
FACULTY & STAFF
Meet Our Team Members

President, Co-Founder
Dr. Jennifer Nolan
Dr. Jennifer Nolan holds a Ph.D. in Psychology from the Dept. of Cognitive Science at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) with specialization in memory, dementia, stroke and insulin resistance. She is a brain plasticity specialist and public speaker. Previously, she was the C.O.O. and co-founder of a stroke and brain injury rehabilitation center. Dr. Nolan has taught courses at UC Irvine, Loyola Marymount University, and Glendale Community College. She has conducted local and nationwide clinical trials, and is published in both scientific journals and popular magazines.

School Startup Specialist, VP of Operations, Attorney
Mr. Jeff Hilger, Esq.
Mr. Jeff Hilger is an educator and attorney who strives to make the world a better place by embracing challenging opportunities. In the years since graduating from Loyola High, Georgetown, UCLA Law, and Teach For America, he has founded, managed, and overseen the growth of five schools (Stella Middle Charter Academy, Bright Star Secondary Charter, New Opportunities Jail School, Family First Adult School, and St. John Paul II STEM Academy) and the organizations that support them (Bright Star Schools and New Opportunities Organization). After serving as managing editor of the UCLA Law Review and a law clerk for the US District Court, he developed a legal practice, including laying the grounds for an appellate victory at the US Supreme Court (543 US 499,) as well as work in real estate, contracts, and governmental accountability. He credits his Catholic faith, patriotism, family, and bilingualism for many of his successes, which have come from the graces of the Holy Spirit, and his intention, through discernment, to do God's will.

Board Member
Mr. Peter McNally
Mr. McNally is a Senior Consultant at the User Experience Center at Bentley University. Pete has extensive experience in usability, information architecture, accessibility, and software engineering. His current areas of interest include the intersection of user experience (UX) and customer experience (CX), universal design, and the Internet of Things (IoT). Regardless of the area or technology, Pete always focuses on the human at the end of the product, to provide the most seamless and engaging experience. He has worked with users and designed digital experiences in the financial services, healthcare, government, education, energy, manufacturing, defense, and electronics industries. Prior to joining the center, Pete was a Principal Consultant in the CSC User Experience Practice, Senior User Experience Architect at HP Enterprise Services, Research Officer at the University of Hertfordshire in the UK, and Senior Software Engineer at 3M Health Information Systems. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Northeastern University and a Master of Science in Computer Science from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). He is a member of the International User Experience Professionals Association (UXPA), ACM CHI, Boston UXPA, and Boston CHI.

Professor of Computer Science
Dr. Andrew Whiskeyman
Dr. Andrew Whiskeyman, COL (Ret.), is an internationally recognized scholar-practitioner whose work explores the nexus of faith, reason, and emerging technology. His research and teaching focus on information warfare, cognitive security, strategic foresight, and the ethical challenges posed by rapidly advancing technologies. Prior to taking on the role of professor, he served nearly three decades in the U.S. Army. Dr. Whiskeyman is a Goodpaster Scholar, a non-resident senior fellow with the Global National Security Institute (GNSI), a board member of the Information Professionals Association, and a member of the Fellowship of Catholic Scholars. He is the co-founder and CEO of JASSA Professional Services which provides expert advice on strategic leadership, foresight, and technological adaptation.

Professor of Computer Science and Theology
Mr. Joseph Freymann
Mr. Joseph Freymann earned a bachelor's in Computer Science from the Franciscan University of Steubenville, a master's in Philosophy from the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum, and a master's in Theology from Holy Apostles College and Seminary. He has published an Apologetics textbook entitled Summa Apologetica, as well as a mobile app called Appologetics. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, five children, and three grandchildren.

Professor of History
Dr. Skylar Reidy
Dr. Skyler Reidy was born and raised in Southern California, and then attended the College of William & Mary, where he earned a BA in American Studies and History and an MA in History. He then earned a PhD from the University of Southern California, focusing on the history of the American West. His dissertation "God's Nature: Material Religion and Settler Colonialism in Nineteenth-Century California" explored the intersection of science, religion, and culture. After earning his PhD, Reidy worked at Pomona College, where he taught courses on California history, Native American history, and American religion, as well as survey courses in American history. His work has appeared in the journal Religion & American Culture, and he is a frequent speaker on the life of St. Junipero Serra. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and four children.

Co-Founder, Professor of Theology
Mr. Christopher Plance
Mr. Christopher Plance holds an undergraduate degree in Kinesiology from Westmont College and a M.A. in Theology from Franciscan University. He has worked as the Director of Evangelization for St. John Paul the Great Catholic University in Escondido, CA. He was an essential part of their accreditation process and is familiar with the steps necessary for WASC approval. He has taught theology and history at Catholic high schools for four years, and is a regular public speaker on topics of Catholic theology.

