Embracing Change, Seen and Unseen
As I write this letter, spring is just beginning. Pink azaleas festoon the entrance of Holy Family Hall, students gather in blue Adirondack chairs outside the Campus Center, and a palpable energy fills the air as we approach our 68th commencement ceremony. This year, change is more than seasonal; it is structural, academic, and deeply personal. A new fieldhouse is rising, renovations buzz at our Newtown West Campus, and we are expanding our academic horizons with new programs in nursing, exercise and sports science, and a new interdisciplinary program in philosophy, political science, economics, and sociology. Each of these projects represents growth, investment, and the promise of what’s to come.
As an economist, I often find it easiest to talk about change in terms of numbers. Holy Family’s enrollment has surged 59% over the past two years—an unrivaled level of growth in our region. Revenue from charitable gifts and government grants has doubled in just five years, from $3 million to $6 million. These figures tell a powerful story of progress, demand, and confidence in our mission.
I can also quantify the impact of a Holy Family degree. Our graduates are entering a job market eager for their talents, and on average, they will earn significantly more over their lifetimes than if they had not pursued higher education. Their degrees will unlock in-demand careers, fueling economic mobility for themselves and their families. These are measurable, tangible outcomes that make a compelling case for the value of a university education.
Yet not all transformation can be captured in statistics. The most profound change taking place this spring is not in our buildings or programs, but in the lives of the 453 graduates preparing to cross the commencement stage. Their journey has been far more than an accumulation of knowledge or credentials. It has been a process of personal evolution — of learning to think critically, appreciate different viewpoints, persist through setbacks, and ultimately, discover meaning in their work and their lives.
What they have gained at Holy Family is not just preparation for a career, but preparation for a life of curiosity, resilience, and purpose. These are changes that cannot be charted on a graph, yet they are the ones that matter most.
In this issue of Holy Family Magazine, we explore metamorphosis in many forms. From Dr. Katharine Croce’s personal journey in applied behavioral analysis to the latest developments in our advancement office, change is at the heart of our story.
As we celebrate our graduates and the many transformations unfolding on campus, I invite you to reflect on your own evolution — whether you became a part of Holy Family last year or 50 years ago. Who were you then, and who you are becoming now? Change is not always easy, but it is always an opportunity.
Onward & upward together in faith & family,
Anne Prisco, Ph.D.
President