Sr. Clare Fitzgerald, SSND, PhD spoke at CDH on September 21
September 14, 2015
The CDH Community enjoyed an inspirational presentation by Sister Clare Fitzgerald, SSND, Ph.D: Catholic Education in the Age of Pope Francis on September 21 at 7:00 p.m., at Cretin-Derham Hall in the Commons.
We are thrilled to host such a world renowned and engaging speaker, especially the week of Pope Francis' visit to the U.S. She has a valuable message for today’s families. She speaks passionately about the role of Catholic education today and inspires audiences with a fresh sense of pride in being a Catholic today – and affirms the unique sacrifice families make in order to choose Catholic education for your child.
Sister Clare Fitzgerald is a native Bostonian and the third eldest of an Irish family of six children. She received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from the College of Notre Dame in Maryland, earned her Master’s Degree at Catholic University in Washington, DC, and was awarded a Doctorate of Philosophy by St. Louis University.
She has taught at all levels of education, and served for nine years as Chair of the American Studies Department at Fairfield University, and for twelve years as the founding Director of the Catholic Leadership Program, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, at Boston College. She has lectured and presented workshops on Catholic education around the world.
Sister Clare is member of the Northeast Province of the School Sisters of Notre Dame, and has distinguished herself by not only effective but also generous and outstanding service to communities of all faiths. Her national leadership positions are numerous, and include President of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, and the Appointee to the Vatican Commission on the Study of Religious Life.
Her distinguished service earned Sister Clare the National Catholic Educational Association’s highest commendation for service to Catholic education and the Church three different times. She is also the recipient of the prestigious William H. Sadlier Dinger Award for distinguished contributions to Catholic education and leadership, and the C. Albert Koop Award for her commitment for excellence and scholarship in the training of Catholic education leaders in the United States.