| ALUMNI & FRIENDS
NEWSLETTER |
| AUGUST 2026 |
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| Presidential inauguration set for Sept. 3 |
The University of Saint Francis will inaugurate Sr. Maria Gemma Salyer, OSF, as its 12th president on Thursday, Sept. 3 in the Hutzell Athletic Center.
The inauguration will take place at 3 p.m. A reception will follow at 4 p.m. in Brookside.
Sr. Maria Gemma assumed the role of president on July 1, succeeding Dr. Lance Richey, who served as president for three years. The appointment of Sr. Maria Gemma returns the role of presidency to one of the sponsoring Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration for the first time since Sr. Elise Kriss retired after 27 years as president in 2020.
Sr. Maria Gemma had served as executive vice president since January. Prior to that, she was the vice president for Catholic culture and student life and dean of students. She was also the university’s Title IX coordinator and a member of president’s cabinet. She served on the Saint Francis Board of Trustees before joining the campus full time in 2023.
Sr. Maria Gemma holds a doctorate in educational administration from Indiana State University, a master’s degree in philosophy from Franciscan University of Steubenville and a bachelor’s degree in theology from Ohio Dominican University. Her previous appointments included serving in campus ministry at Saint Francis, women’s ministry at the University of Notre Dame, assistant director of vocations for the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration, and as an educator and assistant campus minister at Lafayette Central Catholic High School.
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