ST. LEO – Saint Leo University has launched the Lionova Institute, a new division focused on faith-anchored, technology-enabled education.
The Lionova Institute will focus on expanding Saint Leo’s impact through online education, healthcare and nursing pathways, international partnerships, military-aligned education, and workforce-connected learning models.
Norm Allgood, Art Monger, Jamie Kravcak and Emily Vance have joined Saint Leo University to lead the Lionova Institute. They were the executive team that helped build Synergis Education into one of the nation’s most respected innovators in healthcare education and online program development.
“We’ve spent years helping universities scale high-quality healthcare education, particularly direct-entry nursing pathways, while also launching innovative doctoral programs,” said Allgood, CEO and dean of the Lionova Institute. “Lionova allows Saint Leo to lead in these areas – meeting workforce needs while staying true to its Catholic and Benedictine identity.”
Officials at Saint Leo University said the appointments bring together leaders known for scaling high-quality online programs, pioneering direct-entry nursing education, launching innovative doctoral programs, driving data-informed enrollment growth and integrating AI responsibly into academic and operational models.
“This represents an extraordinary opportunity for Saint Leo University,” said Jim Burkee, president of Saint Leo University. “The Lionova Institute builds on our mission and our history of innovation.”
The university established its Center for Online Learning in 1998.
