Gannon University Alumni Association

09/26/2026

09/25/2026

It's Gannon Homecoming and Family Weekend! ❤️⚔️💛

Bring your Gannon spirit, round up the family and get ready for a weekend full of tradition, memories and Golden Knight pride!

Here's the schedule for today: https://bit.ly/4cTiyNS

09/23/2026

🎉🏈 Hey Golden Knights, HOMECOMING IS TOMORROW 🏈🎉

09/22/2026

Today we highlight Distinguished Alumni Honoree Deacon Stephen J. Washek ’90, ’05M.

Deacon Stephen J. Washek earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work, alongside a certificate in Gerontology, from Gannon University in 1990. In 2004, he was ordained a Permanent Deacon in the Diocese of Erie by Bishop Donald Trautman and went on to earn a Master of Arts degree in Pastoral Ministry from Gannon in 2005.

Washek began his career in social work with L’Arche Erie, serving in various positions before ultimately becoming Executive Director. His time there was profoundly transformative, fostering a deep love and understanding of people with varying abilities. Through the individuals he served at L’Arche, Washek learned invaluable lessons about God and spirituality, forming deep, authentic relationships that continue to this day. It was also during his early days at L’Arche that he met his wife, Vicki, with whom he raised three children. One of the greatest joys of his career was opening the “Rose” home at L’Arche Erie, where he watched core members Charlie, Linda and Delores thrive outside of a state institution.

In 2001, Washek stepped into what he considers the role of a lifetime: Director of Campus Ministry at Gannon University. He viewed it as a profound privilege to accompany students on their spiritual journeys, and through countless retreats and service trips, he developed lifelong friendships.

Washek returned to L’Arche in 2016, serving as the Vice National Leader for L’Arche USA, where he cherished the opportunity to guide and support L’Arche communities across the country. Then, in 2018, he was named the Executive Director of Faith Formation for the Diocese of Erie—a new position established as part of the diocese’s pastoral planning efforts for lifelong faith formation. Upon his appointment, Bishop Lawrence Persico stated, “Deacon Steve is an excellent choice to lead this effort. His background and experiences in ministry and management, as well as his deep commitment to the Catholic faith, are significant assets.”

In July 2025, Washek retired from his diocesan role to embrace what he calls his best title yet: “Grandpa” to his seven grandsons, and two bonus grandsons. He and Vicki belong to St. George Parish in Erie, where he serves as Deacon and pastoral minister, and Vicki serves as a lector, pastoral council member and coordinator of the Walking with Moms in Need ministry.

Celebrate Deacon Stephen with us during Homecoming and Family Weekend.

Register in person in Waldron 219 from 9:00am - 6:00pm on Friday, September 25.

09/21/2026

Are you registered yet?! 👀

The countdown is on! Only THREE days until we kick off Homecoming & Family Weekend!🎉

Don’t miss your chance to reconnect, celebrate, and make new memories with your Gannon family. We can’t wait to welcome you home!

Register in person at the registration room beginning Friday morning!

09/21/2026

Today we highlight Distinguished Alumni Honoree Francis M. Maxin ’64.

Francis Maxin is an Allegheny County native and was the eighth child of twelve in his household. He is a 1964 graduate of Gannon University where he received his Bachelor of Science in Biology before he pursued a Master of Science in Biology at Duquesne University followed by a Master of Science in Public Health at the University of Pittsburgh - specializing in epidemiology of infectious diseases. On a different note, Maxin is also a graduate of the Harvey Penick School of Golf, an accomplishment that served him well at the Community College of Allegheny County, where he was the college’s golf coach for several years.

This year, Professor Maxin is celebrating sixty years of teaching at the Community College of Allegheny County. He began his tenure at CCAC in 1966 and was a “founding father”
of the college. He served as the chair of the biology department for approximately twenty years and continues to teach his courses in microbiology to this day.

In addition to his teaching experience, Maxin has also published a college textbook, Venereal Disease and Control, and was a textbook editor for nearly twenty years. He has also been an active member of the American Society for Microbiology, a worldwide scientific organization, for sixty years.

In 2022, Maxin was the recipient of the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development award, celebrating his longstanding service and dedication to the CCAC community throughout the years. At the CCAC Spring 2026 commencement, Maxin served as the Grand Marshal for the event and was recognized by the college and Allegheny County with a proclamation from the County Executive and Allegheny County Council, which noted that “[Francis’] legacy is reflected not only in the years he has served, but in the thousands of lives he has touched.”

It is estimated that Maxin has taught approximately twenty thousand students (and counting) throughout his teaching career.

