The Chestnut Hill College years

In 1996, under Sister Carol’s guidance, the College launched its Doctor of Psychology program. Over the years it has matriculated nearly 300 graduates educated in psychological assessment, couple and family theory and therapy, and psychodynamic theory and therapy.

Under Sister Carol’s stewardship, the College saw the addition of 45 new majors, 54 new minors and 19 new certifications, housed within three schools, Undergraduate Studies (SUS), Graduate Studies (SGS), and the School for Continuing and Professional Studies (SCPS). Groundbreaking programs added include cybersecurity, exercise sciences, and law and legal studies.

In November 2001, Sister Carol announced the plan to welcome men to the traditional-age, full-time undergraduate student body in the fall of 2003. Fast-forward 20 years and Chestnut Hill College has blossomed into a true microcosm of global society, supporting a student body ever diversifying across gender, race and ethnicity.

At the beginning of Sister Carol’s presidency, Chestnut Hill College was home to just seven sports and two staff members. Thirty years later the College features 16 sports, competing in Division II’s Central Athletic Collegiate Conference (CACC)—winning conference championships in many of them—women’s bowling in the East Coast Conference (ECC) and sprint football in the Collegiate Sprint Football League (CSFL). The Athletics Department is supported by a robust staff and the Jack and Rosemary Murphy Gulati ’61 Fitness Complex.

By purchasing the adult degree program from Allentown’s DeSales University, Chestnut Hill College expanded its program offerings for non-traditional students, developing the School of Continuing and Professional Studies (SCPS). This made the College’s education accessible to adults in an accelerated format, and dramatically increased the size of the student body.

Throughout Sister Carol’s presidency, the College’s mission and values have been her guide. From securing a grant to support annual weekend faculty and staff retreats, to appointing our first Chief Officer for Mission and Ministry and our first Chief Officer for Diversity, Equality and Inclusion, Sister Carol has ensured that the College stays true to its identity.

Encouraging the establishment of enriching extracurricular activities, Sister Carol has truly revolutionized what it means to participate in the Chestnut Hill College community. Highlights include our longstanding Biomedical Lecture series, our newer Cybersecurity Conference, and ongoing offerings such as the Steinway Series for piano performance, Schubert Lecture, Institute of Forgiveness and Reconciliation Lectures, Center for Concussion and Research and Studies and, yes, our beloved Harry Potter Academic Conference and Quidditch tournament.

Committed to graduating students that are good citizens of the world, Sister Carol developed institutional partnerships with universities in 15 countries and built a robust on-campus experience for international students.

Sister Carol introduced the three-school structure (SUS, SGS and SCPS) and later spearheaded the organization of our 16 academic departments into six academic “centers,” effectively integrating them according to their overarching objectives. She also oversaw the administrative migration to a vice president structure with deans, and the inauguration of a faculty senate.

Starting with an Australian shepherd named Lady Fontbonne, “Bonnie”, Sister Carol has championed having a dog (or two) on campus. Though the dogs have never lived up to their original assignment, chasing geese off campus grounds, they have played a supportive role to the College community at large—from evoking a needed smile to listening without judgement.