Gannon University is a private, co-educational Catholic university located in Erie, Pennsylvania, offering associate's, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees and certificates. Gannon University has an alumni base numbering around 31,500. Current enrollment is 4,410.
U.S. News & World Report's "America's Best Colleges 2010" ranked Gannon as a Top Tier Master's University in the northern section of the United States.
Gannon also provides students with intramural and intercollegiate athletics, including 18 athletic programs for men and women at the NCAA Division II level.
History
Gannon University was first established in 1933 as the two-year Cathedral College by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie. In 1944, the school became the four-year men's school Gannon College of Arts and Sciences, named in honor of the then-Bishop of Erie, John Mark Gannon, the driving force behind its opening and development. The college became coeducational in 1964 and gained university status in 1979
The all-girls school Villa Maria College, which was founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1925, merged with the university in 1989. Its Villa Maria School of Nursing retains the name of the original institution.
Academics
The university is organized into three main colleges: the College of Engineering and Business, which includes the Dahlkemper School of Business Administration; the College of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences; and the Morosky College of Health Professions and Sciences.
Campus
Gannon University's campus is located in downtown Erie, primarily concentrated between Peach and Myrtle Streets and 3rd and 10th Streets. In summer 2015, a doctoral branch campus opened in Ruskin, Florida.
Administration
Beyer Hall (Global Enrollment and Engagement Division, Student Development and Engagement Division, offices for student organizations) Gitnik Manse (Undergraduate Admissions, Center for Adult Learning)
Courthouse Commons (Graduate Admissions, International Admissions, Cashier's Office, Financial Aid Office, Registrar's Office, VP for Enrollment)
Old Main (Alumni Office, Office of the President)
Student Services Building (Office of Student Living)
Academic buildings
Center for Advanced Engineering
Center for Business Ingenuity
Center for Communication and the Arts
Forensic Investigation Center
Nash Library
Palumbo Academic Center
Robert H. Morosky Academic Center
Schuster Theatre (Scottino Hall)
Zurn Science Center
Athletic facilities
Recreation & Wellness Center (includes the Field House and the Carneval Athletic Pavilion
McConnell Family Stadium
Hammermill Center
Dining
Beyer Hall Cafeteria
Doc's Landing (Waldron Campus Center)
InterMetzo Cafe (Palumbo Academic Center)
Knight's Cove (Waldron Campus Center)
Courtyard Cafe (Morosky Academic Center)
The Knight Club (Formerly Antler's Pub)
General facilities
Athletic Office (Carneval Athletic Pavilion)
Bookstore (Palumbo Academic Center)
Campus Ministry Office (Waldron Campus Center)
Campus Police and Safety (Harborview Apartments)
Campus Services
Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (Palumbo Academic Center)
Center for Social Concerns (Waldron Campus Center)
Erie Technology Incubator
Gannon Knight Newspaper (Center for Communication and the Arts)
Honors Center (Palumbo Academic Center)
Mary, Seat of Wisdom Chapel
Physical Plant
Schuster Art Gallery (Center for Communication and the Arts)
Service Learning (Waldron Campus Center)
Small Business Development Center (Center for Business Ingenuity)
Student Health Center & Counseling Services (Harborview Apartments)
Student Success Center (Palumbo Academic Center)
Waldron Campus Center
WERG-FM Radio Station (Center for Communication and the Arts)
Landmarks
AJ's Way
Friendship Green
Gannon Arch
Residence halls
202, 204, 210 W. 8th St.
301 W. 5th St.
Finegan Hall, 120 W. 5th St.
Freeman Hall, 410 Sassafras St.
Harborview Apartments, 210 W. 6th St.
Kenilworth Apartments, 351/353 W. 6th St.
North Hall, 143 W. 4th St.
Walker Apartments, 701/703 Peach St.
Wehrle Hall, 211 W. 6th St.
West Hall, 612 Chestnut
Wickford Apartments, 258 W. 6th St. / 529 Myrtle St.
Former Residence Halls:
University Apartments, 143 W. 4th St. â€" Demolished Spring 2010 for construction of North Hall
Crispo Hall, 309 Sassafras St. â€" Demolished Fall 2013 for construction/expansion of the Recreation & Wellness Center
Athletics
Gannon is a member of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference in NCAA Division II. Gannon offers 18 Division II scholarship-granting varsity sports, that includes nine men's and women's teams. The men participate in baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, swimming, water polo, and wrestling. The women participate in basketball, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming, volleyball and water polo.
