TIMELINE OF SIGNIFICANT DATES IN MOUNT HISTORY
Originated by: Office of Public Information and Office of Institutional Communications
Maintained by: Office of Grants and Research
Last update: February 7, 2011
1920
College opens on September 14 with 20 students and 11 faculty as one of Ohio’s first Catholic colleges for women. It is the first college established by the Sisters of Charity in Ohio.
Mother Mary Bertha Armstrong, mother general of the Sisters of Charity, serves as the first ex officio president until 1923. The Mother Generals of the Sisters of Charity served ex officio as presidents of the College from 1920 to 1959.
1921
Education program begins.
1924
First degrees awarded to nine graduates; Alumnae Association is established.
1926
Nursing program begins.
1927
Construction and opening of Seton Hall, first new building on campus, a five level building with student housing on the top three floors. The first two floors housed classrooms, labs, library, offices and a reception room.
1927
Mother Mary Zoe Farrell, SC, served as dean of the College until 1932 when she was appointed Mother Superior of the Sisters of Charity.
1928
Enrollment exceeds 100.
1929
College awards its first honorary degree to writer Willa Cather, in absentia.
1932
The Mount is accredited by the North Central Association. [Accreditation consistently maintained to the present day.]
1933
Sister Maria Corona Molloy becomes the Mount’s first dean, serving in this role until 1959 when she is named president.
1935
Despite the Depression, enrollment passes 250.
1937
During the great Cincinnati flood, the Mount supplies victims with refuge, water and medical assistance.
1942
Sister Maria Corona begins discussion for new College facilities. However, World War II puts all plans on hold. To help the war effort, the Mount introduces the Trimester program to graduate students faster so that they could join the war effort job force.
1953
An elementary education program is started to address the critical need for teachers.
1954
The Sisters of Charity announce plans to build a new campus to accommodate the growing number of students at the College.
1959
The dean Sister Maria Corona, is named the first president of the College as Mother General
1959
Mother Mary Omer Downing, SC, was elected as Mother Superior of the Sisters of Charity in 1959 and held the office of ex officio president of the College for only a few hours. Sister Maria Corona Molloy, SC, dean of the College since 1933, was named the first president of the College of Mount St. Joseph in 1959. She served until her retirement in 1967.
Enrollment increases to 650.
1960
March 19, 1960, was the occasion of the official groundbreaking for the new campus.
1962
The last class to graduate from the Old Mount was the 155 graduates of the class of 1962.
The new campus opens on a 75 acre tract at the corner of Neeb and Delhi roads in Cincinnati with nine major buildings constructed around a central quad. Donations from alumni, local business people and friends help to finance construction costs.
First mass in Mater Dei Chapel and consecration of the Main Alter and side alters was held on December 17, 1962, the day before students left campus for the Christmas break.
1963
Formal dedication of the new campus and the solemn blessing of Mater Dei Chapel took place in ceremonies held on May 1, 1963.
1964
Enrollment surpasses 1,000; 200 students receive degrees at commencement. Late afternoon and evening courses are offered and a summer session begins.
1967
After 48 years of service, Sister Maria Corona retires.
Sister Adele Clifford is named the Mount’s second president and she serves until 1972.
1969
The Department of Continuing Education is formed and enrolls 474 students.
1970
Mount St. Joseph celebrates its Golden Anniversary. Enrollment passes 1200. New programs are introduced in religious education and fine arts.
1971
Nationally known speakers, including Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and Mother Teresa, participate in the Mount’s Futurology Institutes and Religious Studies Institutes. Secretary Kissinger flew directly to Paris for the Peace Talks following his lecture at the Mount.
Students begin a long tradition at the intersection of Delhi and Neeb with their “Rub-A-Dub” Tub Toss for charity. The annual tradition ended in 1990 due to increasing traffic concerns.
1972
Dr. Robert Wolverton is named the Mount’s third president, and he serves until 1977.
The Sisters of Charity legally incorporate the College under a new Board of Trustees and retain ownership and sponsorship of the College. Academic, administrative and fiscal policies determined by a separate Board of Trustees.
1973
The Mount becomes one of the founding members of the Greater Cincinnati Consortium of Colleges and Universities (GCCCU).
