The media relations team serves as the primary contact for all media inquiries for the Philadelphia and Newtown campus locations. The team collects and shares Holy Family University news with the press and gathers information about the University community.
The press is encouraged to contact the media relations team to interview faculty experts in a variety of fields.
For general media inquiries, please contact communications@holyfamily.edu.
For Athletics media inquiries, please contact Zachary Durham, sports information director, at 267-341-3482 or zdurham@holyfamily.edu.
Director | Marketing & Communications
Marian Hall, Second Floor
Holy Family University Vice President for Mission and Diversity Sister Rita Fanning, CSFN, recently provided personal tours of the campus to Provincial Superior Sister Greta Marie Gallo and General Councilor Sister Marie Fe, with a stop in for a visit with Holy Family University President Dr. Anne Prisco.
Holy Family University graduate John Corcoran ’23, a student in the University’s 4+1 Criminal Justice to MBA with Criminal Justice Administration concentration, was sworn in as one of the four new police officers joining the Bensalem Township Police Department on September 25.
Undergraduate Senior (2024) and 4+2 School Counseling Graduate Student (2026) Major: Psychology Minor: Mental Health Services and Sociology
Six art students from Holy Family University, under the direction of Fine Arts Coordinator Pamela Flynn, will unveil the outdoor installation of their original artwork at Philadelphia’s Faith and Liberty Discovery Center (FLDC) during a ceremony at the museum on Saturday, October 14 at 11 a.m. The murals will be on display indefinitely at the Center. The unveiling is part of the inaugural “Faith and Liberty Day” celebration of Pennsylvania founding father William Penn’s birthday (October 14, 1644). Entrance fees to the Center will be waived for the celebration.
Holy Family University recently was welcomed into the Partnership for Academic Library Collaboration and Innovation (PALCI) as one of the consortium’s now membership of 74 academic and research libraries.
The pomp and circumstance of a traditional convocation was amplified on September 15 when Holy Family University President Anne Prisco, Ph.D. greeted the University’s largest first-year class during a ceremony in the Campus Center.
Holy Family University students were encouraged to take a wellness break and stop by a Wellness Fair sponsored by the Student Life Office on September 13 on the Northeast Philadelphia campus. University and community groups set up tables and provided important information, helpful tips and great giveaways – all with an emphasis on student wellness and wellbeing.
Holy Family University Sends Greetings of “L’Shanah Tovah” or “A Good Year” to our Jewish Students, Staff and Community Celebrating Rosh Hashanah
Holy Family University will launch the fourth year of its Distinguished Writers Series when it welcomes former Philadelphia Poet Laureate Yolanda Wisher on Wednesday, October 4, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. in the Education and Technology Center Auditorium (9801 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19114).
Holy Family University celebrated 29 members of the Class of 2027 who joined the University’s Honors Program during an induction ceremony on Friday, September 8, 2023.
The Holy Family University community joined the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth in prayer and celebration of the Feast of Blessed Stella and her 10 companions on September 4, 2023. The 11 Sisters were killed by Nazi soldiers in the summer of 1943, after serving the people of Nowogródek, a small village that was then part of occupied Poland. They were beatified in 2000.
Holy Family University’s Center for Academic Enhancement and Office of Mission and Diversity are pleased to announce the continuation of free English as a Second Language (ESL) classes for immigrants in the community. The classes, offered in-person on the University’s Northeast campus (9801 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19114), as well as online, have been expanded beyond just the Ukrainian population that they serviced last year.
Holy Family University rolled out the welcome mat for a record number of resident students during move-in weekend August 24-25, 2023. For the first time in University history, every bed is accounted for across all residence halls. And this means an exciting new schedule of student engagement activities for resident and non-resident students -- from club sports, to leadership activities on and off campus, to meaningful service projects and opportunities for students to form lifelong relationships with one another. The University, rated the Safest Campus in Philadelphia for 2023, also celebrated the largest enrollment of first-year and transfer students in history.
With fanfare – and flavor! – Holy Family University President Dr. Anne Prisco joined Nick Bayer, Founder & CEO of Saxbys, and the University’s inaugural Student Cafe Executive Officer (SCEO) senior management and marketing major Beth Montgomery in the cutting of the ribbon to open the newest location of Saxbys at the Northeast Philadelphia campus.
