Meet Maggie Pena

Meet Maggie Peña
Assistant Director of Admissions and Awareness
 

Hello Saint Ignatius Alumni,

My name is Maggie Peña, and I am honored to introduce myself as the new Assistant Director of Admissions & Awareness for The Welsh Academy at Saint Ignatius High School.

A Little About Myself:
Since joining The Welsh Academy in 2019 as Family Liaison and Executive Assistant, I have fallen in love with education and witnessed firsthand how it can inspire growth, confidence, and hope in our students. Those first boys taught me what it means to be Men for Others, and they shaped my own purpose and calling.

I grew up right here in Cleveland, just around the corner from Saint Ignatius High School. The building that now houses The Welsh Academy was once home to San Juan Bautista Catholic Church and Parish, which was later known as La Sagrada Familia Catholic Church. This parish was where my family and I spent much of our youth as active parish members. Returning to this space, now filled with the energy and laughter of our students, has been deeply moving and truly life-changing.

My family’s connection to Saint Ignatius runs deep. Growing up so close to the school, my younger brother once thought attending Ignatius was a dream just out of reach—so close, yet it felt so far away. Years later, he achieved that dream, paving the way for the next generation.

My son graduated in 2018, and my nephew followed in 2025, continuing a legacy that began with a hope and a prayer from our own neighborhood. Witnessing the impact of a Saint Ignatius education on their lives inspired me to give back in my own way.

Although my background is in Operations, joining The Welsh Academy presented an opportunity for me to serve and help other families experience the same transformative education that my own family received.

We might be the little school on the corner of W. 32nd, but the energy inside is breathtaking. I believe God has called me to reach students who may not yet know we exist and to open doors for those who dream of something more. There is something powerful about walking through the doors of Kesicki Hall. When guests see our boys learning, growing, and being formed in the Jesuit tradition, they begin to understand the heart of what we do.

I look forward to connecting with many of you as we continue to expand our reach and share the heart and mission of The Welsh Academy with the greater Cleveland community. Please email mpena@ignatius.edu to get in touch with me! I look forward to connecting with all of you.

With gratitude,
Maggie Peña, MBA