New Board of Trustees and Board Officers Announced

Sister Mary Persico, IHM, Ed.D., Marywood University President, recently announced that six new trustees have been elected to Marywood’s Board of Trustees. New board members include: Sister Mary Elaine Anderson, IHM, Scranton, Pa.; Michael E. Bugno, New York, N.Y.; Flora Keating Karam, Waverly, Pa.; Robert J. (Bobby) Lynett, Scranton, Pa.; Sister Kathleen Lunsmann, IHM, Washington, D.C.; and Sister Kelly Quinn, IHM, Manhasset, N.Y.

In addition, the slate of board officers for 2019-2020 includes: Lisa A. Lori, Esq., Philadelphia, Pa., board chair; Pia Ferrario, New York, N.Y., vice chair; Susan Cognetti, Clarks Green, Pa., secretary, and James G. Gavin, M.S.W., Scranton, Pa., treasurer. Officers are elected for a three-year term.

New Marywood University Board Members, 2019-2020

Sister Mary Elaine Anderson, IHM, Scranton, Pa.

Sister Mary Elaine presently serves as Director of Formation for the Congregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Scranton, Pa. A licensed mental health counselor who is fluent in Spanish and English, Sister Mary Elaine has 20 years of experience living in Peru and implementing innovative programs that support the psychosocial development of children, adolescents, and adults. She is a family support and parenting education specialist, as well as a Registered Dance Movement Therapist, and her areas of specialization include domestic violence, trauma, and severe emotional and neurological disabilities. She previously served at Children’s Charter: Child and Family Trauma Clinic (Waltham, Mass.); Colegio Parroquial Nuestro Salvador (José Gálvez, Peru); Family Nurturing Center of Massachusetts (Boston, Mass.), and several other family, diocesan, and child/adolescent agencies in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Peru. Sister Mary Elaine holds a master of arts in dance/movement therapy and a counseling psychology minor from Antioch University New England (Keene, N.H.), a master of science in family support and parenting education from Wheelock College (Boston, Mass.), and a bachelor of arts in French with a concentration in elementary education from Immaculata College (Immaculata, Pa.).

Michael E. Bugno, New York, N.Y.

Mr. Bugno, formerly of Clarks Summit, is an accomplished strategic global event and marketing leader, with more than 15 years of success in both planning and executing corporate events for mid-sized and Fortune 200 Companies. Presently, he is the Director of Corporate Events for First Data in Atlanta, Ga., and New York, N.Y., where he also served as the Senior Event Manager. Mr. Bugno’s vast experience in marketing and corporate events includes Lectra (New York, N.Y., and Atlanta, Ga.); Food Network (New York, N.Y.); and Comedy Central (New York, N.Y.). He also worked for Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, in college and international recruitment. In 2004, he merited the Marywood Alumni Association Recent Graduate Award, and he previously served as a Marywood University trustee from 2006-2015. Additionally, he has been a co-chair/sponsorships for Marywood University’s annual Community Leadership Celebration (2014-2018). Mr. Bugno holds a bachelor of arts degree in arts administration/theatre from Marywood University (Scranton, Pa.).

Flora Keating Karam, Waverly, Pa.

Mrs. Karam is a managing member of Dark Waters Project, LLC, a real estate renovation and rental management company. She previously worked in retail sales and management, clothing manufacturing, and customer service/account management. Mrs. Karam’s community activities include past leadership roles as board chair for Scranton Preparatory School, the Everhart Museum, First Night Scranton, and Scranton Community Concerts, as well as past board member of Lackawanna Heritage Valley Partners, Women’s Resource Center, Keystone College, Marking the Millennium (Scranton Tomorrow), and the Lucan Center for the Arts. A graduate of Scranton Preparatory School, Mrs. Karam holds a bachelor of arts in economics and finance from Simmons College (Boston, Mass.).

Robert J. (Bobby) Lynett, Scranton, Pa.

Mr. Lynett is the owner/president of PA Signs LLC (Scranton, Pa.) and Sekula Signs (DuBois, Pa.), companies that design, procure permits, manufacture, and install custom signs and monuments. He recently served as publisher for The Time-Tribune, CEO of Times-Shamrock Communications, and managing director of Elk Lake Capital. Prior to his position as CEO, Mr. Lynett held positions as general manager of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre radio division, as well as assistant group publisher for Times-Shamrock’s Alternative Newspaper Division. He also served as the business development manager for the Downtown DC Business Improvement District, where he was responsible for recruiting and retaining businesses and industries in Washington, D.C., the third largest non-profit business improvement district. Mr. Lynett serves on the board of the Scranton Area Community Foundation and the pastoral council for St. Paul’s/St. Clare’s Church. Additionally, he is past president of Scranton Tomorrow as well as a past board member of the organization. His past board memberships also include The Greater Scranton Area Chamber of Commerce, the Lackawanna County Workforce Investment Board, and Boys Scouts of Northeast PA, United Neighborhood Centers, and the Foundation Board of ARC of Northeast PA. Mr. Lynett earned an M.B.A. from Loyola College in Maryland, as well as a master of arts in communications: journalism and public affairs from The American University. He received a bachelor of science in corporate communications from Ithaca College.

Sister Kathleen Lunsmann, IHM, Washington, D.C.

