Carlow University: A Legacy of Ethical Leadership and Notable Alumni

Carlow University, a private Catholic institution in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has a rich history of fostering high-achieving, compassionate, and ethical leaders. Founded in 1929 by the Sisters of Mercy, who arrived in Pittsburgh from County Carlow, Ireland, in 1843, the university has consistently emphasized the importance of combining ethics and mercy in action, inspiring generations of alumni to make significant contributions to their fields and communities. Carlow University enrolled over 2,400 students as of fall 2024.

The Foundation and Growth of Carlow University

The Sisters of Mercy established Mount Mercy College, which held its first commencement ceremony in 1933. Key campus buildings were constructed during the early years, including Aquinas Hall in 1936 and Trinity Hall in 1941. The college admitted men under the G.I. Bill in 1945, with Peter F. In 1948, Antonian Hall opened, providing office, classroom, and theater space. Frances Warde Hall dormitory opened on campus in 1961. Mount Mercy College was renamed Carlow College in 1969. A year later, Curran Hall was renovated to house the nursing school. In 1975, Carlow's mission statement was drafted.

Carlow Laureates: Exemplars of Achievement and Service

Carlow Laureates are alumni whose work, thought, and action demonstrate the highest standards of professional accomplishment and leadership, whether it is in their chosen discipline, in academics, or through community service. Recognition as a Carlow Laureate is a tribute to an individual’s lasting contributions to their field, academics and community.

Several distinguished alumni have been recognized as Carlow Laureates for their exceptional contributions. Stephanie Laurenza, MBA (BA ’11), received the Young Carlow Laureate Award, given to graduates of the 2000s and 2010s. Nancy (Picciano) Zimmerman, PhD, MS, MLS, was honored for her distinguished 42-year career in librarianship and academia, which includes prestigious awards in teaching, research, and service. Chanessa Schuler, BA, was also honored as a Carlow Young Laureate. Barbara L. Gilles, BA, was honored posthumously with the Alumni Award for Distinguished Service to Carlow University. Gilles served the Office of the President for more than 30 years.

Kathleen (Bollen) Gaberson, PhD, RN, CNOR, SNE, ANEF, is recognized for her expertise in academic nursing education and clinical expertise in perioperative nursing. Capt. Reyes also expressed gratitude to the faculty for challenging her and her peers for supporting her, noting that this combination has made it possible for her to feel deserving of this award and that the lessons learned helped guide her decision-making and integrity.

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Notable Alumni Across Various Fields

Carlow University boasts a diverse array of alumni who have made significant impacts in various fields, both in the United States and internationally. EduRank Carlow College is 3390th in the world, 1049th in Europe, and 16th in Ireland by aggregated alumni prominence.

Politics and Activism:

Peter Lalor: An Irish-Australian rebel and politician, Lalor is renowned for his leadership in the Eureka Rebellion, a pivotal event in the "birth of democracy" in Australia. Born in Ireland, he lived from 1827 to 1889.
John O'Leary: An Irish separatist and a leading Fenian, O'Leary was also a journalist and poet. Born in Ireland from 1830 to 1907, he was imprisoned in England for his involvement in the Irish Republican Brotherhood.
Michael O'Hanrahan: An Irish rebel who was executed for his active role in the 1916 Easter Rising. He was born in Ireland and lived from 1877 to 1916.
Willie Redmond: An Irish nationalist politician, barrister, and soldier who served as a Member of Parliament (MP). He was killed in action during World War I. Born in Ireland, he lived from 1861 to 1917.
James Fintan Lalor: An Irish revolutionary, journalist, and writer, Lalor was a leading member of the Irish Confederation (Young Ireland). He played an active role in the Rebellion in July 1848 and the attempted Rising in September of that same year. His writings influenced later Irish leaders such as Michael Davitt, James Connolly, Pádraig Pearse, and Arthur Griffith. Born in Ireland from 1807 to 1849.
Lawrence Geoffrey Power: A Canadian lawyer and politician. Born in Canada and lived from 1841-1921.
Thomas Nangle: A Newfoundland cleric, military chaplain of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment during World War I, diplomat, and later a Rhodesian politician and farmer. Born in Ireland, he lived from 1889 to 1972.

Religion and Theology:

John England: An Irish-born American prelate of the Catholic Church, England served as the first Bishop of Charleston. He was active in the movement for Catholic emancipation in the British Isles and ministered to and provided education for many free and enslaved African-Americans in Charleston. Born in Ireland from 1786 to 1842.
Patrick John Ryan: An Irish-born Catholic prelate who served as Archbishop of Philadelphia from 1884 until his death in 1911. Born in Ireland from 1831 to 1911.
John O'Hanlon: An Irish Catholic priest, scholar, and writer who also published poetry and illustrations. He is best known as a folklorist and a hagiographer, particularly for his comprehensive Lives of the Irish Saints. Born in Ireland from 1821 to 1905.
Andrew Killian: An Irish clergyman and the fourth Archbishop of Adelaide. He moved to Australia, where he became Bishop of Port Augusta before succeeding Robert Spence as Archbishop of Adelaide. Born in Ireland from 1872 to 1939.
James J. Davis: An Irish-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as the third bishop of the Diocese of Davenport in Iowa. He lived from 1852-1926.
Patrick Phelan: Bishop Patrick Phelan DD was Roman Catholic Bishop of Sale, Victoria, Australia. Born in Ireland, he lived from 1856 to 1925.

