President Emerita
Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters
2010
Citation:
From academia to the corporate world, you have distinguished yourself as a strong advocate of higher education, a visionary leader, a compassionate Sister of the Adrian Dominican order and a savvy businesswoman. Known for your Irish wit and storytelling, you have also proven yourself a resourceful, progressive thinker with a heart for humanity. It is most fitting that we recognize you this year as we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the consolidation of Mercy College of Detroit and the University of Detroit. You were at the forefront of uniting these two institutions to preserve the future of Catholic higher education in the city of Detroit. This bold vision was accomplished through skillfully collaborating, guiding and serving as the first president of the consolidated University of Detroit Mercy. You also have the distinction of being the first woman president of a Jesuit university. During your 14 years as UDM president, you led the University with wisdom and insight focusing on UDM's mission - to provide academic excellence within a Catholic and urban context. Your skills at strategic planning, your commitment to the Detroit area and your ability to establish positive working relationships with faculty, students, alumni and the community have earned you much admiration and long-standing support. Over the past 40 years, you have enjoyed a fulfilling career as a professor, administrator, dean and college president at several institutions of higher learning in Michigan and Illinois. Prior to being named president of UDM, you served seven years as president of Mercy College of Detroit. Since retiring from UDM in 2004, you have been the executive director of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities Leadership Seminar. With fortitude and untiring dedication, you also found time to share your knowledge and expertise as a member of numerous educational, professional and corporate boards and committees, and you are the recipient of numerous awards for your community service. In recognition of your exceptional leadership in making the University of Detroit Mercy the highly respected institution that it is today and your continued commitment to Catholic higher education, we are proud to present you with the honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree. Commencement, University of Detroit Mercy, May 15, 2010.