AXIS: Journal of Lasallian Higher Education

Brother William Mann, FSC, serves as chair of the AXIS editorial board. During his time as president of Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota (2008-2018), he was heavily involved in supporting the development and growth of AXIS, support that he continued following his tenure at the university. Brother William served as president of the International Association of Lasallian Universities (2015-2018). He is also a former vicar general of the Brothers of the Christian Schools (2000-2007). Brother William holds a doctor of ministry degree from Colgate Rochester Divinity School.

Matthew Nowakowski, MBA, Ed.D., serves as managing editor of AXIS. He is a retired professor from the Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. He previously served as vice provost for faculties and academic affairs, dean, Graduate School of Business and Technology, and program director, Doctor of Business Administration and Master of Business Administration. He received a doctoral degree in leadership from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota and is a graduate of the Buttimer Institute of Lasallian Studies. During his retirement, he continues to serve as a dissertation advisor and course-contracted professor in Doctor of Education in Leadership program at Saint Mary’s University.

Timothy Gossen, Ed.D., is senior director of admission and early college at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. He has served the university in a number of other roles, including vice president for mission, lead area coordinator residence life, director of residence life, and dean of students. Dr. Gossen holds a master’s in human development with a focus on student personnel and an Ed.D. in educational leadership, both from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.

Greg Kopra, AFSC, Ed.D., has served the Lasallian mission since 1991 when he became a teacher at La Salle High School (now La Salle Catholic College Preparatory). He later moved into District leadership, where he served as director of formation for mission for the District of San Francisco New Orleans until his retirement in 2022. He holds an Ed.D. in Catholic Educational Leadership from the University of San Francisco.

Alisa Macksey, Ed.D. Candidate, serves as interim vice president of student development and campus life and vice president of mission, diversity, and inclusion at La Salle University in Philadelphia. Prior to joining La Salle in 2022, Macksey had served at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota since 2015 in a number of roles, including as dean of student success and the First Generation Initiative. She also served on the International Council for Association and the Lasallian Educational Mission (CIAMEL) for the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools from 2015-2013, becoming chair in 2016. Macksey holds a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Gonzaga University and is working on her Ed.D. in educational leadership at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.

A Brother for more than 50 years, Brother Frederick has been a teacher and administrator in elementary schools, high schools, and post-secondary institutions. He has taught court-adjudicated youth and served as assistant superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Providence. He has also held positions of leadership at the District, Regional, and Institute levels. Brother Frederick served on the design teams and faculty for both the Buttimer Institute of Lasallian Studies and the former Lasallian Leadership Institute, both Regional formation programs. He has published monographs and articles and has lectured extensively on a variety of Lasallian topics.

Brother Robert Schieler, FSC, Ed.D., served as Superior General of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools from 2014-2022. Prior to that, he served for seven years as General Councilor for the Lasallian Region of North America (2007-2014), following his service as Visitor of the former Baltimore District, director of education for the former United States-Toronto Region, and several other Regional and District leadership roles. He is a graduate of La Salle College (now University) in Philadelphia, and he holds a master’s degree in European history from Notre Dame and a doctorate in educational administration from the University of Pennsylvania.

Brother Robert J. Smith, FSC, Ph.D., serves as Senior Vice President for University Initiatives, Special Advisor to the President, and Executive Director of the Hendrickson Institute for Ethical Leadership at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. He is a member of American Academy of Religion, the Catholic Theological Society of America, the College Theology Society, and the Society of Christian Ethics. He received the doctoral degree in moral theology from Marquette University.

Brother George Van Grieken, FSC, Ph.D., serves as Lasallian resources coordinator for Christian Brothers Conference, with much of his focus on the Lasallian Resource Center. He recently served for four years as Secretary of the Lasallian Research and Resources Service for the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, concluding his service in October 2023. Brother George holds a master’s in theology from Saint Mary’s College and a Ph.D. in religion and education from Boston College.

Annmarie DeMarais, M.A., who is presently the vice chair of the board of directors of the Winona Community Foundation in Minnesota, earned her master’s degree in pastoral studies at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. She is an undergraduate alumna of Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota and a former managing editor of AXIS.

Valerie Edwards Robeson, LISW, who is a former associate professor of social science and human services program coordinator of Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, earned her master’s degree as a provisional licensed independent social worker at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. She is one of the founders of AXIS.

Brother Lawrence Humphrey, FSC, M.A., who is presently serving at Saint Joseph’s Institution International in Singapore, earned his master’s degree in Catholic educational leadership from the University of San Francisco. He is an undergraduate alumnus of Christian Brothers University in Memphis and a former associate vice president for mission at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.

Sister Judith Schaefer, OP, who is presently a councilor on the leadership team of the Sinsinawa Dominican Congregation of the Most Holy Rosary, earned her doctorate degree in theology at Marquette University. She is an undergraduate alumna of Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago and a former professor, chair of theology, and university dean at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.

Brother Leonardo Teijaro, FSC, who is a former procurator general of the Institute of the Brothers of the Chrisitan Schools and former Visitor of the District of Bogotá, earned his doctor of law degree from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá. He is an undergraduate alumnus of Universidad de La Salle in Bogotá.

Richard Tristano, Ph.D., who is a professor emeritus of Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, earned his doctorate degree in history at New York University. He is an undergraduate alumnus of Manhattan College (now University) in New York City and one of the founders of the AXIS.

Dr. Roxanne Kay Eubank, Ed.D., (1957-2026), devoted nearly three decades to advancing leadership education and Lasallian scholarship. As director of the Institute for Lasallian Studies at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, distinguished professor, and mentor, she shaped generations of scholars and leaders through her intellectual rigor, compassionate guidance, and unwavering commitment to holistic education rooted in critical thinking.

Brother Donald Mouton, FSC, (1935-2021), was a distinguished Lasallian scholar, educator, and biblical theologian. A longtime professor, college president, and faculty member for the Buttimer Institute of Lasallian Studies, he advanced Lasallian studies through teaching, international lectures, and editorial leadership, notably contributing seminal translations and scholarship on Saint John Baptist de La Salle’s spirituality.