I N S TA L L AT I O N M A S S for
SUS AN R . BURNS, PH.D. AS PRESIDENT OF THE COLLEGE OF MOUNT SAINT VINCENT
SU ND AY, O C TOBER 17, 2021
m i s s i o n s tat e m e n t Founded by the Sisters of Charity of New York, the College of Mount Saint Vincent is an academically excellent, authentically inclusive, independent liberal arts college. Committed to the Vincentian/Setonian tradition and to ecumenism, the College combines a strong undergraduate core curriculum with a full array of majors in the liberal arts and, within the tradition of liberal education, selected professional fields of study. The College also provides high quality opportunities for professional advancement, accomplishment, and service through graduate and certificate programs. At Mount Saint Vincent, a student’s education extends beyond knowledge, skills, and preparation for work. We seek the development of the whole person. In the spirit of Vincent de Paul and Elizabeth Ann Seton, we foster an understanding of our common humanity, a commitment to human dignity, and a full appreciation of our obligations to each other.
s u s a n r . b u r ns, p h .d. Dr. Susan R. Burns began her tenure as the sixth president of the College of Mount Saint Vincent in January 2021. Embodying a deep-seated commitment to the liberal arts and its inherent promise to provide access to an authentic, high-quality education to talented students of every background, Dr. Burns has dedicated herself to the common good, Vincentian service, and the Catholic intellectual tradition. An extraordinarily effective and collaborative leader, Dr. Burns came to the College of Mount Saint Vincent from Clarke University in Dubuque, Iowa, where she served as Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty. Prior to this position, Dr. Burns served as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at Morningside College. At Morningside, she also taught psychology and statistics, holding the rank of full professor with tenure. A psychologist, Dr. Burns remains active in her field of study. Her career and scholarly engagements have involved collaboration with colleagues in other disciplines to engage students in research projects resulting in presentations at local, regional, and national conferences, as well as publication in professional outlets. A prominent advocate for student success and undergraduate research, she has sponsored student publications in the Psi Chi Journal and the Journal of Psychological Inquiry. Dr. Burns is widely published, authoring numerous articles and research papers for peer-reviewed journals, as well as several books and book chapters. She has co-authored a textbook titled Human Relations for the Educator: Meeting the Challenges of Today and Tomorrow, now in a second edition, and she most recently authored a textbook titled Psychology of Sex and Gender, a text designed for courses in gender, gender issues, the psychology of women or men, and sex roles, as well as sociology and anthropology courses on diversity. The recipient of several academic and leadership awards, Dr. Burns was selected twice for the Morningside College Sharon Walker Faculty Excellence Award, received the American Association of University Women Iowa Chapter Distinguished Faculty Award, and was named the Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Society Faculty Person of the Year. She has also served on many community and professional organizations, including the Association for Psychological Science and the Society for the Teaching of Psychology. She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in experimental psychology from Emporia State University and her Ph.D. in social/personality psychology with an emphasis in child development from Kansas State University.
about the college Located on a sprawling 70-acre campus overlooking the Hudson River in Riverdale, New York, Mount Saint Vincent is among the five oldest colleges—and was the first institution of higher learning for women—in New York City. Today, the Mount has a coeducational student body, comprised of 1,850 undergraduates as well as graduate and adult students, rich in ethnic, cultural, and religious diversity. It continues to offer an education of academic excellence in the Catholic tradition. Offering more than 70 nationally recognized undergraduate and graduate programs— including a full array of majors, minors, and concentrations in the sciences and mathematics, the humanities, arts, and social sciences, and professional preparation in accounting, business, communication, education, and nursing—the College is an American Dream institution. We know that only education can turn talent into opportunity. Since its founding in 1847, the College has sought to expand educational opportunity. It serves a diverse population of students, half of whom are among the first generation of their families to pursue higher education. In the last academic year, Mount Saint Vincent awarded scholarships cumulatively valued in excess of $37,000,000. For students from middle class backgrounds, these awards alleviate the challenges they and their families face. For a great many others, these awards make real the possibility of enhancing their lives and pursuing their potential through higher education. An engine for social and economic mobility, the Mount is one of the most transformative colleges and universities in the United States. A study of upward mobility conducted by the University of California at Berkeley, Stanford University, and the United States Department of the Treasury ranked the College third among the nation’s 578 selective independent colleges and universities. That means Mount students experience greater upward mobility than the graduates of all but two colleges and universities across the country. It’s no surprise that the Mount continues to be a top performer—from Money to The Wall Street Journal and U.S. News & World Report to The Chronicle of Higher Education, the College is consistently recognized among the best in the nation for its commitment to extraordinary student success. At the College of Mount Saint Vincent, students are part of an academic community supportive enough to make success a reality. We cultivate independent thinkers ready to apply critical inquiry toward lives of leadership, service, and innovation. Every field of study and opportunity in and outside the classroom emphasizes analytical skills; critical thinking; clear persuasive communication; and moral and religious thought—the essentials for success in every profession. What students learn at the Mount stays with them long after they graduate. Here, education prepares students for a life well-lived. Welcome to the Right Place on the River.