Maxin is a proud brother of Gannon University’s Delta Sigma Phi fraternity Gamma Rho chapter and remains involved with the group to this day. He is the fourteenth member of the fraternity to be recognized by the Gannon University Alumni Association with a distinguished alumni award.

It is the Delta Sigma Phi brotherhood that Maxin credits with his ongoing association with the university, and he fondly remembers the reunions and gatherings he has attended with the organization throughout the years, along with the friendships he made along the way, especially Maxin’s college roommate, Brother Joseph Cooley, who coordinates most of his class and fraternity reunions. Maxin is also a member of the Gannon University Heritage Society and maintains a close relationship with the university.

In his free time, Maxin participates in charitable work and service with the Knights of Columbus, where he currently serves as the Grand Knight for his local chapter 2555. In terms of retirement, Maxin notes that his plans involve a microbiology concept: “I’ll retire when I decompose.”

Celebrate Francis with us during Homecoming and Family Weekend.

Register here: www.gannon.edu/homecoming

09/20/2026

Today we highlight Distinguished Alumni Honoree Rona L. Nesbit ’81

In a professional career spanning some 45 years, Nesbit has spent time in public accounting, healthcare finance, retail building products, and for the last 27 years, senior roles at the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. In her roles at the Trust, Nesbit helped build the non-profit organization into one of the top five largest performing arts centers in the country, celebrated as a model for economic revitalization through the arts. She has served as the Trust’s financial and administrative partner for all three of the organization’s President & CEOs while the organization’s budget grew steadily from $20 million to $70 million.

She also helped oversee the physical transformation of the Pittsburgh Cultural District, a 14-square block area in downtown having served in major roles in the building of the O’Reilly Theater, Theater Square, Katz Plaza, the Allegheny Riverfront Parks and Arts Landing, a 4 ½ acre civic space in downtown Pittsburgh, which recently opened in April 2026. The Trust’s programming and other activity attracts over 600,000 people annually, supporting over 1,900 jobs and generating close to $200 million in regional economic impact.

Nesbit had the opportunity to lead other transformational projects while at the Trust. One example is the key role she played in establishing Shared Services, an innovative program that resulted in over $20 million in administrative savings for partner organizations and has also led successful mergers with several regional arts organizations.

Inside the venues, she championed accessibility including the creation of an accessibility coordinator position. She also led the Trust’s significant financial investment in presenting a sensory-friendly adaptation of Broadway’s The Lion King in 2013 with Pittsburgh becoming only the second city outside of New York to do so.

Caring deeply about community, Nesbit has served roles on various boards over the years such as the Women’s Center and Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh, The Arc of Westmoreland County, WQED and the Frick Museum and Gardens of Pittsburgh.

Nesbit has been recognized for her work by peers and institutions alike. She is a member of the Pittsburgh chapter of the International Women’s Forum, an organization that advances women’s leadership worldwide. She has been named a Woman of Distinction by the Girl Scouts of Western Pennsylvania, awarded the YWCA’s Tribute to Women Leadership Award, named a finalist for the Athena Award, and most recently, was a recipient of a 2025 C-Suite Award by the Pittsburgh Business Times.

Celebrate Rona with us during Homecoming and Family Weekend.

Register here: www.gannon.edu/homecoming

09/20/2026

🔥Just 4 days until the ultimate reunion begins. Have you registered? 🎉🏡

Register here: www.gannon.edu/homecoming

09/19/2026

Today we highlight Distinguished Alumni Honoree Kathleen Marie Gausman ’87VMC, ’92M.

Kathleen Marie Gausman has dedicated her professional life to higher education, student development, leadership, and community engagement. During a distinguished career at Gannon University, she served in a variety of leadership roles, overseeing departments, programs, and initiatives that significantly enhanced the student experience and contributed to the institution’s success. Her responsibilities included strategic planning, assessment of learning outcomes, policy development, student conduct administration, crisis response, personnel supervision, budget management, and the coordination of renovation and facility improvement projects.

While her administrative accomplishments are extensive, Gausman considers her most meaningful contributions to be the relationships she built with students and colleagues. Mentoring, teaching, and supporting others remained at the heart of her work throughout her career. She often describes her professional journey at Gannon as consisting of three distinct eras of mentorship, each providing unique opportunities to influence and support the next generation of leaders.

The first era began during her tenure as Assistant Director and later Director of Residence Life. In these roles, she worked closely with Resident Assistants, Resident Directors, and student leaders living on campus. She helped students navigate personal challenges, develop leadership skills, and build strong residential communities. Her guidance played a meaningful role in the personal and professional growth of countless students.

