Director of Major Gifts

Dr. Richard N. Crawford Endowed Scholarship 

Dr. Kathleen Cieplak Owens is pleased to establish an Endowed Scholarship honoring Dr. Richard N. Crawford. 

During his 32-year tenure at Saint Francis University, Dr. Crawford served in a variety of positions. Initially serving as a faculty member and Chair of the Education Department and culminating as Vice President for Strategic Initiatives, his valued service contributed significantly to the Mission, Vision and Goals of the University. Dr. Crawford was a strategic and entrepreneurial thinker and doer dedicated to enhancing the University’s academic, reputational, and mission-centric strengths. 

As a well-respected leader in the larger regional community and beyond, Dr. Crawford was instrumental in bringing critical fiscal and human resources to the University community for the benefit of our students. Dr. Crawford’s tenure and enduring spirit continue through the many programs he created, through the colleagues he mentored and through the graduates who are now leaders carrying their Franciscan values forward. Dr. Crawford led several significant and lasting contributions during his years with Saint Francis, including establishing the Office of Continuing Education (now the Division of Professional Studies) offering programs for adult learners, developing new academic programs (including the first doctoral program DPT and the MOT program), creating community development opportunities like wind energy (leading to the creation of the current Institute for Energy) and CERMUSA (Center of Excellence for Rural Medically-Underserved Areas), leading the change for Saint Francis from College to University status, and mentoring so many others at the institution. 

Dr. Crawford was a colleague and mentor for Dr. Owens during her ten years of service as Vice President for Academic Affairs. After advancing through faculty ranks and into academic leadership positions at Lewis University in Illinois, Dr. Owens provided leadership during a period of growth at Saint Francis University including collaborating with Dr. Crawford on many of these initiatives. She left Saint Francis to become President of Gwynedd Mercy University, becoming the first lay president of the institution and served with distinction for 15 years. She establishes this scholarship endowment in memory of her colleague, mentor, and friend Dr. Richard Crawford, and invites others to contribute to maintain the memory.