Hello! I’m Elizabeth Montgomery, a senior management/marketing major here at Holy Family University. I grew up in the Bustleton area of Philadelphia and now live around the corner from Holy Family’s main campus. Holy Family has been a part of my life for longer than I’ve even been a student here! My sister, Sarah Montgomery, graduated from Holy Family’s neuroscience program in 2020. It is my honor to continue my family’s legacy as a part of the Holy Family community.
Holy Family University nursing students taking the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) in the second quarter of 2023 (April-June) passed the rigorous examination at their first opportunity with an average score of 91.38 percent, far exceeding the national pass rate of 80 percent. The nationwide examination is required of nurses in the United States to attain mandatory licenses for employment.
Beltre is among 21 nursing students in the State to be awarded a Nursing Foundation of Pennsylvania (NFP) scholarship. The NFP annually recognizes deserving students for their talent, hard work, and commitment to the pursuit of their nursing degree. The students have been chosen from schools across Pennsylvania and range from recent high school graduates to registered nurses.
Beth Ann Swan (‘80), Ph.D., RN, FAAN, will be among 23 nationwide inductees into the prestigious Academy of Nursing Education during a ceremony at the National League for Nursing (NLN) Summit on September 30, 2023, in Washington, DC. Swan currently serves as a professor and administrator in the Emory University Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing.
Holy Family University School of Business & Technology Professor Dr. Don Goeltz has developed Philly Venture Hub, funded through a grant from Holy Family University and powered by EcoMap Technologies.
Holy Family University has appointed His Royal Highness Prince Adnan El-Hashemite as the University’s inaugural Executive Director for Global Initiatives.
Holy Family University will partner with the Bucks County Workforce Development Board in support of a $1.3 million Aim & Attain Near Completer Grant.
Holy Family University alumnus Joseph Golden was named a 2023 CFO of the Year honoree by the Philadelphia Business Journal.
The Holy Family University Art Gallery is pleased to announce its 2023-24 Exhibition Schedule that will proudly showcase the thoughtful and timely work of a group of diverse artists.
Holy Family University is one of the featured institutions in a new book highlighting the best of small colleges.
Holy Family’s School of Education has a history of producing some of the region’s finest educators. This year’s 2023 Lindback Award recipients prove this once again with not one but five Lindback Award recipients.
Holy Family University is pleased to announce the hiring of Kyle Davis is its first-ever head baseball coach.
Holy Family University Recognized by Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society as one of 208 Colleges for Exemplary Transfer Pathways
Experience becomes a benefit for this future nurse
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) students presented their research at the DNP Poster Presentation event at the University’s Newtown East campus on May 17, 2023.
Holy Family University’s English as a Second Language (ESL) initiative for newly-arrived Ukrainian adults is now accepting new applicants.
Holy Family University has announced the launch of Philly Venture Hub, a website for the Philadelphia business community to help ventures and social enterprises find the resources to start and grow their businesses.
Dr. Rahul Gupta, the White House Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, visited Philadelphia during the week of April 17 to discuss the fentanyl and xylazine crisis.
The agreement offers Community Academy of Philadelphia students the opportunity to take college courses in a hybrid format.
The Doctor of Psychology in Counseling Psychology (Psy.D.) program at Holy Family University hosted the Spring Social Justice Forum on April 19 at the University's Newtown campus.
The agreement offers St. Hubert students the opportunity to take college courses with a pathway to admission to Holy Family.
Holy Family University hosted a 2023 Philadelphia Mayoral Candidates Forum, sponsored by AARP and the Greater Northeast Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce.
Shared values between organizations and emphasis on experiential learning fuel this exciting new partnership.
Diane Menago, Psy.D., program and clinical training director of the Doctor of Psychology in Counseling Psychology program in Holy Family University’s School of Arts & Sciences, and Josue Martinez, a student in Holy Family’s Psy.D. program, presented the webinar “Helping Grieving Clients Find Meaning in their Loss” hosted by the Annual Pennsylvania Psychological Association Spring Virtual Conference.
Recipients will be honored during Alumni Reunion 2023 on Saturday, May 13, 2023.
Holy Family University is pleased to announce the appointment of Rochelle Robbins, Ph.D., as vice president for Academic Affairs. Dr. Robbins previously held this role on an interim basis from August 2021 through May 2022.