Board Member, Priest
Rev. Dr. Richard Erikson
The Reverend Richard M. Erikson, Ph.D. is a Roman Catholic priest and sociologist. He was ordained for the Archdiocese of Boston on June 8, 1985. Fr. Erikson has served as a parochial vicar at St. Mary's in Lynn, MA (1985-1988); chair of the Social Sciences Department and professor of sociology at St. John's Seminary in Brighton, MA (1992-1999); an active-duty Air Force chaplain (1999-2006); vicar general and moderator of the curia of the Archdiocese of Boston (2006-2011); pastor of Our Lady of Fatima parish in Sudbury, MA (2012-2018); administrator of St. Mary's parish in Winchester, MA (2018); and priest in residence at St. Athanasius and St. Agnes in Reading, MA (2019-2022). ​ Fr. Erikson served in the Air Force Chaplain Corps as a reservist and on active duty for 35 years, retiring in April, 2017, with the rank of brigadier general. He served nine years with Special Operations Forces at Hurlburt Field, FL, and ten years at the Pentagon. He was deployed to Iraq from July through September, 2004. ​ He is a member of ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers). In 2021, he and Jay Clementi co-wrote a song about his experience in Iraq, "Born to Bless the Fallen." Fr. Erikson worked with the legendary Andy Williams for 13 years as a liner note author and co-producer. ​ Fr. Erikson has three master's degrees and a doctorate in sociology. He is the author of Late Have I Loved Thee: Stories of Religious Conversion and Commitment in Later Life (Paulist Press, 1995), and has written for the Boston Pilot for 35 years. He serves on the Board of Directors of Catholic Polytechnic University in California, and currently serves the Diocese of St. Petersburg, Florida.

Board Member
Mr. Michael Stefanini
Mr. Stefanini is a Senior Engineer for Caltech at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He was the leader of the IT Development and Project Management Office, managed JPL's Cloud Computing services, and is currently the Chief Engineer for Digital Transformation. He holds a Master's degree in Electrical and Computer and Systems Engineering. He has designed and implemented enterprise engineering and IT systems and has been involved with spacecraft engineering, process definition, and IT delivery for over 25 years. He has received numerous accolades including several NASA Honor Awards, the JPL Explorer Award, and the NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal for improvements to software development processes. Mr. Stefanini has lectured at many venues including the Project Management Institute, Gartner Conferences, MIT, NASA summits, and at the United Nations.

Professor of Theology and Philosophy
Mr. John Weitzel
Mr. John Weitzel is completing his dissertation, "Mysticism during times of Vicissitudes," to earn his PhD in Humanities from Faulkner University. He is examining Augustinian, Kierkegaardian, and Freudian perspectives. He has earned a Master of Arts in Theology from Loyola Marymount University, with a thesis entitled, "Christology of 1st Thessalonians." He also has a Master of Science in Counseling from CSU Long Beach. Previously, he taught Religious Studies and Philosophy courses at Marymount California University, and is an adjunct counselor teaching Academic & Life Success at Cypress College.

Professor of Computer Science and Mathematics
Mr. David Sonnier
Mr. David L. Sonnier is a 1981 graduate of the United States Military Academy and he holds a MS in Computer Science from Georgia Institute of Technology. He spent twenty years as an officer in the US Army, where he served in the Infantry, Special Forces, and as a computer specialist. He was assigned to NATO in Brussels, Belgium from 1998 to 2001. In September 2001 he retired from the US Army as a Lieutenant Colonel and spent the next 23 years teaching Computer Science at Lyon College. He is now retired from teaching and lives with his wife of 40 years on a small farm in Arkansas.
JOIN the TEAM
There is a moment in the life of any aspiring astronomer when it comes time to buy that first telescope.
Take your first step by joining the Catholic Polytechnic faculty, combining your Catholic faith with your STEM career. Please send your resume to jobs@catholicpolytechnic.org.​​

Non-Discrimination Policy: Catholic Polytechnic University is committed to complying with all applicable laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age, including but not limited to hiring, student admissions, programs, and scholarships.

BOARD OF ADVISORS
We are grateful to the advisory board, who generously donate their time and expertise to the formation of Catholic Polytechnic:
Mr. Anthony Beata, Dr. Marcus Birkenkrahe, Mr. David Costanzo, Dr. Jacqueline Curiel, Mr. Dan Davis, J.D., Dr. Edward Feser, Dr. Joseph Henderson, Dr. Kathleen Gilpin, Dr. Daniel Kuebler, Mr. Hugh Macken, Dr. Jim Monaghan, the late Bishop David G. O'Connell, Rev. Dr. Joachim Ostermann, Mr. Jerome Placido, Mrs. Heather Stefanini, and Mrs. Nora Urrea.



