Gannon University Master of Public Administration Program

Priyanka Patel (MPA program graduate in 2024) has been accepted in the PhD program at the University of South Florida, College of Behavioral and Community Sciences, for the Fall 2026 term beginning in August 2026. This offer covers full scholarship and stipend.
Congratulations to Priyanka!

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Building Futures Together — MPA 2025 Workshop & Gathering”

🗓️ October 23, 2024
📢 MPA Program Party Recap! 🎉
We had an amazing time celebrating the MPA community with great conversations and valuable insights from our guest speakers—MPA alumni who are making incredible strides in public service here in Erie!

This MPA party was held on Oct 23, 2024 on the third floor of Palumbo Academic Center. CHESS Dean Dr. Lindley addressed the audience before Guest Speakers. Dr. Mengzhong Zhang, the MPA program director convened the session.

🌟 Guest Speakers:

Malay Sarkar: Budget Analyst at Erie County
Aisharyja Roy Puja: Dedicated professional in the nonprofit sector
Mr. Malay Sarkar shared some incredible advice from his journey, including:

The importance of engaging in small seminars and discussions.
Building a strong network and staying in touch with connections.
Embracing diverse cultures and actively participating in university activities.
Creating networks with people who have extensive connections.
For international students, he also provided insights on Green Card pathways, discussing options like:

EB1 (Extraordinary Ability)
EB2-NIW (National Interest Waiver)
EB3 (Skilled Worker)

🙏 Thank you, Malay and Aisharyja, for your time and wisdom! Let’s continue to grow, connect, and make an impact together!

🎓 MBA & MPA Alumni Speaker Series 🎓

Join us for an insightful evening with our esteemed alumni! Get exclusive advice on navigating your career, finding the right job, and excelling in your field. Our speakers, graduates from our MBA and MPA programs, will share their journeys and answer your questions.

🗓 Date: September 12
🕔 Time: 5 PM
📍 Location: CBI 300
⏳ Duration: 50 minutes

Don’t miss this chance to gain valuable insights from those who’ve been where you are! 🙌

🚀 Exciting Opportunity for MBA & MHA Students! 🚀

Join us for the Career Prep Session on September 10, 2024, from 4:30 - 5:30 PM at CBI 300. Get ready to sharpen your skills, prepare for your future, and gain valuable insights to excel in your career. Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to network and learn! 🌟

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MPA program at Gannon University held a MPA party on March 22, 2023. Dr. Walter Iwanenko Jr. the provost and incoming president of the university delivered a keynote speech. Dr. Iwanenko shared his blueprint of the university to the MPA students. Participants of the MPA party has a wonderful time. They have enjoyed the food and the conversation with other peers or professors.

Gannon University Announces New Provost and Vice President for Student Experience
Published: 03/16/2023

Gannon University Announces its Eighth President
Published: 11/02/2022

The university’s Board of Trustees voted Monday afternoon to appoint Iwanenko, 52, to succeed Keith Taylor, Ph.D., who announced in August that he will step down as president effective June 30, 2023. Iwanenko will begin his new duties on July 1, 2023.
The university’s Board of Trustees voted Monday afternoon to appoint Iwanenko, 52, to succeed Keith Taylor, Ph.D., who announced in August that he will step down as president effective June 30, 2023. Iwanenko will begin his new duties on July 1, 2023.

Walter Iwanenko Jr., Ph.D., an occupational therapist and epidemiologist whose six-year tenure as Gannon University’s provost and vice president for student experience has earned him a reputation as a creative problem solver and an advocate for academic excellence, has been selected as the university’s eighth president.
The university’s Board of Trustees voted Monday afternoon to appoint Iwanenko, 52, to succeed Keith Taylor, Ph.D., who announced in August that he will step down as president effective June 30, 2023. Iwanenko will begin his new duties on July 1, 2023.

“We are delighted to announce Dr. Iwanenko will be our next president,” said the Most. Rev. Lawrence Persico, J.C.L., Bishop of the Diocese of Erie and chairman of Gannon’s Board of Trustees. “He has contributed much to the university in his role as a vice president and provost, and we have even higher expectations for him and the university when he assumes his new role next year.”
VISIT GANNON'S OFFICIAL PRESIDENTIAL SEARCH PAGE TO LEARN MORE AND STAY ENGAGED IN THE PROCESS.
Iwanenko’s appointment as president-elect follows a nearly six-month campus-wide process that was assisted by Academic Search.

More than 800 faculty, staff and students responded to the Leadership Transition Committee’s survey in early September. Those responses helped form the presidential profile against which Iwanenko was vetted in early October.

About 275 attended open forums with Iwanenko, and another 150 participated in interviews with him. The overwhelmingly positive feedback from those meetings informed the 13-member Committee’s recommendation to the Board of Trustees.

