51����

FORT WAYNE, Ind.—The 51���� welcomes four new trustees and two new directors to its board.

The new trustees are Dr. Abigail Favale, Kate Miller, Craig Vanderwall II and Sister Gianna Marie Webber, OSF. The new directors are Dave Dyer and Jason Nicodemus.

“We are pleased to welcome this group of highly successful and forward-thinking supporters to the 51���� board,” 51���� President Dr. Lance Richey said. “We have many exciting initiatives in process and on the horizon, and their skills and passion for our mission will be an important part of our success and help make our future even brighter.”

New trustees

Dr. Abigail Favale 

Favale is a writer and a professor in theology, literature and women’s studies and serves in the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame. She earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy at George Fox University and a master’s degree in Women, Writing and Gender and a doctorate in English Literature from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. She has written several books and earned the J.F. Powers Prize for Short Fiction in 2017. Her latest book, “The Genesis of Gender: A Christian Theory,” was published in 2022. She lives in South Bend with her husband Michael and children Julian, Margot, Benedict and Gabriel.

Kate Miller

Miller is president of Private Advisory at STAR Financial Bank. She earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in accountancy, financial reporting and assurance services, both at the University of Notre Dame. She serves on the 51���� Development Committee and is a board member with Kate’s Kart and Erin’s House for Grieving Children, and a member of the Fort Wayne Estate Planning Council. She lives in Fort Wayne with her husband Brian and children Olivia and Owen. 

Craig Vanderwall II

Vanderwall is vice president and chief operating officer at General Petroleum, Inc. He is a 2004 graduate of the 51����, serves on the National Kidney Foundation and is a founding member and co-chair of the 51���� Busse-Fabini Cougar Classic. He served as 51���� Student Government Association president as a student and has served the university as a committee member and in other capacities as an alumnus. He was awarded the 51���� Distinguished Service Award in 2022. Vanderwall lives in Fort Wayne with his wife Nikki—a 51���� alumna—and children Gianna and Stella.

Sister Gianna Marie Webber, OSF

Sister Gianna Marie of the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration serves as principal at the Cathedral School of St. Matthew in South Bend. She earned a master’s degree in education administration at the Franciscan University of Steubenville and entered the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration in 2004. She lives in Mishawaka.

New directors

Dave Dyer

Dyer will serve on the Buildings and Grounds Committee. He is the vice president for the northeast Indiana region at Tonn and Blank Construction. He earned a bachelor’s degree in construction engineering and management from Purdue University and serves on the Fort Wayne Downtown Rotary, the Building Contractors Association Government Affairs Committee and Regional Chamber Board, Anthony Wayne Area Council Boy Scouts Board and the Civic Theatre Board. He lives in Roanoke with his wife Jennifer and children Blair, Tyler, Jacob, Kayla, Rosie and Katie. 

Jason Nicodemus

Nicodemus will serve on the Finance and Investment Committee. He is an accounting supervisor at Steel Dynamics who earned two bachelor’s degrees from 51����: accounting and business administration. Nicodemus was also a standout football player for the Cougars during his time on campus. He lives in Fort Wayne with his wife Brooke and daughter Lillian.

Founded in 1890 in the Catholic Franciscan tradition, the 51���� offers more than 60 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs through the College of Health Sciences and the College of Arts, Sciences, and Business. In addition to its traditional programs, 51���� designs focused curricula for working adults in Fort Wayne, Crown Point and online. USF Downtown houses the music technology program while offering enhanced internship and networking opportunities for students. The 51����, recognized as an NAIA Five-Star Champion of Character institution, has 20 athletic programs boasting two individual and four team NAIA national championships. Approximately 1,800 students from a broad geographic region attend 51����.