Gannon University

Gannon University
	Latin: Universitas Gannonensis
Former name	Villa Maria College (1925–1989); Cathedral College (1933–1944); Gannon College of Arts and Sciences (1944–1964); Gannon College (1964–1979)
Motto	Sanitas, Scientia, Sanctitas
Motto in English	Health, Knowledge, Holiness
Type	Private university
Established	1925; 99 years ago
Religious affiliation	Catholic Church
Academic affiliations	ACCU; CIC; CUMU; NAICU; Space-grant;
Endowment	$83.5 million (2022)
President	Walter Iwanenko Jr.
Academic staff	200 full-time, 147 adjunct
Students	4,596
Undergraduates	3,165
Postgraduates	1,431
Location	Erie, Pennsylvania, and Ruskin, Florida, U.S.
Campus	Urban
Colors	Maroon and gold
Nickname	Golden Knights
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division II – PSAC; CWPA;
Mascot	Victor E. Knight
Website	www.gannon.edu

Gannon University is a private Catholic university with campuses in Erie, Pennsylvania, and Ruskin, Florida. Established in 1925, Gannon University enrolls approximately 4,600 undergraduate and graduate students annually and has over 47,000 alumni. Its intercollegiate athletics include 18 athletic programs for men and women competing at the NCAA Division II level.

History

Gannon University was first established in 1933 as the two-year Cathedral College by the Diocese of Erie under the leadership of Joseph J. "Doc" Wehrle.^[2] 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.^[3]^[4]

The all-girls school Villa Maria College, which was founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1925,^[5] merged with the university in 1989.^[6] 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 focusing on healthcare majors.^[7]

Rankings

Gannon University was ranked No. 260 in 2024 in National Universities by U.S. News & World Report. Its rank rose to No. 244 in 2025.^[8]https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/gannon-university-3266

Athletics

Gannon is a member of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference in NCAA Division II. Gannon offers 19 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, wrestling, competitive cheer. The women participate in basketball, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming, volleyball, water polo, wrestling, acrobatics and tumbling, and competitive cheer and dance.

In June 2007, Gannon University, along with cross-town rival Mercyhurst College, was accepted into the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, where area schools Pennsylvania Western University, Edinboro and Slippery Rock University are members. Along with Gannon and Mercyhurst as full members, LIU Post also was accepted into the conference as an affiliate member.^[9]

Notable alumni

Kevin Benson, meteorologist for WPXI in Pittsburgh^[10]
John Brabender, Republican political consultant
Italo Cappabianca, Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Daniel Cudmore, Canadian actor and stuntman
Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong, convicted murderer^[11]
James Dubik, Lieutenant General in the United States Army
Isaiah Eisendorf (born 1996), professional basketball player
William Gehrlein, researcher
Matthew W. Good, former member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Steve Grilli, professional baseball player
Robert J. Heibel, FBI agent
John Hornaman, member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Lori Jakiela, author
Andy Lorei, professional soccer player
Robert. H Moroksy, retail executive and founder of the National Society of Catholic Foundations

Jabs Newby, professional basketball player
Mark L. Nelson, chemist, scientist, and inventor of Omadacycline, a tetracycline antibiotic
Bill Pepicello, president of the University of Phoenix
Rocco Pugliese, lobbyist in Pennsylvania
Brad Roae, member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Sean Rowe, 28th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church
Joe Schember, 48th mayor of Erie, Pennsylvania (2018–present)
Joseph E. Sinnott, 47th mayor of Erie, Pennsylvania (2006–2018)
R. Tracy Seyfert, member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
John Stehr, CBS News correspondent, main news anchor at WTHR in Indianapolis/current mayor of Zionsville, Indiana
Thomas Joseph Tobin, prelate of the Catholic Church
Barbara Smith Warner, member of the Oregon House of Representatives, representing District 45
James G. Zimmerly, physician and co-discoverer of a meningococcal vaccine

References

^ As of Aug 26, 2022. Gannon president stepping down; search initiated (Report).
^ "Gannon A to Z: D is for Doc Wehrle". Gannon Edge. March 29, 2012. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
^ "A Brief History of Gannon University". Gannon University. Archived from the original on January 19, 2012. Retrieved May 3, 2007.
^ "About the Diocese: 1918–1966 Golden Era". Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie. Archived from the original on May 18, 2007. Retrieved May 3, 2007.
^ Note that Gannon University has adopted as its own the Villa Maria College's 1925 founding date.
^ "Gannon University". Peterson's. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved May 3, 2007.
^ "Gannon University | 2014-10-30 Ruskin Campus Announcement". Gannon University. October 30, 2014. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
^ https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/gannon-university-3266 ^{[bare URL]}
^ Axelrod, Phil (June 20, 2007). "Mercyhurst, C. W. Post, Gannon to enter PSAC". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved June 24, 2007.
^ "Kevin Benson: WPXI, weekend morning co-anchor, weekend evening weathercaster". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. February 9, 2003. Archived from the original on July 8, 2019. Retrieved August 25, 2012.
^ Palattella, Ed. "For Erie's Diehl-Armstrong, pizza bomber case is 'sad epitaph'". GoErie.com. Retrieved July 3, 2019.

External links

42°07′41″N 80°05′24″W / 42.128°N 80.090°W / 42.128; -80.090

[1] As of Aug 26, 2022. Gannon president stepping down; search initiated (Report).

[2] "Gannon A to Z: D is for Doc Wehrle". Gannon Edge. March 29, 2012. Retrieved August 28, 2024.

[3] "A Brief History of Gannon University". Gannon University. Archived from the original on January 19, 2012. Retrieved May 3, 2007.

[4] "About the Diocese: 1918–1966 Golden Era". Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie. Archived from the original on May 18, 2007. Retrieved May 3, 2007.

[5] Note that Gannon University has adopted as its own the Villa Maria College's 1925 founding date.

[6] "Gannon University". Peterson's. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved May 3, 2007.

[7] "Gannon University | 2014-10-30 Ruskin Campus Announcement". Gannon University. October 30, 2014. Retrieved August 10, 2017.

[8] ttps://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/gannon-university-3266 ^{[bare URL]}

[9] Axelrod, Phil (June 20, 2007). "Mercyhurst, C. W. Post, Gannon to enter PSAC". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved June 24, 2007.

[10] "Kevin Benson: WPXI, weekend morning co-anchor, weekend evening weathercaster". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. February 9, 2003. Archived from the original on July 8, 2019. Retrieved August 25, 2012.

[11] Palattella, Ed. "For Erie's Diehl-Armstrong, pizza bomber case is 'sad epitaph'". GoErie.com. Retrieved July 3, 2019.

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