Higher Education

Saint Leo University

Stacy Gato joined Saint Leo University in July, 2022. In her role, she is responsible for the oversight of the Division of University Enrollment Management, which consists of University Campus and Worldwide Enrollment, which includes the university’s 16 education centers, online and graduate programs. Stacy has worked in enrollment for more than 25 years and has provided leadership and served in many areas of enrollment management including registrar, student financial services, admissions, and international student programming as a coordinator of branch campuses in Israel. Stacy graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree and double majored in English and communications from Saint Joseph’s College of Maine, and a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Goodwin University.

Stacy Gato

Di Donato originally joined Saint Leo University in December 1999. During her eighteen years of service, she held leadership roles in the following areas: student success, student affairs, campus life, student activities, residence life, and as an adjunct instructor. She holds an undergraduate degree from Saint Leo University in English Literature, a Master of Education in College Student Affairs from the University of South Florida, a Master of Business Administration from Saint Leo University, and is currently a doctoral candidate at the University of Florida, pursuing a Doctorate in Educational Leadership. Di Donato has worked in higher education over 23 years and returned to Saint Leo University in August 2022, after serving in academic affairs at the University of Tampa.

Ana Di Donato

Dr. Kubasek originally joined Saint Leo University as a member of the Advancement Division in 2010. He holds an undergraduate degree in Marketing, a Master of Business Administration, and a Doctorate of Business Administration from Saint Leo University. Prior to Saint Leo, Stephen spent time doing volunteer work in Honduras followed by an executive position with the Boy Scouts of America. Throughout the years that he has worked at Saint Leo, he held many progressively responsible roles within University Advancement. These include serving as director of parent relations, development officer, director of advancement services and planned giving, and most recently, associate vice president of University Advancement.

Stephen Kubasek

Edward Dadez is currently the President at [Saint Leo University](/org/saint-leo-university). Prior to their current position, Dadez served as the Vice President at Chowan College from January 1996 to December 2000, the Associate Dean at [Bucknell University](/org/lombahdo) from January 1988 to December 1996, the Resident Director at [Michigan State University](/org/michigan-state-university) from January 1984 to December 1988, and the Resident Director at the [University of Dayton](/org/university-of-dayton) from January 1982 to December 1984.

Edward Dadez earned a Bachelor's Degree in Biology and Psychology from [Virginia Commonwealth University](/org/virginia-commonwealth-university). Edward then went on to earn an M.A. in College Student Personnel from [The Ohio State University](/org/the-ohio-state-university). After working in the field for a few years, they decided to pursue an M.B.A. in Business Administration from [Saint Leo University](/org/saint-leo-university). Finally, they completed their educational career by earning a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from [Michigan State University](/org/michigan-state-university).

Fran Reidy - VP & Director of Athletics, Rebecca Eckstein - VP, University Enrollment Management, and Staci Rhodes Shelley - General Counsel report to Edward Dadez.

Edward Dadez

Iskra Sbraccia is the current Trustee at [Saint Leo University](/org/saint-leo-university). Iskra has also previously worked as the Senior Vice President | Sanctions Compliance Risk Management - Head of Content Management at Citi from January 2009 to December 2018. In this role, they were responsible for the sanctions screening oversight, AML, sanctions policy, standards, and procedures, watch-list technology innovation and management, screening system testing, rules, and validation, third party-vendor evaluation, screening watch-list and global content management, and sanctions list management oversight and governance.

Prior to their work at Citi, Sbraccia was the Men's and Women's Tennis Coach at [Saint Leo University](/org/saint-leo-university) from August 2006 to July 2009. In this role, they acted as the head women's tennis coach, men's assistant coach, mentor, fitness trainer, and recruiter. During their time as coach, they were awarded Coach of the Year and Team of the Year in Women’s Tennis for the 2007-2008 season. Iskra also instructed Tennis and Concepts of Wellness college courses from 2007-2009.

Sbraccia has also worked as a Customer Relations Specialist at [Coca-Cola European Partners](/org/coca-cola-european-partners) from August 2005 to July 2006 and as an Assistant General Manager at Inteko from May 2004 to August 2004. Additionally, they have worked as a German Tutor at [Florida State College at Jacksonville](/org/florida-state-college-at-jacksonville) from January 2003 to May 2003.

Iskra Sbraccia is a graduate of [Saint Leo University](/org/saint-leo-university), where they hold a Master of Science in Criminal Justice/Critical Incident Management and a Bachelor of Arts in International/Global Studies.

Iskra Sbraccia

John View is currently the Chair at [Saint Leo University](/org/saint-leo-university). Prior to this, they were an Independent Consultant. Before that, they were the Director of Financial Aid at SUNY Canton from October 1976 to January 1979. Before that, they were the Assistant Director of Financial Aid at Broome Community College from August 1974 to October 1976.

