and local entrepreneurship.
Sister Leonie Shanley, SSJ '57 VMC
Board of Trustees Most Rev. Donald W. Trautman, STD,
SSL*
Chairperson Bishop of Erie Vice Chairperson Partner Elderkin, Martin, Kelly and Messina
Mr. Thomas L. Doolin ’61 Secretary Wagner & Doolin Acquisition Group
Ph.D.*
Antoine M. Garibaldi, President Gannon University
Mr. Brian J. Jackman ’63 Retired Business Executive
Mr. James W. Keim, Jr. Senior Vice President Advest, Inc.
Sr. Mary Rita Kuhn, SSJ ’60 VMC, MA ’68 Vicar for Religious Diocese of Erie
Mr. Thomas J. Loftus, MBA ’74
Mr. William I. Alford II ’66 Executive Director Head Start
Retired Business Executive
Mr. Michael Nuttall* President Gannon University Student Government Association
Mr. Joseph F. Allison
Mrs. Anne D. McCallion ’74
Retired Business Executive
Rev. Michael P. Allison ’81 Chaplain and Theology Professor Mercyhurst Prep High School
Ph.D.*
President Gannon University Faculty Senate
Mr. James A. Baldauf ’62 Retired Business Executive
Mr. L. Scott Barnard ’65 Managing Senior Partner Programmix, LLC
Mr. George J. Behringer III ’66 Managing Partner Pricewaterhouse Coopers LLP
Mr. Arnold E. Bergquist, CPA ’58 Partner Malin, Bergquist and Company
Rev. Msgr. Lawrence E. Brandt, Ph.D., JCD Chancellor Diocese of Erie
Rev. Msgr. Robert L. Brugger Pastor St. Jude the Apostle Church
Mr. Donald M. Carlson ’73* President Gannon University National Alumni Association
Daniel C. Carneval, D.O. ’51 Orthopedic Surgeon/Team Physician Gannon University
Honorable Stephanie Domitrovich Judge Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania
Mr. James J. Duratz Director Barco-Duratz Foundation
Mr. Thomas C. Guelcher ’62, MBA ’76 Treasurer Sisters of Mercy
Mr. William M. Hilbert, Sr. President and CEO PHB, Inc.
Joseph T. Messina, Esquire ’63
Robert H. Allshouse,
2002-2003
Senior Managing Director for Operations Countrywide Home Loans Inc.
Mr. John E. Paganie ’69 President, Pennsylvania Operations First Energy Services Corporation
Mr. James J. Rutkowski, Jr. ’83 General Manager/Treasurer Industrial Sales and Manufacturing, Inc.
Mr. James A. Schaffner, CPA ’68 Managing Principal Schaffner, Knight, Minnaugh & Co., P.C.
Helen M. Schilling, M.D., D.D.S. ’77 Physician Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Very Rev. John M. Schultz ’78 Vicar for Education Diocese of Erie
Rev. Msgr. Robert J. Smith, JCL Vicar General Diocese of Erie
Rev. Msgr. Lawrence Speice ’55 Pastor St. Anthony Church
Mr. William C. Springer ’63 Partner Dawar Associates
James F. Toohey, Esquire ’56 Partner Quinn, Buseck, Leemhuis, Toohey & Kroto Inc.
Sr. Anastasia Valimont, SSJ ’50 VMC Consultant Saint Mary’s Home of Erie
Sr. Ricarda Vincent, SSJ ’64 VMC* President Sisters of Saint Joseph of Northwest Pennsylvania
Mr. Melvin Witherspoon ’68 Community Initiative Consultant Penelec *Ex officio Members
Gannon University 109 University Square Erie, PA 16541