Season of Creation
October 7, 2016
Sister Fidelis Joins Medical Team Going to Haiti
October 12, 2016New President of Lourdes University Installed
Mary Ann Gawelek, Ed.D., was inaugurated as the 10th president of Lourdes University on Sunday, October 9, 2016 at the Franciscan Center on the Motherhouse grounds of the Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania and the university campus. Dr. Gawelek joined Lourdes University, the education sponsored ministry of the Sylvania Franciscans, on July 1 from Seton Hill University, a Catholic liberal arts university 30 miles southeast of Pittsburg, where she served as the provost and dean of the faculty for 20 years.
A native of suburban Cleveland, Dr. Gawelek received her Doctor of Education and Master of Education degrees in Counseling Psychology from Boston University and her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Sociology from the Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio. Prior to joining Seton Hill, she served as dean for counseling psychology and clinical education at the Graduate School of Arts and Social Sciences at Lesley College in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
“Having served at a Catholic liberal arts university for 20 years, Dr. Gawelek’s breadth of administrative and academic experience resonated with the Lourdes University community,” said Sister Mary Jon Wagner, congregational Minister for the Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania. “She truly understands our Catholic and Franciscan mission, values, and vision of St. Francis.”
Sister Ann Francis Klimkowski, president of then Lourdes College from 1983 to 2000, and Mary Ann Gawelek, the new president of Lourdes University.
From left, Sisters Rachel Marie Nijakowski, Carolyn Giera, Joan Jurski, Theresa Darga and Mary Jon Wagner getting ready for the liturgy in Queen of Peace Chapel.
Sister Shannon Schrein, councilor on the Sisters Leadership Team, and Janet Robinson, former provost and interim president of Lourdes University.
Sister Mary Jon Wagner, Congregational Minister for the Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania, and Mary Ann Gawelek, new president of Lourdes University, at the reception in the Franciscan Center.
