Ryan C. Hendrickson, Ph.D. serves as the 10th President of the University of St. Francis. His tenure began on June 1, 2025.
The University of St. Francis was founded by The Sisters of St. Francis of St. Mary Immaculate— also known as the “Joliet Franciscans.” To discover more about their history and the work the Joliet Franciscans do in our community, click here. The university is now sponsored by The Third Order Franciscan University Alliance.
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.
The president relies on the university’s 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.
Terrance L. Cottrell, Ed.D.
Vice President of Information Technology & Planning
B.A. – University of St. Francis
M.S. – University of Illinois
MBA – University of St. Francis
Ed.D. – Northern Illinois University
Michael Guns, CPA
Interim Vice President for Business Affairs
BSBA – Marquette University
Faith Haley, M.Ed.
Vice President of Admissions & Enrollment Services
B.A. – Hope College
M.Ed. – University of Southern California
Dave Laketa
Director of Athletics
B.A. — University of St. Francis
Michael Poradek, Ph.D.
Vice President for Mission & Student Affairs
B.A. – St. Norbert College
M.H.E.A. – Upper Iowa University
M.A. – Catholic Theological Union
Ph.D. – Cardinal Stritch University
Beth Roth, Ph.D.
Provost & Vice President of Academic Affairs
B.A. – Vassar College
M.A. and Ph.D. – University of Chicago
Lisa Sampalis, MBA ’24
Vice President for University Advancement
B.A. – Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
MBA – University of St. Francis
This group of advisors includes the Officers of Administration, plus the following individuals:
Shannon Brown, Ph.D.
Dean, College of Business & Health Administration
B.A. and MBA – Dominican University
Ph.D. – Benedictine University
John Gambro, Ed.D.
Dean, College of Education
B.A. – Northeastern Illinois University
M.S.Ed. and Ed.D. – Northern Illinois University
Deborah Glenn, Ed.D.
Director of Campus Culture & Title IX Coordinator
BA – Memphis State University
MAT and Ed.S. – The University of Memphis
Ed.D. – University of St. Francis
Elizabeth McDermott, Ph.D.
Dean, College of Arts & Sciences
B.A. – Hope College
MFA – Purdue University
Ph.D. – University of Illinois at Chicago
Cedricka Carver
Dean of Student Life
Yeijin Yeom, Ph.D.
Dean, Leach College of Nursing
B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. – Indiana State University
ANNUAL MEMBERS 2025-26
Chair of Academic Assembly (AA):
Sudipta Roy, Ph.D.
Professor, College of Business & Health Administration
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
Chair of Administrators & Staff Council (ASC):
Annette Jelinek
Welcome Center Coordinator
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).
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.
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.
"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."
Estimada comunidad de la USF,
Me siento profundamente honrado de prestar servicio como décimo presidente de la Universidad de St. Francis. Desde mi nombramiento, muchos que están vinculados a la Universidad me han acogido y apoyado calurosamente, encarnando el verdadero espíritu franciscano. Espero trabajar junto a todos ustedes al entrar en este próximo capítulo de la vida de la Universidad.
Mientras me preparaba para asumir este nuevo papel de liderazgo, se produjo el fallecimiento del Papa Francisco y el posterior cónclave, que dieron como resultado la selección del Papa León XIV. Al igual que muchos otros en todo el mundo, seguí estos acontecimientos con gran interés y considerable ilusión.
Entre las conclusiones que podemos extraer de esta experiencia y que creo que tienen relevancia para la educación superior y nuestra universidad, me llamó la atención la alegría absoluta que se pudo atestiguar en la Plaza de San Pedro cuando el cardenal Robert Prevost fue seleccionado. Las sonrisas, el júbilo, los vítores y las muchas banderas que ondeaban tras el anuncio reflejaban un espíritu de esperanza y optimismo. En el más puro sentido franciscano, y tal vez como legado del Papa Francisco, la alegría estuvo en verdad presente de modo abundante el 8 de mayo. Desde entonces he escuchado que muchos empleados y alumnos de la USF también se reunieron en el campus para presenciar, juntos, el anuncio en la televisión. Con este espíritu, asumimos nuestra responsabilidad de educar a los alumnos con alegría y oportunidades a medida que nos acercamos a nuestro semestre de otoño.
