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In the News
ABOVE: William Strecker, Chair of the Board of Trustees, presents Sister Maureen McGarrity, CSFN, ’70, Ph.D.
with the resolution honoring her as President Emerita.
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Sister Maureen McGarrity Named President Emerita
Before the May meeting of the University’s Board of Trustees, William Strecker, Chair, announced that the Board of Trustees wished to honor outgoing
President Sister Maureen McGarrity, CSFN,
’70, Ph.D. for her 45 years of faithful and dedicated service to Holy Family University by bestowing upon her the title of President Emerita upon her retirement from Holy Family University.
The Board’s resolution noted that during her time at the University Sister Maureen had “earned the great admiration and respect of the students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the Board of Trustees,” and that she has “demonstrated an outstanding reverence for and a consistent ability to embody the Mission and Core Values of Holy Family University.”
ABOVE: The Sister Maureen McGarrity, CSFN, Ph.D. Center for Teaching &
Learning was opened by President Sister Maureen McGarrity, CSFN, Ph.D., Michael W. Markowitz, Ph.D. (Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs), Dennis Milan (Director, Center for Academic Enhancement), Shannon Brown ‘99 (Executive Director, Library Services), and Lisa Ratmansky (Executive Director, Center for Teaching & Learning).
On June 30, Holy Family University held the official grand opening of the Center for Teaching & Learning, a new resource hub for students, faculty, and staff. Michael W. Markowitz, Ph.D., Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, unveiled named signage recognizing the service of Sister Maureen McGarrity, CSFN, ‘70, Ph.D. The Sister Maureen McGarrity, CSFN, Ph.D. Center for Teaching & Learning is located on the second level of the Library.
During the event, Lisa Ratmansky, executive director of the Center, discussed the vision for the learning commons and showcased spaces designed for learning and enrichment.
The Center was created with funding from a $2 million Title III Strengthening Institutions Grant from the U.S. Department of Education.
Anthony Szuszczewicz H’11 speaks at the dedication ceremony of the Anthony H’11 and Mary Ann Szuszczewicz President’s Suite.
President’s Suite Named for Anthony H’11 and Mary Ann Szuszczewicz
In recognition of their generosity to the Blue & White Fund, Holy Family’s Annual Fund that provides a critical infusion of support for student financial aid, and their longtime service to the University, the President’s Suite in Marian Hall was named for Anthony Szuszczewicz H’11 and his wife, Mary Ann. Anthony Szuszczewicz is the former chair of the University’s Board of Trustees and the former President and CEO of Polonia Bank.
In July, Sister Rita Fanning, CSFN, ’89 was appointed Vice President for Mission. Sister Rita comes to Holy Family University with a wide range of experience. Sister Rita replaced Margaret Kelly upon her retirement after many years of dedicated service to Holy Family. As a Sister of the Holy Family of Nazareth, she has been an elementary school teacher in both the Baltimore and Philadelphia Archdioceses, a high school guidance counselor, and principal of the sponsored private college preparatory school for girls in Philadelphia.
In addition, she has dedicated her work to the social services, field ministering as house mother and counselor, and as the executive director of residential programs and alternative schools sponsored by the Sisters on both the Eastern and Western sides of Pennsylvania. Sister served as a member of the Provincial Council for Holy Family Province in Des Plaines, IL. Most recently, she served as the business manager for the Nazareth Retreat Center in Grand Prairie, TX.
Sister’s educational background includes a BA in Elementary Education from Holy Family University and an MS in Counseling Psychology and Human Services from Chestnut Hill College.
“As Vice President for Mission I am looking forward to serving the ‘family’ here at Holy Family University by giving witness to the Mission and charism of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth in conjunction with the University’s Mission and Core Values,” said Sister Rita. “It is an honor for me to serve one of our sponsored ministries in this role and a joy for me to be back on campus offering service to my alma mater.”
School of Nursing & Health Sciences Celebrates First Cohort Completing Second-Degree BSN Evenings + Weekends Program
Seven School of Nursing & Health Sciences students—Kathryn Carlomagno ’21; Lauren
Chambers ’11, ’21; Angelina Chertik ’21; James Dollings ’21; Allison Lisacchi ’21; Krista
Mora ’21; and Sophia Winchester ’21—became the first cohort of nursing students to complete Holy Family University’s Second Degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing Evenings + Weekends 22-Month Cohort. The seven students were honored in a virtual pinning ceremony on Friday, February 26.