greetings from the Board of Trustees
Dear Friends and Colleagues, The Board of Trustees is delighted to welcome you to this important day in the history of the College of Mount Saint Vincent. Today’s celebration has been long in the making. The Trustees began their work to identify the College’s sixth president more than two years ago. At that time, we knew the College needed a leader who would define a vision to capitalize on the sustained growth, academic quality, and fiscal stability the institution had realized in the preceding decades, and one who would creatively and collaboratively expand the Mount’s reach through new initiatives and partnerships. Most significant, the Trustees knew the sixth president must authentically live the College’s mission and know how to ensure its defining values in changing times. Intervening global and national events since the summer of 2019 compounded the need to identify a true servant leader. Susan R. Burns, Ph.D. embodies academic excellence and leadership, as well as a deepseated commitment to the liberal arts and educational access. She is a skilled administrator, accomplished researcher, and gifted teacher—recognized for her devotion to preparing students for achievement, lifelong learning, and civic responsibility. Dedicated to the common good, Vincentian service, and the Catholic intellectual tradition, Dr. Burns’ career in higher education has focused on advancing institutional mission, while creating an environment that fosters the education of the whole person. In Dr. Burns we have found the best leader for the College and this moment—ably navigating us through this unprecedented and transformative time. As she indicated during her first week in office, the challenges facing our communities, nation, and world should not daunt this institution—in fact, the need is greater than ever before for the excellent mission-driven education that we offer at the College of Mount Saint Vincent, which in the spirit of Vincent de Paul and Elizabeth Ann Seton, fosters an understanding of our common humanity, a commitment to human dignity, and a full appreciation of our obligations to each other. Your presence here today recognizes the vitality and enduring significance of the College and its mission, as well as its promising future. Thank you for being here, and for all you will contribute to the College’s success in the years to come. Sincerely,
Steven M. Hayes Chair, Board of Trustees
board of tr ustees CHAIR
Steven M. Hayes Steven M. Hayes PC Stefano Acunto, Secretary CINN Group, Inc.
Peter D. DeNunzio HelloWorld
Stephen A. Manzi The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Paula Marie Buley, I.H.M. Rivier University
Susan Chiaviello DiDonato ’82 WPP
Maura A. Markus
Susan R. Burns, Ph.D. College of Mount Saint Vincent
Donna Dodge, S.C. ’71, Vice Chair Sisters of Charity of New York
John F. Caruso ’82 Vita A. Cassese ’70 Mardon Management Advisors Gail Vance Civille ’65 Sensory Spectrum, Inc. Cristóbal Conde Brenda Crandell Meister Seelig & Fein LLP Noreen M. Culhane ’72 Retired, EVP NYSE Euronext Regina S. Cunningham ’82 Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Cathy-Ann Martine Dolecki ’80 Retired, AT&T Deborah Hamilton Hamilton Advisors, Inc. Maureen A. Henegan ’78 Henegan Construction Anita Palmieri Kerr ’70 I. Dolly Lenz Dolly Lenz Real Estate Robert Lorenzo Eden Roc Capital Mary Beth Malone ’75 JP Morgan Chase Bank
Steven Menzies Applied Underwriters Paul W. Mourning Cowell & Moring LLP Pamela J. Newman PJN Strategies LLC Margaret O’Brien, S.C. ’69 Sisters of Charity of New York Dominica Rocchio, S.C. Sisters of Charity of New York Elizabeth Vermaelen, S.C. ’60 Joan D. Walsh ’81 Kashbox Coaching Susan L. Whitney ’72 Retired, IBM
TRUSTEES EMERITI Rosemary T. Berkery ’75 James J. Campbell Leake & Watts Services, Inc. Jean Ames DeNunzio ’55†
Patrick P. Grace MLP Capital, Inc. Valerie E. Mastronardi ’61 Raul Rivera National Benefit Life Insurance Company
Deryck A. Palmer H. Gerard Seitz Satterlee Stephens LLP Joan M. Squires ’73 Mutual of America † Indicates deceased.
