September 19, 2025/Midnight
Gannon University, Erie Campus—This past weekend Gannon celebrated its centennial year with a homecoming football game, tailgate, block party, and more. As the Gannon community celebrates, many are reflecting on the origins of university, and the biggest milestones achieved along the way.
Gannon University’s hundred–year history began in 1925, with the first official day of classes at Villa Maria College. The Sisters of St. Joseph founded the college. Its first president was Mother Helena Dillon, who remained president for 17 years, until 1942. Though Villa Maria was a women’s college, a select few male students did attend until 1926, when it resumed an all– female student population.
In 1933, Cathedral College was founded, as an extension of Villa Maria for male students to attend. Monsignor Joseph Wehrle was the first president of Cathedral College. Bishop John Mark Gannon purchased Strong Mansion in 1941. Today, that building functions as Gannon’s Old Main. That same year, Cathedral College changed its name to Gannon School of Arts and Science and is referred to as Gannon College.
In 1942, Mother Aurelia A’Hearn was inaugurated as Villa Maria’s second president and is remembered for her commitment to strengthening the college academically.
Gannon College’s campus continued to expand with the Dahlkemper School of Business, which was opened in 1943. It was the first school of business in the region. In 1948, ROTC was introduced to the college and was required for the first two years of education, until 1970 when the requirement was dropped.
In 1952, the Villa Maria School of Nursing was founded. In 1953, Bishop Gannon was appointed Archbishop.
In 1956, Monsignor Joseph Wehrle steps down as President of Gannon College, and is replaced by Monsignor Wilfrid Nash. For over twenty years, Monsignor Wilfrid Nash was president of the university. The Nash Library and Zurn Science Center were both built during his tenure as president.
Sister M. Lawreace Antoun became the third president of Villa Maria in 1966. She was a graduate of Villa Maria, and the college added new departments and buildings during her tenure.
In 1969, women were fully and openly accepted into Gannon College. A few years later, in 1972, the WERG radio station goes live on the air for the first time.
Dr. Joseph Scottino is inaugurated as the third president of Gannon College in 1977, the same year the Writing Center first opened. During his presidency, in 1979, Gannon College becomes Gannon University.
Dr. Daniel Henry became Gannon’s fourth president in 1987. He furthered Gannon’s mission of providing high quality Catholic education in Erie, primarily through merging with Villa Maria in 1989. That same year, the Villa Maria College of Nursing was founded.
The fourth and final president of Villa Maria was inaugurated in 1988, until the merger in 1989. Sister Leonie Shanley was president of Villa Maria for a short time but left a powerful impact. She became Gannon University’s first female vice president after the merger.
Monsignor David Rubino, Ph.D., became Gannon’s fifth president in 1991. During his presidency Waldron Campus Center was built, and multiple buildings were renovated including Zurn Science Center, Beyer Hall, and the Hammermill Center. He is also remembered for his dedication to strengthening the academic curriculum.
In 2000, Dr. Thomas Ostrowski became acting president of the university for one year. Afterwards, he returned to his job as a political science professor.
Dr. Antione Garabaldi became president of Gannon in 2001. During the nine years Dr. Garabaldi was president, more than 24 buildings were renovated, bought, or built. He raised millions of dollars for the university, and dramatically increased enrollment during his tenure.
Inaugurated in 2011, Dr. Keith Taylor was the seventh president of Gannon. In 2015, Gannon University opened a graduate branch in Ruskin, Florida.
During Dr. Taylor’s tenure as president, the university experienced the highest enrollment to date, of over 4,700 students. He was also the only president to date to be honored with the title of President Emeritus, which honors a person who has made great contributions to an organization or job.
In 2023, Dr. Walter Iwanenko was inaugurated as Gannon’s president and remains the current president as of the publication of this article. In 2024, Gannon University merged with Ursaline College in Ohio, expanding Gannon’s reach in the Lake Erie region.
During 2025, Gannon celebrates its hundredth year as an institution. Although many events can be remembered from the centennial’s homecoming weekend, such as the football game or massive block party, one event is particularly distinguished. On Sunday, Sept. 14, Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, celebrated the mass honoring Gannon’s centennial.
Gannon University has a century filled with milestones and achievements. During this time of reflection on the history of Gannon, students, alumni, and others are looking towards the next hundred years, and wondering what achievements will come in the next century of Gannon University.