The program, which launched in April 2019, is designed to fit the schedules for working professionals with a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university who are seeking to become professional registered nurses. The layout of the program features all courses, clinicals, and labs on the evenings and weekends without any full-time student commitments.
Middle States Commission of Higher Education Reaffirms University’s Accreditation
In March, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education Evaluation Team completed its site visit and determined that the University has met all 15 Requirements of Affiliation, and was found to comply with each of the seven Standards. The Evaluation Team was chaired by Shirley Mullen, Ph.D., chair of the Evaluation Team and President Emerita of Houghton College. The University’s Middle States Steering Committee was chaired by Bernice M. Purcell ’85, DBA, associate dean, School of Business Administration.
One of the most rewarding comments made by Dr. Mullen in the evaluation was that Holy Family University is truly living its Mission and bringing to life the Charism of Family.
New Turf Field in the Works
In May, Holy Family University and the Department of Athletics broke ground for the new “Tiger Field.” The groundbreaking took place on the current athletic field, which will be replaced with a brand-new athletic complex.
The groundbreaking ceremony kicked off the construction process, which will include a brand-new turf field, a two-lane practice track, field lighting, and a new scoreboard. The project is estimated to be completed in the fall. TN Ward Company Builders is overseeing the construction of the complex.
“This is a very special day for the University and our student-athletes,” said Director of Athletics Tim Hamill ’04, M’08. “Holding the shovel today made this all feel real. This is indeed a great day to be a Tiger, and we are all incredibly excited about the new facility.”
Holy Family University was awarded a $68,000 scholarship grant from the W. W. Smith Charitable Trust, a private foundation established by William Wikoff Smith in 1977. The Trust makes grants in the Greater Philadelphia region to support basic needs, college scholarships, maritime heritage preservation, and medical research. As one of the University’s most generous grantors, the W. W. Smith Charitable Trust has contributed to the success of hundreds of Holy Family students.
The Early Childhood Education Pathway Program, which began accepting students in Fall 2020, provides an opportunity for students to earn a PreK-4 or PreK-4/Special Ed bachelor’s degree and Pennsylvania teaching certification in a format that meets the needs of busy working professionals. The Early Childhood Education (ECE) Pathway Program is for students who have earned an Associates of Arts degree in Early Childhood Education or have completed the first two years of a four-year Early Education program. The ECE Pathway Program was initially supported with a grant from the William Penn Foundation.
In the current fiscal year, the program received $52,000 through the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services. The program will receive $180,000 next fiscal year to be used to recruit and retain more students into the ECE Pathway program, with $120,000 of the funds going directly into tuition support for the students. This one-year grant is funded by the Early Childhood Education Professional Development Organization.
“We are thrilled to receive an increased grant from the Early Childhood Education Professional Development Organization for 2021-2022,” said Trish Joergensen, Ed.D., associate professor of Education. “These funds will help the ECE Pathway program and its students immensely.”
Psi Chi Honor Society Inducts First Graduate Student Group in Virtual Ceremony
The University’s chapter of Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology, established a new group for Holy Family University graduate students in the Psychology doctoral and master’s degree programs. On Friday, March 26, 19 students in graduate Psychology programs were inducted into Psi Chi and were honored with a virtual ceremony that celebrated their accomplishments.
The virtual ceremony was attended by inductees and guests, faculty, and administrators including Shelley Robbins, Ph.D., dean of the School of Arts & Sciences at Holy Family University, who also served as the keynote speaker of the event. Deborah Harris O’Brien, Ph.D., the President of Psi Chi and associate professor at Trinity Washington University, offered welcoming remarks and also attended the ceremony.
Distinguished Writers Series: Author Carmen Maria Machado
Carmen Maria Machado, author of the bestselling memoir In the Dream House and the award-winning short story collection Her Body and Other Parties, was the third speaker in the Holy Family University Distinguished Writers Series. The free event was held in March.
Her essays, fiction, and criticism have appeared in the New Yorker, the New York Times, Granta, Vogue, This American Life, Harper’s Bazaar, and elsewhere. DC Comics published her limitedrun comics series, The Low Low Woods, from 2019-2020.