John View has a M.Ed. from [University of Notre Dame](/org/university-of-notre-dame) in Educational Administration, an MBA from Syracuse University - Martin J. Whitman School of Management in Organizational Behavior/Finance, and a BS from [Saint Leo University](/org/saint-leo-university) in Political Sci. & Education.

John View

Mark Gesner is the VP of Community Engagement & Innovation at Saint Leo University. Prior to their current position, Gesner served as the Executive Director of The Stritch Hub for Innovation and Community Engaged Learning at [Cardinal Stritch University](/org/cardinal-stritch-university) from January 2018 to July 2021. Mark also served as the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs/Executive Director of Academic & Community Engagement at [Cardinal Stritch University](/org/cardinal-stritch-university) from October 2015 to December 2017, and as the Faculty Chair of Community Engaged Learning & Leadership at the university from August 2012 to October 2015. Gesner began their career in higher education as the Director of Community Development at the University of Wisconsin - Parkside from January 2007 to July 2012. Mark also served as an independent consultant and as the Director of Education and Development at Hostelling International - USA from January 1991 to December 2003.

Mark Gesner's educational career includes a BA from University at Albany, SUNY, an Ed.M. from Harvard University Graduate School of Education, and a Ph.D. from [Cardinal Stritch University](/org/cardinal-stritch-university).

Mark Gesner reports to Edward Dadez, President. They work with Jen Shaw - VP of Student Affairs, Rebecca Eckstein - VP, University Enrollment Management, and Staci Rhodes Shelley - General Counsel.

Mark Gesner

Kevin Sullivan II

Thomas Shannon III

Jeffrey D. Senese

John Picciano

Thomas Peschio

Gregory Parkes

John O'Leary

Laurie O'Donoghue

Vini Nathan

Edwin Narain

D. Dewey Mitchell

Robin McGuinness

Joseph McGee

Allan Luihn

Richard Johnson

Clarke Hobby

Steven Hickman

Sharon Andrews Gray

Anthony Gerbino

Joseph Connellan

Abbot Isaac Camacho

Noel Boeke

Peter Biscardi

Roberta Bailey

Ian Anderson

Staci comes to Saint Leo University from Walden University where she led Walden’s Legal team supporting academic faculty and staff serving over 52,000 students and offering more than 100 undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs. Prior to that, Staci served in senior legal roles supporting both campus-based and online higher education institutions and hospital systems.

Staci graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in Communications from North Carolina State University and with a J.D. from The Catholic University of America, serving as Associate Editor of the Law Review.

Staci Rhodes Shelley

Dr. Shaw joined Saint Leo University in 2019. Jen has worked in Student Affairs for more than 25 years including as a Senior Fellow for NASPA, the Associate Vice President/Dean of Students at the University of Florida (UF), Dean of Student Relations at the University of South Florida, and the Dean of Students and Coordinator for Academic Integrity at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG). Dr. Shaw held Associate Professor rank at UF and UNCG and has taught undergraduate and graduate courses throughout her career. A nationally recognized crisis management expert, she has won numerous awards and has published and presented widely regarding crisis management in higher education. Jen’s Ph.D. degree is from Florida State University.

Jen Shaw

Reidy joined Saint Leo University in 1988 serving in the role of head soccer coach. He was a teacher of special education in Tampa for 10 years prior to joining Saint Leo full-time in 1992. During his tenure at Saint Leo he has held the role of soccer coach, sports information director, assistant athletic director and associate athletic director. He was named the athletic director in March 1999.  He earned a B.S. degree in elementary education and special education from Fitchburg State University and his M.B.A. from Saint Leo University.


Fran Reidy

DeTuccio joined Saint Leo University in January 2008 as University Controller. Over the years James has been promoted into roles with increasing responsibilities, most recently serving as senior associate vice president of finance. During a period of transition, James served as interim vice president of the Business Affairs division from December 2017 – June 2018. He also led the efforts to secure the university’s first-ever public bond rating and bond placement, which helped to finance part of the Wellness Center.

Prior to Saint Leo, James held many roles in accounting and finance. This included working at Kforce, a national and publicly traded employment agency based in Tampa; St. Joseph’s Hospital, part of Baycare Health System; and public accounting firm Carter, Belcourt & Atkinson. He received his Master of Business Administration degree from Saint Leo University and his bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance from Florida State University. James has been a licensed CPA in the state of Florida since February 2000.

James Detuccio

Dr. Spoto joined Saint Leo in March 1989.  Dr. Spoto is a professor of English and has served in several roles during her 30-year history with Saint Leo.  Before her appointment as vice president, she served as the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and the chair of the Department of Language Studies and the Arts.  Dr. Spoto expanded the fine arts programs at the university and led the development of the university’s general education program, University Explorations, and new academic programs such as the Bridge Program for second-language learners and the master’s programs in creative writing and psychology.  She earned her Master of Arts and doctoral degrees in English from the University of South Florida.

Saint Leo University

Org chart

Teams

Board of Directors

Leadership Team

CEO and Executive Team

Discover similar companies