The second era emerged through her service as Associate Dean of Student Development and Advisor to the Student Government Association. In this capacity, Gausman was deeply committed to integrating students’ curricular and co-curricular learning experiences. She mentored executive board members and student representatives as they advocated for their peers, developed leadership skills, and gained an understanding of civic engagement and organizational governance. Her collaborative approach encouraged students to find their voices, think critically, act responsibly, and embrace opportunities to make a positive impact on campus and beyond. Many credit her guidance and encouragement as instrumental in shaping their confidence, leadership abilities, and future careers.

The third era of mentorship was realized through her role as Associate Vice President for Student Development and Engagement and as co-founder of the TRAVEL program. Through this innovative initiative, Gausman helped create transformative international learning experiences that broadened students’ perspectives and deepened their understanding of global cultures. As a fellow traveler and facilitator, she accompanied students to nine countries, guiding them through experiences that challenged assumptions, inspired personal growth, and fostered lifelong connections. These journeys reinforced her belief that education extends far beyond the classroom and that some of life’s most meaningful learning occurs through shared experiences and cultural exploration.

Across all three phases of her career, Gausman had the privilege of mentoring staff members and hundreds of students. Many of these relationships have endured long after graduation and employment, evolving into lasting friendships. Maintaining these connections remains one of the greatest sources of pride and fulfillment in her life.

Beyond her work in higher education, Gausman has maintained a lifelong appreciation for creativity and the arts. Today, she continues to contribute to the Erie community through her role at Glass Growers Gallery and Gifts, where she combines her passion for artistic expression, community engagement, and relationship-building. Her work at the gallery reflects the same values that guided her university career: fostering connections, supporting personal growth, and creating spaces where individuals can learn, discover, and thrive.

Gausman’s legacy is one of leadership, mentorship, service, and lifelong learning. Her enduring impact is measured not only by the programs she developed and the initiatives she led, but by the countless lives she influenced, encouraged, and inspired along the way.

Join us on Friday, September 25 to honor Kathleen at the Distinguished Alumni Dinner. Please register at www.gannon.edu/homecoming

09/18/2026

This Homecoming and Family Weekend we will honor five distinguished alumni, our first highlight this week is Tracey R. McCants Lewis, Esq. ’93.

Tracey McCants Lewis is Chief Legal and Community Affairs Officer for the Pittsburgh Penguins. She oversees the Legal and Community Affairs departments, providing strategic leadership across all legal functions and community engagement initiatives. Her portfolio includes management of the organization’s Inclusion and Belonging efforts, fostering meaningful connections among the community, fanbase, corporate partners, and staff. In 2019, she led the development of the Black Hockey History Game, which has since become an annual cornerstone event for the club and a model for subsequent organizational initiatives.

A member of the Pennsylvania State Bar, McCants Lewis was appointed to the Disciplinary
Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in 2013 and served until 2018. She is a former
associate of K&L Gates LLP and served as a law clerk for the Honorable Max Baer of the
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. McCants Lewis earned her B.A. degree from Gannon
University in political science and her J.D. from Duquesne University School of Law. She is
also a graduate of The Advanced Leadership Institute (TALI), Executive Leadership Academy in conjunction with the Carnegie Mellon University, Tepper School of Business.

She has received numerous awards and honors from local organizations, including the NAACP Pittsburgh Branch’s Homer S. Brown Award for Legal Service; YWCA of Greater Pittsburgh Racial Justice Award; Allegheny County Bar Association Lorraine M. Bittner Public Interest Attorney Award; Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh’s Ron H. Brown Community Leadership Award; Mt. Ararat Community Activity Center, Dr. Lottie P. Edwards Community Service Award; Martin Luther King Jr. Drum Major for Justice Award from the Homer S. Brown Division of the Allegheny County Bar Association; and the C-Suite Award from the Pittsburgh Business Times. She was also named to The Hockey News’ List of 20 Women Making Black History in Hockey and featured in the Sports Business Journal’s ALL IN: Leaders in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

She has served on numerous local, state, and national boards, including the ACLU
Pennsylvania State Board (Board Chair); ACLU Greater Pittsburgh Chapter; Urban League of
Greater Pittsburgh (Executive Board); Urban League Young Professionals of Greater Pittsburgh (Executive Board); National Urban League Young Professionals Board of Directors (Executive Board); Mt. Ararat Community Activity Center; and August Wilson African American Cultural Center (Board Chair).

Tracey is the proud mother of one adult son, Marcelius Lewis II.

Join us on Friday, September 25 to honor Tracey at the Distinguished Alumni Dinner. Please register at www.gannon.edu/homecoming