Meet the Admissions Team
The college admissions process doesn't have to be stressful, and our counselors are here to answer your questions, ease your concerns, and help you explore your options as you get to know Malone.
Eric Young
Vice President of Enrollment
- Hometown: Dover, OH
- High School: Dover High School
- Degree(s): B.S. AYA Education; M.Ed. Higher Education Administration; Ph.D. Higher Education Administration
- Hobbies and interests outside of work: Running, coaching youth sports, Cleveland sports fan
- Favorite thing about Malone: The friendly environment where people go above and beyond to help our students. This is reflective of our commitment to Christian values and living out those values. I also love the history of our Barn-- it turns 100 years old this year.
- Favorite thing to do in Canton or Stark County: Finding new places to eat. My wife and I are always excited for our personal favorite in downtown Canton, Basil.
- Advice for a prospective Malone student: Education is central to the college choice process, but the context of the institution and your education is very important. At Malone, you will receive a Bible-based education that will prepare you for God's calling and success after graduation. Take time to visit the campuses you are considering, and ask the questions that are important to you and your family.
Ann Lawson
Director of Admissions
- Hometown: Rochester, PA
- High School: Rochester Area
- Degree(s): B.S. in Business Administration, MBA
- Hobbies and interests outside of work: travel, perennial flower gardening, bodhran drumming
- Favorite thing about Malone: The warmth and hospitality of every faculty and staff member is unparalleled.
- Favorite thing to do in Canton or Stark County: The wide diversity of museums! The McKinley monument, Canton Classic Car Museum, First Ladies' Library, the MAPS aviation museum, Massillon Museum, Canton Museum of Art, several historical houses, and, of course the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
- Advice for a prospective Malone student: Picture your ideal college experience: the people, environment, learning, etc. Rank what is most important to you and compare each school you visit to that list. Otherwise, you may fall into the trap of comparing schools to each other and risk being distracted by features that weren't even important factors for your future.
Noah Ancil
Director of Enrollment Operations
- Hometown: Canton, OH
- High School: Massillon Perry High School
- Degree(s): B.A. in History and Museum Studies, MBA in Data Analytics
- Hobbies and interests outside of work: Baking, cooking, reading, and hunting! Watching all of the newest Netflix series with my wife, and spending time with my kids.
- Favorite thing about Malone: The open and free Christian atmosphere. We are grounded in our common belief in Christ and it raises the standard of our community life!
- Favorite thing to do in Canton or Stark County: Exploring local shops and restaurants, and spending time in Stark Parks or on the Towpath Trail.
- Advice for a prospective Malone student: Preparing for a future career is important, but life has its twists and turns. If you don't know exactly where you want to end up, don't sweat it - even if you had the perfect plan now you'd end up somewhere else.
Blaise Brankatelli
Director of Graduate & Professional Admissions and External Partnerships
- Hometown: Hudson, OH
- High School: Orange High School
- Degree(s): B.A. In Biblical Studies; M.Div. Academic Track
- Hobbies and interests outside of work: The whole dad-life, church work, board games, learning languages, coaching youth sports, and travel
- Favorite thing about Malone: I love how Malone's mission influences all that we do here and how it gives us grander perspective.
- Favorite thing to do in Canton or Stark County: Making friends and playing games at a local Canton store, like Milestone Board Game Café.
- Advice for a prospective Malone student: The people at Malone are the best. Be sure to make those personal connections to faculty and staff early and often.
COUNSELORS
Logan Koeppe
Admissions Counselor
- Hometown: Tallmadge, OH
- High School: Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy
- Degree(s): B.A in Business Administration & Sport Management, Minor in Marketing
- Hobbies and interests outside of work: Playing/watching sports, running & fitness, watching movies, reading, card games
- Favorite thing about Malone: The emphasis and focus on building community. Having people around you, both other students and faculty that will pour into your personal and spiritual life.
- Favorite thing to do in Canton or Stark County: Visit a local coffee shop (I'm biased towards Walkie Talkie), go see a movie in Belden, or walk around downtown Canton!
- Advice for a prospective Malone student: Be willing to step outside of your comfort zone. Make friends and pour into the community around you. Get involved on campus in student leadership, teams, within your dorms, etc. Malone has an abundance of things to offer, chase it!
Gracie Humphries
Admissions Counselor
- Hometown: Hartville, OH
- High School: Marlington High School
- Degree(s): B.A. Communication Arts
- Hobbies and interests outside of work: Going on walks/hikes, exercising, reading, blog-writing, hanging out with friends/family, music
- Favorite thing about Malone: The "Christ's Kingdom First" motto
- Favorite thing to do in Canton or Stark County: Meet friends for coffee or find new places to take walks
- Advice for a prospective Malone student: The most renowned aspect of Malone is the tight-knit community; if a sense of "home" is a priority for you in seeking a college to attend, Malone is the place to be.
Jeneca Gilbey
Admissions Counselor
- Hometown: Washingtonville, OH
- High School: Leetonia High School
- Degree(s): B.A. General Studies
- Hobbies and interests outside of work: going on walks, watching tv, church, getting coffee with friends
- Favorite thing about Malone: Malone strives and excels at building community and invests in helping students academically, mentally, physically, and spiritually.
- Favorite thing to do in Canton or Stark County: Go to all the coffee shops
Olivia Nagy
Admissions Counselor
- Hometown: Canton, Ohio
- High School: GlenOak High School
- Degree(s): B.S. in Human Development & Family Studies
- Hobbies and interests outside of work: Thrift shopping, making arts and crafts, and watching movies
- Favorite thing about Malone: The beautiful campus and friendly people!