administrative leadership of the College
Lynne A. Bongiovanni, Ph.D. Provost Dean of the College Associate Professor of English Abed Elkeshk Senior Executive Vice President and Treasurer Madeleine Melkonian Senior Vice President for Enrollment and External Relations James Burkee, Ph.D. Vice President for Strategic Initiatives Professor of Humanities Kevin DeGroat Vice President for Operations Kelli Smith Vice President for Student Affairs W. Adam Wichern III Vice President for Information and Technology
ac ademic procession Mace-bearer Sisters of Charity of New York Leadership Council Student Government Association Executive Board Executive Board of the Alumnae/Alumni Association Representatives of Professional Societies and Organizations Delegates from Colleges and Universities Faculty of the College of Mount Saint Vincent Administrative Leadership of the College Trustees of the College of Mount Saint Vincent President of the Sisters of Charity of New York and Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees Chair of the Board of Trustees President of the College of Mount Saint Vincent
Liturgical Procession
I N S TA L L AT I O N MASS for
SUS AN R . BURNS, PH.D. AS THE SIXTH PRESIDENT OF THE COLLEGE OF MOUNT SAINT VINCENT
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2021 • 11:00 AM
Chapel of the Immaculate Conception
celebrant & homilist Rev. Dennis H. Holtschneider, C.M., Ed.D. President, Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities
LECTORS Victor Huitzil ’25 Megan Neiswenter ’23 PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL Stefano Acunto on behalf of the trustees Amanda Solano ’22 on behalf of the students Peggy Steffan ’65 on behalf of the alumnae/i Eileen Fagan, S.C, Ph.D. ’70 on behalf of the faculty Robert Williams ’11 on behalf of the employees Lynne A. Bongiovanni, Ph.D. on behalf of the administration Margaret O’Brien, S.C. ’69 on behalf of the Sisters of Charity of New York GIFT BEARERS Jane Iannucelli, S.C. ’62 Dominica Rocchio, S.C. Elizabeth Vermaelen, S.C., ’60 CANTOR Abigail Burns MUSICIANS & ACCOMPANISTS Mark Broschinsky, Isabella Burns, Noah Burns, Samuel Fujii, Matt Gasiorowski, Michael Gorham, Jared Lamenzo, Aleks Ozolins, James Rodgers, and Yousif Sheronick
ORDER OF MASS Gathering Hymn Sing a New Church Delores Dufner, OSB; additional verses by Regina Bechtle, S.C. Summoned by the God who made us rich in our diversity, Gathered in the name of Jesus, richer still in unity. Refrain: Let us bring the gifts that differ, and in splendid, varied ways, Sing a new church into being, one in faith and love and praise. Radiant risen from the water, robed in holiness and light, Male and female in God’s image, male and female, God’s delight. (Refrain) Trust the goodness of creation, trust the Spirit strong within, Dare to dream the vision promised, sprung from seed of what has been. (Refrain) Bring the hopes of every nation, bring the art of every race, Weave a song of peace and justice; Let it sound through time and space. (Refrain) Draw together at one table all the human family; Shape a circle ever wider and a people ever free. (Refrain) Love abounding, love impelling, love our story and our name; now and always, Christ invites us, lighting Charity’s new flame. (Refrain) May the light of Love unending shine with glory on each face; May the charity of Jesus lead us on to meet our grace! (Refrain) The Introductory Rites The Liturgy of the Word First Reading
Isaiah 53:2-11
Responsorial Psalm Response: Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
Psalm 33
Hebrews 4:14-16
Gospel
Mark 10:35-45
Second Reading Gospel Acclamation Alleluia, Alleluia
Homily Prayer of the Faithful Response: Lord, hear our prayer.
