Letter from the Senior Vice President

Dear Alumnae/i and Friends,

The College of Mount Saint Vincent began 2020 anticipating a memorable year. In January, we were planning to celebrate Charles L. Flynn, Jr.’s two decades of visionary leadership. We are indebted and deeply grateful to President Flynn for his extraordinary stewardship of our mission, which enabled the College to flourish during his tenure. His achievements position us for a future of promise and opportunity. We were also looking forward to honoring Mount Trustee Susan Chiaviello DiDonato ’82 and her husband Gerald DiDonato ’83, Ph.D. at the annual Scholarship Tribute Dinner, celebrating the opening of Aquino Hall, and marking the extraordinary success the Ad Lux capital campaign.

These momentous occasions, along with annual rituals commemorating life at the Mount, were foregone in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The absence of these events is, of course, overshadowed by all that has been lost. We mourn the passing of Sr. Patricia McGowan, Ed.D., beloved Professor Emerita of Communication, and John Keanna, Adjunct Professor of Accounting, as well as the alumnae/i and extended members of the Mount community who have been lost to this illness.

The unexpected, however, has also given us new things to celebrate. We can be proud of the skill and good nature demonstrated by students and faculty as they transitioned to remote learning during the spring. We can be proud of staff who, despite the added challenge of distance, found ways to ensure the health, welfare, and education of our students. We can be proud of all the members of this community. From nurses and healthcare providers serving in hospitals and medical facilities, to teachers finding endlessly creative ways to nurture their students, to the many acts of volunteerism, community service, and countless kindnesses, you continue to advance the College’s commitment to the common good.

The outpouring of extraordinary support you all have provided to the College this year underscores all that is special about the Mount. Your overwhelming response to the giving challenge from trustee Cristóbal Conde and his wife Kamaryn pushed the Annual Fund beyond $2.1 million—a full million dollars more than the previous record. Your generosity will ensure the students we serve today do not have their experience or potential stifled by the impact of the pandemic.

While 2020 presents ongoing and unprecedented challenges, they are balanced by the extraordinary gift of this community which sustains and supports our efforts. I thank you for your selfless devotion to this College and to each other as we move forward together.

Sincerely,

Madeleine Melkonian