Medicine and Healthcare:

Thomas Fitzpatrick: Born in Virginia, County Cavan, Ireland, became a prominent London physician and member of the Royal College of Physicians. From a privileged upbringing Thomas was educated at St. Patrick's, Carlow College, a school well noted for turning out many fine Catholic theologians. However his university education at Trinity College, Dublin enabled him to distinguish himself in medicine where he qualified with a BA in 1853, MA in 1854, MB and MD by 1856. During this time Thomas Fitzpatrick also practiced as a doctor in the County Cavan village of Mullagh before entering service during 1856 with the British East India Company as an assistant surgeon, an experience which was to leave a lasting impression on him, through his future attitudes towards primitive medicine, magic and religion. Born in Ireland from 1832 to 1900.
Linda (Lyn) Barry Robertson: Recently retired as the associate director of the UPMC Hillman Cancer Centers after nearly 50 years in nursing and public health. Retirement has not stopped her from being an advocate fighting to right social inequities in healthcare. Her community outreach work focuses on gaining free or low-cost cancer screenings for those in underserved communities. Her devotion to excellence in the field of public health is evidenced by her many awards, including her Nursing Scholarship for Undergraduate Education at Carlow University; the National Honor Society in Public Health for her Ph.D.
Janice Sudak: Was one of the first two students accepted into Carlow’s Perfusion Technology Program, the country’s first collegiate program, and the first to graduate in four years. Certified by the American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion, she began her career as a staff perfusionist in Missouri before moving to Florida, where she advanced to Chief Perfusionist at Memorial Healthcare System in Hollywood, FL. The program expanded and so did her caseload, which grew to 1,200 open heart cases per year. She developed a technique for hemodiafiltration during cardiopulmonary bypass and presented a paper at national and regional conferences. Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003, she was forced to retire for medical reasons, but once her treatment was complete, she volunteered for Gilda’s Club, an organization that supported her while she was going through treatment and used her medical background for community outreach at corporate events and medical conferences.
Nancy Wisnom Stuever: Held positions as an urgent and critical care nurse in many locations across the country before becoming a self-employed nursing consultant. She has always been active in the communities where she lived and worked. In the 1980s, she served on the Board of Directors for the California League for Nursing. In the 1990s, Nancy was on the Ocean View School District school board in Huntington Beach, CA. She was also named in the 6th edition of “Who’s Who in American Nursing” in 1996-97. She has also been devoted to her alma mater, serving as National Chair of the President’s Society during Carlow’s Annual Fund Campaigns. She has served as a Class Representative and as a member of the Alumnae Board. She continues to be involved in the President’s Leadership Council. In 2007, Nancy and her husband, Larry, established The Maysie E. Wisnom Endowed Scholarship in honor of Nancy’s mother.

Business and Leadership:

Deeawn Roundtree: Is the CEO of Roundtree Training and Consulting, an author, leadership coach, trainer and speaker. Throughout her career, she has worked for a Pittsburgh utility company, as a pharmacy sales rep, and has held several positions in academia. Possessed with an entrepreneurial spirit, she formed her own company and is devoted to teaching individuals, groups, and corporations how to shift individuals’ perspectives of themselves and others, effectively improving communications skills to help create a more just and merciful world. The recipient of numerous awards and accolades, she is a member of various civil and professional organizations whose mission is to enhance or elevate the communities they serve.
Stephanie Laurenza: Is the recipient of the Young Carlow Laureate Award, an award given to graduates of the 2000s and 2010s. In addition, she co-managed the company’s brand refresh, which included brand and identity guidelines, facility signage and collateral, managed a digital asset management library, and more. She co-led communication efforts for labor and contract negotiations, creating content for supervisors and guiding them in productive ways to talk with their employees. In addition to her work within her organization, she oversees external partnerships and projects, including social media, design, and video production. Before joining ATI, Stephanie worked at Westinghouse as a Senior Communications Specialist, where she was the architect of the “Who is Westinghouse?” campaign, designed to re-establish Westinghouse’s presence and reputation with internal employees and externally in the community. A member of Carlow’s writing group, “Madwomen in the Attic,” Stephanie, who is a member of the Madwomen of the Attic writing group, has remained active at her alma mater as a co-chair of Carlow’s Alumni Council.

Military:

Thomas Kelly-Kenny: General Sir Thomas Kelly-Kenny was a British Army general who served in the Second Boer War. He lived from 1840-1914.

Carlow University Today

Carlow University is organized into the College of Arts and Sciences, and the College of Health and Wellness. The university has three campuses-Oakland, Cranberry, and Greensburg. The main campus in Oakland spans 13 acres and includes 14 buildings, such as Frances Warde Hall and the Palumbo Hall of Science and Technology. The Sisters of Mercy Convent is a Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation historic landmark and motherhouse for nearly 150 Sisters of Mercy. St. Agnes Church was built in 1916-17 and designed by noted Pittsburgh-based ecclesiastical architect John T. Comès.

The Carlow athletic teams are called the Celtics. The university is a member of NCAA Division III, competing in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference since 2023. They are also a member of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association. Carlow competes in 17 intercollegiate varsity sports. The Carlow University Centre for Academic Achievement (CAA) provides tutoring and academic support to students in math, science, writing, and learning skills. There are a wide variety of clubs and organisations on offers to student of Carlow University, which span music, theatre, sports languages and many more. The university offers students a variety of undergraduate programmes, which include: accounting, criminal justice, political science, psychology, and information technology management.

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