Timeless Treasures By S. Judith Metz
S.
Adele Clifford’s portrait, created by S. Augusta Zimmer, confirms the testimonies of her colleagues. One spoke of her as “a woman of keen intelligence, remarkable ability, and thorough dedication to her vocation and profession: a woman of faith, of prayer; a woman of action and courage, shrouded in apparent meekness and gentleness.” A Sister-companion called her “a true friend, gentle, concerned for everyone she met, and gracious to all.” Another described her as “quietly, unobtrusively, meekly, courteously – as on tiptoe – she went through life.” S. Adele did live an unobtrusive life until she was thrust into the spotlight by succeeding S. Maria Corona Molloy as president of the College of Mount St. Joseph at the age of 61. Educated by the Sisters of Charity at St. Mary’s Elementary and High School in Chillicothe, Ohio, Mary Clifford then attended a year at the College of Mount St. Joseph before entering the Community in 1925. She spent her early years teaching at schools in Cincinnati, Cleveland, S. Adele Clifford’s portrait hangs in the Clifford Room of the Seton Center at Mount St. Joseph Springfield in Ohio, and Royal Oak, Michigan, University. before teaching mathematics at Mount St. Joseph On the academic side, S. Adele oversaw major curriculum Academy. In 1942 S. Adele joined the faculty of the changes, appointed a director of continuing education, and College of Mount St. Joseph where her students admired and approved the establishment of degree programs in religious sought to emulate her “highly professional teaching,” and studies and early childhood education. Looking to the future, credited her with having a great effect on their own careers. she approved the installation of a computer terminal facility All the while she was pursuing an undergraduate degree in that provided all students with the option of learning basic mathematics, and advanced degrees in biology from Fordham computer programming. University in New York. She also did post-doctoral research at Woods Hole Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, After five years in the president’s office, S. Adele was ready Massachusetts. to return to her beloved biology lab. When asked what she would do on her last day as president in 1972, she replied, Appointed president of the college in 1967, S. Adele “I think I’ll probably get up from my desk, walk out the assumed leadership in an era of student unrest, spiraling door, and close it very slowing behind me.” Her response expenses, and declining enrollment for many private liberal exemplifies a tribute written at the time of her death, when arts colleges and universities. Helping the college meet these challenges, she appointed the Mount’s first lay academic dean, retired professor Thomas Seibert said of her, “She always seemed independent of the positions she held and of the and reorganized the admissions staff. In addition, she set successes she achieved. … She was unfailingly kind, always new directions in financial management, formed a tri-partite willing to listen to other people, always genuine in her council of student-faculty-administration to advise her in support and positive in her suggestions – and of course, setting directions for the college, and established an associate always ready with a smile.” board of lay trustees.
VOLUME I, 2020
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