Gannon makes it official: Walter Iwanenko installed as university's 8th president

It's been nearly three months since Walter Iwanenko, the 52-year-old son of immigrants, moved into the president's office at Gannon University. He replaced Keith Taylor and became the eighth president in the school's history on July 1.

It was already official. But an inaugural celebration Friday afternoon, which was set to follow a blessing from Erie Catholic Bishop Lawrence T. Persico, was to be the public icing on the cake, a celebratory moment both Iwanenko and the university.

Iwanenko, who served for six years as Gannon's provost and vice president of student experience, said he has a natural tendency to resist being the center of attention.

But he does like the timing. Inaugural activities will take place in the midst of Gannon Homecoming and Family Weekend.

"One of the reasons we are doing this the week of homecoming is so that our students can participate," he said. "For me, it's about the students."

Inspired by the students

Like his predecessor, Iwanenko didn't originally plan for a job in higher education.

Taylor was a physical therapist.

Iwanenko was an occupational therapist, working with patients affected by spinal cord injuries, burns, head trauma, stroke and other cardiovascular disorders.

An invitation to teach an evening class led to good classroom reviews and, eventually, an offer from another school for a full-time teaching position.

Iwanenko, the father of three, fell in love with the way that a college education could change someone's life.

"What drives me is seeing the changes," he said. "We have kids who come in as meek little freshman who are afraid to talk. I am really proud of our students. We don't have an entire freshman class of valedictorians. We have some kids who would have been average when they started. By the time they leave they are excellent, leaders of industry and doing wonderful things."

Iwanenko, who previously owned a business along with his wife, is also drawn to the notion of creating something new.

"My drive is to build. I like to build new programs. I like to build initiatives," Iwanenko said. "The position of president is leadership. It's the ability to take an idea from a concept, put a plan together so that you can see it and you can touch it."

Improving Gannon's financial position and continuing to grow enrollment at a time when many of the nation's colleges and universities are seeing declines are two of the goals on which Iwanenko plans to focus.

Gannon, which has just under 4,800 students enrolled, has grown that number, at least in part, by the addition of a new graduate campus in Ruskin, Florida, where students are trained in medical careers.

Another key change has been expanding the number of students — more than 1,000 at last count — who come to Gannon's Erie campus from around the globe.

Iwanenko said Gannon's future could include additional locations and further diversification of the student body as he looks toward a goal of expanding enrollment to about 6,000.

That growth is likely to require making changes, he said.

"I think the university is going to have to take some risks and take some chances we typically have not in the past," he said.

Iwanenko said Gannon will also explore ways to be less reliant on tuition.

"Small shifts in student number have a large impact on our budget," he said.

He envisions a multi-pronged strategy.

"It's endowment building. It's alumnae engagement, it's fundraising," he said. "It's looking at where our strengths are, and looking to capitalize on our strengths in different business ventures."

Some of that will take place inside Gannon's new Center for Manufacturing and Technology, located in the Institute for Health and Cyber Knowledge at 131 W. Ninth St.

"We are going to be engaged in small-batch manufacturing," Iwanenko said. "It will help local businesses meet contract demands. It will give our students experiential learning and it will bring some revenue to the institution."

Presidential pomp

Hundreds of guests were expected to attend Iwanenko's inauguration Friday at the Warner Theatre. He was pleased that his parents, who met while attending high school in Buffalo, would be in the audience.

Neither of them went to college, but both his father, who immigrated to the United States from Ukraine, and his mother, who came here from Poland, have been a source of inspiration, he said.

Iwanenko said his father started working as a mechanic years ago at American Airlines. By the time he retired, he was a top vice president overseeing maintenance. His mother, who went to work as a secretary at an insurance company after graduating high school, went on to earn her broker's license.

Both were insistent that he go to college.

"They both had a really strong work ethic. That had a huge impact on my work ethic," Iwanenko said. "Really, no excuses. You have to get the job done."

In remarks from his inaugural address shared in advance, Iwanenko planned to express that same sort of resolve.

"My mind first goes to those 4,700 students, all of whom have entrusted part of their future to my colleagues and me," Iwanenko wrote in his prepared remarks.

"Then it's my colleagues, who have dreams and needs of their own. And then it's the legacy of this institution, which is approaching its 100th year. They are our alumni, board members, our donors, our partners, our neighbors, and our community. At Gannon, we don't just talk about family. We are family.

"For me, the son of Ukrainian and Polish immigrants, the bond of family is central," Iwanenko wrote. "You can see, then, how personal I am taking this new role. I will not let my family down. "

More: Gannon concludes its president search by naming Keith Taylor's successor

More: Gannon University President Keith Taylor to step down; what are plans to fill his job?

Contact Jim Martin at jmartin@timesnews.com.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: New Gannon president: 'I will not let my family down'