Aparte de la alegría evidente de ese día, el Papa León fue inmediatamente retratado como un constructor de puentes, y en este sentido, volvió a ser bastante franciscano. Recuerdo el famoso diálogo de San Francisco con el sultán Malik al-Kamil, que dejó a ambos santos varones con un mayor aprecio el uno
por el otro. Con este mismo espíritu, la Universidad también debe continuar construyendo puentes en nuestras comunidades a través de compromisos de servicio adicionales, a través de nuevas asociaciones que beneficien a nuestros estudiantes y a la comunidad, y con nuevas formas de reconectarse con nuestros ex alumnos y otros partidarios de nuestra misión. Las universidades exitosas necesitan socios y nuevos puentes que se extiendan más allá de nuestro hermoso campus.
Además de su papel como constructor de puentes, el Papa León también ejemplifica la virtud del respeto. Ha ofrecido respeto a sus predecesores y colegas, a sus hermanos agustinos y a quienes participan de diversas tradiciones religiosas, así como a Chicago y a su antigua universidad, y la lista continúa. Este año académico, el valor franciscano que avanzaremos de manera más destacada es el “respeto”. En este sentido, ya tenemos mucho que aprender del Papa León que se puede poner en práctica en el próximo año. Y en este sentido, todos estos aspectos del Papa León también pueden ayudarnos a recordar que una experiencia de aprendizaje católica y franciscana es diferente, es altamente valorada y relevante, y de hecho resulta muy necesaria en nuestro entorno mundial actual.
Les agradezco sinceramente su compromiso continuo con la Universidad de St. Francis, y espero conocer a tantos de ustedes como sea posible a medida que construimos nuevos puentes que fortalecerán nuestra increíble universidad.
Ryan C. Hendrickson, Ph.D.
Presidente
The University of St. Francis was founded by The Sisters of St. Francis of St. Mary Immaculate— also known as the “Joliet Franciscans.” To discover more about their history and the work the Joliet Franciscans do in our community, click here. The university is now sponsored by The Third Order Franciscan University Alliance.
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.
The president relies on the university’s 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.
Terrance L. Cottrell, Ed.D.
Vice President of Information Technology & Planning
B.A. – University of St. Francis
M.S. – University of Illinois
MBA – University of St. Francis
Ed.D. – Northern Illinois University
Michael Guns, CPA
Interim Vice President for Business Affairs
BSBA – Marquette University
Faith Haley, M.Ed.
Vice President of Admissions & Enrollment Services
B.A. – Hope College
M.Ed. – University of Southern California
Dave Laketa
Director of Athletics
B.A. — University of St. Francis
Michael Poradek, Ph.D.
Vice President for Mission & Student Affairs
B.A. – St. Norbert College
M.H.E.A. – Upper Iowa University
M.A. – Catholic Theological Union
Ph.D. – Cardinal Stritch University
Beth Roth, Ph.D.
Provost & Vice President of Academic Affairs
B.A. – Vassar College
M.A. and Ph.D. – University of Chicago
Lisa Sampalis, MBA ’24
Vice President for University Advancement
B.A. – Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
MBA – University of St. Francis
This group of advisors includes the Officers of Administration, plus the following individuals:
Shannon Brown, Ph.D.
Dean, College of Business & Health Administration
B.A. and MBA – Dominican University
Ph.D. – Benedictine University
John Gambro, Ed.D.
Dean, College of Education
B.A. – Northeastern Illinois University
M.S.Ed. and Ed.D. – Northern Illinois University
Deborah Glenn, Ed.D.
Director of Campus Culture & Title IX Coordinator
BA – Memphis State University
MAT and Ed.S. – The University of Memphis
Ed.D. – University of St. Francis
Elizabeth McDermott, Ph.D.
Dean, College of Arts & Sciences
B.A. – Hope College
MFA – Purdue University
Ph.D. – University of Illinois at Chicago
Cedricka Carver
Dean of Student Life
Yeijin Yeom, Ph.D.
Dean, Leach College of Nursing
B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. – Indiana State University
ANNUAL MEMBERS 2025-26
Chair of Academic Assembly (AA):
Sudipta Roy, Ph.D.
Professor, College of Business & Health Administration
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
Chair of Administrators & Staff Council (ASC):
Annette Jelinek
Welcome Center Coordinator
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).
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.
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.
"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."