1976
The College establishes the Liberal Studies Program for adult women and introduces majors in marketing, communication, music therapy, and paralegal studies.
1977
Sister Jean Patrice Harrington is named the College’s fourth president. She serves for 10 years until 1987 when she retires from the presidency.
Weekend College is established as Cincinnati’s first program to offer men and women degree programs in a weekend timeframe.
1978
The College establishes graduate degree program, the Master of Arts in Reading and Elementary Education.
1979
College Bookstore begins to sell college rings for men, initiated by Weekend College student Ted Bowling’79.
1980
Enrollment grows to 1,576.
Evening College opens to offer courses leading to the associate degrees.
1982
The Schmidlapp Music Therapy Clinic is established with grant support.
The Mount opens Project EXCEL to assist learning disabled students succeed in college.
The Mount starts Cooperative Education and becomes the first liberal arts college in Cincinnati to offer cooperative education in all of the liberal arts and sciences.
International students are recruited to the new English as a Second Language Program.
1983
The Mount launches its first capital fund raising campaign, the Forward Fund. More than $4 million is raised for academic programs, campus renovations, and endowment.
1984
The Mount opens its summer Women in Science program. Later the program expands to include mathematics.
The Mount becomes the first college in the nation to offer a degree in the Management of Nursing Services.
1986
The College becomes fully coeducational. Alumnae Association changes to Alumni Association.
The College formally drops “On the Ohio” from its formal name and becomes the College of Mount St. Joseph. At the same time, the mailing address for the College is changed from Mount St. Joseph, Ohio, to Cincinnati, Ohio 45233.
New majors are introduced in computer information, management communication, and gerontological studies.
1987
Sister Francis Marie Thrailkill, O.S.U., is named the Mount’s fifth president.
The 1987 Guinness Book of World Records lists Mount Art Professor John Nartker as the creator of the world’s largest chess set, a ceramic set carved from drain tile that measured up to 4 ½ feet tall.
1988
Master of Arts in Religious Pastoral Studies is added.
Seton Hall is renovated and is renamed Seton Center centralizing student housing and services.
1989
The Mount announces that it will start an intercollegiate football team under former Indiana University and Rose Bowl Coach John Pont.
1990
70th anniversary of the College is observed.
First season of football opens with a win against Rose Hulman Institute.
1991
The College adopts it Vision 2000 plan with strategies for preparing students for the 21st century.
The women’s basketball team makes it to the NAIA final four for the first time in its history.
1992
New major in mathematics/computer science begins.
Departments of Religious Studies and Behavioral Sciences departments began the Cultural Immersion courses that combine coursework and personal reflection with travel to sites where people from different cultures live and work.
1993
The Honors Program is established.
The Mount is awarded the largest grant in its history, $1.7 million, from the federal Strengthening Institutions Program (Title III) to implement Vision 2000 initiatives for new academic programs, campus renovations and innovative technology.
1994
The College launches the Vision 2000 Campaign to raise $10 million to support new programs, technology, scholarships, and endowment.
The College establishes permanent scholarships for women in mathematics and science through a grant from Fifth Third Bank’s Charlotte R. Schmidlapp Fund.
The Science Building is completely renovated to include new student/faculty research suites, expanded labs and classroom space, and new technology.
The Mount’s new Model for Service Learning is implemented, providing tuition free credit for service experiences related to classroom learning.
The College joins the Pew Higher Education Roundtable.
1995
The College celebrates its 75th anniversary.
The College establishes the St. Elizabeth Seton Medal to recognize outstanding contributions by women to the field of theology.
The Mount establishes a new undergraduate major in physical therapy.
The College establishes new student service centers on campus to increase efficiency and service. New services include a Wellness Center and Children’s Center.
Ruggs Recommendations on the Colleges ranks the Mount as one of the best choices for selective programs in art, business, education, and nursing.
1996
The College is awarded a full 10-year reaccredidation by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools with commendation. (The Mount has been continuously accredited by North Central since its first application in 1932.)
The College opens its Center for Innovative Teaching, a state-of-the art technology center to assist faculty in the development of technology for teaching.
U.S. News & World Report names the College of Mount St. among the top Midwest regional universities for quality and value.
