Message from the President

Dear Alumnae, This edition of the Alumnae News features stories of our alumnae’s joy, sadness, passion and compassion since the pandemic began. It is a testament to the always impressive and inspiring career choices of our alumnae and your numerous contributions to the betterment of society. As the whole world confronted unimaginable challenges and hardships of the pandemic, please know that, at Ursuline, we worked nonstop to ensure that our students continued learning, growing, exploring and expanding their vision of possibilities in a safe and healthy environment. The campus additions made possible by our Innovation Campaign proved to be critically important. We would not have been able to offer in-person learning this past year, even in a hybrid model, without the new Christina Jun Murphy ’22 Commons for expanded lunch space or without the Kulsar & McCarthy Lobby for activities, collaboration, and in-person socializing. Our iHub offered two much-needed new learning spaces. Seminarstyle classes, student presentations, and Virtual Open House remarks took place in the new High-Tech Media Conference Center. I am grateful to all of you who have supported the Innovation Campaign in some way as we approach our financial goal.

As I retire at the end of June 2021, I pass Ursuline leadership into the capable hands of Dr. Colleen Melnyk, who is exceptionally well-qualified and already knows Ursuline. I have great confidence in the perspective that Colleen brings as an educator, administrator, parent of an Ursuline alumna, and former trustee. I know that you will welcome her warmly.

I am also well aware of all of the Ursuline things I will miss. And, most importantly, I am thankful for all the people. I think of you, alumnae. Whether you were the young woman in biology class or the students I have traveled with to Europe or on exchange programs to our sister schools in Quebec, Australia, South Africa, and Guyana, you have often been my teachers, leaving indelible imprints on my life. Through our mutual love of Ursuline over the past 38 years, I hope I have made an impression on you, as you certainly have made a lasting one on me. Confucius said, “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” I feel blessed to have had that experience.

St. Angela counseled, “And it will be impossible for you not to cherish them day and night, and to have them all engraved in your heart, one by one, for this is how real love acts and works.”

May St. Angela watch over all your days and may we meet again and often.