A Welcome Message from Fr. Jim Greenfield, OSFS
Dear Friend,
Welcome to DeSales University!
I am delighted that you are visiting us online, and I hope to welcome you in person on our famously beautiful campus in Center Valley, PA.
As you tour our web page, you will sample a bit of the verve of our DeSales University community. With top-ranked academic and arts programs to our extensive person-centered student life and athletic offerings, the University offers learning experiences that prepare undergraduates and graduates for successful careers in leadership and service.
What’s more, our spirit—the DeSales ethos—will both inform and inspire not just what our graduates do as professionals, but how they will live while pursuing their passions. Inspired by St. Francis de Sales, the University’s mission seeks to empower community members to “be who they are and be that well.” This maxim of the 17th century bishop hails the dignity and goodness of each person. Additionally, our core values taken from his life and legacy form the soul of our students. Gentleness, humility, gratitude, hospitality, and wisdom grow deep within us as we learn, study, work, recreate, worship, serve, and laugh together.
This DeSales spirit is best caught, not taught! So, please visit us in person to catch a glimpse of the beauty of our campus and the richness of our students, faculty, and staff.
I hope to see you soon.
Peace,
Fr. Jim Greenfield, OSFS
President
Rev. James J Greenfield, OSFS
President
“We hope that DeSales University will become your community for you to grow into the fullness of who you are called to be for our world who needs you to grace it with your learning and service.”
The Oblates of St. Francis de Sales
The Congregation of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales was founded to advance the Gospel through the spirit and teaching of its patron saint.
A chief focus of St. Francis de Sales was the gentleness and humanity of Jesus. The gentleman saint took this from his favorite Gospel quote: “Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart” (MT 11:29). Working to “Live Jesus,” DeSales sought for himself and implored others to integrate the very person and personality of the Savior into the character of the disciple. Consequently, “Live Jesus” grew to become a popular maxim for DeSales.
One of the foremost Christian humanists of his day, St. Francis de Sales developed a fascinating and engaging perspective of the human person. He said, “The person is the perfection of the universe, the mind is the perfection of the person, love is the perfection of the mind and charity is the perfection of love.”
This unique conjunction, interpenetration and interaction of intellectual and affective elements sees a person in his or her totality. In the Salesian view, with its attempt to harmonize and integrate the divine and human aspects, anthropology becomes inseparable from theology. Everything truly human comes under the study, care and concern of the person. That is why Christian humanism engenders a universal openness and awareness.
Mother Mary Chappuis, a nun from the Order of the Visitation founded by St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane de Chantal, prevailed upon Father Louis Brisson to form a congregation of men committed to living and transmitting this ideal of Salesian humanism. In 1876 a small band of six men, led by Father Brisson, professed their first vows as Oblates of St. Francis de Sales and began to live the religious life in Troyes, France.
Despite humble beginnings, the order experienced a rapid growth. Oblate communities now exist in India, Austria, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, South America, South Africa, Namibia, Switzerland, and the United States.
The first foundation in the United States was Salesianum School, a high school for boys in Wilmington, Del., in 1903. Although the first undertakings of the Oblates in the United States was the Christian education of youth, members devote themselves to many other varied apostolates to serve people’s needs.
President's Cabinet
Board of Trustees
- Kathleen Kund Nolan '79, Chair
- Frank J. Dalicandro '77
- Rev. Francis W. Danella, OSFS, D.Min. '70
- Joseph Fitzpatrick, Esq.
- Frank J. Ford, Jr. '74, MBA, Vice Chair
- Nakia Gard, M.S. '09
- Rev. James J. Greenfield, OSFS '84, Ed.D.
- Rev. Matthew J. Hillyard, OSFS '84, M.Div., M.A.
- Brian E. Kearney
- Paul Klauder '89, C.P.A.
- V. Rev. John Kolodziej, OSFS
- Hon. Joseph F. Leeson, Jr. '77
- Gene J. Marino '81
- Jo-Ann Mendles, MBA
- Maria C. Montero, Esq.
- Kelly Conley Mullen '87
- Michael O'Boyle
- Michael A. Rossi, M.D., MBA '11
- Kathleen Waterbury Reilly
- John D. Stanley, Esq., Vice Chair
- Most Rev. Barry R. Strong, OSFS '78, S.T.D.