The Holy Family University Department of Athletics is pleased to announce the addition of baseball as its 18th NCAA Division II varsity program, effective for the 2023-24 academic year.
On March 25, 18 Holy Family University students traveled to Salus University in Elkins Park, PA for the annual Southeastern Pennsylvania Consortium (SEPCHE) Honors Conference.
Students in Holy Family University’s School of Nursing & Health Sciences Second Degree Distance Hybrid BSN program recently participated in an on-campus residency experience at the University’s Newtown East campus.
Holy Family has developed a tutor training program that meets the College Reading and Learning Association’s rigorous standards.
Holy Family University students Sean Pramnieks ’24 and Sarah Schreiber ’24 were invited to present their research at the Annual Undergraduate Research at the Capitol – Pennsylvania Poster Conference (URC-PA) at the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg on March 7, 2023.
The May 6 event also features Nicholas Emeigh, associate executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Bucks County PA.
Holy Family University and Glen Foerd on the Delaware will co-host a Speaker Series event featuring Andrew Diemer, associate professor of history at Towson University and author of 'Vigilance: The Life of William Still, Father of the Underground Railroad' (Knopf, 2022).
Holy Family University School of Nursing & Health Sciences student Adama Jawara ’23 was one of 21 women who were presented with the Paradigm Scholarship for Working Women by the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia.
On Friday, March 3, 40 students in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing full-time Fast Track Cohort 20 were honored at a nursing pinning ceremony to recognize their completion of the rigorous 14-month Second Degree BSN program.
The agreement offers Archbishop Ryan High School students the opportunity to take college courses with a pathway to admission to Holy Family.
Holy Family University's School of Arts & Sciences faculty Pamela Flynn, MFA, professor of art and Fine Arts coordinator, and Patricia Griffin, Ph.D., associate professor of Criminal Justice, will jointly present "An Evening on Non-Violence" at the Cranaleith Spiritual Center (13475 Proctor Road, Philadelphia) on Tuesday, February 28.
At its 2023 Annual Meeting in Washington, DC, the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities (ACCU) elected three new board members, including Anne Prisco, Ph.D., President of Holy Family University.
Grant will fund campus initiatives to combat sexual violence.
Tiffany Watson, Ed.D., who graduated from Holy Family University's Educational & Organizational Leadership Ed.D. program in 2017, and Brian Berry, Ph.D., professor of Education at Holy Family University's School of Education, were recently honored by the 'Journal of Special Education Technology,' a prestigious peer-reviewed journal published by the largest professional organization for special educators, the Council for Exceptional Children.
Holy Family University students and Sister Rita Fanning, CSFN, '89, vice president of Mission and Diversity, Jill Snyder, director of Campus Ministry, and Father Timothy Tarnacki, OSPPE, campus chaplain, joined representatives from several Philadelphia colleges and universities for the second Synod on Synodality with Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez at Neumann University on January 24, 2023.
Five Holy Family University professors are recipients of the 2023 Ray and Mildred Taylor Awards to fund four important research initiatives.
Sponsored by the Northeast Times and the Greater Northeast Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce.
On Monday, January 16, 2023, Holy Family University students continued their tradition of spending the Martin Luther King Jr. federal holiday as a day of service.
Holy Family University named Wendy K. Parsons as the new Vice President for Advancement, charged with leading the university’s fundraising efforts in support of its ambitious strategic plan.
Tied for 21st Nationwide in NCAA Division II’s Academic Success Rate for Most Recent Cohort.
Iain Braddak '22 BSN, MS, RN, graduated from Holy Family University's Second Degree Fast-Track BSN Evenings + Weekends program in 2022 and made an immediate impact in nursing after passing his NCLEX exam on his first attempt.
The success of the series has prompted greater interest in the literary arts, including the launch of Holy Family’s MFA in Creative Writing program.
During finals week, students had the opportunity to collaborate on their end-of-semester projects in the University's new "huddle" room study spaces on the lower level of the Campus Library.
To prepare for their student teaching assignments during the Spring 2023 semester, senior students in Holy Family University’s School of Education Pre-K/4 General Education and K-12 Special Education dual-certification program participated in a unique learning experience for their senior-level special education courses.
