The Academy’s Board of Directors bring a range of talents and experience to the service of the vision in various ministries. “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good” (1 Cor 12:7), that is to say, the Academy labors with and for the community of students, parents, and teachers for the sake of a common vision. Each board member brings a different range of experience and skills to the joyful service of the Academy’s vision: establishing a sustainable institution in the Willamette Valley to provide young men and women an opportunity to receive an excellent liberal arts education rooted in the Catholic tradition.
Board of Directors
Deacon James Thurman, President
Jonathan Edmonds, Treasurer
Cheryl Schwartz, Secretary;
Emily Brand, Adam Sully, Carl Sanders, John Kubasak
Ex officio non voting members; Nick Plato, Headmaster and Rolando Moreno, Executive Director (See faculty/staff page)
Deacon James Thurman
President
Deacon James Thurman has a BA in Philosophy and Masters in Theology from Mount Angel Seminary and is the founder and organizer for the annual Holy League Northwest Catholic men’s conference. Newly ordained in October 2019 by Archbishop Alexander Sample for the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon, Deacon James is currently serving at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Silverton, Oregon. He is a Benedictine Oblate of Mount Angel Abbey. He has served as Pastoral Associate of Catechesis and Family Life at St. Joseph’s in Salem and at St. Paul’s in Silverton. James is U.S. Army veteran as a Abrams tanker and Field Artillery specialist. He spent 3 years active duty and 2 years in the Washington State National Guard. He currently is a hospice chaplain for Evergreen Hospice House in Albany. Deacon James and his wife Kathleen have been married since 2009 and have three beautiful children. He loves spending time with his family in pursuit of outdoor adventures like camping and hiking. Deacon James’ passion is studying the faith, reading spiritual books and playing golf. When time permits, he too enjoys raising a glass in the company of good friends.
Jonathan Edmonds
Treasurer
Jonathan and his wife Katie live on a family farm about 5 miles east of Mt. Angel. They have been married 31 years and have 4 children. Jonathan has a Bachelor of Science degree in Software Engineering and has worked for Xerox since 1997. He and his wife purchased much of his grandparent’s family farm in 2015 and are now also farming 55 acres of hazelnuts. He has been regularly involved in education, serving as President of the Parent Teacher Team at Butte Creek Grade School for 15 years as well as serving on the Silver Falls School Board for 5+ years (including 3 years as chair). Jonathan and Katie are parishioners at St. Paul Catholic Church in Silverton, OR, but regularly attend mass at the Mt. Angel Abbey. Jonathan enjoys hiking, camping, fishing, singing in choirs, and spending time with family.
Cheryl Schwartz
SEcretary
Cheryl Schwartz and her husband, Michael, have been married for 28 years, and have two children and one grandchild. Cheryl completed her studies in biology and science education at the Florida Institute of Technology, then worked at the environmental science lab at Disney for 9 years before leaving to become Executive Director of the non-profit Lakes Education/Action Drive. They relocated to Oregon from Florida more than 20 years ago and became involved in parish life at St. Philip Benizi; they are currently members at St. Mary in Mt. Angel. Cheryl and Michael are oblates of Mt. Angel Abbey and serve on the oblate council. Cheryl is principal at Holy Family Academy and a founding member of the Board of Directors at G. K. Chesterton Academy of the Willamette Valley.
Emily Brand
Board Member
Emily Brand has a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Arizona and a Master of Arts in Theology from the Franciscan University of Steubenville. She is currently serving in the United States Air Force Reserves as a C-17A pilot out of Joint Base Lewis-McChord. She also flies B-737 aircraft for Alaska Airlines. Emily volunteers as an OCIA catechist at both her home parish of Immaculate Conception in Stayton and St. Mary in Mount Angel. She has been busy learning farming and forestry since she moved back home as the fifth generation to live on her family's homestead outside of Stayton.
John Kubasak
Board Member
John Kubasak is a husband and father of four. He has a Bachelor of Arts in History from Sacramento State University and a Masters in Theology from Mount Angel Seminary. Professionally, he works in community relations. He enjoys reading, writing, music, and watching sports with his kids.