Honoring and recognizing Sister Maureen McGarrity for her commitment to the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, leadership to Holy Family University and service to Philadelphia.

WHEREAS Sister Maureen McGarrity grew up in Kensington in Ascension of Our Lord Parish; and

WHEREAS, She attended Nazareth Academy High School, graduating in 1964; and

WHEREAS, Sister McGarrity joined the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth after her high school graduation in 1964. At the time, there were about 900 Sisters in the United States. She took her final vows in 1972; and

WHEREAS, Sister Maureen was called to join the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth because they were committed to healthcare, education and social work; and

WHEREAS, Sister Maureen earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Holy Family University, a master’s in biology from Villanova and a doctoral degree in microbiology from Saint Louis University; and

WHEREAS, For seven years, she taught math to seventh- and eighth-graders at St. Katherine of Siena and teaching biology to freshmen and sophomores at Nazareth Academy. In 1976, she arrived at Holy Family University; and

WHEREAS, Sister Maureen taught biology and was department chairwoman, division head and dean, and served as vice president of academic affairs and provost; and

WHEREAS, In 2014, Sister Maureen was named Holy Family’s fifth president in 2014, after the retirement of Sister Francesca Onley; and

WHEREAS, Sister Maureen shepherded a university of 3,000 students, half of whom were the first in their families to go to college. She worked to strengthen the University’s business program. Sister Maureen also worked to elevate the presence of the University in Philadelphia and beyond and to expand the footprint of the University through partnerships with NewCourtland, the Greater Northeast Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, the Union League Golf Club at Torresdale and the surrounding community; and

WHEREAS, Sister Maureen's background in science fueled her passion for data-driven analysis and her responsiveness to external variables. She embraced the reinvention of the University’s programs and services in response to changing needs, without losing sight of core values; and

WHEREAS, In July 2021, Sister Maureen will retire from her position as Holy Family University President after seven years of leadership as President and forty-five years serving Holy Family University; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby honors and recognizes Sister Maureen McGarrity for her commitment to the

Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth

, leadership to Holy Family University and service to Philadelphia.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Sister Maureen McGarrity as further evidence of the sincere admiration and respect of this legislative body.

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