Phase I of the Vision 2000 capital campaign surpasses its $10 million goal two years ahead of schedule to support academic programs and student leadership development; technology; science renovation; and scholarship endowment. Phase II of the campaign begins to raise $4.5 million for a new comprehensive student center.
The Mount goes online, posting a new homepage on the World Wide Web.
1997
U.S. News & World Report names the College of Mount St. Joseph among the top 15 Midwest regional universities for quality and value.
Groundbreaking for the new student center, the first major building project at the Mount since the building of the new campus in 1962, takes place on Reunion Weekend in June. In December, the College announces that the new center will be named in honor of Sister Jean Patrice Harrington, who served as College president from 1977 to 1987.
The College opens it new Health Sciences Instructional Suite with state-of-the-art technology and classrooms.
Lion’s Roar Marching Band program begins on campus.
1998
Dedication of the new Jean Patrice Harrington, SC, Student Center, a comprehensive student activities and recreation center featuring a Student Leadership Suite, Wellness Center, Children’s Center, Fitness Center, bookstore, food court, gym with seating for 2,000, and racquetball court.
U.S. News & World Report names the College of Mount St. Joseph among the top 15 Midwest regional universities for quality and value.
1999
The campus installs technology to support growth of distance learning options.
2000
The College completes its Vision 2000 Plan and completes the Vision 2000 capital campaign, which raised over $20 million for academic programs, renovations and endowment.
The Mount opens the Thomas L. Conlan Center and becomes the first Cincinnati area college to offer Web registration services to its students. The Conlan Center centralizes registration, student records, financial aid, billing and advising services.
The College renews the language and spirit of its mission statement to read: The College of Mount St. Joseph is a Catholic academic community grounded in the spiritual values and vision of its founders, the Sisters of Charity. The College educates its students through interdisciplinary liberal arts and professional curricula emphasizing values, integrity and social responsibility. Members of the Mount community embrace: excellence in academic endeavors; integration of life and learning; respect and concern for all persons; diversity of cultures and beliefs; and service to others.
Shaping Tomorrow, the Mount’s vision of the future, is adopted to articulate how the College will live out its mission 2000-2009 and grow strategically. Shaping Tomorrow is based on the five core values of the mission statement and provides the foundation for annual planning and budgeting.
The College is named to Templeton Honor Roll of 100 Colleges in the publication Colleges That Encourage Character Development.
U.S. News & World Report names the College of Mount St. Joseph among the top 15 Midwest regional universities for quality and value.
The Mount becomes the first local college to begin a universal-computing requirement to support a new general education curriculum.
The Mount launches MERLIN, a new wireless technology on campus, which uses small hand-held computers that new full-time students will use beginning in the fall of 2000.
Launch of revised interdisciplinary core curriculum as a foundation for Mount degree programs.
The Mount becomes one of the nation’s first wireless campuses with the implementation of the Mount’s MERLIN Program (Media Enriched Learning Environment) to support the revised curriculum and introduction of the universal computing requirement.
U.S. Professors of the Year awards Elizabeth Bookser Barkley, Ph.D., professor of English, the distinction of 2000 Ohio Professor of the Year.
Mount Lions baseball and wrestling teams win Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) championships.
2001
National Art Education Association names Mount Professor of Art Sharon Kesterson Bollen, Ph.D. the Western Region Higher Education Art Educator of the Year
First edition of Best 201 Colleges for the Real World ranks the Mount as above average in graduation rate, career development, and response to student needs.
Opening of the Jacob B. Schmidlapp Dining Hall in Seton Center, an extensive renovation of the original dining fall into a community environment for meals and socialization.
Restoration completed of the Holy Trinity Chapel on the sixth floor of Seton Center and addition of Sunday evening Mass for students.
Launch of online certificate program in Paralegal Studies.
Mount Web site revised with more features for prospective students.
Mount ranked as best value in Ohio and one of the top 20 Midwestern universities for academic quality by U.S. News & World Report.
Mount becomes first regional college to begin MSOL, the Master of Science in Organizational Leadership, a graduate program emphasizing ethics-based leadership.
2002
Campus wide discussion of mission and values in fall of 2002 forms foundation for the Campus Master Plan to address infrastructure needs and new construction/renovation to achieve the vision of Shaping Tomorrow.
