PITTSBURGH, PA — Carlow University is proud to announce that Sister Sheila Carney, RSM, will serve as keynote speaker for its 2026 Commencement. She will be presented with an honorary degree at the ceremony, to be held on Saturday, May 9, at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh.
A Carlow alum, Sister Sheila has served for the past 18 years as the University’s Special Assistant to the President for Mercy Heritage & Service. In this role, she has been instrumental in advancing Mercy identity, deepening mission integration, and expanding community-engaged initiatives across campus. As a Sister of Mercy of the Americas for 58 years, she has served the Church and her community in a wide range of leadership, educational, and ministerial roles at the local, regional, national, and international levels.
“Sister Sheila embodies the very best of us,” said Carlow President Kathy Humphrey, PhD. “Her impact on Carlow is both profound and deeply personal. As an alum, a Sister of Mercy, and a trusted member of our leadership community, she has helped define what it means to live our mission each day. As our graduates prepare to take the next step, they will hear from someone who has spent her life putting mercy into action.”
Among her many contributions at Carlow, Sister Sheila founded the Carlow Food Pantry, serving both the campus and the surrounding community, and secured grant funding from McAuley Ministries to establish The Braided Community, an intergroup dialogue initiative bringing together the Sisters of Mercy, Carlow community members, and West Oakland neighbors to foster understanding, shared learning, and meaningful engagement.
An internationally known speaker and retreat director, Sister Sheila is the co-author of Praying with Catherine McAuley and has published extensively on spirituality, mission, and religious life. Her writings have appeared in numerous journals and edited volumes, including The Journal of Catholic Higher Education, The Journal of the Mercy Association in Scripture and Theology, Downside Review, and Charities USA.
Sister Sheila has served on the boards of numerous Mercy health systems, chaired the Conference for Mercy Higher Education, founded and chaired the Board of Well of Mercy in North Carolina, and currentlysits on the Board of McAuley Ministries. She also serves as Vice Postulator for the Cause for the Canonization of Catherine McAuley.
A native of Pittsburgh, Sister Sheila is a graduate of Our Lady of Mercy Academy, Mount Mercy College (now Carlow University), and Saint Vincent Seminary, with additional studies at the National University of Ireland, the ARC Program in Rome, and Duquesne University. Earlier this year, she was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Association of Catholic Colleges & Universities.
About Carlow University
Carlow is a private, co-educational, Catholic university located at the hub of Pittsburgh’s most cutting-edge industries. Founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1929, Carlow’s curricula and partnerships reflect its strong commitment to forward-thinking leadership and impactful service to the community.
At Carlow University, we strive to create an experience that is not only life-changing, but world-changing. Carlow graduates are prepared to be pioneers in workforce development, healthcare, education, business, the arts, and more. They are part of a nearly one-hundred-year tradition of ethical leaders with the empathy and spirit to create meaningful societal change. Rooted in unity and led by compassion, we are redefining what a leader looks like —and it looks like a Carlow graduate.
Contact
Carlow University
John Cardone, VP of Marketing and Communications
412-578-6100
jvcardone@carlow.edu