In the autumn of 1929, Pittsburgh was a city of steel and smoke. The nation was heading for economic collapse, yet the Sisters of Mercy looked beyond the uncertainty of the moment. On a hilltop in Oakland, they opened the doors of a new college. Their vision was clear: education rooted in compassion, leadership grounded in service, and a community devoted to building a more just and merciful world.
What began as an act of faith in a turbulent time has become a legacy nearly a century long.
Ninety-six years later, that same spirit still defines Carlow. It lives in classrooms, laboratories, and studios. It lives in the way faculty guide students into new possibilities. The Sisters’ vision is alive in every lesson, every discovery, every act of encouragement.
For today’s students, Carlow is not just a stop along the way but a place of belonging. “Carlow has always been more than a place to learn. It’s been home,” said Ashley Cole, who first arrived as a nursing student and is now director of the BSN program. Her story reflects what generations of students discover here: a community that recognizes their gifts and helps them grow into who they are meant to be.
That sense of purpose extends far beyond graduation. Alumni carry Carlow’s mission into their careers and communities, shaping lives with what they first experienced on campus. As alum and current Swissvale borough councilwoman Angela Stribling explained, “Carlow gave me the tools, the mentorship, and the confidence to step into leadership roles I never imagined for myself.” Her journey is a reminder that Carlow prepares not only skilled professionals, but leaders who serve with courage and compassion.
As Carlow looks ahead to its centennial, that vision is carried forward by the entire community. Sister Sheila captured it simply: “Every student who walks through these doors is a reminder of why we serve—because mercy begins with me, and with all of us.” It is this spirit of service and renewal that ensures Carlow’s mission endures, even as the University grows and adapts to meet the future.
The Sisters of Mercy could not have known all that would follow when they opened that first classroom in 1929. Yet their vision continues to guide us. Each student, alum, faculty member, and staff member is part of this unfolding story.
At 96 years strong, Carlow is not only honoring its past. It is carrying the mission into tomorrow—devoted, as always, to creating a more just and merciful world.