Grand opening and dedication of Harold C. Schott Foundation Plaza at the entrance to Seton Center creating a new welcoming introduction to the campus.
Residence Hall opens Southeast wing with new residential suites.
Reconstruction of the façade of Mater Dei Chapel made possible by a grant from the SC Ministry Foundation.
Began TEAM (Teacher Education Apprenticeship Master’s program), an accelerated graduate degree program combining apprenticeship in Cincinnati Public Schools. At the completion of one year, successful graduates earn the Master of Arts in Education and licensure in Inclusive Early Childhood Education.
Athletics expands with addition of men’s and women’s golf and men’s cross country teams.
National winner of EDUCAUSE Excellence in Networking Award for innovative technology and the Merlin program. This is the premier award in higher education for technology.
YaHoo! Internet Life names the Mount the 23rd most wired small college in the United States.
Mount St. Joseph House was built for Habitat for Humanity as a joint venture between the College and the Sisters of Charity on White Street in South Fairmont.
Second edition of Great 201 Colleges for the Real World – Get In, Get Out, Get a Job ranks the Mount above average in career development, meeting student needs and graduation rate.
150th anniversary of the Sisters of Charity in Cincinnati (1852-2002) celebrated at the College.
2003
Ten-year Campus Expansion Plan adopted to guide facilities renovation and expansion for student activities, campus housing and classrooms. Phase I projects under the heading of “Building Excitement” enhance student life and support enrollment goals and includes Seton Center renovation for Welcome Center, Learning Center and suites in the Residence Hall; Athletic Complex and additional practice field; parking; and ongoing classroom renovation. Phase II projects include campus commons and instructional classroom development.
Leadership phase of “Building Excitement” fundraising campaign begins.
New scholarship model adopted to provide families with automatic notification of award based on test scores and a 3.0 GPA or higher.
Certificate programs added in American Humanics (management training for non-profit sector) and iDesign (Web and interactive design).
Began off-site degree programs in RN to BSN with contracts with Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and TriHealth.
Started women and men’s track & field teams.
Third edition of Great 201 Colleges for the Real World – Get In, Get Out, Get a Job ranks the Mount above average in career development, meeting student needs and graduation rate.
Mount students rank high satisfaction with the College in the 2003 National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE).
Blessing and rededication of the three bronze bells at Mater Dei Chapel took place on March 19, 2003. The bells had been silent since the mid-1980s due to wear. With the restoration, the bells were set to ring hourly and for special occasions.
2004
College adopts “Strategic Enrollment Plan for Traditional Undergraduate Students” to integrate recruitment and retention with research, marketing and communications to work toward established goals in the College’s Shaping Tomorrow master plan and ensure ongoing student satisfaction from the point of entry to graduation.
New recruitment practices include implementation of “Recruitment Plus” program to increase electronic communications and services with prospective students.
Launch of new Web site at www.msj.edu in August 2004.
New practice fields are established on River Road.
Launch of Master of Nursing, an accelerated graduate program for adults changing careers to the field of nursing.
Groundbreaking in March 2004 for Sports Complex and game field, first major project in the “Building Excitement” Campus Expansion Plan.
“2004 Award of Excellence in Cooperative Education” is presented to the College of Mount St. Joseph in spring 2004 by the Ohio Cooperative Education Association for success in integrating a student’s classroom learning with workplace experience under the guidance of faculty members.
Construction of Phase I renovation in Residence Hall begins in May 2004.
New two-level parking deck opens at corner of Delhi and Neeb roads as students begin classes in August 2004.
Grand opening and dedication of the Sports Complex and Schuler Field on September 1, 2004, for soccer, and on September 4, 2004 for football.
Completed a second house for Habitat for Humanity in partnership with the Western Federation of Churches.
Launched the “Building Excitement” Alumni Campaign in fall of 2004 with the support of a challenge grant from the SC Ministry Foundation for the Seton Center student service projects.
The College convenes a Steering Committee to prepare the institutional Self Study in preparation for the scheduled reaccreditation site visit in 2006 by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
2005
First group of students move into new suites in Residence Hall as Phase I of the renovation
project is completed in January 2005.