Holy Family University’s School of Education and Nazareth Academy High School teamed up to create holiday fun for the students of Alpha House, the University’s Nursery, Pre-K, and Kindergarten demonstration school.
Students, staff, alumni, family, and friends from the Holy Family University community gathered outside Holy Family Hall on Thursday, December 1 to celebrate the return of the University's Nativity and Tree Lighting Ceremony to welcome the Advent season.
On November 16, School of Education faculty Roseanna Wright, Ph.D.; Maria Agnew, Ph.D.; and Claire Sullivan, Ph.D. presented at the 2022 Online Learning Consortium Accelerate Conference in Orlando, FL.
Holy Family University is proud to be one of the initial supporters of Civic Coalition to Save Lives, a new coalition established by The Philadelphia Foundation and the William Penn Foundation, in partnership with Urban Affairs Coalition, Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, and the Philadelphia Equity Alliance, to work toward solutions to support and sustain the reduction in gun violence and deaths in Philadelphia.
Pennsylvania State Senator Jimmy Dillon has announced that Holy Family University will receive a $2 million grant to revitalize the campus’ original building, Holy Family Hall.
On Monday, November 7, Holy Family University’s School of Nursing & Health Sciences presented the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Poster Presentation event at the University’s Newtown campus.
Holy Family University alumna and current doctoral student Raenesha Sheppard ’20 recently presented on Literacy Learnings to the Language Arts Theory and Instruction class (EDEC 310) taught by Gerry Fitzpatrick-Doria ’85, Ed.D., assistant professor in the School of Education.
On October 20, 2022, Holy Family University’s School of Education hosted Student Teacher Career Night in Education and Technology Center room 405.
Holy Family University Interfaith will proudly present its Inaugural Interfaith Symposium, “Honoring our Neighbor's Faith: How Interfaith Conversations Build Community,” on Thursday, November 17, 2022, at 5 p.m. at the University’s Northeast Philadelphia campus.
Anne Prisco, Ph.D., President of Holy Family University, is one of 36 women who will be honored as a 2022 Women of Distinction by the Philadelphia Business Journal. The nominees include Philadelphia-area community leaders, lawyers, educators, bankers, and executives.
This semester, Holy Family University's Justice, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee (JDEI) presented Meeting New People: A Conversation About Implicit Bias, an event for faculty and staff to discuss the concept of implicit bias and how it affects their everyday interactions with others.
Holy Family University Launches New 14-Month Second Degree Distance Hybrid BSN Program
State Senator Steve Santarsiero will be holding a Shredding Day for the community in the Newtown parking lot on Saturday, October 15, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
This semester, Holy Family University’s Doctor of Psychology in Counseling Psychology (Psy.D.) program welcomed its 2022 cohort, the first cohort to enter the program since it was awarded accreditation on contingency by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association (APA).
Grant will fund campus initiatives to develop drug and alcohol recovery programs
Holy Family University's School of Arts & Sciences has appointed Pat McElwaine '00, M'04, Psy.D., LPC, assistant professor of Counseling Psychology, as the Program Director of the Master of Science in Counseling Psychology program.
On August 2, Michelle Murphy-Rozanski, Ph.D., MSN, RN, CRNP, associate dean and director of Undergraduate Studies in Holy Family University's School of Nursing & Health Sciences, represented the University at the 2022 International Association of Catholic Nurses (CICIAMS) XXI World Congress of Catholic Nurses at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa in Doylestown, PA.
On August 23, Holy Family University hosted Assessment Day, an opportunity for administrators, faculty, and staff to learn more about the process of assessment and how to incorporate it into practice to help evaluate and improve the quality of the University's programs and support structures.
The Doctor of Psychology in Counseling Psychology (Psy.D.) degree program at Holy Family University’s School of Arts & Sciences has been awarded accreditation on contingency by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association (APA). The accreditation is effective as of March 18, 2022.
On July 6, Brian Berry, Ph.D., professor of Education in Holy Family University's School of Education, presented a paper, which was translated into Catalan, at Formative Feedback Day ARMIF 2020 as part of his participation in a research project with the University International of Catalunya (UIC) in Saint Cugat, Spain. Holy Family University and UIC established a university partnership in 2018. Dr. Berry has been an ongoing participant in this university partnership, which fosters faculty exchanges in Education and Health Sciences.
