HM History & Heritage: Sister Carol Anne Smith, H.M.

Sister Carol Anne Smith, H.M.

Principal, 1981-1988, President, 2007-2013

Article by Mary Cay Doherty, School Archivist and Social Studies Faculty Member

Sister Carol Anne Smith, Magnificat’s fifth principal and second president, is a faith-filled, servant leader who has embodied Magnificat’s Mission throughout her ministries in education and healthcare governance.

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, on July 18, 1948, Sister Carol Anne is the oldest daughter of William and Anne Marie (Scharf) Smith’s seven children. After graduating from Lourdes Academy in 1966, she entered the Sisters of the Humility of Mary and professed final vows on July 14, 1974.

She began her ministry as a high school English and theology teacher. Soon, however, she was called to use her leadership gifts to champion Catholic education at Magnificat and throughout the Cleveland Diocese.

Sister Carol Anne is a truly visionary leader. Her legacy at Magnificat High School is deep and profound in its proportions.

—President Moira Clark '77

First as principal and later as president, Sister Carol Anne led initiatives that strengthened Magnificat. During her principalship from 1981 until 1988, Magnificat held its first capital campaign, won the Exemplary Private School award, and became incorporated and governed by a lay board of directors.

When she returned to Magnificat to serve as president from 2007 to 2013, Sister Carol Anne expanded the school’s leadership to promote collaborative and visionary approaches that advanced Magnificat’s Mission. Deans of faculty and academics and student life and formation replaced the principal role, and the school’s vice presidents formed a leadership team.

Marilyn Knox Arundel ’76, the first dean of faculty and academics, recalls, “It was [Sister Carol Anne’s] encouragement and faith in me that empowered me to accept the position. I soon recognized the incredible blessing it was to have Sister Carol Anne as a mentor."

Sister Carol Anne’s strategic planning also enhanced Magnificat’s academic and spiritual life. The $5 million Surround Learning capital campaign elevated student learning through 21st century educational programming and architectural investments, and endowment funding secured enduring support for Campus Ministry programs that were key to the school’s Catholic identity.

Within the HM Community, Sister Carol Anne served on the leadership team from 1985 until 1993. She was re-elected to the leadership team in 2017, and since 2021, she has served as the community’s pastoral leader.

From 1992 until 2006, Sister Carol Anne oversaw Catholic education in the Cleveland Diocese as the Bishop’s secretary for education and superintendent of Catholic schools, and later as secretary for education and catechesis. In 2003, the National Catholic Education Association (NCEA) recognized Sister Carol Anne for her work to establish the Cleveland Diocese’s Cleveland Scholarship and Tutoring Program. This inaugural Ohio voucher program made Catholic education accessible to Cleveland City School students. During these years, Sister Carol Anne also served on the CACE (Chief Administrators of Catholic Education) Executive Committee and the NCEA National Research Board.

At the Bishop’s request, Sister Carol Anne pivoted to serve as the executive director of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland Foundation from 2006 to 2007. There she managed its then-assets of over $85 million.

Sister Carol Anne has generously shared her talents by serving on many local and national education and healthcare boards. Most notably, she has served on the Board of Directors of Bon Secours Mercy Health, which is the fifth largest Catholic Healthcare system in the nation and chaired the Bon Secours Mercy Ministries (PJP) Board.

Sister Carol Anne commented, “Whatever the fruits of my time in various leadership roles, credit goes to the faith-filled, committed, and innumerable lay and religious partners with whom I have had the privilege to serve.”

In 2016, Sister Carol Anne became a certified spiritual director. Her deep faith is further enriched as she journeys with others.

Today, Sister Carol Anne continues to answer God’s call as she shares her gifts with her current ministries. They, and we, benefit tremendously from her vision, leadership, and faith.