Phase II and Phase III of the Residence Hall renovation are accelerated for completion in fall of 2005.
The College community conducts town meetings and surveys during the spring semester for the reaccreditation Self Study process.
The Board of Regents approves the Mount’s first doctoral program in physical therapy.
Mount launches Paralegal Studies program with Army JAG to provide members of the military with degree studies in paralegal studies.
The Mount is designated the first All-Steinway School in Greater Cincinnati by Steinway & Sons. With donor support, the College replaced all pianos with Steinways to provide students with excellent resources for practice and performance.
Seton Center renovations for the Welcome Center, Learning Center and Career Center begin in May 2005 after graduation.
The Mount faculty completes an extensive process of Academic Program Review.
The campus wireless data network was changed to offer a “Hot Spot” option for more flexibility in connecting to the Mount’s wireless data network.
The Mount community participated in campus-wide relief efforts to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina which hit the Gulf States on August 29, 2005. The Mount offered free tuition, room and board to students who could not return to their colleges in the ravaged region; students collected and delivered food, cleaning supplies and water; and nursing students volunteered in field hospitals.
The Mount is ranked as one of America’s best Midwestern colleges for academic quality in U.S.News & World’s Report survey of America’s Best Colleges.
2006
The Mount receives full 10-year institutional reaccreditation by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and earned praise from the evaluation team for the campus-wide participation in the self-study and site visit process. The Mount has been consistently accredited since its first accreditation in 1932.
Completion of Phase III Campus Master Plan projects
Air-conditioned suites in Residence Hall.
Thrailkill Hall of Student Success: The Pat Habig Learning Center, Theresa and Richard Davis Career Center, and the Rosemary O’Shaunessey Schmidt Office of Student Affairs.
Mary Schaefer Welcome Center for centralized admission services.
Began the Academic Exploration Program to guide undecided students in selecting their majors.
Began new academic initiatives in accounting, graduate education programs, religious studies, and first doctoral program in physical therapy; and expanded nursing cohorts in local hospitals.
In October 2006, the Board of Trustees affirmed the academic quality of the Mount’s programs, but made a decision to phase out four programs based on past enrollment and future viability: aging services administration, mathematics/computer science, physical education, and recreational therapy.
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Increased cultural immersion and study abroad programs
Recognized in top tier ranking among best Midwest colleges by U.S. News & World Report.
2007
Sister Francis Marie Thrailkill, who has been president since July 1, 1987, announces her intention to retire in June 2008.
In summer 2007, the Board of Trustees appoints a Presidential Search Committee representative of key constituents chaired by Board Member Denise Kuprionis and retains DHR International as a search firm.
The Building Excitement Campaign (2004-2007), which funded the largest campus expansion since original construction, was completed and raised $11.5 million, successfully surpassing a $10 million goal.
2008
Francis Marie Thrailkill, OSU, Ed.D., completes 20 years as president and retires June 30, 2008.
Anthony Joseph Aretz, Ph.D., was unanimously appointed the sixth president of the College on March 11, 2008 following a nationwide search. Dr. Aretz took office July 1, 2008.
August 2008 the Mount installs one of the first green roofs in Cincinnati on top of Archbishop Alter Library. The green roof contains over 8,800 drought resistant plants that filter water.
New major in sport management enrolled 71 students in first year.
Reopened the Art Building in Fall 2008 with renovated studios and learning spaces.
Students rated the Mount’s academic quality, campus life and support of individual growth higher than their peers nationwide in the 2008 Noel Levitz Student Satisfaction Survey.
25th anniversary of Mount’s Co-op Program, the first in Greater Cincinnati to combine cooperative education with all of the liberal arts fields.
Community Safe voice and text messaging service increased communication with students, faculty and staff in emergency situations.
2009
Dr. Anthony J. Aretz is inaugurated as the sixth president of the College of Mount St. Joseph on the feast of St. Joseph, March 19, 2009, in the same year that the Sisters of Charity celebrate their founding 200 years ago by St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.
College develops and the Board adopts the 2009-2012 Strategic Plan to envision the future as a nationally respected Catholic liberal arts institution known for educational excellence and ethical leadership.
