STUDY ABROAD

Holy Family’s Study

Abroad group in Costa Rica learned how to press sugar cane.

Holy Family In Costa Rica

In March, Holy Family students experienced the latest of the University’s Study Abroad trips when they visited Costa Rica. The nine-day experience was led by Shelley Robbins, vice president for Academic Affairs. The excursion included visits to Tortuguero - a village only accessible by boat or plane - rainforest tours, whitewater rafting, and a hike to La Fortuna Waterfall, a 200-foot cascade surrounded by green cliffs.

Holy Family’s next Study Abroad trip will be to Italy in May and is open to the University community. For more information, visit holyfamily.edu/studyabroad

ADVANCING HOLY FAMILY: WENDY K. PARSONS, CFRE

IN JANUARY, HOLY FAMILY UNIVERSITY WELCOMED THE ARRIVAL OF WENDY

K. PARSONS, CFRE as the University’s vice president for Advancement. Wendy brings extensive experience in institutional advancement to Holy Family and is charged with leading the University’s fundraising efforts in support of its ambitious strategic plan.

HFU: Some readers may be unfamiliar with the role of institutional advancement. What is your philosophy on the role that advancement plays in a University and how do you envision its role at Holy Family?

WP: First, I want to share how excited I am to join President Anne Prisco and my colleagues in this leadership role and to serve the alumni community of Holy Family University.

I’ve been fortunate to have enjoyed a very rewarding career as an advancement professional — a professional, by the way, that I champion and always mentor students and alumni to consider pursuing. It is a mission-driven profession. Everything we do in Advancement is done to engage with our alumni, friends, parents, leaders of business, and our wider community to advance the mission and good work of our institution. And the mission of higher education is especially inspiring and compelling — we are all familiar with the data that shows how a college education has a transformative and positive effect on people’s lives — enabling them to build careers and contribute to their families, communities, and society. It is a social good of the highest order.

For me, joining Holy Family is an incredible privilege — to serve our alumni and to work on behalf of Holy Family’s mission as a leading Catholic institution in our region, one that provides a values-based, high-quality, and affordable education that matters — an education that prepares people for success in their careers and lives.

The focus of our work in University Advancement is to build rewarding and mutually-enriching relationships with our alumni, parents, and friends and to increase understanding, appreciation, and philanthropic support for the mission of the University.

HFU: What were some of your first impressions of Holy Family University?

WP: When I first moved to Philadelphia 30 years ago, my husband and I lived in the Fox Chase section of Northeast Philadelphia, and I remember meeting graduates of Holy Family and learning how much they valued their Holy Family education and how highly they spoke about their experience — something I found again and again over the years, whenever I met a Holy Family graduate. When I was working at Saint Joseph’s University in the 1990s, my impressions of Holy Family were informed by the high regard so many held for Sister Francesca Onley, who was such an inspiring leader and powerful advocate for Catholic higher education in our region and country as president of Holy Family. Another first impression relates to my own roots in Chicago. When the Foundress of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, Frances Siedliska, Blessed Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd, came to America in the late 1890s, with her small, dedicated band of sisters, they first settled in Chicago. Over the years, they established and grew thriving ministries in education and healthcare, not only in Chicago but around the country. I smile now remembering my early years growing up very near the motherhouse of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth and Holy Family Hospital in Des Plaines, Ill.

HFU: The Charism of Family has been central to the University. Can you talk about the value of family and how you envision this playing a role in your work as VP for Advancement?

WP: For me, charism means gift. Everything we do at Holy Family is informed by this charism of Family which is the gift of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth to our community. And this gift continues to enliven our community of students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents, and friends. Our Holy Family community thrives because we do strive to create an experience of family here, to create spaces where people feel accepted, where the diverse voices that make up the rich tapestry of our university can be heard, and where people can experience a connection with each other and a sense of belonging.

For our Holy Family alumni community, we strive to bring this Charism of Family into all of our programs. In working with our Alumni Association and other alumni groups, I hope that we will create even greater opportunities for alumni to engage with fellow alumni, current students, and the Holy Family community in ways that are mutually beneficial and that deepen the connection our alumni feel with their alma mater.

HFU: How will your efforts help the University to realize its strategic plan?

WP: This is a very exciting time for Holy Family University. Dr. Prisco has a dynamic vision for moving the University forward. To fulfill that vision, the Strategic Plan outlines pillars of excellence and distinction that enable us to undertake initiatives that will touch every aspect of the Holy Family educational experience for our students.

In Advancement, we are working now with University leadership to build a case for support that identifies the funding initiatives that will help fuel President Prisco’s vision and the University’s Strategic Plan. We intend to share this case for support with our alumni and friends and to invite our entire community to partner with us in creating a robust and vibrant future for Holy Family.

HFU: Do you have a message to share as you begin your new role at Holy Family?

WP: We are really blessed to have such amazing and loyal alumni at Holy Family. I’m looking forward to meeting many more of our alumni, getting to know them, and learning how they are living out the values of their Holy Family education in their lives and careers and helping new generations of students to thrive and serve.

RECENT GRANTS OF NOTE

$127,033 NURSES FOR TOMORROW SCHOLARSHIP GRANT INDEPENDENCE BLUE CROSS FOUNDATION

$40,000

HOLY FAMILY'S TITLE IX OFFICE AND INITIATIVES IT'S ON US , OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR OF PENNSYLVANIA

$30,000

HEALTHCARE SCHOLARS PROGRAM INDEPENDENCE BLUE CRO SS FOUNDATION

$20,000 SMOKE AND VAPE FREE CAMPUS TRUTH INITIATIVE

$5,000 ACADEMIC RESEARCH ASSOCIATION FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE

$4,000 LINDBACK DISTINGUISHED TEACHING AWARD