[1] His father, James Lannon, played football at Creighton University, where he earned a medical degree during the 1930s.
[1] Lannon began his professional career as an admissions counselor at Creighton and honed his educational and administrative skills as an instructor and assistant principal at Marquette University High School, an instructor at Boston College, and an assistant professor at Marquette University.
Lannon also added new residence halls and a parking garage to Saint Joseph's main campus.
The renovation of Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse, which will be called Michael J. Hagan arena when completed, was begun during his tenure.
[7] During Father Lannon's short tenure, the university named its first school, the Heider College of Business due the largest gift in the university's history from Charlie and Mary Heider, achieved record enrollments, created the Provost model which resulted in a more unified and integrated educational experience, and forged a clinical partnership for the Health Sciences Schools and the College of Nursing with what is now called CHI Health.
[9] Creighton's Board of Trustees launched, in April 2014, a search for Lannon's successor and in December 2014, named Daniel S. Hendrickson, SJ, PhD as the prospective president.
[10] Lannon retired, in January 2015 with J. Christopher Bradberry, Dean of the School of Pharmacy and Health Professions, named as interim president,[11] until Fr.