Niagara University to Honor Sr. Mary Rose McGeady, DC

Niagara University will hold its annual Vincentian Heritage Convocation on Tuesday, Jan. 27, at 4 p.m. in Alumni Chapel on the university’s campus. This year’s keynote speaker is Sister Mary Rose McGeady, D.C., the former CEO of Covenant House. Sister McGeady has devoted her career to serving the needs of children. She will receive the university’s Caritas Medal at the convocation.
Established in 1965 in honor of St. Vincent de Paul, founder of the Vincentian Community of Priests and Brothers, the bronze Caritas Medal is awarded annually to honor contemporary leaders who exemplify the charity of St. Vincent in an extraordinary way. The Vincentian Mission Award will also be given out at the convocation to two Niagara University community members: Fran Boltz, coordinator of the Niagara University Community Action Program (NUCAP), and Dr. Jacqueline Murphy, associate professor of education.

A native of Pennsylvania, Sister McGeady entered the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul in 1946. After earning a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Emmanuel College of Boston, Mass., and a master’s degree in clinical psychology at Fordham University in New York City, she pursued doctoral studies in the same field at Fordham and at the University of Massachusetts.

Her professional career began at the Nazareth Child Care Center in Boston, where she spent nine years working with homeless and disturbed children and their families. From 1958 to 1966, she served as executive director of the Astor Home and Clinic for Children in Rhinebeck, N.Y., a treatment center for disturbed children and youth.

In 1971, Sister McGeady began her work at the Brooklyn Catholic Charities office. From 1973 to 1979, she was director of mental health services and regional director for Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Brooklyn. In 1979, she became executive director of the Kennedy Child Study Center in New York City. Two years later, she was appointed provincial of the Daughters of Charity. She held this position for six years, overseeing the work of her order in nine hospitals, 17 schools, five child care agencies and other projects across 11 states.

In 1987, Sister McGeady became associate executive director of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Brooklyn, with responsibility for a network of services in Queens County, an annual budget of nearly $40 million, and a staff of more than 800. Under her leadership, the organization addressed the needs of the homeless, the mentally ill, distressed families, youth and the aged.

In 1990, Sister McGeady was appointed president and chief executive officer of Convenant House by the agency’s board of directors. In this post, she directed the $75-million program that, at that time, operated shelters in 15 cities in the United States, Canada and Latin America, serving approximately 28,000 children a year.

In 1991, Sister McGeady was the keynote speaker at Niagara University’s 134th commencement. She was presented with the university’s honorary degree of doctor of humane letters in recognition of the “courage and resolve she displayed in accepting the leadership of Convenant House” and in admiration of devoting her life to the plight of the poor and less fortunate. Sister McGeady served as CEO of Covenant House for 13 years. Under her leadership, Covenant House expanded to 21 cities in the U.S. and to six foreign nations, ministering to 60,000 troubled children a year. In August of 2002, she relinquished leadership of the organization. Today, she works on special research studies as a staff member of her order’s provincial team.

Fran Boltz has served in her current position at Niagara University since August of 1998. As NUCAP coordinator and a member of the Learn and Serve Niagara office, she is responsible for the placement, monitoring and evaluation of Niagara University students in community service sites. She is also in charge of the planning and implementation of “one-day” activities.

Prior to joining the NU community, Boltz spent 30 years in teaching positions in New York state schools. She earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education at St. John’s University and a master’s degree in educational administration from the State University of New York at Binghamton. She also did further studies in learning disabilities.

As the recipient of the November 2002 employee of the month award, Boltz was praised by her Niagara University colleagues for her tireless and good-natured dedication to serving others. One of the nominations stated, “Fran is totally committed to the ideals and mission of Niagara University. She is energetic, enthusiastic, and thorough in her work, always going well beyond what is expected. Students routinely seek her out for guidance as she is never too busy to spend time with a student in need.” Dr. Marilynn Fleckenstein, director of Learn and Serve Niagara, added, “Fran is an exceptional member of the NU community. She has managed to get to know almost every student on campus, inviting and encouraging each to get involved in service through NUCAP. Students are drawn to her dynamic and compassionate personality.”

Of her lifelong work with children and young adults, Boltz said, “There is nothing that kids can’t do, NU students in particular. They’re wonderful! It’s gratifying enjoying their support of the Vincentian mission of this university.” Boltz is board chair of the

Center City Neighborhood Development Corp., which provides housing for people in Niagara Falls. She is also on the board of the Heart and Soul Food Pantry of Niagara Falls.

Dr. Jacqueline Murphy has been a member of the faculty of Niagara University’s College of Education for 12 years. She started as an adjunct professor and moved into a full-time post in the college’s department of teacher education. “I teach teachers to instruct students with special needs, an exciting area to contribute to,” she noted.

Previously, Dr. Murphy worked as an assistant supervisor of special education at Erie I BOCES and as a client program coordinator at the West Seneca Developmental Center. She was earlier a teacher and development specialist at the West Seneca Developmental Center and a special coordinator for Upjohn Health Services. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in elementary education and special education at the State University of New York College at Buffalo and went on to earn her doctorate in special education from the State University of New York at Buffalo.

As the mother of six adopted children, Dr. Murphy said that her children are the “joy of her life.” The children range in age from 10 to 24 and come from South Korea and the U.S. She has also been a foster mother to six children who are now grown, including two brothers from Viet Nam.

A tireless and enthusiastic advocate for children with special needs, Dr. Murphy volunteers for the Friedreich’s Ataxia Group, helping raise funds to find a cure for Friedreich’s Ataxia, a rare, degenerative neuromuscular disease. Last September, she helped coordinate the group’s “Walk to Seek a Miracle,” co-sponsored by Wegman’s and
the Muscular Dystrophy Association. She also volunteers for Canine Helpers for the Handicapped, a local non-profit group dedicated to training dogs to assist people with disabilities, and serves as secretary for the Council for Exceptional Children.

The Vincentian Mission Award is given annually to one or more members of the Niagara University community who demonstrate the values of St. Vincent de Paul. St. Vincent dedicated his life to serving the basic spiritual, material and educational needs of people. He fulfilled his mission in a manner remarkable for his faith and charity.