Tina Donikowski ’85, a Gannon trustee and chairwoman of the Leadership Search Committee, said Iwanenko distinguished himself throughout the process.

“We were fortunate to have had a succession plan in place and that Dr. Iwanenko presented himself so well,” she said. “As a committee and as a board, we were prepared to take the search nationally if that was indicated, but Dr. Iwanenko proved to us he is ready for this role. He has the institutional knowledge, the aptitude and a commitment to both the university and to its Catholic traditions to advance Gannon’s positive momentum.”

Iwanenko, who worked at Hilbert and D’Youville colleges prior to joining Gannon in 2016, offered a few remarks during an announcement and brief reception in the Yehl Ballroom this morning.

“I am humbled by the privilege to serve as president at this pivotal juncture in our university’s life,” he told those gathered in person and those watching via a livestream.

“At Gannon, I have been blessed to serve on a team that has maintained financial discipline, improved academic programs, grown enrollment and expanded its footprint – in Erie, Pa., and in Ruskin, Fla. Although building on this success may be met with challenges in the next several years as the competition for students increases and their demographics and needs change – we must and we will remain steadfast in achieving our Mission while delivering a quality education at an affordable price. I welcome this leadership challenge and believe that challenge creates opportunity and I have full confidence in the determination of our Gannon community to learn, adapt and prosper,” he said.

Iwanenko’s family has already set down roots in Erie and at Gannon. His wife, Mary, is an alumna of Gannon and is the director of the university’s Health Center, and their son earned his bachelor’s degree at Gannon and is pursuing a graduate degree too. They also have two daughters, one who lives in Buffalo and another in Erie.

“Our entire family shines with Gannon pride,” he said.

SEARCH TO BEGIN FOR PROVOST
Iwanenko’s selection as president opens a vacancy in the provost and vice president for student experience position.

“We will immediately begin a national search for a new provost,” Taylor said during today’s announcement.

A search committee will be named in the coming week and a position profile will be created shortly thereafter.

“We will be assisted in this effort by Academic Search and we anticipate having a new provost in place when Walter begins his tenure as president on July 1, 2023,” Taylor said.

IWANENKO’S PATH TO GANNON
Iwanenko grew up in Buffalo, the oldest of three children to immigrants. His father is from Ukraine and his mother is from Poland. His parents came to the U.S. as children and met in Buffalo in high school.

He was the first in his family to receive a college degree and his career is the product of that education. He has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in occupational therapy from D’Youville College in Buffalo and a Ph.D. in epidemiology and community health from the State University of New York at Buffalo.

“I understand and appreciate first-hand the opportunities that higher education can create. I want others to have those same opportunities,” he said.

Iwanenko was a staff occupational therapist at Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo, N.Y., who then launched and managed two businesses in the Buffalo region – Monarch Little Learners Academy and ChildPro, which he and his wife eventually sold.

At the same time, he was an instructor at D’Youville College, working his way up from a clinical instructor in the Occupational Therapy Department in 1995 to a tenured associate professor in 2004. He was chair of the school’s Health Services Administration Department from 2005 to 2011. He was also chair of the school’s Business Department from 2009 to 2011.

He was hired as the dean of Adult and Graduate Studies and a professor of public administration at Hilbert College in 2011, a role he would have until 2016, when he was hired as the chief academic officer at Gannon University.

From 2016 to 2020, Iwanenko was the vice president for academic affairs at Gannon, responsible for the faculty and all undergraduate and graduate programs. He was also a key member of the president’s leadership team, helping guide the growth of the university.

He was named provost and vice president of student experience in September 2020 following a realignment of the university’s leadership.

“From my days teaching at D’Youville College, serving as founding Dean of Graduate Studies at Hilbert College, building and leading a successful startup private-sector company, and working with not-for-profits, to my years here at Gannon as provost and vice president for student experience -- citizenship, engagement, and service, has been at the core of my life and my work. I thrive on being a part of this university and experiencing the transformation we create through our lives together,” he said.

Gannon University Announces New Provost and Vice President for Student Experience
Published: 03/16/2023

“I am so proud to be a part of the Gannon family and to have the opportunity to work closely with dedicated colleagues, alumni and community partners toward our shared purpose - transforming the lives of our students and one another."
“I am so proud to be a part of the Gannon family and to have the opportunity to work closely with dedicated colleagues, alumni and community partners toward our shared purpose - transforming the lives of our students and one another."

Gannon University announces the appointment of Sarah Ewing, Ph.D., as the institution’s next Provost and Vice President for Student Experience following an intensive national search.
“Welcoming Dr. Ewing into this position ensures a visionary leader will continue to drive the strategy of our academic offerings as well as our student and employee experiences,” said Keith Taylor, Ph.D., President of Gannon University.