- Joseph C. Trinkle Jr. '81, C.P.A.
- Robert Wax, Esq.
- Thomas V. Whalen, M.D., M.M.M.
President's Advisory Council
An executive-level group of by-invitation-only business and civic leaders who are committed to advancing the mission of DeSales University.
President’s Advisory Council members ...
- Foster interaction between the University and businesses and the community at large.
- Act as advocates on behalf of DeSales, take the message of the University out into the community, and actively engage friends and associates in the understanding and support of the University’s mission.
- Deepen the awareness among the business community of DeSales’ educational expertise and quality of graduates.
- Share their expertise with members of the DeSales Board of Trustees, executive staff and faculty on an as-needed basis with energy and generosity.
- Serve on University committees.
- Act as mentors, lecturers, consultants and sources of internships to the DeSales University student body.
- Attend regular President’s Advisory Council meetings and major DeSales University events.
- Help DeSales University fulfill its educational goals and invest in the future of DeSales University with loyal and active support and financial involvement.
Advisory Council Lifetime Members
- Mr Thomas J. Bisko, Quakertown National Bank
- Mrs. Estelle Marcon Boyer, The Frank L. Marcon Foundation
- Mr. Gene M. Buckno, Buckno Lisicky & Company, PC
- Mr. Robert G. Ciccone, Pointe West Associates
- Mr. Henry T. Lyons, Jr.
- Mr. Timothy J. McDonald
- Mr. Vincent Naso, Jr.
- Mr. Walter R. O'Connel
- Mr. Phillip S. Schwartz, P & M Schwartz Corporation
- Mr. Sheldon P. Siegel, Self-Employed
- Mr. Ellwyn D. Spiker
- Mr. Ercole J. Spinosa, Penn State Paper & Box Co.
- Mr. Ronald J. Young
Advisory Council Members
- Mr. Dennis M. Abruzzi
- Mr. Michael M. Albarell Jr., Albarell Electric, Inc.
- Anthony G. Auteri, MD, Eastern PA Gastroenterology and Liver Specialists, P.C.
- Aman M. Barber III, Esq., Fiore & Barber, LLC
- Ms. Lina M. Barbieri '94, P'20, DeSales University
- Mrs. Carol Beidleman P'00, Thomas J. McKee, DMD
- Ms. Megan Beste, Taggart Associates
- Mr. Ashim K. Bhowmick, Self-Employed
- Mr. John J. Blair, Blair Custom Homes, Inc.
- Mr. James F. Bova, Campbell Rappold & Yurasits LLP
- Mr. Michael J. Brennan '01M, UBS Financial Services, Inc.
- Mr. Robert J. Breslin, Breslin Ridyard Fadero Architects
- Ms. Jane L. Brooks '16, Highmark, Inc.
- Mr. Greg L. Butz, Alvin H. Butz, Inc.
- Mr. Michael Butz, Alvin H. Butz, Inc.
- Mr. Vincent O. Cardile '69, Retired
- Mr. Jason K. Casarella '97, Advanced Clinical
- Ms. Danielle M. Cassidy '09, Bank of America
- Howard S. Cohen, CPA, CFE, Asterion, Inc.
- Mr. Daniel C. Confalone, Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network
- Ms. Deb Cummins Stellato, Think Good Leadership
- Mrs. Cynthia W. DeRose '90, Vanguard Group, Inc.
- The Hon. John E. Domalakes '69, Schuylkill County Court of Common Pleas
- Paul G. Domalakes, Esq. '73, Rubright, Domalakes, Troy & McDonald
- Mr. Glenn Faust, UBS Aesthetics
- Mrs. Anne W. Fiore, Accenture
- Mr. Kevin F. Flemming '97, Integrity Personnel
- Mr. James J. Fronheiser, Bradley Pulverizer Company
- Mr. Thomas J. Garrity, Compass Point, LTD
- Mr. Robert F. Goehler, PE P'01, P'20M Retired
- Mr. Jon A. Hammer, South Whitehall Township
- Mr. John C. Hayes, Solar Technology Inc
- Mr. E. Barry Hetzel, Concannon, Miller & Co., P.C.