Presentation of the Altar and Gifts Offertory Hymn Christ Be Our Light Longing for light, we wait in darkness Longing for truth, we turn to You. Make us Your own, Your holy people Light for the world to see. Refrain: Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts. Shine through the darkness. Christ, be our light! Shine in Your church gathered today. Longing for peace, our world is troubled Longing for hope, many despair. Your word alone has pow’r to save us. Make us your living voice. (Refrain) Longing for food, many are hungry Longing for water, many still thirst. Make us Your bread, broken for others Shared until all are fed. (Refrain) Longing for shelter, many are homeless Longing for warmth, many are cold. Make us Your building, sheltering others Walls made of living stone. (Refrain) Many the gift, many the people Many the hearts that yearn to belong. Let us be servants to one another Making Your kingdom come. (Refrain) Eucharistic Prayers Communion Rite The Lamb of God Communion
Bernadette Farrell
Communion Hymn I am the Bread of Life I am the bread of life. He who comes to me shall not hunger; he who believes in me shall not thirst. No one can come to me unless the Father beckons. Refrain: And I will raise him up, and I will raise him up, and I will raise him up on the last day. The bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world, and he who eats of this bread, he shall live forever, he shall live forever. (Refrain) Unless you eat of the flesh of the Son of Man and drink of his blood, and drink of his blood, you shall not have life within you. (Refrain) I am the resurrection, I am the life. He who believes in me even if he die, he shall live forever. (Refrain) Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who has come into the world. (Refrain) Prayer after Communion
Suzanne Toolan
INVESTITURE OF THE PRESIDENT Musical Selection Servant Song Performed by Abigail Burns, Isabella Burns, and Noah Burns
D. McGargill
Induction Steven M. Hayes Chair of the Board of Trustees Donna Dodge, S.C. President of Sisters of Charity of New York and Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees Acceptance of Office Susan R. Burns, Ph.D. Alma Mater The White and The Gold
Sr. Marie Paula Duffy and Julia Ross Lewis
All hail! Alma Mater, thy children sing thy praise, Thy banner of gold and white in glory we raise, And though in the years to come, with thee we may not be, Our hearts are thine fore’er, our dear old M.S.V. Chorus: Cheer for the white and the gold, Cheer for the students of old. Cheer for the ones of today, Cheer Alma Mater our stay. Cheer for the white and the gold, Proudly our banners unfold. Long may they wave, stainless and brave! Cheer for the white and the gold. All hail! Alma Mater, thy children sing thy praise. May God guide and guard thee, through all thy length of days, Our love and our loyalty, our aid we pledge to thee, Our hearts shall be with thee, our dear old M.S.V. (Chorus)
Benediction Closing Hymn The God of All Grace
Ricky Manalo, CSP
Refrain: The God of all grace has blessed us this day, All of creation join us in praise; Lifting our voices, lifting our hearts to the glory of God forever! God of power and might, come into our presence this day Strengthen us now with a spirit of faith We gather in your name. (Refrain) God of mercy and truth, who bring us from night into day Nourish our lives with a spirit of hope And shield us from all fear. (Refrain) God of wondrous love, compassion and glory are yours Come fill our hearts with a spirit of love The joy we find in you. (Refrain) All the gifts of the Lord shall flow from the glory of God. Let us proclaim all the wonders we’ve seen Give thanks, rejoice and sing! (Refrain)
delegates from Colleges & Universities
