Seven religious and business leaders joined DePaul University’s Board of Trustees this fall, among them three DePaul graduates. The 43-member board governs the university, sets its strategy and supports it in multiple ways to carry out its work.

The Rev. Dennis H. Holtschneider, DePaul’s president, said, “We are proud and privileged to work with such a distinguished group of women and men who are singularly dedicated to DePaul’s mission.” 

The new trustees are:

The Rev. Tom C. Anslow, C.M., 65, a Vincentian priest ordained in 1972, serves as the vicar for Canonical Services for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. In this role, he is the legal adviser to the archbishop, the curial staff, the auxiliary bishops, the college of consultors, and the council of priests, pastors and parish ministers of the archdiocese. A licensed canonist, he recently served on the Board of Governors for the Canon Law Society of America.  He received master’s degrees in philosophy and theology from DePaul and earned his doctorate in philosophy from the University of Toronto.

Sister Margaret M. Fitzpatrick, S.C., 60, is president of St. Thomas Aquinas College in Sparkill, N.Y.  A former faculty member and senior vice president at St. John’s University in New York City, she is a commissioner of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, a trustee of St. John’s University, and has served on the boards of the American Council on Education (ACE), American Counseling Association, the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, and the Commission of Independent Colleges and Universities.  Fitzpatrick received her bachelor’s degree from Boston State College, a master’s degree from Fordham University, and her doctorate in education from Columbia University.  

Chester A. Gougis, 56, is managing partner of Cognitive Capital Partners, a private equity firm with total capital of more than $65 million. Gougis founded the firm in 2006, drawing on more than 30 years of experience in the financial services industry. He served previously as President and CEO of Duff & Phelps, growing the company from a $3.7 million valuation consulting and mergers and acquisition practice in 1988 to a $350 million company when he retired in 2007. Gougis is an active civic leader, serving on the boards of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, WTTW Channel 11 and the Night Ministry. He received his bachelor’s degree from Harvard University and his MBA in finance from the University of Chicago.

Lori L. Holland, 54, is the managing director at the asset management firm Neuberger Berman. Holland oversees Client Services for the Institutional Asset Management business and serves as the senior relationship manager for a number of the firm’s major clients. Holland is president of the DePaul Finance Advisory Board. She graduated from DePaul with a bachelor’s degree in finance and has an MBA from the University of Chicago.

Stacy Janiak, 41, is the Chicago office managing partner for Deloitte LLP, the largest Big Four accounting organization in the area with more than 3,700 professionals. In this role, Janiak leads the quality, client satisfaction, growth and human resource initiatives for the Chicago practice. She also serves as the lead client service partner or advisory partner for a number of Deloitte’s most significant clients.  Her leadership experience includes serving as Deloitte’s U.S. Retail sector leader. During her tenure in that role, Stacy was responsible for leading more than 1,400 professionals, overseeing the national strategic and operational direction of the practice, delivering quality client service, and driving industry-specific thought leadership. Janiak is an alumnus of Leadership Greater Chicago and is active with the Network of Executive Women, the National Retail Federation and the Illinois CPA Society. She has a bachelor’s degree in commerce from DePaul.

The Rev. Mark S. Pranaitis, C.M., 54, is the assistant provincial for the Western Province of the Congregation of the Mission, or the Vincentians. Prior to his work as assistant provincial, Pranaitis was director of Stewardship and Development for the Diocese of Colorado Springs. Pranaitis also has held a number of administrative roles at DePaul including associate provost. In addition, Pranaitis served as the owner’s representative of University Center, an 18-story, 1720-bed student residence cooperatively owned and operated by DePaul, Columbia and Roosevelt Universities that opened in 2004. Pranaitis received his doctoral degree from Benedictine University.

The Rev. Thomas F. McKenna, C.M., 68, was ordained a Vincentian priest in 1970 and currently serves as provincial director of the newly configured Daughters of Charity Province of St. Louise, based in St. Louis, Mo. The former Provincial Superior of the Eastern Province of the Congregation of the Mission, he has served in leadership positions in the Vincentian community for more than two decades. He spent 15 years in seminary work, including serving as director of novices for the Eastern Province of the Vincentians and as rector of their college seminary. McKenna, a published author on St. Vincent de Paul, has taught at St. John’s University and Niagara University in New York and at Tangaza University in Nairobi, Kenya. He has a master’s degree in philosophy from St. John’s University, a master’s degree in theology from Mary Immaculate Seminary and a doctoral degree in theology from Catholic University of America.

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