alumnifocus Distinguished Alumni Celebrated at Homecoming Gannon University honored five alumni for their accomplishments and service to others during the 2016 Homecoming Reunion Weekend. Kicking off the weekend, the Distinguished Alumni induction dinner was attended by over 200 alumni, friends, current students, faculty and staff members. The five recipients of this year’s awards are nothing short of extraordinary in their faith, service and accomplishments to the Erie community and around the globe. Elisabeth “Betsy” R. (Roeback) Monsalve ’70VMC Distinguished Alumni Award, Morosky College of Health Professions and Sciences Monsalve graduated with a nursing degree from Villa Maria College in 1970 and her Masters of Science degree in nursing from Wayne State University. She became one of the first certified nurse practitioners in the country and currently serves as a director at McManis & Monsalve Associates of Erie. The 2016 Distinguished Alumni Honorees include (front row, left to right):
Sister Mary Miller, OSB ’67 Monsignor Wilfrid J. Nash Principles of Christian Conduct Award Sister Miller earned her undergraduate degree in elementary education from Villa Maria College in 1967. She is currently the director of Emmaus Ministries, a position she has held for the past 36 years.
Lt. Cmdr. Adam J. Susmarski, D.O. ’05 Young Alumni Award Susmarski graduated summa cum laude from Gannon in 2005 with a degree in sport and exercise science. He earned a medical degree at Michigan State University. He is currently the chief resident in physical medicine and rehabilitation at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and serves in the U.S. Navy Medical Corps.
John “Jay” W. Alberstadt, Jr. ’76 Distinguished Alumni Award, College of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences Alberstadt graduated magna cum laude in 1976 with a degree in sociology. He earned his law degree from the Dickinson School of Law. Alberstadt is a partner at MacDonald, Illig, Jones & Britton LLP and serves on many local boards.
Almitra “Almi” M. (Clemente) Clerkin ’85 Distinguished Alumni Award, College of Engineering and Business Clerkin graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in business management from Gannon. She is currently the executive director of the Erie Playhouse and also serves various civic organizations. Read more about this year’s Distinguished Alumni recipients online at magazine.gannon.edu/Dec16
Nominate a deserving alumnus for next year’s Distinguished Alumni Awards at gannonalumni.org/distinguishedalumni
Gannon Alumni Locally Honored A special luncheon was hosted in mid-November to honor alumni who have contributed much to the Erie community as young professionals, and who were recognized for doing so as part of the 2016 Erie Reader’s “40 Under 40” class. Gannon had the largest representation of alumni in this year’s group of 11. (Front, left-right) Abbey Lynn Krysiak ’07; Nicole (Barrett) Wethli ’06; Rebecca Styn ’02M; Amanda (Flick) Kochirka ’09 (Back, left-right) Tim Bruno ’99, ’04M; Chanel Cook ’00, Bill Scholz ’08; Brandon Wiley ’10, ’13M; Afrim Latifi ’11, ’14M (Not pictured) Carlo Fuda ’00; Tiffany LaDonna McCloud ’16M 16
gannon magazine
december 2016