Sister Rosemarie Nassif, SSND Leaves Presidency of Holy Names University

by Constance Dalton

Sister Rosemarie Nassif, SSND. Photo courtesy Holy Names University.

When Sister Rosemarie Nassif, SSND became President of Holy Names University, it was just the most recent stop in a long, colorful life devoted to faith and education.' Sister Rosemarie has been a professor; a Councilor of her order, the School Sisters of Notre Dame; Co-Vicar for Religious in her home diocese, the Archdiocese of St. Louis, MO; and President of the College of Notre Dame of Maryland in Baltimore.' Sister knows from schools!

When she came to Holy Names on' May 1, 1999, she knew that the Holy Names Sisters had always been committed to serving those who were under-represented in higher education.' In 1868, this meant women.' In 1999 and in 2010, it means those whose economic or cultural background has not included plans to go to college.' Holy Names is now ranked first in diversity among institutions conferring the master's degree in the West (The U.S. News & World Report 2008 Edition of America's Best Colleges). Additionally 48 percent of their undergraduate students qualify for Pell Grants, and the University gives multiple financial aid awards.

Sister also has a personal commitment that the university should invest in its strengths.' There are now 17 areas in which to develop undergraduate majors, and eight areas in which to earn a master's degree. For decades at' Holy Names, there have been strong science and nursing programs.' These include not only premed and predental undergraduate degrees, but participation with Samuel Merritt University in the "2+2" program, in which students take two years at Holy Names and finish with two years at Merritt.' This results in a BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) degree.' HNU also has the ability to transmit classes live to Catholic Healthcare West, making it possible for working nurses to continue degree programs.'

Sister Rosemarie is a "do as I do, not as I say" kind of person.' HNU students can apply for a program in which they travel to Tutweiler, Mississippi, the poorest area of the United States, over spring break to build houses for Habitat for Humanity.' Sister is 69 and she can mud a wall and apply siding with the best of them.' The HNU community frequently expresses how much they are going to miss her, as Sister Rosemarie turns to a year of professional development, spiritual retreat, and time with her family.' HNU has established a scholarship in her mother's name, the Frieda Mary Nassif Scholarship. Mrs. Nassif is 95 and full of resilience and enthusiasm!

Sister's legacy will be in the thousands of students who have been enriched by Holy Names in the eleven years of her administration.' For those of us living in Oakland or the Bay Area, it will also be in the improved facilities she has built during successful capital campaigns.' HNU has "moved the Mission forward" in new science labs, new technology labs, a new café and student center, a Center for Social Justice and Civic Engagement, a renovated dining hall, and improvements in the residential halls.' Holy Names University has been a valued Oakland resource for 142 years, and with Sister Rosemarie's polishing of that resource, it is once again a Bay Area gem.

You can contact HNU at 510-436-1000 or HYPERLINK "http://www.hnu.edu" www.hnu.edu.