SSND In the News
President Schwalbach is congratulated by Sister Debra Marie Sciano, Provincial Leader – Milwaukee Province and Kristine Krause, Chair, Mount Mary College Board of Trustees.
Mount Mary College Inaugurates President
On September 11, 2009, Mount Mary College hosted a special celebration: the inauguration of Dr. Eileen
Schwalbach as the 11th President of the College. Many of you have probably read Dr. Schwalbach’s inauguration speech that Sister Debra Sciano sent to us after the event. Her words reflected the spirit of SSND and the transformative education that permeates the College community, a spirit that Dr. Schwalbach is taking to a new level by designating this entire academic year, the year of transformation.
Indeed, she opened her remarks by noting, “At first glance, September 11 may not seem like an appropriate day for a celebration of this sort, yet upon further reflection, it is very appropriate since it symbolizes the urgent need for education that will lead people from the darkness of ignorance, hatred, and prejudice to the light of understanding, love, and openness—in other words, education that transforms.”
Her address followed a Mass in the Bloechl Center during which approximately 400 students, faculty, staff, administrators, city and university leaders, family, friends, and School Sisters of Notre Dame participated. The regal banners on either side of the altar depicted the SSND logo and the virtus et scientia seal. Both were designed by Sister Mary Josephine Niemann (SL) and were a gift to Mount Mary from our Milwaukee Province.
Bishop Richard Sklba, accompanied by Rev. Brian Mason, presided at the Liturgy and led the blessing forDr. Schwalbach as we moved into the installation ceremony after Mass. With calls to service given by Kristine Krause, the chair of the Board of Trustees, and Sister Debra Sciano and a further blessing extended to Eileen from all the SSNDs present, we processed to the Alumnae Dining Room for a grand reception.
Eileen Schwalbach’s closing words sum up the tone that is launching us into the future: “These are truly exciting times for Mount Mary College. However, we will be able to do this work, to educate to transform the world, only by working together. We welcome partners who will join us in this vision, partners who will walk with us as we take the next step in the history of the College.”
– Joan Penzenstadler, SSND
See more details at MMC's Inauguration Online Newsroom – HERE.
Click here to return to current news.