Leadership & Staff
The Wake Forest Catholic Campus Ministry is led by a team of student leaders, FOCUS missionaries, a Catholic Chaplain, and a lay Catholic Campus Minister, who provide pastoral leadership and creative programming for the community.
They facilitate small groups, coordinate retreats, and plan social events so that everyone can find a way to explore and integrate their faith with their lives.
Student Leadership
Nick Knobel
President
Hometown: Boulder, CO
Major: Accounting
Jake Whalen
Vice President
Hometown: Winston-Salem, NC
Major: Biology
Don Faccone
Treasurer
Hometown: Crystal Lake, IL
Major: Finance
Erin Ryan
Secretary
Hometown: Wilmette, IL
Major: Politics and International Affairs
Sophia Damian
Spiritual Engagement Committee
Hometown: Wake Forest, NC
Major: Economics
Sadie MacDonald
Spiritual Engagement Committee
Hometown: Winston-Salem, NC
Major: Studio Art & Economics
Lane Westerlund
Spiritual Engagement Committee
Hometown: TBA
Major: TBA
Samantha Homick
Spiritual Engagement Committee
Hometown: TBA
Major: TBA
Dom Waugh
Community Engagement Committee
Hometown: Winston-Salem, NC
Major: Computer Science
Elle Falkowski
Community Engagement Committee
Hometown: Edgewater, MD
Major: Politics & International Affairs
Lourdes Lopez
Community Engagement Committee
Hometown: Vigo, Spain
Major: Biophysics
FOCUS Missionary Team
Mary Wilson Screws
Mary Wilson grew up in Memphis, TN, and studied Neuroscience and Medicine, Health, and Society at Vanderbilt University. Through faithful friends and the Sacraments, she encountered Christ’s personal love and never-ending mercy, inspiring her to become a FOCUS missionary. After serving as a missionary for one year at Auburn University and one year at Duke University, Mary Wilson is stepping into the role of FOCUS Team Director at Wake Forest. She is excited to grow in friendship and live the reality of the Resurrection alongside one another!
Charles May
Charles grew up all across the United States but he calls Vine Grove Kentucky home. He received a bachelor’s degree in History from Belmont Abbey College in Belmont, NC. While at Belmont Abbey he was pursued be the Lord and by friends and heard the calling to serve the Lord as a missionary with FOCUS. This is Charles’ first year as a missionary and he is supper excited to serve at Wake Forest and to share the Gospel Truth with students and to befriend them during their time at Wake Forest!
Bridget Kapic
Bridget was born and raised in Green Bay, Wisconsin. She attended undergrad at William and Mary where she studied Kinesiology & Health Science. In college, she grew greatly in her love for Christ and His Church through the vibrant and faithful Catholic Campus Ministry at William and Mary. She served her first year with FOCUS at Harvard University and is excited to meet and walk with the students at Wake Forest this year.
Joshua Yost
Joshua Yost, from Richmond, Virginia, graduated from the Virginia Military Institute with a degree in Economics and Business, where he was also a member of the wrestling team. During his senior year, a small group of friends helped him grow in his faith and deepen his relationship with Christ. After graduation, Josh returned home to begin his career, but felt called to share his love for the Lord with others. He is now a first-year FOCUS Missionary at Wake Forest University, serving with the Catholic Campus Ministry to help students encounter Christ more deeply.
Professional Staff
Fr. David McCanless
Catholic Chaplain
Fr. David is from Salisbury, NC and graduated with a BA from Wake Forest in 2007. After college, he entered seminary and was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Charlotte in 2016. His first assignment was to pursue graduate studies in Biblical Theology at the Gregorian University in Rome, Italy. Since then, he has served in several parishes, including the Cathedral of St. Patrick in Charlotte, the Basilica of St. Lawrence in Asheville, and Our Lady of Mercy in Winston-Salem. Fr. David is happy to return to Wake Forest as the Catholic Chaplain and looks forward to serving the University’s Catholic population, as well as the broader Wake Forest community.
Jenn Barlow
Director of Catholic Life
A Winston-Salem native, Jenn attended Appalachian State University and double majored in Religion and Sociology before pursuing her call to ministry. She spent 13 years as a youth minister before joining the campus ministry staff at Wake Forest. Jenn is married to Brad, associate professor of astrophysics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and together, they have two daughters, Clare and Josie.
Wake Forest Catholic Campus Ministry 