Thought Leadership from President Anne Prisco

Holy Family University’s motto, teneor votis (“I am bound by my responsibilities”) is with us in all that we do. During Mass at our fall Open House, Fr. Mark Hunt reminded participants that teneor votis is not simply something we ask our students to uphold – it is a foundational principle to which we hold ourselves accountable. I’d like to share some of our latest accomplishments which are reflective of this.

Recently, I was honored to speak on a panel with other women executives about how to better support and advance women and underrepresented minorities in the STEM fields – Science, Technology,
Engineering, and Math. I was proud to highlight that Holy Family’s gender representation in the STEM
fields is above the national average, and that we have increased our minority representation in the STEM fields at a faster pace in recent years. 

Importantly, the group addressed how to educate and support women for careers in technology. At Holy Family, we are making concrete moves to strengthen our STEM programs, and to better prepare students for the STEM jobs of today as well as the careers of tomorrow.

On a related note, cybersecurity jobs are predicted to grow by 35 percent in the next decade, and there are currently nearly half a million cybersecurity jobs that need to be filled. Holy Family is preparing students to excel in the latest tech-related programs – including majors and minors in applied computer science, cybersecurity, digital marketing, and esports & gaming administration. To serve our students on multiple levels, this fall we launched a state-of-the-art Esports Center for competitive and club sport play as well as for hands-on classroom learning. 

But we know strong programming means attention to our facilities. In 2019, Holy Family received a state grant of $866,000 for improvements
on the streets surrounding the University funded by the Multimodal Transportation Fund Program. After much planning and coordination with a host of officials, the University will begin this project in the spring. The project will be used to improve safety and circulation for pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, and vehicles along Frankford Avenue, Grant Avenue, and Stevenson Lane. The improvements will benefit both the Holy Family community and our neighbors as well.

In addition, Holy Family recently received $2 million in Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) funding to offset the
cost of renovations for Holy Family Hall, our very first campus building. Funds will help to create an attractive entrance and showplace in the center of the University campus. The newly revamped space will serve as a central gathering area for students and faculty and a new home for enrollment services, as well as a large community meeting space that provides greater accessibility for those with disabilities.

Additionally, we completed the purchase of Newtown West, a third campus location in Bucks County which will help us to respond to
critical space needs. The University is undergoing a multi-campus space utilization study as part of the planning process.

Near the end of the panel discussion on STEM, Laura Ipsen, CEO of Ellucian, was asked what advice she’d give to a woman who wants to become a CEO. She advised women that having a goal is not enough—you must also have a plan to reach it. 

At Holy Family, our values-based mission and goals are inextricably linked to our practical and cutting-edge curriculum, designed to prepare
students for the workforce and to ensure that we remain one of Northeast Philadelphia’s most diverse, dynamic community institutions.

These collective accomplishments are a demonstration of the commitment of the community to advance Holy Family’s longstanding
mission – and they would not be possible without the support of our alumni and friends. 

Thank you for all that you do in ensuring Holy Family’s important work.

Onward & upward together in faith & family,

Anne Prisco, Ph.D.
President