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Mount St. Mary’s University Names Gerard J. Joyce, Ph.D. as Its 27th President

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The Mount St. Mary’s University Board of Trustees announced that Gerard “Jerry” J. Joyce, Ph.D. (pictured right), will be the 27th president in the university’s 215-year history. Joyce, a 32-year higher education veteran, currently serves as executive vice president of DeSales University. He will join the Mount effective July 1, 2024.

In announcing the board’s unanimous choice that followed a nationwide search, Board Chair Gracelyn McDermott, C’93, said that Joyce will be an excellent leader for the next chapter in the history of America’s oldest independent Catholic university. She noted that trustees praised Joyce’s collaborative nature, as evidenced by the many partnerships he has established with healthcare systems, and strategic thinking prowess that enabled DeSales to achieve the largest first-year classes for two consecutive years in an increasingly challenging higher education landscape.

“The Mount is preparing to open the School of Health Professions, further expand our growing interdisciplinary and STEM programs, continue to grow undergraduate enrollment, and develop new online learning programs,” McDermott said. “With his dedication to academic distinction, drive for mission-oriented expansion, and commitment to the values inherent in Catholic education, Jerry is prepared to lead the university into the future.”

In expressing his feelings about being named president of the Mount, Joyce stated: “I am deeply honored and excited to be chosen as the 27th president of Mount St. Mary’s University and to build upon the extraordinary legacy of President Trainor. Under his leadership, the university has evolved to meet the changing needs of our students. The School of Health Professions is a testament to Mount St. Mary’s commitment to forward-thinking education and responsiveness to societal needs. As we stand at this exciting juncture, I am committed to leveraging our storied past to propel us into a future where Mount St. Mary’s continues to flourish as an institution that nurtures innovation, community, and excellence.”

“I eagerly anticipate leading the university in this transformative era, ensuring that we remain well-poised to offer an education that is both rooted in the Catholic Liberal Arts tradition and attuned to the evolving landscape of higher education,” Joyce said. “I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Board of Trustees for entrusting me with the responsibility of leading this esteemed institution.”

As the first non-clergy president in DeSales history, Joyce was instrumental in the strategic planning and developing of new programs. During his tenure as interim president, DeSales experienced tremendous enrollment growth and enhanced DeSales academic portfolio with revenue-generating academic programs.

Under Joyce’s guidance as executive vice president, DeSales raised and redistributed funds to offer more than $40 million in scholarships and grants for students, and developed its first branding platform. He also managed the university’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Like the Mount, DeSales successfully brought students back to campus in the fall of 2020 and experienced enrollment growth.

Joyce’s previous roles have included serving as vice president for student life and dean of enrollment management. He has implemented innovative student recruitment strategies, developed character-building programs, and established international education initiatives. As an adjunct instructor, he taught courses on education philosophy, ethics, leadership, and decision-making.

Joyce holds a doctorate in education administration and policy studies from The Catholic University of America. He earned his masters degree in education from Kutztown University, and his bachelor’s degree in finance from DeSales University. He served as chair of the Allentown Diocese Board of Education for eight years.

Joyce and his wife, Erin, a nurse practitioner, have five children: Isabella, 22; Liam, 20; Aidan, 17; Amelia, 14; and Adeline, 7. The family includes a dog named Shamrock.

MSMU Launches Capital Campaign Fundraiser

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Richard D. L. Fulton

Mount Saint Mary’s University (MSMU) launched its $50 million capital campaign. “Our Mission, Our Moment, Our Mount,” geared towards financing the School of Health Professions and investing in the Science, Technology Engineering, and Math (STEM) programs and facilities.

Mount President Timothy Trainor stated, “Our mission calls us to help our students find the intersection of their passion and talents and then shape their path to leading a life of significance,” adding, “We’re evolving in ways that provide new pathways that emphasize the Mount way – ethical and creative decision-making, compassionate care, and respect for all people.”

“Together we can achieve our campaign goals that position the Mount for the next 100 years and serve our community,” he stated.

Bob Brennan, MSMU Vice President for University Advancement, stated, “We are deeply grateful for the commitment our donors have made to the Our Mount campaign to this point,“ further noting, “Alumni, federal and state government, foundations and other friends of the Mount believe in our mission, leadership and vision for the future. This campaign will build on our success and continue our growth in the coming years.”

Donna Klinger, Executive Director of Communications, reported, “A major portion has already been committed toward the $50 million goal. The campaign is among the most ambitious and impactful fundraising efforts in the university’s 215-year history.”

Regarding the School of Health Professions (which will also include a Center for Clinician Well-Being) aspect of the fundraiser, that school will be made transformational for students, the university and Frederick County by helping students answer the call to serve and helping to bring about changes to patient and provider care, according to Klinger. “The school will evolve to include master’s level nursing and other healthcare programs,” she stated. 

The Mount is partnering with the Daughters of Charity and that the Daughters have offered an “in-kind gift of a wing of St. Joseph Provincial House” for the School of Health, allowing the MSMU to “expand its footprint in Emmitsburg.’ Klinger said.  The Daughters of Charity will offer mentors and scholarships, while Care for America will teach students how to care for underserved patients.

“This element of the program dovetails with the missions of the Mount and the Daughters by seeking to graduate healthcare providers who possess the desire to provide equitable and compassionate care and the ability to thrive in difficult work environments,” the Executive Director of Communications stated.

The campaign also focuses on $20 million in improvements to the university’s STEM facilities, which the university has outgrown,” Klinger said, adding, “The Mount has experienced significant growth in science and technology programs and the funds will be used to create state-of-the-art labs and teaching spaces to meet the demands of future learners.”

The three-story, 50,100 square-foot Coad Science Building, built in 1964, serves the School of Natural Science and Mathematics. Planned facilities’ improvements will commence with a 21,000-square-foot addition to the existing space that will house neuroscience, computational, and research labs as well as collaborative learning spaces.

The second phase will build additional science labs, classrooms, and research spaces. The third phase will focus on the renovation of the existing space in Coad, she stated.

The new classroom and lab spaces will be technology-rich, multi-use, flexible, and configurable for a variety of instructional formats and class sizes. Specific goals for the building addition include a design that promotes circulation and spontaneous interaction; is flexible and adaptable; and provides natural light where STEM students and faculty in action can see and be seen.

The additional space will also allow for increased programs with local STEM industry partners.

A third focus of the campaign addresses the recent growth and success of the Mount’s athletic programs. The university has doubled the number of athletes in its NCAA Division-I program in just six years and netted 17 conference titles and nine NCAA tournament appearances in that same period.