The formation of John Paul the Great Catholic University reflects the power of God to harness the invention, voluntary initiative, and moral imagination of the founders, the Board of Trustees and many other advisors and to couple it with the extraordinary generosity of many benefactors to create an institution that seeks to invent the future of Catholic higher education.

The key people in the founding of John Paul the Great Catholic University include:

• Derry and Lidy Connolly, whose 'yes to God' moved the founding vision forward. Both spend many long hours building and providing the glue for JP Catholic.
  
  Two of the 5 Connolly kids attend the University - daughter Joan graduated in the inaugural class.

• Alan and Debbie Lane, whose extraordinary generosity with time, talent and treasure were critical to launching JP Catholic. Above all, the deep love for the Lord and the prayers of the Lane family has been a rock for JP Catholic.
  
  Three of the 5 Lane kids attend the University - son Chris graduated in the inaugural class.

• Paul and Maureen Colucci, whose contributions of time, talent and treasure, along with his living faith and good humor, has provided a cornerstone to JP Catholic.
  

• Dominic and Kate Iocco, whose extraordinary generosity with time, talent and treasure were critical to moving JP Catholic forward after our launch. Their deep love for the Lord motivates everything they do for JP Catholic.

• Tom and CarrieAnn Dunn, whose passion, quiet presence, technical talent and commitment has been always available to JP Catholic and its students.
  

• Michael and Kim Barber, whose zeal, wit, love for the Lord and passion for the mission of JP Catholic has inspiration to all.

• Jerry Jackson and Chris Riley - critical and very committed early faculty. Both were born to teach and are 'gifts from God' to the Institution.

The founding Board of Trustees of John Paul the Great Catholic University included:

• Derry Connolly: President, John Paul the Great Catholic University
• Philippe Dardaine: Owner - La Provence Bakery, San Marcos, CA.
• Wes Fach: Attorney at Law, Poway, CA.
• Scott McKenna: Owner - Gardner Pool Plastering, El Cajon, CA.
• Ed Snow: Owner - TTM Engineering, San Diego, CA.

The founding Board of Trustees, photographed at the Inaugural Gala, from left to right, are: Wes Fach, Philippe Dardaine, Derry Connolly, Ed Snow, and Scott McKenna

The ultimate responsibility for maintaining and strengthening the Catholic identity of the University as well as preserving and safeguarding the founding principles rests, pursuant to the bylaws, with the Board of Trustees. The execution of the Catholic mission must be shared in varying degrees by all members of the University community. This demands the recruitment of ample university personnel, especially faculty and administrators, who are strongly committed, willing and able to promote that identity. All Board of Trustees members shall be practicing Catholics in good-standing with a demonstrated commitment to the magisterial teachings of the Catholic Church and a passionate enthusiasm to the founding vision and mission of the University.