In June 2007, Gannon University, along with cross-town rival Mercyhurst College, was accepted into the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, where area schools Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania are members. Along with Gannon and Mercyhurst, LIU Post also was accepted into the conference.
Campus transformation
Gannon University launched $25 million in building projects in 2007. The Erie Technology Incubator on West Eighth Street, which is expected to encourage business development and create up to 300 jobs within five years, was completed in 2008 at a cost of $5 million. The Zurn Science Center, which is 37 years old (circa 1971), will receive $18.5 million in renovations by 2010, including new classrooms and research facilities. $1.5 million will go for renovation of the facade of the Dahlkemper School of Business Administration. Funding for the projects includes grants, loans, and a fundraising campaign.
Gannon University opened a new academic building in the fall 2008 semester as well. The building is named the Robert H. Morosky Academic Center, after the Gannon alumnus who served as the successful Vice President of The Limited clothing store chain confounded with Harry and Bella Wexner. The building houses the Morosky College of Health Professions and Sciences. In 2009, the Robert H. Morosky Academic Center included a Patient Simulation Center, the only one of its kind in the region. A Pediatric Simulation Theater, part of the "Sim" Center allows students to practice procedures that deal with childbirth and infant trauma. These state-of-the-art facilities allow students studying multiple disciplines in the health professions to gain practical experience in a hospital-like setting before they graduate. The "Sim" Center comprises 12 different stations, with 14 different simulators.
Greek life
Fraternities:
- Alpha Phi Delta
- Delta Kappa Epsilon
- Delta Sigma Phi
- Delta Chi
- Zeta Beta Tau
- Pi Kappa Alpha
- Tau Kappa Epsilon
Sororities:
- Alpha Gamma Delta
- Alpha Sigma Alpha
- Alpha Sigma Tau
- Sigma Sigma Sigma
- Phi Sigma Sigma
Notable alumni
- Edward M. Gabriel, United States Ambassador to Morocco 1998â€"2001
- Thomas J. Gamble, President, Mercyhurst University, 2006â€"2015
- George Mische, Organizer of the Catonsville Nine action
- Jonathan Scialabba, actor noted for roles in Outsiders (U.S. TV series), Marshall (film), and Those Who Kill (U.S. TV series).
- Steve Grilli, former Major League Baseball player
- John Hornaman, Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives 2007â€"present
- William Gehrlein, notable researcher
- John "Jonny-O" O'Ferrall, philanthropist and President Emeritus, OferallAmerica Industries
- Brad Roae, Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives 2007â€"present
- Richard E. Filippi, Mayor of Erie, Pennsylvania 2001â€"2005
- Joseph E. Sinnott, Mayor of Erie, Pennsylvania 2006â€"present
- Andy Lorei, professional soccer player for the Tulsa Roughnecks
- John Stehr, former CBS News Correspondent, currently main anchor at WTHR in Indianapolis
- Kevin Benson, Meteorologist for WPXI in Pittsburgh
- Van Dusen radio broadcaster WERG, WJET, WRKT, WZRQ, WKSE, WEDG, WHTT, WCHR, WBBO, WWYZ, WHTG, WTHJ, Freelance for NFL Films & Turner Network Television
- Robert W. McGee, author; winner of 15 gold medals in Taekwondo National Championships, 2013
- Zaid Al-Khas, professional overseas basketball player
- Robert J. Heibel, retired FBI Agent
- John Hornaman, former member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
- Thomas Joseph Tobin, American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church
- R. Tracy Seyfert, former member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
- Matthew W. Good, former member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
- Italo Cappabianca, former Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
- Daniel Cudmore, Canadian actor and stuntman
- Ryan Bizzarro, Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, representing the 3rd District
- Rocco Pugliese, prominent lobbyist in Pennsylvania, where he is the founder of Pugliese Associates
- Barbara Smith Warner, Member of the Oregon House of Representatives, representing District 45
- Jabs Newby, professional basketball player
- John Brabender, Republican Political consultant
- Mark A. Fye, MD, orthopedic spine surgeon based in Pittsburgh, PA, known for operating on former PA Governor Tom Corbett
- Bill Pepicello, President of the University of Phoenix
- Aaron Cox, professional baseball player in the Angels organization
- Adam Blazek, professional basketball player
References
External links
- Official website
- Gannon Athletics website