{"id":260,"date":"2022-01-24T10:15:08","date_gmt":"2022-01-24T16:15:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stfrancis100.org\/?page_id=260"},"modified":"2025-10-08T16:46:26","modified_gmt":"2025-10-08T21:46:26","slug":"university-leadership","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/stfrancis.edu\/about-us\/university-leadership\/","title":{"rendered":"University Leadership"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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University Leadership<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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University President<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\"Dr.<\/strong>Ryan C. Hendrickson, Ph.D. <\/strong>serves as the 10th President of the University of St. Francis. His tenure began on June 1, 2025.<\/p>

Dr. Hendrickson brings to USF more than 25 years of experience in higher education, including ten years in senior leadership positions at Eastern Illinois University, including his role as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs,\u00a0L.M. Hamand Dean of the Graduate School, Acting Dean of the College of Health and Human Services, and Acting Dean of Booth Library.<\/div>
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Prior to his work in university administration, Dr. Hendrickson served as a professor of political science, and received a number of teaching awards and distinctions. As a scholar of international relations and U.S. foreign policy, he is the author of three books, Obama at War (University Press of Kentucky, 2015), Diplomacy and War at NATO (University of Missouri Press, 2006) and The Clinton Wars (Vanderbilt University Press, 2002), as well as more than 70 articles and essays.<\/div>
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His priorities at USF include advancement of the university\u2019s Catholic and Franciscan mission, increasing USF\u2019s profile, and ensuring that students feel welcomed, challenged and respected as they pursue their academic and professional goals.<\/div>
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Dr. Hendrickson earned his graduate degrees at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and his undergraduate degree from Marquette University. He and his wife Tece are parishioners at the Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus in Joliet. They have three children; Marguerite (married to Jackson), Frances and Ryan.<\/div>
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Follow Dr. Hendrickson on social media:\u00a0<\/strong><\/div>
LinkedIn: Ryan C. Hendrickson \u00a0<\/strong><\/div>
Instagram: @stfrancispresident<\/strong><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Supporting Leadership<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The University of St. Francis was founded by The Sisters of St. Francis of St. Mary Immaculate<\/strong>\u2014 also known as the \u201cJoliet Franciscans.\u201d To discover more about their history and the work the Joliet Franciscans do in our community, click here<\/a>. The university is now sponsored by The Third Order Franciscan University Alliance<\/strong>.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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The University of St. Francis Board of Trustees oversees and guides USF in fulfillment of its educational mission. Click here to meet members of the USF Board of Trustees.<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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The president relies on the university\u2019s Officers of Administration to keep the university running smoothly. This group includes the provost and vice presidents, who oversee administrative and academic divisions at the University of St. Francis.<\/p>

Terrance L. Cottrell, Ed.D.<\/span><\/strong>
<\/span>Vice President of Information Technology & Planning<\/span>
<\/span>B.A. \u2013 University of St. Francis<\/span>
<\/span>M.S. \u2013 University of Illinois<\/span>
<\/span>MBA \u2013 University of St. Francis<\/span>
<\/span>Ed.D. \u2013 Northern Illinois University<\/span><\/p>

Michael Guns, CPA<\/strong>
Interim Vice President for Business Affairs
BSBA \u2013 Marquette University<\/p>

Faith Haley, M.Ed.<\/span><\/strong>
<\/span>Vice President of Admissions & Enrollment Services<\/span>
<\/span>B.A. \u2013 Hope College
M.Ed. \u2013 University of Southern California<\/span><\/p>

Dave Laketa<\/strong>
Director of Athletics
B.A. \u2014 University of St. Francis<\/p>

Michael Poradek, Ph.D.<\/b>
Vice President for Mission & Student Affairs<\/span>
B.A. \u2013 St. Norbert College
M.H.E.A. \u2013 Upper Iowa University
M.A. \u2013 Catholic Theological Union
Ph.D. \u2013 Cardinal Stritch University<\/p>

Beth Roth, Ph.D.<\/span><\/strong>
<\/span>Provost & Vice President of Academic Affairs<\/span>
<\/span>B.A. \u2013 Vassar College<\/span>
<\/span>M.A. and Ph.D. \u2013 University of Chicago<\/span><\/p>

Lisa Sampalis, MBA ’24<\/span><\/strong>
<\/span>Vice President for University Advancement<\/span>
<\/span>B.A. \u2013 Saint Mary\u2019s University of Minnesota
MBA \u2013 University of St. Francis<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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This group of advisors includes the Officers of Administration, plus the following individuals:<\/span><\/p>

Shannon Brown, Ph.D.<\/span><\/strong>
<\/span>Dean, College of Business & Health Administration<\/span>
<\/span>B.A. and MBA \u2013 Dominican University<\/span>
<\/span>Ph.D. \u2013 Benedictine University<\/span><\/p>

John Gambro, Ed.D.<\/span><\/strong>
<\/span>Dean, College of Education<\/span>
<\/span>B.A. \u2013 Northeastern Illinois University<\/span>
<\/span>M.S.Ed. and Ed.D. \u2013 Northern Illinois University<\/span><\/p>

Deborah Glenn, Ed.D.<\/span><\/strong>
<\/span>Director of Campus Culture & Title IX Coordinator<\/span>
<\/span>BA \u2013 Memphis State University<\/span>
<\/span>MAT and Ed.S. \u2013 The University of Memphis<\/span>
<\/span>Ed.D. \u2013 University of St. Francis<\/span><\/p>

Elizabeth McDermott, Ph.D.<\/span><\/strong>
<\/span>Dean, College of Arts & Sciences<\/span>
<\/span>B.A. \u2013 Hope College<\/span>
<\/span>MFA \u2013 Purdue University<\/span>
<\/span>Ph.D.\u00a0 \u2013 University of Illinois at Chicago<\/span><\/p>

Cedricka Carver<\/span><\/strong>
<\/span>Dean of Student Life<\/span><\/p>

Yeijin Yeom, Ph.D.<\/span><\/strong>
<\/span>Dean, Leach College of Nursing<\/span>
<\/span>B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. \u2013 Indiana State University<\/span><\/p>

ANNUAL MEMBERS 2025-26<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

Chair of Academic Assembly (AA):<\/span>
<\/span><\/strong>Sudipta Roy, Ph.D.<\/b>
<\/span>Professor, College of Business & Health Administration
<\/span>B.Sc. – University of Calcutta, India
M.Sc. – University of Calcutta, India
MBA – Governors State University
Ph.D. – Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research, India<\/p>

Chair of Administrators & Staff Council (ASC):<\/span>
<\/span>Annette Jelinek<\/span><\/strong>
<\/span>Welcome Center Coordinator<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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The primary purpose of the University Council is to provide an avenue for effective communication across divisions. Membership includes the Cabinet and all their direct reports. In addition, membership includes
representatives from the Academic Assembly (Chair and Executive Committee), Administrator & Staff
Council (Chair and Executive Committee), and Student Government Association (President).<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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The Board of Trustees, through its authority as the governing body of the university, has granted the Academic Assembly the role of representing the faculty of the university.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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The purpose of the Administrators & Staff Council (ASC) is to support the mission and values of the University of St. Francis through representation of the staff and administrators.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\"USF is a special place where students grow and learn, where faculty, staff and administrators work together to foster student success and advance our mission, and where a university education results in real, tangible and life-changing value for its students.\"\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDr. Ryan C. Hendrickson<\/cite>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Lace Up and Tour USF's Campus with Dr. Hendrickson<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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