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Doug Oathout serves as ÃûæÂÖ±²¥’s chief of staff, working closely with the president to execute university initiatives. He also provides strategic leadership and vision for the university's internal and external marketing and communications strategies, including media, public relations, crisis communication, promotion and advertising. He was integral in managing ÃûæÂÖ±²¥’s COVID-19 response for which he received the 2021 Academic Safety Award from the university. He works closely with Enrollment and Advancement to move recruitment and fundraising to new levels, efforts that led the university to record enrollment in fall of 2021 and spring of 2022. A native of central New York, Oathout joined ÃûæÂÖ±²¥ after 24 years at the Erie Times-News, where he held a wide range of jobs -- advancing from reporter to executive editor. During his tenure, the newspaper received many awards, including being named the Pennsylvania Newspaper of the Year in 2013. He also received an Associated Press award and a Best of GateHouse honor for community engagement for his Bike Erie 2018 project, in which he bicycled each city street as a newsroom outreach initiative. Oathout earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University at Buffalo in 1988. He lives in Harborcreek with his wife, Kathleen. They have seven grandchildren.

Val Bacik provides leadership and management in the areas of strategic planning, institutional research and institutional effectiveness. She co-chairs the institutional planning and budget committee and serves as the accreditation liaison officer to the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Bacik earned a Bachelor of Science from ÃûæÂÖ±²¥ and a Master of Business Administration from Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C. Before ÃûæÂÖ±²¥, Bacik was an admissions counselor at Villa Maria College and a survey statistician for the Census Bureau in Washington, D.C. Bacik’s journey with ÃûæÂÖ±²¥ started in 1993 as the institutional research coordinator. She would go on to serve as the academic advising center director from 1998 to 2006, associate provost from 2006 to 2011, director of planning and strategic initiatives from 2012 to 2018, and vice president for planning and finance from 2018 to 2022. She is the current treasurer at Catholic Charities, Inc., and has been involved in multiple Alternative Break Service and TRAVEL trips. In her spare time, she enjoys running, reading, jigsaw puzzles and any activities or events that are outdoors. 

Randyll Bowen, Ed.D., serves as vice president for Marketing and Enrollment and is responsible for leading strategic initiatives to support student recruitment, retention and success. Bowen brings more than 30 years of leadership experience across two-year and four-year institutions, with expertise in enrollment management, student life, advancement, information technology and workforce development. Prior to joining ÃûæÂÖ±²¥, he held senior roles at Buffalo State University, Hilbert College, D’Youville University and Niagara County Community College. He earned his doctorate in organizational leadership with an emphasis in higher education leadership from Grand Canyon University, a master’s degree in student personnel administration from Buffalo State University and a bachelor’s degree in communications from SUNY Brockport.

Brian Collingwood, Ph.D., serves as vice president for University Advancement where he leads fundraising and constituent engagement initiatives that advance the University's mission and strategic priorities. Collingwood previously served as assistant vice president for University Advancement at ÃûæÂÖ±²¥ and brings extensive experience across alumni relations, donor engagement, major giving and advancement strategy. Collingwood has helped generate more than $5 million in organizational commitments, including key contributions to the Highmark Events Center proposal and gifts in honor of ÃûæÂÖ±²¥'s Centennial Year. He also worked at ÃûæÂÖ±²¥ from late 2015 to early 2022 where he served as the director of Career Exploration and Development, and then in corporate relations, where he helped develop a corporate partners framework for the University. Along with the leadership roles he has held at Gannon University, Collingwood also led initiatives at Allegheny College and Denison University during a career spanning advancement, academic affairs, student development, and teaching. Collingwood earned a Ph.D. in Organizational Learning and Leadership from Gannon University, a master's degree in higher education administration from the University of Akron, and a bachelor's degree in history from Xavier University.

Mark Jordano serves as ÃûæÂÖ±²¥’s chief information officer and is responsible for developing and implementing information technology strategies that meet the university’s goals, delivering return on investment, and maintaining utmost security at both Erie and Ruskin campuses. He is the spearhead of a multi-year digital transformation initiative designed to modernize campus technology to promote innovation, efficiency and new ways of doing business. Jordano previously worked at ÃûæÂÖ±²¥ from 1994 to 1999 as manager of administrative applications. He returned to ÃûæÂÖ±²¥ as director of information technology services in January 2000 after serving as a systems development manager at RentWay Inc. in Erie. In July 2016, Jordano became the associate vice president of information technology services until February 2022. During this time, he was the principal author of the 2000 IT Strategic Plan, 2002 IT Strategic Vision, the Technology section of the 2002 Gannon University Strategic Plan and the 2011-2012 IT Tactical Plan. He was also involved in the most recent IT Strategic plan in which digital transformation, process improvement and enhanced security were the key themes. Jordano earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science from ÃûæÂÖ±²¥ in 1986 and a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in management information systems in 1994. He has been happily married to Sandy Ruscitto for 35 years with whom he shares three children: Samantha, Alexa and Gino. In his spare time, he enjoys golf, bowling and tournament poker.  