Machado holds an MFA from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and has been awarded fellowships and residencies from the Guggenheim Foundation, Yaddo, Hedgebrook, and the Millay Colony for the Arts. She lives in Philadelphia and is the Abrams Artist-in-Residence at the University of Pennsylvania.
Holy Family University has been accepted to the Institute on Teaching and Learning for Campus-wide Interfaith Excellence by the Interfaith Youth Core (IFYC), a national nonprofit that equips the next generation of citizens and professionals with the knowledge and skills needed for leadership in a religiously diverse world. IFYC supports students and educators across the country to integrate interfaith leadership into educational experiences and campus life.
The acceptance includes a $3,000 grant that Holy Family University will utilize to support the University’s interfaith action plan, an initiative that includes the University’s Reflection Room (located in ETC 204) which opened earlier this spring. Previously, the Interfaith Youth Core supported the initiative with a $1,000 grant to help develop the Reflection Room and an additional $1,000 grant for curriculum support.
Four University Alumni Educators and Current Ed.D. Student Honored with Lindback Awards
Four Holy Family University School of Education alumni—Dana Laut ’00, Kimberly Pellak-Tana M’01, Juan Namnun M’04, and Sharon Hall M’09—have been named recipients of the 2021 Lindback Awards for Distinguished Teachers. The awards are presented annually by the Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Foundation to recognize outstanding educators in Philadelphia public schools.
The four University alumni are among 60 teachers and seven principals nominated by their school communities and selected by a central committee of School District administrators and a Philadelphia Federation of Teachers representative to be honored. The teachers were chosen based on their lessons that improve the intellectual and character development of their students, a particularly challenging task this past year because of restrictions imposed by COVID-19.
In addition, a Holy Family University School of Education student was also honored by the Lindback Foundation. Current Holy Family University Ed.D. student Pauline Cheung, who is principal of Francis Scott Key School, an elementary school in Central South Philadelphia, is one of seven area school principals to be awarded the 2021 Lindback Foundation Award for Distinguished Principal Leadership.
This Spring the University opened the Reflection Room, a space for spiritual expression, contemplation, or prayer in the Education and Technology Center.
Holy Family Named to Institute on Teaching and Learning for Campus-wide Interfaith Excellence
ABOVE (L TO R): Lieutenant Commander Ellie (Hopkins) Bracken ’80; Rita (Seeger) Jablonski ’86, Ph.D.; Jerry Wydro ’90, M.D.; Roger Falloon ’97; Ted Qualli ’00;
Lieutenant Colonel Barbara McCormick ’03, M’07, DNP; Dennis Kilfeather ’05, M’11.
Alumni Honored with 2020 & 2021 Alumni Achievement Awards
Holy Family University celebrated Reunion 2020 and 2021 on Saturday, May 22. During the virtual event, the Class of 1971 was inducted into the Golden Alumni Society and Alumni Awards were presented. The 2020 & 2021 Alumni Achievement Award was presented to seven University alumni: Lieutenant
Commander Ellie (Hopkins) Bracken ’80; Rita (Seeger) Jablonski ’86, Ph.D.; Jerry Wydro ’90, M.D.; Roger Falloon ’97; Ted Qualli ’00; Lieutenant Colonel Barbara McCormick
’03, M’07, DNP and Dennis Kilfeather ’05, M’11. In addition, Sister Maureen McGarrity, CSFN, ’70, Ph.D. was presented with the Distinguished Alumni Service Award. The festivities also included an Alumni Memorial Mass, Breakout Reunions, and musical performances by Mike Brill M’11 and Melissa
Wegfahrt ’15.
The Alumni Achievement Award honors distinguished graduates who have displayed great accomplishments in one or more of the following areas: professional achievement, community volunteer service, and humanitarian efforts. Through these accomplishments, these alumni bring recognition to themselves and Holy Family University.
Holy Family University Alumni Benefits Program
Did you know that the Holy Family University Alumni Association sponsors an Alumni Benefits Program as a service to our alumni? The program offers a variety of attractively-priced products, most of which are available to alumni, students, faculty, and staff, as well as their spouses, domestic partners, children, parents, and siblings.
life insurance
medicare exchange
long term disability insurance real estate benefits
advisory services
long term care insurance travel insurance
id theft coverage
auto/home insurance pet insurance
telehealth
small business insurance
