Meet Our Board and Faculty
We could not be more grateful to the many talented people who have furthered the success of Catholic Polytechnic and continue to do so. We are proud to have these leading professionals on our team, whether as board members, faculty members, or both; the people listed below are all highly-trained, successful academics whose dedication to their work and to their faith inspires our students and staff on a continual basis.
Jennifer Nolan, PhD
Chief Executive Officer | | Co-Founder
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.
Sam Laganà, MBA
Chancellor | Director of Mission Advancement | Board Member
Mr. Sam Laganà arrives at CatholicPoly with an exceptional record of institutional advancement. As President & CEO of Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, he oversaw day-to-day operations, the overall annual operating budget and the endowment, led campaigns that constructed a multimillion-dollar STEAM Center, and delivered consecutive revenue surpluses that strengthened reserve funds and expanded financial aid. Prior to that, he served for two decades at Pepperdine University, culminating as Associate Vice Chancellor for Advancement & Public Affairs, where he raised significant resources over his final four years alone and made substantial contributions to the university’s major gift, estate planning, and corporate partnership strategies. His deep roots in Los Angeles — spanning roles at California State Universities Dominguez Hills and Northridge, the Los Angeles Athletic Club, and as a long-standing board leader for the John R. Wooden Award Foundation and the Los Angeles Sports and Entertainment Commission — position him as a uniquely connected and community-oriented leader for CatholicPoly’s continued evolution. Sam is an active member of Corpus Christi Catholic Church and recently received the Catholic Charities of Los Angeles Humanitarian Award, in September 2025, for his servant leadership commitment to Our Lady of Angels Region. Laganà holds a Presidents & Key Executives MBA from Pepperdine University’s Graziadio Business School, with a capstone focused on Nonprofit Philanthropic Leadership and Board Engagement, as well as a Bachelor of Arts from Loyola Marymount University. Sam is a recognized announcer who has served as the stadium voice for Los Angeles Rams football since 2016 and will continue in that GameDay role.
Michael Stefanini, MS
Secretary of the Board
Mr. Michael 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.
Jeff Hilger, Esq.
Treasurer of the Board
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.
Rev. Richard Erikson, PhD
Board Member
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.
Peter McNally, MS
Board Member | Professor of Computer Science
Mr. Peter 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.
Andrew Whiskeyman, PhD
Dean of Graduate Studies | Professor of Computer Science
Specialties include: AI, Emerging Technologies
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.
David Sonnier, MS
Dean of Undergraduate Studies | Professor of Computer Science
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.
Joseph Freymann, MA
Professor of Computer Science | Professor of Theology
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.
Marcus Birkenkhrahe, PhD
Professor of Computer Science
Specialties include: Date Science
Dr. Marcus Birkenkrahe is an IT and data science leader and educator with more than 20 years of experience across industry, academia, and executive coaching. His career has ranged from directing global IT and knowledge management programs at Fortune 500 companies, to building a data science program in the U.S., to coaching senior executives in leadership and change. He holds a PhD in theoretical physics and serves as Associate Editor of the International Journal of Data Science and on the editorial boards of journals in big data and learning & change. Published 60+ works in journals, proceedings, and professional media. Invited speaker at 50+ international conferences and executive events on AI, data, and enterprise strategy. He is an enthusiastic member of the Gregorian Schola of the Catholic parish of St. John the Baptist in Cabot, AR. He has served as an advisor to CPU since 2019.
Skylar Reidy, MA
Professor of History
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.
John Weitzel, MA
Professor of Theology | Professor of Philosophy
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.
Gabriel Johnson, MS
Professor of Mathematics
Having earned the title of National Merit Finalist in high school, Mr. Gabriel Johnson enrolled at the University of Mississippi under a full scholarship. From there, in 2018, he graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. in computer science. He went on to earn a M.S. in mathematics from Claremont Graduate University in 2021. While in these programs, he did two internships with a focus on web development, including one at FedEx. Since then, he has worked as a freelance Japanese translator. In fact, he is an avid Japanophile and, using only books and online videos, learned Japanese well enough to have two job interviews in it with no communication difficulties. Other languages he's studied as a hobby include Latin and Ancient Greek, Cebuano (his mother's native language), and Irish. During his spare time, he plays the piano and dotes on the stray cat that's designated him as its replacement mother.
Katherine Carlman, MA, MS
Professor of English
Mrs. Katherine Carlman holds an MA in English from Trinity College, Hartford and an MS in National Security Intelligence Analysis from the University of New Hampshire. She has been an instructor of writing sincce 2001, working at universities and community colleges across the country. Courses taught include Technical Writing, Playwriting, survey courses in fiction and drama, and college essay writing, among others.
William J. Bosl, PhD
Director and Senior Research Fellow, Catholic Polytechnic Institute
Dr. William Bosl is a neuroscientist, biomedical informatician, and former computational physicist whose research spans artificial intelligence, neuroscience, psychiatry, and philosophy of mind. Before entering neuroscience, he worked as a computational physicist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory while completing a PhD in Geophysics at Stanford University. In 2005, he joined the Computational Health Informatics Program (CHIP) at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, where he developed computational approaches for identifying digital biomarkers of autism, epilepsy, and psychiatric disorders. He completed a second PhD in Behavioral Neuroscience at Boston University School of Medicine. He later served as Director of the Health Informatics graduate program at the University of San Francisco, where he taught biomedical data science, statistical learning, and AI methods for healthcare. Dr. Bosl is currently Professor Emeritus at the University of San Francisco and continues as Affiliate Research Faculty at Boston Children’s Hospital and Lecturer at Harvard Medical School. His recent work focuses on intelligence, consciousness, moral agency, personhood, and human–machine interaction, integrating empirical neuroscience, biomedical informatics, and philosophical anthropology. As Director of the Catholic Polytechnic Institute, he is developing a research program exploring artificial intelligence, consciousness, psychiatry, ethics, and human dignity, with the goal of advancing scientific and philosophical understanding of the human person in an age of increasingly intelligent machines.
Interested in joining the faith and science movement? Send us your résumé via the link below or by emailing jobs@catholicpolytechnic.org and take the first step to combining your faith with your career.
Reach out to our staff
Jennifer Nolan
Chief Executive Officer | President | Co-Founder
jnolan@catholicpolytechnic.org
Sam Laganà
Chancellor | Director of Mission Advancement
slagana@catholicpolytechnic.org
James Crowell
Mission Advancement Officer | Co-Director of Marketing
jcrowell@catholicpolytechnic.org
Angela Crowell
Executive Assistant | Marketing Specialist
acrowell@catholicpolytechnic.org
Angel Adame-Sanchez
Registrar
registrar@catholicpolytechnic.org
Alex Drozda
Admissions Representative
adrozda@catholicpolytechnic.org
Ana Romero
Co-Director of Marketing
aromero@catholicpolytechnic.org
BOARD OF ADVISORS
Mr. Anthony Beata
Dr. Jacqueline
Curiel
Mr. Edward
Feser
Dr. Daniel
Kuebler
Rev. Dr. Joachim
Ostermann
Mrs. Nora
Urrea
Dr. Marcus
Birkenkrahe
Mr. Dan
Davis
Mr. Joseph
Henderson
Mr. Hugh
Macken
Mr. Jerome
Placido
Mr. David
Costanzo
J. D.
Dr. Katherine
Gilpin
Dr. Jim
Monaghan
Mrs. Heather
Stefanini