The College formally established the Ethical Leadership Development Initiative and opened the Office of Mission and Ministry.
Nursing graduates from the Mount achieved the highest NCLEX-RN scores among graduates from all nursing programs in the Cincinnati area and the second highest passage rate in Ohio.
College renovates Aquinas Hall (former location of the Sister of Charity Executive Offices) into a two level Nursing Learning Lab that expanded classrooms and labs for a growing enrollment and added advanced simulation technology.
The Mount’s Education Division was the first in Ohio to be accredited by the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC).
The new academic structure to organize all undergraduate and graduate programs into five academic divisions was implemented forming the Division of Arts & Humanities; Division of Behavioral and Natural Sciences; Division of Business; Division of Education; and Division of Health Sciences. Each academic division is subdivided into departments.
Overall enrollment increased by 9 percent to all-time high of 2,324. The first-time, full-time undergraduate class increased by 19 percent, from 300 to an all-time high of 357, for the fall of 2009. This class represented the largest freshman class in the Mount’s history.
The Service Learning Program was recognized nation-wide with the 2009 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, the highest federal recognition a college or university can receive for its commitment to volunteering, service-learning and civic engagement.
Athletics began the women’s lacrosse program and the men’s volleyball program with varsity competition in 2009-2010.
2010
First projects completed in the new Campus Landscape Master Plan included new entrance signage structures installed at the corner of Delhi and Neeb Roads and at two additional entrance points on campus – the Administration Building and West Parking Lot.
Hall of Fame is established with an inaugural event at Homecoming on October 15, 2010. The three charter members are Kay Corcoran, M.A., former women’s volleyball coach and athletic director; T. Jean Dowell, M.A., former women’s basketball coach and athletic director; and Pat Shibinski, M.A., former chair of physical education and field hockey coach.
Faculty and administration completed a thorough review of all academic programs to provide director of future program development.
2011
Ethical Leadership Development Initiative formally begins in the curriculum with the freshman class.
2012
Education at Work opens a call center location at the Mount. In March, the MSN and DNP programs are officially accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. In October, Nick Clooney is the featured Freshman Author Series speaker.
2013
On April 29, 2013, the Board of Trustees approved the Mount’s historic Vision2020 Strategic Plan, developed by the campus community and key constituents over two years. Vision2020 focuses on three strategic themes to prepare career ready graduates with relevant academic programs and a thriving campus culture encompassing leadership and service.
Mount launches the Talent Opportunity Program (TOP) to provide full-time undergraduate students with a structured during their four years at the Mount. TOP, students can structure these experiences and obtain career preparation by completing academic courses and engaging in experiences that will give Mount students a competitive edge.
The RN to BSN online program is launched.
2014
In March, Sister Helen Prejean (author of Dead Man Walking) visits the campus for the first time.
On July 1, 2014, the institution made an historic change of its designation to Mount St. Joseph University to reflect the depth and breadth of academic programming through the doctoral level and progress moving toward the 2020 centennial. The ceremony included a prayer service, unveiling of new signage on the monument at the entrance to campus and a blessing by Father James Walsh, pastor of St. Dominic Parish. While the name has changed, the mission and purpose remained constant and relevant as a “Catholic academic community grounded in the spiritual values and vision of its founders, the Sisters of Charity, educating students through interdisciplinary liberal arts and professional curricula emphasizing values, integrity and social responsibility.
November 2, 2014, the Mount Women’s Basketball team played before the largest crowd in their history before 10,000 fans in the Cintas Center at Xavier University so that freshman Lauren Hill could reach her lifelong dream of playing basketball before succumbing to an incurable brain tumor known as DIPG (Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma). Mount Coach Dan Benjamin worked with the NCAA and Hiram College to move up the starting game of the season so that Hill would be able to play on the court. The game was internationally televised as Lauren made the first basket for the team. She returned to the court for the final play making the basket for the Mount’s win over Hiram College XX-XX. Prior to her game, Lauren Hill used her story to raise national awareness of DIPG and raise funds for the cure. Game proceeds raised $58,776 to find a cure.
Mount opens a new Master of Science in Business Administration (MBA) with Saturday classes.
