Leadership

Founding President, Fr. Nathan Wendt, SJ

Fr. Nathan Wendt, SJ serves as the founding President of Xavier Jesuit Academy. Previously, Fr. Wendt served as the Road Through Xavier Program Coordinator at Xavier University, developing high impact formational experiences and community engaged learning for undergraduates.

He attended St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland, OH, where he was born and raised. Fr. Wendt entered the Society of Jesus in 2003 after earning a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations from Marquette University in 2001 and worked in Milwaukee and Omaha. As a Jesuit, Fr. Wendt earned a master's degree in social philosophy from Loyola University Chicago, was the assistant director of the corporate work-study program at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School - Twin Cities, and earned both a Master of Divinity and a Licentiate in Sacred Theology from the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry.

He was ordained a priest in June 2014 and served as associate pastor at St. Anne's Catholic Church in Kingston, Jamaica and at Gesu Catholic Church & School in Detroit. Fr. Wendt served as Assistant to the President at Creighton Preparatory School, Omaha, where he established and directed Loyola Scholars middle school enrichment program. Fr. Wendt also served at Jesuit Academy, Omaha, as chaplain, religion teacher, and Formation for Mission Officer. Fr. Wendt is a spiritual director, has worked with incarcerated men and women throughout his Jesuit life, and served the Ignatian Spirituality Project in Chicago, Boston, Detroit, Omaha, and Cincinnati where spiritual retreats are offered for people transitioning from homelessness and in recovery from addictions. 

Founding Principal, Mr. Kyle Chandler

With over 20 years of experience in Jesuit education, Mr. Kyle Chandler brings his passion for urban Catholic education, a strong work ethic, a collaborative and consultative leadership style, a history of elevating students’ academic achievement, and a proven ability to support families in all areas throughout their sons’ education and formation.

Mr. Chandler thrived as assistant principal for student affairs over 13 years at the University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy (U of D Jesuit), where he has consistently demonstrated excellent leadership, sound decision-making, and his ability to build trusting relationships with colleagues, students, and parents. Prior to his tenure as assistant principal at U of D Jesuit, Mr. Chandler was dean of co-curricular activities and taught middle school and high school English. Through the school’s faculty liaison and recruitment team, Mr. Chandler worked to increase the diversity of the school’s teachers and staff, while collaborating with school leadership to cultivate a more inclusive environment.

Founding Lead Teacher, Mr. Michael Gong 

An experienced teacher, Mr. Gong recently served as a secondary science teacher at Dayton Early College Academy in Dayton, OH. Prior to that, he worked as a science teacher at Lincoln-West School of Global Studies in Cleveland, OH where he also coached varsity soccer and basketball. He earned a Master of Education in educational leadership from the University of Cincinnati and a Bachelor of Science in biology from John Carroll University. In 2012, while at John Carroll, he co-founded The Carroll Ballers, an organization that empowers youth involved in the juvenile justice system through building positive relationships using the game of basketball and an originally developed mentoring curriculum.

Director of Finance and Administration, Ms. Ronnise Handy

Ms. Handy is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in government and nonprofit accounting, fiscal management, budgeting, reporting, staff supervision, data analysis, and strategic planning. Her expertise has been instrumental in ensuring financial stability and operational efficiency across various organizations.

Ms. Handy holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Xavier University and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Marketing from Johnson C. Smith University. Her strong educational foundation, combined with years of hands-on experience, allows her to navigate complex financial landscapes with precision and strategic insight.

Beyond her professional achievements, Ms. Handy is deeply committed to community service. She actively volunteers as a member of her Sorority's Board of Directors and serves on the Archdiocese's Pastoral Council. Additionally, she has contributed her financial expertise as a volunteer treasurer and advisor for multiple nonprofit organizations.

Director of Advancement, Mr. Joseph F. Feldkamp

Joe Feldkamp is a seasoned sales and marketing executive 25+ years of experience. His professional experience includes sales and sales enablement, media buying, digital, print and email marketing, channel management, large account management, global account management, operations management, and executive leadership. 

Prior to joining Xavier Jesuit Academy, Joe was Senior manager of Marketing Communications for Clopay, Inc., the largest manufacturer of Garage doors and commercial doors in North America. In that role, he was responsible for all aspects of marketing and partner management including digital marketing, event planning, content development, marketing analytics and reporting and sales automation. In addition, he has worked in sales and marketing leadership, for himself and others, in a wide variety of industries including Banking, Communications, Customer Care, Finance and Technology.

Joe makes his home in Cincinnati, Ohio where he lives with Amy, his wife, and occasionally, one or more of their three adult-aged children.