a drone shot of mercyhurst university

Class Notes

May 2025

Awards & Accomplishments

Ryan Lieser '23 enlisted in the U.S. Army and recently graduated with honors from Basic Training at Fort Leonard Wood, MO on Thursday, May 15. Ryan, a member of C Company 1st Battalion, 210 Infantry Regiment earned the IRON SOLDIER award, which recognizes the top soldier in his class who demonstrates exceptional physical fitness, stamina and muscular endurance. While the award primarily focuses on physical fitness it also reflects a commitment to excellence and a desire to uphold Army standards. Ryan is now stationed at the Defense Language Institute - Department of Defense in Monterey, CA where he will continue with his education and study of the Russian language.

Nicholas Bradford '08 is a Mercyhurst Forensic Biology alumnus who testified as an expert witness in the high-profile Karen Read trial. Bradford's specialty is DNA analysis. He currently works for Bode Technology in Lorton, VA. The controversial case is being televised live and covered by news media from across the nation. Read, a 45-year-old-woman, is being retried for the murder of her boyfriend, Boston Police officer John O'Keefe, after a previous trial ended in a mistrial.

Career News

Leatrice J. Schoolcraft '11 was promoted to the role of Housing Program Director for the Erie County Department of Human Services, Office of Mental Health/Intellectual Disabilities. Leatrice has worked for Erie County since shortly after graduating from Mercyhurst in 2011.

Thomas Parilla '88 has been chosen to be the keynote speaker at the Nordic Investment and Mining Conference in Stockholm, Sweden this October. Parilla will speak to a select group of global mine owners and venture capital, private equity, and family offices on the state of the global economy, provide his outlook for metals pricing for the following year, discuss the implementation of Basel III, and give his five-year projections on the valuation of the US FIAT dollar.

John Langer '95 has been selected as a panelist for "From Success to Significance: Building Legacies with Your Family Business" at the Smart Business Dealmakers Conference in Cleveland, Oh. John Langer is the President of H. Jack's Plumbing & Heating Co., a family-owned and operated plumbing, heating, cooling, and home remodeling company, founded over 45 years ago, with operations in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York that service 350+ municipalities. As a business leader, John strongly believes in supporting the communities in which he and his organization serve.

Alumni Deaths

  • Ronald Kelleher '84

April 2025

Alumni Deaths

  • Kathleen Nies ‘57

Career News

Justin Studd '21 recently joined Community Health Services as a certified physician assistant in Fremont, specializing in family medicine. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Mercyhurst University in Erie, PA, where he also played college baseball.

March 2025

Awards & Accomplishments

Christopher Enoch, D.O. '93, a 1989 graduate of West Middlesex High School, went on to earn a bachelor's degree in Sports Medicine from Mercyhurst College in 1993, graduating magna cum laude.

Patrick Coit ‘13, a Mercyhurst alumnus, received the Rising Star Award from the Event Service Professionals Association (ESPA).

Career News

Parris Hobbs ‘05 was promoted to Business Relationship Manager at JP Morgan Chase Bank.

Alumni Deaths

  • Leah Bellitto '19
  • Spencer Wurst '02

Alumni Condolences

Condolences to the family and friends of George R. Metcalf III, former Mercyhurst Trustee.