Newly acquired Newtown West campus will supplement the University’s existing Newtown East and Northeast Philadelphia campus locations
On August 1, Roger Gee, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Doctor in Educational and Organizational Leadership program in Holy Family University’s School of Education, was a keynote speaker at the virtual Peru TESOL Association (Peru Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages Association) 29th Annual Convention. Peru TESOL Association is a non-profit organization of teachers of English in Peru that is an affiliate of the TESOL International Association.
Illana R. Lane, Ph.D., vice president for Academic Affairs, represented Holy Family University at the event
This summer, Holy Family University launched a no-cost English as a Second Language (ESL) program for Ukrainians on its Northeast Philadelphia campus as part of the University’s mission of ensuring a welcoming and accessible learning community for all.
In April, Diane Menago, Psy.D., program and clinical training director of the Doctor of Psychology in Counseling Psychology program in Holy Family University's School of Arts & Sciences, and Mindy Parisi Cummings, Ph.D., associate professor of Counseling Psychology, presented their research at the 2022 American Association of Suicidology Conference in Chicago, Illinois.
In July, Roger Gee, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Doctor in Educational and Organizational Leadership program in Holy Family University’s School of Education, shared his research in two presentations at the Costa Rican Association of English Teachers (ACPI TESOL) Convention 2022, a hybrid convention held in San José, Costa Rica.
The Holy Family University Department of Athletics is pleased to announce the addition of acrobatics & tumbling and men’s lacrosse as its 16th and 17th varsity programs, effective for the 2023-24 academic year.
Holy Family University has announced the 2022-2023 exhibitions that will be presented at the University’s Art Gallery.
On July 17, Elizabeth Carroll, Ph.D., associate professor of Biology in Holy Family University's School of Arts & Sciences, presented “Ecology of Aquatic Plants.”
Holy Family University announces the appointment of Edward P. Wright as Vice President, Enrollment Management.
Seven Holy Family University School of Education alumni have been named recipients of the 2022 Lindback Awards for Distinguished Teachers.
On June 17, J. Barry Dickinson, Ph.D., professor and director of Graduate Business Programs in Holy Family University's School of Business & Professional Studies, and Bernice M. Purcell, DBA, director of University Assessment, presented at the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) Conference in Washington, DC.
These new members will participate in their first Board meeting on October 26.
Holy Family University student Kevin Flynn has been selected to receive the 2022 Greenspan Scholarship Award by the Philadelphia Continental Chapter Sons of the American Revolution.
This event is sponsored by the Frankford Northeast Philadelphia Rotary Club and Holy Family University
Ceremonies will be held outdoors under a tent at the Newtown campus location.
Recipients will be honored during Alumni Reunion 2020 & 2021 on Saturday, May 22, 2021
Sister Francesca Onley, 88, a Sister of the Holy Family of Nazareth for 71 years, passed away April 17 in Philadelphia. She served as the president and chief administrative officer of Holy Family University in Philadelphia beginning in 1981 until her retirement in 2014 at the age of 81.
Anne M. Prisco, Ph.D. appointed sixth president of Holy Family University
Renowned Online Teaching Expert Available to Speak with Media
Suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people. AFSP is working to change that.
Holy Family University and Glen Foerd will co-host a Speaker Series event featuring American History Professor Brent Cebul, Ph.D., who will present “Liberals and Business: A Forgotten Story of Love Found and Love Lost in the 20th Century U.S.”
Join us to hear Bernadette Scarduzio share her story of overcoming her personal obstacles to become a fierce advocate and ally for those of all abilities.
Join bestselling author of In the Dream House for a virtual author talk.
Please bring coats and books as part of our drive-up collection day to help those in need.
Holy Family University hosts Meet the Author, featuring poet and faculty member Keith Kopka, and his award-winning, newly released poetry collection.
Friday, October 2 at 7 p.m.
Jonathan D. Rosen, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice for Holy Family University, continues to explore organized crime in Latin America with the publication of his newest book and an article in a leading academic journal, the Journal of Criminal Justice.
Join bestselling author of The Incendiaries for a virtual author talk.
William “Bill” Kellagher was a Holy Family student, unlike many others.
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