- Mr. C. Andrew Hobbie, The CKHobbie Group
- Mr. Kevin J. Hopkins '03, Wells Fargo
- Mr. Ronald Jacobs '69
- Mrs. Renee A. James, The Bach Choir of Bethlehem
- Mrs. Sharon L. Kaszyski, '97, Retired
- Deacon George C. Kelly, Jr., '69, P'93, P'97, P'99, P'04, P'07, Our Lady of Perpetual Help
- Mr. Patrick R. Kilcur '06, Motion Picture Association of America
- Mrs. Mary T. Kinneman, IMA Consulting
- Mr. James M. Knepp
- Mr. James F. Kostecky, PE, Quandel Construction Group, Inc.
- Ms. Katherine M. LaBuda '00, '09M, Raymond James & Associates, Inc.
- Mr. Joseph W. Leary, IV, '92, Mass Mutual Fin Group
- Mr. Paul A. Leese '98, 01M, Keenan-Nagle Advertising
- Mrs. Sheri A. Leo, Fulton Financial Corporation
- Mr. Robert W. Lepley '98, Univest Financial Corporation
- Martin C. Levin, CPA '09M, Regan, Levin, Bloss, Brown & Savchak, P.C.
- Mr. Bruce Levis P'12, P'16, McQueen, Ball & Associates, Inc.
- Mr. Charles G. Lewis '82, P'04, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
- Ms. Donna LoStocco, First Commonwealth FCU
- Mr. James P. Mackin '80, DeSales University
- Mr. W. A. Major '95M, P'87, Retired
- Mr. Paul Mazzucco, TierPoint
- Mr. Matthew C. McConnell '10, Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority
- Mrs. Colleen M. McGee, '05, Crayola, LLC
- John E. McKeever, Esq., McKeever & Mitchell
- Ms. Leslie A. Myers '17, Robert Half Office Team
- Michael R. Nesfeder, Esq., Fitzpatrick Lentz & Bubba P.C.
- Mr. Eugene J. Nosovitch Jr., West Park Insurance
- Mr. Mark J. Pesavento, B. Braun Medical Inc.
- Mrs. Mary M. Pratt-Henaghan '88, BBC America
- James F. Reilly, MD P'20, Lehigh Valley Physician Group
- Mr. Thomas J. Roberts, Pinnacle Advisor Group
- Mr. Forrest A. Rohrbach, F. A. Rohrbach Inc.
- Ms. Josephine P. Ronca, Retired
- Ms. Janet E. Roth '00M, The Harry C. Trexler Trust
- Mr. John A. Russo, Computer Aid, Inc.
- Mr. Martin D. Russo '82, P'06, Retired
- Mrs. Judith N. Sabino '83, Lehigh Valley Health Network Physicians Group
- Dr. Amy Saborsky, '02
- Mr. James A. Santanasto
- Achille C. Scache, Esq.
- Mr. Craig J. Schafer, 1847Financial
- Mr. William J. Scharle, Retired
- Mr. Shane J. Schmeckenbecher, M'11, Lehigh County Adult Probation Department
- Mr. Terry Simpson, Orlando Diefenderfer Electrical Contractors, Inc.
- Mr. Peter A. Sipple, Retired
- Mr. Michael T. Smale, C.I.C. P'10, Russ Smale, Inc.
- Mr. Joseph D. Smith
- Mr. Paul J. Smith Jr., Computer Aid, Inc.
- Mr. Matthew A. Sommerfield, MTS Ventures, LLC
- Jennifer L. Stephens, DO, M'21, Lehigh Valley Physician Group
- Mr. Mark A. Sverchek '97M, P'17, Mark A. Sverchek Insurance Agency
- Dr. Sharon A. Sweeney '78, Lehigh Valley Health Network
- Ms. Monica Toggas, PPL Inc.
- The Hon. Patrick J. Toomey, U.S. Senate
- Mr. Edward G. Topper, Topper Marts, Inc.
- T. Benjamin Traud, Esq., Traud Law Offices
- Atty. Joseph P. Troy '70, Rubright, Domalakes, Troy & McDonald
- Mr. Samuel Verniero Jr. '90, Selective Service System
- Mr. Mario O. Vicari Jr. '83, Kreischer Miller
- Ms. Alpa B. Yagnik, Wells Fargo Bank
- Mr. Frank M. Yandrisevits, III '80, Fessenden Hall, Inc.
- Mr. Tim Yenawine, Crystal Signatures Inc.