Sister Kathleen currently serves as the president of SOAR! (Support Our Aging Religious, Inc.), Washington, D.C., an organization that raises funds to help congregations of Catholic sisters, priests, and brothers care for their elderly members. Prior to this, she served for 11 years as director of development for the Congregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Scranton, Pa.), in which she is a professed member. During her tenure, Sister Kathleen led a $14 million campaign for the construction of a 120-bed residence for retired IHM Sisters. She is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) and is a member of the Association of Fund Raising Professionals. Her volunteer board service includes two terms as a board member of the National Catholic Development Conference (NCDC), with one term as board chairperson. Her board membership also includes the Continuing Care Group of Trinity Health and Maxis Health System. Additionally, Sister Kathleen is an advisor to the development committee of the board of the Catholic Volunteer Network. She also works as a fundraising consultant for religious and nonprofit organizations. Sister Kathleen holds a master of public administration degree in nonprofit management from New York University (New York, N.Y.) and a bachelor of science degree in international business from Marywood University (Scranton, Pa.).

Sister Kelly Quinn, IHM, Manhasset, N.Y.

Sister Kelly is the principal at Our Lady of Grace Montessori School (Manhasset, N.Y.), and she has served in this role for 23 years. In addition to developing curriculum with teachers, she assesses teaching methods, monitors student achievement, and encourages and facilitates parental involvement, among other duties. She began her educational career at Our Lady of Grace, where she taught from 1986-1993, before teaching at schools in Scranton, Pa., including Saint Clare School and Nativity of Our Lord School. Sister Kelly has additional experience as an American Montessori Society Field Supervisor and as a trustee of Our Lady of Grace Montessori School and Center. She also is a member of the American Montessori Society, the National Catholic Education Association, and the Catholic School Administrators Association of New York State. Sister Kelly has a bachelor of science in recreation/leisure studies from Marywood University (Scranton, Pa.), and she received her Montessori certification from the College of New Rochelle (New Rochelle, N.Y.)

Marywood University Board Officers, 2019-2020

Lisa A. Lori, Esq., Board Chair, Philadelphia, Pa.

Atty. Lori, Philadelphia, is a Partner, Litigation Group, with Klehr, Harrison, Harvey, Branzburg LLP. She represents national and international businesses, including Fortune 500 companies, and individuals in a full range of complex commercial litigation matters. Since beginning her service on Marywood’s Board of Trustees in 2014, she has served as secretary of Marywood’s Board, and, for the past three years, as Chair. She has been a member of the Audit Committee, Financial Affairs Committee, Shared Governance Committee, and the Executive Committee. Atty. Lori, who holds a bachelor of science degree in fashion design from Marywood University (Scranton, Pa.), initially began her career in the fashion industry before deciding to pursue a legal career. She earned her J.D., cum laude, from Temple University (Philadelphia, Pa.), and then worked for a small firm in Philadelphia that did anti-counterfeiting work. She has been with her current firm since 2002 and was promoted to partner in 2007. Atty. Lori earned a master of laws (LL.M.) degree in trial advocacy from the Temple University School of Law (Philadelphia, Pa.).

Pia Ferrario, Vice Chair, New York, N.Y.

Ms. Ferrario, New York, N.Y., now retired, served as the CEO of Victoria’s Secret Direct. She had previously served in a number of executive leadership roles at Victoria’s Secret, a subsidiary of LBrands. She also worked in leadership and management positions for Ups’N Downs, Enfield, Conn., JCPenney, Dallas, Tex., John Wanamaker, Philadelphia, Pa., and the Globe Store, Scranton, Pa. Since her election to Marywood’s Board in 2014, Ms. Ferrario has served on the University Advancement Committee and the Committee on Trustees. She established the Angela and Pio Ferrario Memorial Endowed Scholarship at Marywood University, and she is the recipient of the Sisters of IHM Spirit Award. Ms. Ferrario’s volunteer affiliations also include Catholic Relief Services, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York, Food Bank of NYC, and the Scranton IHM Congregation, among other faith-based and educational organizations. She is a graduate of the former Marywood Seminary (Scranton, Pa.) and studied art education at Kutztown University (Kutztown, Pa.).

Susan Cognetti, Secretary, Clarks Green, Pa.

Mrs. Cognetti, Clarks Green, serves as a paralegal and office manager at Cognetti &Cimini. Since beginning her service as a Marywood trustee in 2014, Mrs. Cognetti has served as chair of the Committee on Trustees and as a member of the Enrollment Services and Student Success Committee and the Executive Committee. She has been the secretary of the board since 2016. Mrs. Cognetti serves as Eucharistic Minister at St. Gregory’s Parish, where she was also Parish Coordinator for First Penance and First Communion for more than 25 years. Upon graduation from St. Mary’s High School (Manhasset, N.Y.), she was a National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist and a New York State Regent Scholarship Recipient. A graduate of Manhattanville College (Purchase, N.Y.), where she majored in psychology and was certified to teach Elementary Education, K-8, Mrs. Cognetti later earned her Paralegal Certification from the Pennsylvania State University (State College, Pa.).

James G. Gavin, M.S.W., Treasurer, Scranton, Pa.

Mr. Gavin, Scranton, is the president and chief executive officer of Community Care Behavioral Health Organization. He has more than 40 years of training and experience in behavioral health care, from clinical service delivery through executive management. Since beginning his service on Marywood’s Board of Trustees in 2009, Mr. Gavin has served as treasurer of Marywood’s Board and has been a member of the Financial Affairs Committee, which he chaired; the Audit Committee; the Committee on Trustees; and the Executive Committee. A licensed social worker in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Mr. Gavin holds a bachelor of science degree in sociology from the University of Scranton (Scranton, Pa.) and two master’s degrees—a master of social work and a master of managerial science—from Marywood University (Scranton, Pa.).