Meet Our Staff
John Scarano
Director of Campus Ministry
Email: jscarano@jcu.edu
Phone: 216.397.4701
John’s tenure as the Director of Campus Ministry at JCU began in August of 2003. Prior to his time here, he served as the Director of the Newman Catholic Student Center at Southern Illinois University, in Carbondale, Illinois, and the Diocesan Director of Campus Ministry for the Diocese of Belleville, Illinois. He received an M.A. in Theology from the University of Notre Dame, with a concentration in Scripture, and has been a full-time lay minister in the Catholic Church since 1981. His background includes both large metropolitan and more intimate campus ministry institutions, as well as Catholic, state, and private settings. He’s been both a “lone ranger” in campus ministry as well as an administrator, directing a staff of eight professionals and six student interns. His opportunities in Campus Ministry have taken him from the classroom to the mountains of Haiti and the cliffs of the Appalachian Trail.
John places great value on his vocation as a lay minister, and, specifically, in his focus on ministry to and with higher education. He is a proponent of ministry to the institution — which includes students, faculty, administrators, and staff. His preferred style is one of collaboration in team ministry. He is an avid reader and strongly believes in constant and continuing education in one’s field of expertise. His specialized focus in ministry is in the areas of hospitality, pastoral ministry, education, and scripture. John is married to Christine, and together, they have three children: Erica, Matthew, and Sarah.
Paula Fitzgerald
Associate Director and Coordinator of Retreats
Email: pfitzgerald@jcu.edu
Phone: 216.397.4709
Paula Fitzgerald joined JCU’s Campus Ministry staff in August 1998 with primary responsibility for coordinating retreats. She has a keen interest in and experience with Ignatian spirituality, and this is reflected in the Ignatian dimensions of all retreat programs. Paula especially enjoys getting to work with student leaders in the retreat planning process. She also works with the Resident Ministry program, especially RMs in the first year halls.
Paula received her Master of Divinity from the Weston Jesuit School of Theology in Cambridge, Massachusetts (now part of Boston College – School of Theology & Ministry) and for two years she served in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps (San Francisco and Baltimore). Paula is a native New Yorker and an avid sports fan who continues to root for her beloved Yankees, Giants, and Rangers. She enjoys reading, travel and spending time with her husband, Tom, and their daughters, Dorothy and Lucy.
Carrie Pollick ’01
Coordinator of Social Justice Initiatives and Immersion Experiences
Email: cpollick@jcu.edu
Phone: 216.397.1506
Carrie returned to the John Carroll community in the fall of 2007, after being away since 2004. Carrie graduated from John Carroll University in 2001 with a B.A. in Communications. After serving in the Peace Corps in Kenya, East Africa, Carrie found herself back at JCU as the Campus Minister/Coordinator of Social Justice Initiatives for one year. She then attended Boston College, earning masters’ degrees in pastoral ministry and social work.
Carrie and her husband Drew, also a JCU grad, have three children – Clare, Michael, and Patrick. Carrie enjoys photography, traveling, and learning about different cultures.
Gail Roussey
Coordinator of Liturgy
Email: groussey@jcu.edu
Phone: 216.397.4766
Gail started at JCU in August 2004 and has primary responsibility for coordinating all liturgies at JCU. She is excited about working with the large number of presiders who make themselves available to the JCU community and the many student leaders and liturgical ministers who serve the community at Mass.
Gail is a certified pastoral minister in the Diocese of Cleveland and received a Masters in Ministry from Ursuline College. She has worked for the Diocese of Cleveland Pastoral Planning Office and as a pastoral minister. Originally from New Jersey, Gail and her two daughters, Abby and Rachel, enjoy living in Chardon, the center of the snowbelt area of Northeast Ohio.
Rev. William M. Bichl, S.J.
Campus Minister/Alumni Relations
Email: bichl@jcu.edu
Phone: 216.397.3075
Rev. William M. Bichl, S.J., joined the Campus Ministry staff in August 2006. As an Assistant Professor of Philosophy, he was Assistant Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences of John Carroll University from July 1982 through July 2006. He was appointed to the faculty in January 1970, having served as an Instructor in Philosophy in the 1963-64 academic year.
Rev. Bichl received his A.B. (Honors) degree from Loyola University Chicago in 1953. He earned an M.A. in philosophy from Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1954. That same year, he entered the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) at Milford, Ohio. In the course of graduate studies, he earned a Licentiate in Philosophy (Ph.L.) from Saint Louis University in 1960, and pursued doctoral studies in philosophy at the same university. Ordained to the Catholic priesthood in June 1967, he later earned a second M. A. in theology from Loyola University Chicago, and a Licentiate in Sacred Theology (S.T.L.) from Bellarmine School of Theology, North Aurora, Illinois.
Rev. Bichl has been active in the Jesuit Philosophical Association for many years, having served as its President in 1995-1996, as well as of the American Catholic Philosophical Association. He served two terms on the Board of Trustees of Borromeo Seminary College, Wickliffe, Ohio, from August 1995 to November 2001. He has also been Academic Affairs Delegate of John Carroll University to the College Board National Forum.
