This time of year has a way of slowing the Carlow community down just enough to notice the small things. As the days get shorter and the campus settles into its late-autumn rhythm, we’re reminded of how much there is to be thankful for.
So, as Thanksgiving approaches, we’re pausing to reflect on the gratitude that sustains our work and connects us to one another. Last year, President Humphrey reminded us of the power of giving thanks. This year, our three deans share what they are most grateful for: moments of growth, communities of support, and the people who make Carlow’s mission come to life. Their words remind us that gratitude is not only a holiday practice, but a way of leading with purpose every day.
Dr. Rhonda Maneval, College of Health and Wellness
First and foremost, I am thankful for our students, who have chosen to dedicate their education and future careers to improving the health and well-being of others. Each one embodies the Carlow spirit through compassion, perseverance, and a deep desire to make a difference in the world. Our students’ commitment to serving others and bettering our communities inspires all of us who have the privilege of teaching and supporting them.
I am equally grateful for our exceptional faculty and staff, who go above and beyond every day to meet students where they are and to guide them with empathy, expertise, and unwavering support. Their mentorship fosters an environment where learning is not only rigorous but also nurturing—where every student feels valued and encouraged to grow both personally and professionally.
Finally, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to our alumni, community partners, and leaders, whose generosity and commitment sustain our mission. Through scholarships, grants, and gifts of time and wisdom, they help us create opportunities for students and strengthen the programs that prepare the next generation of healthcare professionals. We could not do this work without them.
This season, as we reflect on our blessings, may we be reminded that gratitude deepens our sense of purpose and strengthens our connections to one another.
“Gratitude turns a meal into a feast, a house into a home, and a stranger into a friend.”– Inspired by Melody Beattie
Dr. Matthew Gordley, College of Arts and Sciences
First, I am so grateful for our faculty and staff who put students first and work so hard to embody Carlow’s mission in the work they do every day. It is truly a gift to be able to work at a university where we all share a sense of the importance of our work because we are changing the lives of students and their communities through transformative education.
Second, I am grateful for our record high enrollment this fall, which tells us we are really doing something right when it comes to creating high quality academic programs that align with the interests of students and the needs of our region. Record enrollment has created incredible energy and atmosphere on campus too. Carlow students bring such energy, enthusiasm, and heart to our campus, and I love how they bring that same energy to their communities of practices as they leave as alumni. The fact that we have record-high enrollment this fall has created such a sense of positive energy and momentum. We all need that momentum as we reach the final weeks of the term.
Third, I am grateful for the Sisters of Mercy. Their vision for higher education, their commitment to meeting the next great need, and their creativity and compassion in living out their faith in a way that exudes mercy, are all so inspiring to me. I am grateful to play a role in sustaining their legacy through the work I do, and I am grateful that we have their values and example to guide us as we face today’s challenges.
Dr. Keely Baronak, College of Education and Social Work
This year, I am deeply thankful for the opportunity to lead our new College of Education and Social Work and to represent an incredible team of faculty, staff, teachers, and students of all ages. The creation of this college has already begun forming new partnerships, sparking new projects, and deepening collaborative work across disciplines.
I am grateful for the momentum across our academic programs, from the second year of our EdD Program to the launch of our first EdD Summer Institute. With 43 scholar-practitioners enrolled and engaged in research across a myriad of disciplines, this program reflects exactly the kind of inquiry-minded, purpose-driven work our college strives for. I am also celebrating the expansion of three fully online undergraduate programs in special education, social work, and early development and learning. We believe deeply in accessible and affordable options for degree completion, and these pathways are already opening doors for so many learners.
Our year has also been shaped by extraordinary community support. A four-million-dollar grant commitment from the Peirce Family Foundation is advancing teacher knowledge of dyslexia and strengthening interventions for students who need them most. That commitment was on full display at our Dyslexia Conference, a sold-out event with 200 attendees representing higher education institutions, private and Catholic schools, public school districts, community organizations, state partners, private tutors, and parents. I am sincerely thankful for everyone who attended and contributed.
I am also thankful for the continued excellence and care embodied by our laboratory schools. The Campus Lab School earned MESA Accreditation this year, affirming the integration of mercy values throughout the curriculum. Our supportive PTA continues to provide mini-grants, special programming, athletic support, and so many thoughtful gestures that uplift our teachers. At the Early Learning Center, our team celebrated a STAR 4 designation, the highest accreditation rating available, along with continued NEYC accreditation. And within the School of Social Work, we are celebrating the largest MSW program in Carlow’s history, including our greatest number of newly recruited students to date.
Finally, I am incredibly grateful to the service-based departments across campus who make our academic work possible. HR, Advancement, Marketing, Student Accounts, Financial Aid, Enrollment, IR&A, and our Finance team. All of these colleagues support us in countless ways. Their commitment ensures that our students, faculty, and staff can do their best work, and I am thankful every day for their partnership.