Dr. Ewing will be responsible for all undergraduate and graduate academic matters; student academic support services; program development, delivery and assessment. In this role she will work with both academic and student experience division leadership to integrate curriculum and co-curriculum initiatives as well as the assessment and strategic planning for both divisions, including the liberal studies core; faculty development programs; student development and engagement, residence life and dining, athletics, health and wellness, and student support. She will work closely with the President and Leadership Team on the critical work of achieving the university’s mission, vision and strategic goals and in support and promotion of Gannon’s Catholic identity.

“We are proud of Dr. Ewing’s service and leadership as Dean of the Morosky College of Health Professions and Sciences and are excited by her decision to advance her vision and commitment to Gannon and our community as Provost and Vice President for Student Experience,” said Taylor. “Our decision was affirmed by the feedback we received through the search process and our confidence in her success founded in her exemplary leadership during a time when higher education and our world has faced challenges that are redefining how we continue to deliver a quality experience. We are confident she will continue to lead Gannon forward as a catalyst for transforming our students, our employees and our surrounding communities.”

Dr. Ewing was a first-generation student who funded her own college education, earning a bachelor's degree in biology from Penn State Behrend in 2001 as a University Schreyer Scholar and Excellence in Biology Award recipient. She completed the Ph.D. track of North Carolina State University’s comparative biomedical sciences program in 2007, after which she returned to Erie as a biology professor at Penn State Behrend in 2007. Ewing transitioned to Gannon in 2009 as an assistant professor of biology and director of pre-health professional programs. She advanced to chair of the biology department (2013), associate professor (2015), associate dean in July (2015), and interim dean (2017). In December of 2017, Ewing became permanent dean and has achieved tremendous success for the college, establishing herself as a leader with vision and drive.

During her time as Dean, the college has grown and flourished significantly. We opened our second Gannon location in Ruskin, Fla. to meet health care needs for the region by educating future health leaders with in-demand programs. The College has formed meaningful community partnerships to deliver transformational opportunities for students to advance their careers and pursue their passion, such as the UPMC Jameson School of Nursing and the research and education collaboration with the Regional Science Consortium.

“I am truly honored and humbled to be granted the opportunity to serve Gannon University as Provost and Vice President of Student Experience,” said Sarah Ewing, Ph.D. “I am so proud to be a part of the Gannon family and to have the opportunity to work closely with dedicated colleagues, alumni and community partners toward our shared purpose - transforming the lives of our students and one another. I look forward to leaning into my personal and professional experiences and vision for this role to continue Gannon’s positive momentum and deliver an innovative and high-quality education and experience for our students on our Erie and Ruskin Campuses.”
Ewing will succeed Walter Iwanenko, Ph.D., in the Provost and Vice President for Student Experience position as he transitions into leading Gannon as the university’s eighth President on July 1, 2023.

“We believe that Dr. Ewing’s experience, background and vision for Gannon University’s academic offerings as well as the student and employee experience will propel our institution forward as we look ahead to our 100-year anniversary and beyond,” said Iwanenko.

“Her care, understanding and connection with our faculty, staff and students paired with her forward-thinking mindset positioned Dr. Ewing as the best candidate in our search.”

Gannon University’s MPA program has been recently approved as a STEM Designated Program

Gannon's Master of Public Administration is a STEM Designated Degree Program. The STEM designation also has special implications for international students who are studying in the United States on a student F-1 visa. For most international students, there is an opportunity to complete work experience following the completion of their degree through a program called Optional Practical Training (OPT). The standard duration for OPT is 12 months. However, if the student has completed a STEM approved program, OPT can be extended by as much as 24 months for a total of 36 months. For any clarification of the I-20 purpose, please contact Gannon University’s Office of Global Admissions and Outreach. . To be eligible, students must have a STEM degree from an accredited U.S. school and must secure employment with an employer that includes a minimum of 20 hours of work per week and formal training within the STEM field.
This designation reflects the program's commitment to the traditional MPA coursework with an emphasis throughout the curriculum on utilizing today's technology for data-driven decision making.

• The Gannon University’s MPA program has uniquely infused quantitative methods into the traditional MPA curriculum focused on the quantitative approaches and analysis. The STEM MPA program utilizes quantitative methods to analyze, synthesize, think critically, solve problems and make decisions. In addition to the public budgeting and fiancé course that tries to balance both revenue and expenditure with quantitative approaches, the research methodology course stresses on quantitative methods compared to qualitative methods of analysis, and research design and implementation. The Capstone Project course also focuses on quantitative data collection and analysis to better align with the STEM designation of the MPA program. These adjustments make the Gannon University’s MPA program unique that the graduates will be equipped with data-driven decision skills and competency in today’s consistently changing environment.

Congratulations to our fall graduates!