He is Faculty Adviser for the John Carroll chapter of Alpha Sigma Nu, the Jesuit university and college honor society. From October 2003 to October 2006, he was vice-president of the national Alpha Sigma Nu Board of Directors.
Heather Mikolajczak
Part-Time Secretary
Email: hmikolajczak@jcu.edu
Phone: 216.397.4717
Heather, her husband Stephen, and their two children live in Shaker Heights. Heather enjoys spending time with family, exercising, playing the piano, and attending sporting events.
Rev. Bernie McAniff, S.J.
University Chaplain – in residence in Bernet Hall
Email: bmcaniff@jcu.edu
Phone: 216.397.1986
Rev. Bernie McAniff, S.J., is a native of Rochester, New York. He graduated from Nazareth College, and continues to enjoy friendships which originated from his membership in choral groups in that city. For 10 years, Rev. McAniff taught English in various high schools: Saint Xavier in Cincinnati, Brebeuf in Indianapolis, U of D Mercy in Detroit–and others.
Rev. McAniff is the University Chaplain and a resides in Bernet Hall. His office is located in the Lombardo Student Center, in the Residence Life office suite.
Craig Sidol ’11
Resident Minister - Hamlin Hall, Room 250
Email: csidol11@jcu.edu
Phone: 216.534.4069
Craig graduated from John Carroll University with a degree in Psychology. During his time at John Carroll he was a Resident assistant in both Murphy and Dolan Hall. He lead and co-lead Manresa with Campus ministry. He was a frequent attendant to the 10:00 evening mass. Craig was an avid Guys Pizza couponer and well known for spending multiple hours in the cafeteria talking with friends.
In the past year, he worked for the Cleveland Clinic in their ADHD center for Evaluation and treatment. he helped to run their social skills groups for children ages 5-14, he assisted with the evaluation process, and was the research coordinator for two studies on ADHD. Craig also took the last year catch up on many of the books that he had always wanted to read (The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes, The Three Musketeers, and Wild at Heart just to name a few)
Craig is incredibly excited to join Campus ministry along with the other resident ministers for the 2012-2013 school year. He looks forward to meeting many of the students and faculty as the year progresses. If you are looking for someone to have a great conversation with or maybe you want a quick joke to put a smile on your face, please stop by Hamlin Hall. In the coming year Craig looks forward to challenging himself and others to grow in many ways.
Gillian Halusker
Resident Minister – Dolan Hall, Room 201
Email: ghalusker@jcu.edu
Phone: 216.780.4344
Gillian is the Resident Minister in Dolan Hall. She went to Xavier University and earned her Honors BA in 2010, with majors in Classics and History and minors in Philosophy, Theology, and Peace Studies. While at Xavier, she was particularly involved with Campus Ministry, attended 7 immersion trips, and elementary school tutoring through the Community Service Jobs program. After graduation, she served for a year as a Jesuit Volunteer in Detroit and then as an Ohio Campus Compact Americorp VISTA at Hiram College. A native of Cleveland and firm believer in Jesuit values, she is excited to be at John Carroll working towards her Master of Arts in Theology. She is also a Graduate Assistant in the Theology department.
For Gillian, faith has to be something that is lived out–the driving force behind our everyday actions. She is always looking for ways to further explore this concept of a “faith that does justice.” Besides service and retreats, her interests include knitting, reading, playing tennis, and vegan cooking. Stop by Dolan Hall for a visit and maybe some vegan baked goods :)
Jurell Sison ’10
Resident Minister - Murphy Hall, Room 218
Email: jsison11@jcu.edu
Phone: 216.397.4541
Jurell is the Resident Minister in Murphy Hall. He graduated from John Carroll in 2010 with majors in English literature and theology. He served one year in Detroit, Michigan, with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, teaching at Detroit Cristo Rey High School. He is currently working towards his Master of Arts in Theology and is also a graduate assistant in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies.
For Jurell, faith is the center of everything. His desire is to show the students of John Carroll that faith is still relevant and important in today’s culture. In his spare time, Jurell loves exercising, playing guitar, singing, photography, reading, journaling, and much more. His door is always open.
Shannon Marie Edwards
Resident Minister - Pacelli Hall, Room 203
Email: sedwards@jcu.edu
Phone: 440.413.3812
Shannon is the resident minister of Pacelli Hall. An Ohio resident all her life, Shannon started her academic career at a small conservative college called Mount Vernon Nazarene University. She graduated with BA in Theological Studies in 2009. After a year off from school, she got married to her husband, Brian Edwards, and began attending John Carroll to get her Masters in Religious Studies which she received in 2012.
Shannon’s faith life has been profoundly influenced by her Protestant upbringing and her Catholic higher education. She enjoys teaching Sunday school, but also enjoys taking classes in theology. Her favorite part of her spiritual journey is finding God in other people. Meeting new people—especially those who are generally described as strange or odd—is a passion for Shannon. She is looking forward to meeting a lot of new, interesting people at JCU.
In her spare time Shannon likes to bake. Her specialties are cupcakes, checkerboard cakes, cakepops, and Tollhouse pie. It is one of her greatest joys to bake for others. Other hobbies include reading, writing, exercising with friends, watching movies, and telling funny stories. If you want a good laugh, stop by and ask to hear some of the crazy stories about college. They won’t disappoint!