1701 Yale University Sudip Mukherjee Alumnus 1746 Princeton University Robert I. Wolk President, Princeton Association of New York City 1831 New York University Corey A. Blay Adjunct Assistant Professor of Public Service 1839 Loras College Donna Heald, Ph.D. Provost and Academic Dean 1841 Fordham University John Cecero, S.J. Vice President for Mission Integration and Ministry 1841 Manhattanville College Michael Geisler, Ph.D. President 1856 Seton Hall University Daniel Giovinetto Alumnus 1859 St. Francis College Miguel Martinez-Saenz, Ph.D. President
1870 St. John’s University Bernard M. Tracey, C.M. Executive Vice President for Mission 1894 Morningside College John C. Reynders President Christopher L. Spicer, Ph.D. Vice President for Academic Affairs William Deeds, Ph.D. Provost Emeritus 1896 Adelphi University Julie Gallanty Alumna 1898 St. Norbert College Jennifer Bonds-Raacke, Ph.D. Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs 1912 Divine Word College John Szukalski, S.V.D. Vice President for Academic Affairs 1921 Robert Morris University Amjad Ali, D.Sc. Dean 1932 Vaughn College Sharon DeVivo, Ed.D. President
1933 Monmouth University Patrick Leahy, Ph.D. President 1933 Rivier University Paula Marie Buley, I.H.M., Ed.D. President Trustee, College of Mount Saint Vincent 1937 Siena College Gerald DeFrancisco, D.P.S. Distinguished Civic Leader in Residence and Alumnus 1940 Iona College Robert Novak, C.F.C., Ph.D. Professor Emeritus of Physics 1942 Fairfield University Marie Smith Alumna 1952 Dominican College Patty Furlong, D.N.P. Assistant Professor of Nursing Alumna, College of Mount Saint Vincent 1955 Molloy College James P. Lentini, D.M.A. President
REPRESENTATIVES OF PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS & SOCIETIES Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities Dennis H. Holtscheider, C.M., Ed.D. President
Commission of Independent Colleges and Universities Lola W. Brabham President
greetings & citations The Honorable Kathy Hochul Governor of New York Charles L. Flynn, Jr., Ph.D. Fifth President of the College of Mount Saint Vincent President Emeritus Mary C. Stuart, Ph.D. Fourth President of the College of Mount Saint Vincent
Adelphi University New York
D’Youville College New York
Lafayette College Pennsylvania
Alfred University New York
Franklin & Marshall College Pennsylvania
Lewis University Illinois
Alvernia University Pennsylvania
Gettysburg College Pennsylvania
Lourdes University Ohio
Bryant University Rhode Island
Hartwick College New York
Loyola Marymount University California
Cazenovia College New York
Hilbert College New York
Loyola University Illinois
Chaminade University Hawaii
Holy Family University Pennsylvania
Manor College Pennsylvania
College of Our Lady of the Elms Massachusetts
Iona College New York
Marymount Manhattan College New York
La Roche University Pennsylvania
Marymount University Virginia
DePaul University Illinois
Mercy College New York
Rockhurst University Missouri
The College of Saint Scholastica Minnesota
Molloy College New York
Saint Anselm College New Hampshire
The University of Scranton Pennsylvania
Mount Marty University South Dakota
Saint John’s University Minnesota
Thomas More University Kentucky
Mount Saint Mary College New York
Saint Joseph’s College of Maine Maine
Transylvania University Kentucky
Mount St. Mary’s University Maryland National Collegiate Athletic Association Indiana New York Institute of Technology New York Providence College Rhode Island Quinnipiac University Connecticut Rider University New Jersey Robert Morris University Pennsylvania Roberts Wesleyan College New York
Saint Mary of the Woods College Indiana Saint Vincent College Pennsylvania Seattle University Washington Seton Hall University New Jersey Seton Hill University Pennsylvania St. Ambrose University Iowa St. Bonaventure University New York The Catholic University of America Washington, D.C.