A reliable and steady member of the faculty and leadership of ÃûæÂÖ±²¥, Father Michael Kesicki’s skills span inspirational leadership, spiritual guidance, and planning and executing Catholic worship experiences. He is responsible for the pastoral care of students and employees, and weekday and Sunday Mass on campus during the academic year. He serves as the overseer of the Mary, Seat of Wisdom Chapel, supervisor for Campus Ministry and adviser to the president for the university mission. He has been a faculty instructor in theology, philosophy and foreign languages since 1997, as well as a priest for the Diocese of Erie since 1988. Prior to his role as university chaplain, Father Kesicki was a rector at St. Mark Seminary, Diocese of Erie starting in 2000. In 2012, he took on the additional role of associate vice president for mission and ministry at ÃûæÂÖ±²¥. He would hold both of these positions until June 2022. Father Kesicki earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from ÃûæÂÖ±²¥ in 1983 and went on to receive a Master of Divinity in theology from St. Mary’s Seminary and the University in Baltimore, Md. 

Kathryn LaFontana, Ph.D., brings more than 30 years of experience in Catholic higher education leadership to her role as chief campus officer of the Ursuline College Campus of Gannon University. She serves on the President’s Leadership Team and provides strategic leadership for the Ursuline College Campus, overseeing campus operations, student experience, community engagement, and advancement efforts while advancing the shared mission and values of Gannon University.  

LaFontana previously served as provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at Ursuline College, where she led academic operations, accreditation, strategic planning, and student success initiatives. Since joining Ursuline in 2017, she has played a key leadership role in the institution’s transformation, including helping lead the educational partnership between Ursuline College and Gannon University.  

LaFontana has expertise in mission-focused leadership, strategic planning, innovative program development, and data-informed decision-making. She has led the launch of numerous undergraduate and graduate programs, secured major federal grant funding, and guided institutions through significant accreditation and organizational initiatives. Prior to Ursuline, she held academic leadership roles at The College of New Rochelle and Sacred Heart University.  

LaFontana received the 2024 Collegium Visionary Award for her leadership in advancing mission and identity in Catholic higher education. She earned a doctorate and master’s degree in social psychology from the University of Connecticut and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Toronto.

Jennifer Lundy is responsible for managing ÃûæÂÖ±²¥’s financial and human resources to facilitate and support ÃûæÂÖ±²¥’s strategic plan. She leads a team of directors and managers who are responsible for fiscal and divisional planning and the daily operations of finance, safety and security, human resources, internal audit, insurance and physical plant. She serves as the administration’s liaison to various committees of ÃûæÂÖ±²¥’s Board of Trustees as well as community and civic organizations. She came to ÃûæÂÖ±²¥ after serving as the vice president for finance and administration and chief financial officer at Seton Hill University in Greensburg, Pa. Prior to that role, she worked at Chatham University in Pittsburgh for 11 years, rising to associate vice president for finance and administration and chief financial officer. During her tenure at Seton Hill, Lundy is credited with providing strategic direction for the university in the areas of finance, accounting, facilities, public safety, as well as campus construction and renovation projects. Lundy additionally supervised endowments and budgets of more than $50 million each and served as a liaison to the Board of Trustees for the investment sub-committee, finance committee, and buildings and grounds committee. Lundy earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Pittsburgh, an MBA from Chatham University, and is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in leadership and learning in organizations from Vanderbilt University. Lundy is the proud parent of daughter Julia, a business analytics manager and vice president at PNC Bank living in Pittsburgh.

The Rev. T. Shane Mathew serves as interim provost and vice president for student experience at Gannon University, where he provides leadership for the university’s academic mission and strategic priorities. A priest of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie who was ordained in 2005, Father Shane brings a unique blend of pastoral, academic and administrative experience to the role. Father Shane has served in a variety of leadership and educational positions throughout his ministry and career, including roles in parish ministry, Catholic secondary education, and higher education administration. Since 2015, he has held several leadership and teaching roles at Gannon University, including university trustee, instructor in the theology department, associate vice president for mission immersion and, most recently, associate provost for mission immersion. Before joining ÃûæÂÖ±²¥’s administration, Father Shane served as headmaster of Venango Catholic High School and taught theology and technology in Catholic schools throughout the Diocese of Erie. His work has focused on advancing Catholic mission and identity, student formation, and academic excellence. Father Shane, a native of Erie, Pa., earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Gannon University, a Master of Divinity and S.T.B. degrees from St. Mary's Seminary and University, and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Gannon University. He is currently a Ph.D. candidate in systematic theology at Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit.