SAINT FRANCIS UNIVERSITY
University Leadership
Leadership at Saint Francis University
Saint Francis University is sponsored by the Franciscans of the Third Order Regular and governed by a Board of Trustees comprised of both laypeople and Franciscans.
University President
Fr. Malachi Van Tassell T.O.R., Ph.D
The Very Rev. Malachi Van Tassell, T.O.R. assumed the office of President at Saint Francis University on May 12, 2014 and is in the second decade of his presidency at Saint Francis University.
Under his leadership, Saint Francis University boasts of an amazing job placement rate, with 99% of graduates obtaining employment in their profession of choice or a seat in a graduate school within six months of graduation. Under his leadership, the University launched its first academic doctoral program, opened the Curry Innovation Center location in Altoona, and started two programs in aviation education (pilot licensure and aviation maintenance technician).
The university will roll out its newest strategic plan, Francis 2030: Made New In Christ Jesus. Saint Francis University is beginning a new era of its existence as it reclassifies its athletics program. The University enjoys a new culture and a new ethos in which a student becomes that someone. Father secured a seven figure gift for a baseball stadium to be used by a soon-to-be-added Division Three baseball team.
Father currently serves as a Board member of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, is a Board member and past-Chair of the Association of Franciscan Colleges and Universities.
Prior to the Presidency, he spent twelve years at the University as an assistant professor of accounting (full-time and adjunct) in the Shield School of Business. He previously served as the treasurer of the Franciscan Friars, Sacred Heart Province.
Father was a volunteer firefighter in Loretto for ten years, where he served as Captain and retired from the fire service as Deputy Fire Chief.
Father Malachi earned a PhD in higher education leadership from Capella University, a master’s degree in taxation from Arizona State University, and an undergraduate degree in accounting and Spanish from Franciscan University.
He maintains his licensure as a Certified Public Accountant in the state of Arizona, where he worked as a tax accountant prior to becoming a Franciscan.
Education
- B.A., Franciscan University
- M. Tax., Arizona State University
- M. Div., Washington Theological Union
- Ph.D., Capella University Certified Public Accountant (Arizona)
Board of Trustees
The most prominent steward of this institution is the Saint Francis University Board of Trustees who are entrusted with overseeing the mission, vision, and advancement of the University. The Board of Trustees was established in 1967, replacing the former Board of Control, which had been comprised solely of Franciscan friars.
Chairman of the Board
- Very Rev. Joseph Lehman, T.O.R., Ph.D., Loretto, PA
President
- Very Rev. Malachi Van Tassell, T.O.R., Ph.D., Loretto, PA
Members
- Dr. James Burke, Class of '88, Altoona, PA, President of Allegheny Brain & Spine Surgeons
- Rev. Zachary Burns, T.O.R., Class of 2012, Colleyville, TX, Good Shepherd Catholic Community
- Wayne Dedrick, Palm Coast, FL, Managing Director and Regional Manager at Truist Investment Services, Inc.
- John "Jack" Eckenrode, Class of '74, Madison, CT, Global Chief of Security, State Street Bank (ret.) and Agent in Charge of Philadelphia FBI (ret.)
- Rev. Dominic Foster, T.O.R., Steubenville, OH, Franciscan University of Steubenville
- Dr. Debra Friedrich, Bradenton, FL, Nurse Practitioner
- Jonathan Gleason, Johnstown, PA, Commercial Insurance Professional
- Patrick Guinee, Class of 1991, Executive Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary for L.B. Foster Company
- Mark Harabedian, Class of 1982, Mendham, NJ, Vice President of CAST Lighting
- Lisa Koehl, Chicago, IL, Managing Director with JPMorgan Chase & Co
- Scott Miller Lammie, Pittsburgh, PA, UPMC Health Plan (ret.)
- Paul S. McGrath, Jr., Class of ’79, Pittsburgh, PA, Founder and Senior Managing Director, McGrath McCall, P.C.
- Judge Debra McLaughlin, Class of 1990, West Virginia Twenty-Seventh Judicial Circuit (Berkeley and Morgan Counties)
- Dr. Jeffrey Mendenhall, Class of '89, Rutland, MA, Senior Staff at MIT Lincoln Laboratory
- Dr. Larry Nulton, Johnstown, PA, Founder of Nulton Diagnostic and Treatment Center, Peerstar LLC, and Nulton Aviation Services
- Frank Pasqualone, Newtown, PA, COO Theravance Biopharma, Inc.
- Rev. Gregory Plow, T.O.R., Steubenville, OH, Franciscan University of Steubenville
- Teresa Kaminski Polley, Class of '82, Norwalk, CT, President and CEO Financial Accounting Foundation
- Jean Payne Rogers, Class of '82, Warminster, PA, Retired, Social Worker, Geriatrics
- Dr. Sarah Schroeder, Loretto, PA, Physician, PA Vein & Laser Institute
- Rev. Jonathan St. Andre, T.O.R., Steubenville, OH, Franciscan University of Steubenville
- Peter Stevenson, Class of '82, Jupiter, FL, CEO Latisys
- Stephen Subasic, Class of '90, Davidson, NC, Executive Coach & HR Consultant, Bedwell Talent Advisory
- John Sullivan, Class of ’67, Newtown, PA, Retired President, ABB North America Power Products and Systems Segment
- Dr. James Takacs, Class of '82, Ebensburg, PA, Owner, Ebensburg Animal Hospital
- Bradley Walent , Class of '96, Grandview Heights, OH, Lawyer, Kayne Law Group
- Rev. Patrick Whittle, T.O.R., Steubenville, OH, Franciscan University of Steubenville
- Rev. Vincent Yeager, T.O.R., Steubenville, OH, Franciscan University of Steubenville
Administration
Father Malachi Van Tassell T.O.R., Ph.D
Title: President
Phone: 814-472-3001
Email: mvantassell@francis.edu
Robert J. Crusciel '86
Title: Vice President for Advancement
Department: Advancement and Alumni Relations
Office Location: Raymond Hall 310
Phone: 814-472-3021
Email: rcrusciel@francis.edu
Erin McCloskey
Title: Vice President
Department: University Communications and Marketing
Office Location: Scotus Hall 205A
Phone: 814.472.3938
Email: emccloskey@francis.edu
Dr. Michael B. McGinnis
Title: Vice President for Academic Affairs
Department: Academic Affairs
Office Location: Scotus Hall 317
Phone: 814-472-3004
Email: Mmcginnis@francis.edu
Dr. Frank C. Montecalvo Jr.
Title: Vice President for Innovative Partnerships & Student Development
Department: Student Development
Office Location: Padua Hall 231
Phone: 814-472-3002
Email: fmontecalvo@francis.edu
Jeffrey Savino
Title: Vice President for Finance and Administration
Department: Finance & Administration
Office Location: Scotus Hall 322A
Phone: 814-472-3261
Email: jsavino@francis.edu
Pete Skoner
Title: Assistant to the President and Dean Emeritus
Department: Office of the President
Office Location: Saint Francis Hall 301E
Phone: 814.472.3085
Email: pskoner@francis.edu
Father Stephen Waruszewski, T.O.R
Title: Director of Campus Ministry and Chief Mission Officer
Department: Mission Integration
Office Location: Saint Francis Hall 6
Phone: 814.472.2750
Email: swaruszewski@francis.edu