University of Saint Joseph Connecticut University of St. Thomas Minnesota University of St. Thomas Texas Villanova University Pennsylvania Viterbo University Wisconsin Walsh University Ohio Washburn University Kansas West Chester University Pennsylvania
past presidents of the College of Mount Saint Vincent
From 1911, when Mount Saint Vincent’s charter was revised to award bachelor’s degrees by the Regents of the University of the State of New York, until 1956, the daily administration of the College was led by successive Sisters of Charity of New York with the title Dean of the College, beginning with Sister Mary Ambrose Dunphy. During that time, the Archbishop of New York was bestowed the title of President/Chancellor.
Sister Catharine Marie O’Brien, S.C. 1956-1963 Sister Mary David Barry, S.C. 1963-1973 Sister Doris Smith, S.C. 1973-1992 Mary C. Stuart, Ph.D. 1993-2000 Charles L. Flynn, Jr., Ph.D. 2000-2020 President Emeritus
traditions & symbolism SYMBOLS OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE COLLEGE OF MOUNT SAINT VINCENT When presiding at academic ceremonies, the President of the College of Mount Saint Vincent wears a cream-colored robe, based on the traditional doctoral gown, with four black velvet chevrons trimmed in gold on each sleeve. The four chevrons are an element used only on presidential regalia. The President also dons a doctoral hood lined with white and gold silk, representing the College’s colors. The hood also bears, along the neck, a velvet trim in dark blue, symbolizing the incumbent’s role to advance academic inquiry, scholarship, and learning. Finally, the President wears a medallion, bearing the seal of the institution, emblematic of his or her role as custodian of the seal. The seal of the College of Mount Saint Vincent is circular in form, depicting the light of Christ and states, in Latin, the College motto: “teach me goodness and discipline and knowledge.” The medallion is passed from one president to the next, evoking their role as stewards of an enduring mission. THE COLLEGE MACE The Mace, borne by the Marshal, has its origin as a medieval weapon and was a symbol of authority in British Courts. The Mount Saint Vincent Mace is of solid mahogany. Handcrafted by the late John E. Kouba, who served the College as a Professor of Biology for over thirty years, the mace has been carried at commencement and other academic ceremonies since 1969. ACADEMIC REGALIA Academic garb dates from the 12th and 13th centuries, when most students and professors were clerics and had taken at least minor holy orders. The assignment of colors to certain faculties was a much later development and was standardized in the United States in the late 19th century. White was assigned to arts and letters; red, a traditional color of the church, was assigned to theology; green, for herbs, went to medicine; purple, the color of emperors, went to law; and golden yellow, standing for wealth and alchemy, went to the sciences. Because philosophy means love and pursuit of wisdom, in the case of the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), dark blue represents the mastery of the discipline of learning and scholarship in any field for which the degree is conferred rather than in the discipline of philosophy alone. Gowns vary by degree. The bachelor’s gown has pointed sleeves. The master’s gown has oblong sleeves, the rear of which are cut square and the front of which are cut in arcs. Both the bachelor’s and master’s gowns are untrimmed. The doctor’s gown has bell-shaped sleeves and is faced down the front with black velvet. Three bars of velvet cross each sleeve. Often the bars are black, but they may also be in the color distinctive to the discipline in which the degree has been conferred. In all cases, the exterior of the academic hood is black, and the interior is lined with the official color or colors of the institution that conferred the degree (the original showing of the colors). The bachelor’s hood is three feet in length; the master’s is three and one-half feet; and the doctor’s is four feet. The doctor’s hood has panels at the sides. The edges of the hood are velvet, and are two inches, three inches, and five inches for the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctor’s degrees, respectively. The color of this trim is indicative of the subject to which the degree pertains. The mortarboard cap may be made of soft or hard material and, as its name suggests, symbolizes the role of learning in building an individual and shared future. CHAPEL OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION Presidents of the College of Mount Saint Vincent are inaugurated in the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception. Founders Hall was the first building constructed by the Sisters of Charity upon relocating the Academy of Mount Saint Vincent to Riverdale in the 1850s. The Chapel sits at the center of the original facility—its placement was intentional and symbolic, a physical manifestation of the mission entrusted to the institution. More than 160 years later, the Chapel remains a vibrant and central part of the life of the College. Throughout the decades it has hosted matriculation, commencement, and pinning ceremonies, and continues to attract members of the community for Sunday and daily services.