Actions Not Words Our Voices, Our Paths

Rosemont College is blessed with a mission and values that are rooted in the life and teachings of Cornelia Connelly and exemplified by the Society of the Holy Child Jesus. For more than 100 years, Rosemont has fostered a joyous learning community, inspiring students, faculty, staff, and alumni to serve others to meet the wants and needs of the age.

As part of our Centennial year of celebration, we spoke with nine accomplished and diverse alumni who shared their personal stories of how Rosemont College’s mission and values have shaped their chosen path in life. Please join us in listening to their reflections about Rosemont’s spirit, how they felt seen and heard in a learning community where professors fostered independent thinking and personal growth, and what it has meant to be part of a caring and supportive community imbued with respect for each person while building friendships that have endured long after graduation.

Note that the following interviews were recorded via Zoom during the Centennial year.

Waynetta Faust ’12

2012: BS Philosophy and Political Science, Undergraduate College 2021: MS Nonprofit Leadership, LaSalle University Benefits Analyst, Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP

“Being among a community of learners helped me to step outside my comfort zone, especially when deciding which courses to take. And for me, being at Rosemont meant a constant cycle of not only learning for myself but also supporting others in their journey of learning.”

David Potter ’18, ’20

2018: BS Criminal Justice School of Graduate and Professional Studies 2020: MA Homeland Security and Emergency Management, School of Graduate and Professional Studies Lieutenant, Advanced Training Unit, Philadelphia Police Department

“The staff and faculty at Rosemont College made sure that they pushed you in the right direction. And they maintained a high level of motivation.”

Shakira Hansley ’11

2011: BS Forensic Sociology Undergraduate College 2017: JD University of the District of Columbia – The David A. Clarke School of Law Case Supervisor CASA Youth Advocates, Inc.

“To me, human rights is synonymous with human dignity, and justice means righteousness, equity, being unbiased, and treating everyone with respect.”

Kathleen Mullan Rotondaro ’65

1965: BA French Undergraduate College Co-founder and President (retired), Quadel Consulting Corporation

“Of all the things that I wanted to do that would help anybody, I felt like housing was a basic need and that, for the dignity of every person, they deserved a place to live.”

Parveen S. Vahora, MD, FACOG ’96

1996: BA Honors Liberal Arts Undergraduate College 2020: MD Drexel University College of Medicine Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency, Drexel University Laparoscopy and Pelvic Surgery Fellowship, Celebration Health, Florida Physician

“Rosemont was a great learning laboratory for me. It provided the support for us to grow into our voices and it gave us l ots of opportunity and options.”

Brianne Wetzel ’05

2005: BA History Undergraduate College 2007: MEd Democracy, Diversity and Social Justice, Trinity University 2013: MA Educational Administration, University of Notre Dame Head of School, The Washington School for Girls

“The seeds of social justice started to grow in me at Rosemont … what is just, what is right, and what I can do to impact the world. I have the ability to make a difference.”

Raveen James ’08

2008: BS Business Management School of Graduate and Professional Studies Clinical Lead, Pfizer Founder, Beautiful Blessings iamabeautifulblessing.com

“I had professors who really embodied a culture of caring about people. They were kind and wanted you to succeed. It was the camaraderie. You aren’t just a number. You get identity.”

Maureen Rover ‘65

1965: BS Mathematics Undergraduate College Founder, Chairman and President (retired), The Reading Team, Inc., Harlem, NY readingteam.org

“There is nothing better than the Rosemont experience to prepare for the life God has in mind for us.”

Winifred Wolfe, MD, ’12

2012: BS Biology Undergraduate College 2017: MD Drexel University College of Medicine Psychiatry Resident, University of Virginia Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellow, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital

“We were able to learn from each other. And I think that kind of positive and collaborative environment made the learning space a positive experience and helped with overcoming certain challenges.”

Join us on Saturday, April 30, 2022 6:00 – 11:00 pm The Bellevue Hotel, Philadelphia

You won’t want to miss this elegant celebration of Rosemont’s Centennial Year. Planned by the Centennial Celebration Sub-Committee, this festive evening will not disappoint. The Gala of the Century will take place at the historic Bellevue Hotel, located at 200 South Broad Street, in Philadelphia. The evening will include an open bar, a cocktail hour, three-course dinner, and dancing with music from the band, Imagine.

Overnight accommodations are available at a special rate of $269 per night by calling The Bellevue Hotel at (877) 803-7534. This special rate is available until April 9, or when the room block is full, so make sure to reserve your room soon and mention Rosemont College! You can also make your reservation online. Parking is onsite at the Bellevue. And, don’t forget to keep the party going at XIX at the top of The Bellevue once the Gala ends. We can’t wait to see you there!

Additional overnight accommodations are available at DoubleTree by Hilton, 237 South Broad Street, located across the street from The Bellevue. Their special rate for Rosemont College is $199 per night. Reserve your room by calling (800) 222-8733 or book online. The special rate at the DoubleTree is available until March 31, or when the room block is full.

To purchase tickets, please click here or call Rosemont College’s Office of Institutional Advancement at 610-527-0200, ext. 2274.

Is your Rosemont prom or formal the last time you got all dressed up for a night out?

Well, then, dust off your dancing shoes and learn some new moves—the “chacha slide” stopped being cool a long time ago—because we’re hosting a Gala of the Century, and you’re invited!

Founded 1921