2015
President Anthony Aretz resigns as of July 1, 2015, and the Board of Trustees names Joel Thierstein JD, Ph.D. to serve as Interim President. Dr. Thierstein was the Mount’s Executive Vice President and Provost. The Board of Trustees conducts a national search for the seventh president of Mount St. Joseph University.
On February 25, 2015, Mount freshman Lauren Hill is presented with the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Humane Letters in a private ceremony on campus as she battled an incurable brain tumor. Lauren Hill dies on April 10, 2015. Lauren was a Mount freshman who started her college career in the fall of 2014 with a dream to play college basketball at the Mount. In the summer before college started, she was diagnosed with an incurable brain cancer known as DIPG (Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma). A campus memorial took place on April 10, and public memorial took place on April 13 at Cintas Center that was nationally broadcast. By the time of her death, Lauren Hill raised over $1,000,000 to help find a cure for DIPG.
On May 9, 2015, Mount graduates its first class of graduate and doctoral nursing degree students. 33 MSN (Master of Nursing) candidates and 13 DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice) candidates received their degrees.
The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) conducts a campus visit for the 10-year reaccreditation of Mount St. Joseph University.
In the fall, the new Neeb Road Health Sciences facility is opened. Around October of this year, the Mount’s first Greek fraternity, Delta Tau Delta, begins. In November, the inaugural Lauren Hill tipoff Classic game is held.
2016
On February 29, 2016, the Board of Trustees and Sisters of Charity announced the appointment of Dr. H. James Williams, Ph.D., as the seventh president of Mount St. Joseph University. Dr. Williams and his wife, Carole C. Williams, were introduced to the campus community at an event in Archbishop Alter Library. Dr. Williams assumes his role on March 15, 2016.
The new Liberal Arts major is introduced, which eventually subsumes the English, History, and Religious Studies majors.
2017
President H. James Williams is formally inaugurated. Anthony Ray Hinton is a guest speaker at the Mount (returned for a second visit in 2018).
2018
In January, the Physician Assistant program begins with its first cohort of students.
2019
Ground is broken for the new Recreation and Fitness facility. A renovation of the Mater Dei Chapel is completed, which includes a complete restoration of the pews.
In October, a Founders’ Day celebration kicks off the Centennial Celebration. Author Alan Lightman is a featured speaker.
The Mount decides to establish a chapter of the Theta Alpha Phi sorority.
The Mount receives the “Best Places to Work” award from the Cincinnati Business Courier. Sister Helen Prejean visits the Mount for the second time.
2020
The Mount transitions to online-only courses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
e-Campus becomes the Mount’s official textbook supplier.
The Mount’s campus store is re-branded as “The ROAR Store.” In-person commencement ceremonies are cancelled due to the Pandemic.
2021
The Recreation and Fitness facility is opened and given the name “Centennial Field House.”
President Joe Biden hosts a National “Town Hall” in the MSJ Theatre, moderated by CNN’s Don Lemon.
The first cohort of students is enrolled in the new Doctor Education (Ed.D.) in Reading Science program.
2022
Provost Diana Davis retires in December. Speech and Language Pathology program begins.
The “Catamount” statue is unveiled in front of the Centennial Field House.
The Center for Reading Science opens at the corner of Neeb and Delhi Roads.
Mount wrester Cornell Beachem, Jr. win’s the Mounts first national wrestling championship. MSJ Football team wins HCAC title.
The new Center for Reading Science opens at the corner of Neeb and Delhi Roads.
The first course in the Bachelor of Science in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences program was offered in the spring semester.
Former Cincinnati Bengals NFL player Anthony Munoz is the commencement speaker.
Poet Nikki Giovanni returns to campus for a visit and performs some of her poetry.
2023
Gene Kritsky, Dean of Natural and Behavior Sciences, retires after teaching more than 40 years. Nancy Heinzman, Associate Dean of Nursing, retires after 25 years at the Mount.
Library renovations are completed in August. A new MSJ sign is installed near the parking garage on the east side of campus.
Dr. Steve Almquist is hired as Provost.
The first graduate courses in the Master of Speech-Language Pathology program were offered in the fall semester.
The Mater Dei Chapel hosts a screening of the film “At The End of the Sante Fe Trail,” a dramatization of the life of Sister Blandina Segale.