- Favorite thing to do in Canton or Stark County: Try out new coffee shops
- Advice for a prospective Malone student: Make the most of your experience by getting to know your professors and the staff. It will be helpful during your time here, but also meaningful when you graduate and can look back on those connections and relationships that you built.
Abby Oscovitch
Admissions Counselor
- Hometown: Andover, NJ
- High School: Sussex County Technical School
- Degree(s): B.A. in Psychology Minor in Gender Studies
- Hobbies and interests outside of work: Traveling, camping, thrifting, going for walks
- Favorite thing about Malone: How welcoming and friendly people are. You can always expect a smile from someone.
- Favorite thing to do in Canton or Stark County: Exploring the local parks and restaurants. Also the Goodwill Bins!
- Advice for a prospective Malone student: Don't be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone. Try a new club or sport! You could meet some really great people along the way and discover some new interests!
Brittani Frick
Admissions Counselor
- Hometown: Tallmadge, Ohio
- High School: Tallmadge High School
- Degree(s): B.A. in Interpersonal Communication
- Hobbies and interests outside of work: Hiking, reading, playing tennis, and traveling
- Favorite thing about Malone: Malone not only helps students grow academically but also spiritually. The faculty and staff care about your well-being.
- Favorite thing to do in Canton or Stark County: Hanging out with friends!
- Advice for a prospective Malone student: You don't need to know what you want to do with your life right now. Enjoy the journey and trust God's plan for you!
Cassandra Leibengood
Admissions Counselor
- Hometown: Clyde, OH
- High School: Clyde High School
- Degree(s): B.A. in Marketing and Global & International Studies Minor in Communication Arts and Honors
- Hobbies and interests outside of work: Traveling, getting coffee, reading, cross-stiching/embroidery
- Favorite thing about Malone: The care that the Malone community has towards students' academic success, mental health, and spiritual wellness.
- Favorite thing to do in Canton or Stark County: Walk to Walkie Talkie and get some coffee
- Advice for a prospective Malone student: Don't stay stuck in the academic work. Remember that college is what you make of it and being involved and creating relationships outside of classes is often what makes college great.
Staff
Kade Bitikofer
Data Entry Specialist
- Hometown: Strasburg, Ohio
- High School: Strasburg High School
- Degree(s): B.A. in English
- Hobbies and interests outside of work: Movies, music, reading
- Favorite thing about Malone: The close-knit community that Malone fosters for its students and staff
- Favorite thing to do in Canton or Stark County: Belden Village Mall
- Advice for a prospective Malone student: Don't be afraid of asking questions, not only of your peers but also of yourself. College isn't just about hitting the books; it's about embarking on a journey of autonomy and self-understanding. Malone is underpinned by an environment that encourages learning about a litany of subjects but, most importantly, it's yourself that you'll learn more about.
Cheryl Coppa
Office Coordinator
- Hometown: Kenosha, Wi
- High School: Our Lady of the Rosary
- Hobbies and interests outside of work: Being an uber driver for my kids. Raising chickens, front porching & helping women fall in love with fitness. I am a personal trainer and I love using movement as medicine.
- Favorite thing about Malone: I really like the nurturing and faith-filled environment, it is refreshing!
- Favorite thing to do in Canton or Stark County: Ice skating with my son downtown Canton. Going to the movies at Cinemark Tinsletown - North Canton
- Advice for a prospective Malone student: This is a unique time that only presents itself now. So much opportunity for growth in many areas of your life. Just do it. Do it scared, do it unprepared, just do it!
Sara Haidet
Campus Visits and Events Manager
- Degree(s): B.A. Organizational Communication Studies
- Hobbies and interests outside of work: Being involved at church, going out for coffee
- Favorite thing about Malone: It is great getting to work at an institution with Christian values.
- Favorite thing to do in Canton or Stark County: There's a lot of good local coffee shops - Tremont and the Human Bean are two great ones!
- Advice for a prospective Malone student: College is your opportunity to really learn a lot about what you want your future to look like, and there are a lot of people who want to help you determine that - you just need to be willing to ask. College poses a unique opportunity to be invested in by others, so don't miss out on your opportunity to ask questions, try new things, intern (Please! It is good for you!) and network, network, network!
Ann Hostetler
Administrative Assistant
- Hometown: Geneva, Ohio
- High School: Geneva High School
- Degree(s): B.A. in Secondary Education; M.A. in Education
- Hobbies and interests outside of work: Serving as a mentor and leader with Divorce Care at my church, as well as thrifting with my daughter and discovering new coffee shops and local eateries.
- Favorite thing about Malone: The uncompromising Christian values top the list, but honestly, I think my favorite thing has yet to be discovered since I am just beginning my journey here.
- Favorite thing to do in Canton or Stark County: Hartville Thrift Shoppe and Front Porch Cafe
- Advice for a prospective Malone student: Take risks. Step outside your comfort zone. Trust God. Make your academics a priority. Have fun!
Tyler McClellan
Graduate Assistant
- Hometown: Hartville, Ohio
- High School: Lake High School
- Degree(s): B.A. in Biology
- Hobbies and interests outside of work: Soccer, basketball, snowboarding, reading and hiking
- Favorite thing about Malone: Malone puts Christ at the center of everything. The University is dedicated to helping students discover their God given identity.
- Favorite thing to do in Canton or Stark County: When I have extra energy I need to burn off, a trip to bounce around at Sky Zone usually does the trick
- Advice for a prospective Malone student: Place yourself in a healthy environment and surround yourself with people who will help you grow into the person God desires you to be. The years spent in college are crucial to who you may someday become. Take the time to invest in not only yourself, but others around you and don’t be scared to step out of your comfort zone. While you are working hard and crushing your classes, don’t forget to have fun along the way and enjoy the downtime!