Saint Vincent College welcomed three members of the community into Assistant Vice President roles on campus this fall semester: Fr. Francois Diouf, O.S.B., Ph. D.; Mrs. Mary Gazal; and Dr. Anthony Kane Jr., MSW., M.Ed. They joined Nicole Sigmund, MBA, Assistant Vice President, Human Resources, as AVPs.
Fr. Francois Diouf, O.S.B., Ph.D., Assistant Vice President, Student Success and Retention
Fr. Francois Diouf is a Benedictine monk, a Catholic priest, a philosopher, a theologian and a psychologist who values social justice, the other as oneself and excellence. He has served as a Benedictine monk and priest for many years. Diouf ministered with the novitiate formation team for several years and accompanied novices and junior monks in human development, theology and monastic spirituality. As a multicultural individual, Diouf brings unique perspectives to Saint Vincent’s students in teaching, psychological practices and research gained from his views of individuals’ uniqueness. Diouf did most of his education in Paris, France, and the United States. His area of interest is the importance of cultural factors in learners and understanding the prominence of students’ learning differences to enhance academic success. Diouf’s most significant achievement is his capacity to relate to others and learn from their cultural uniqueness.
Mary Gazal, Assistant Vice President, Financial Aid
Mary Gazel is a lifelong resident of Irwin and a graduate of Norwin High School. Married to her husband, Joe, for 42 years, Gazal has two children, Liz and Joel, and three grandchildren, Nadeema, Emma and Sophia. Gazal is a graduate of Seton Hill College, and her interest in medical transcription led her to take courses at Westmoreland County Community College, where she held a work study position leading her into her first role as a financial aid counselor. Over her 30 years in the field, Gazal worked as a financial aid counselor at WCCC and California University of Pennsylvania, as the associate Director of Financial Aid at the University of Pittsburgh and finally as the Director of Financial Aid at SVC, a role that she accepted in 2014.
Dr. Anthony Kane Jr., MSW, M.Ed., Assistant Vice President, Student Affairs
Dr. Anthony Kane Jr. is an experienced student affairs professional with critical expertise in belonging, social/emotional counseling and student development. Prior to joining Saint Vincent, Kane worked at Duquesne for nine years, beginning his career there in Residence Life and serving as Assistant Director, Resident Director and Assistant Resident Director. More recently, Kane served as the Director of Diversity and Inclusion for two academic years. During this time, he played a significant role in enhancing the support and resources available for diverse student populations at Duquesne. Additionally, Kane has led and developed several strategic initiatives geared toward enriching the students' experience and promoting a positive sense of belonging on campus. Active within the Duquesne campus community, he served on the University's Freshmen Retention Committee, Title IX Advisory Committee, the President's Advisor Council for Diversity and Inclusion and as a Deputy Title IX and Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Response Coordinator. Kane is the proud husband of Saint Vincent alumna Ashley (Geese) Kane and a dog dad to their 4-month-old Shih Tzu puppy, Hammie. Kane earned both his Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social Work degrees from California University of Pennsylvania and earned an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Duquesne University.
Nicole Sigmund, MBA., Assistant Vice President, Human Resources
Nicole Sigmund resides in Sewickley with her husband, Tim, and their two children, Vivian and Calvin. She earned her Master's in Business Administration from the Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business at the University of Pittsburgh and a Bachelor of Arts from Thiel College with a dual major in Communication Studies and Business Communication and a minor in Business Administration. Sigmund joined Saint Vincent College in December 2021.