Founders' Day
Seton Hill University's Founders' Day is held annually to honor and celebrate the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, who, under the leadership of Mother Aloysia Lowe, came to Greensburg in 1882 to establish a new community, new ministries and new schools that would eventually lead to the founding of a four-year college for women in 1918. More than 100 years later, Seton Hill has grown into a co-educational university that continues to educate students in the legacy of the Sisters of Charity.
Founders' Day is held each year in March on or around the Feast Day of Saint Joseph, who is the patron Saint of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill.
Founders' Day 2026
The theme of Founders' Day 2026 is "Honoring our Founders, Embracing Our Future: Fusing Faith and Reason for the Common Good."
The day's events will focus on the intersection of faith and reason and how the fusion of the two can have a lasting impact on humanity.
Founders' Day 2026 will feature a celebration of Sister Florence Marie Scott, a Sister of Charity, Seton Hill alumnus and professor whose scientific research of marine invertebrates was situated at the intersection of biology, embryology, and zoology.
The speaker for the Mary Schmidt Lecture will be Patricia O'Donoghue, a scholar and teacher with broad clinical and research experience who is President Emerita of Mount Mary College (now University) in Milwaukee. She served as President of Mount Mary from 1997 to 2006. She was Vice President for Academic Affairs and Professor of Nursing at LaRoche College in Pittsburgh from 1995 to 1997 and served at Carlow University in Pittsburgh from 1979 to 1995, where she was Provost and Executive Vice President among other roles. O'Donoghue, who holds a doctoral degree in nursing from the University of Pittsburgh, currently serves on Seton Hill University's Board of Trustees.
Join us on Wednesday, March 18, 2026 for Founders' Day. A full schedule of the day's events can be found below!
The Opening Prayer for Founders' Day 2026 will feature a celebration of Sister Florence Marie Scott, a Sister of Charity, Seton Hill alumnus and professor whose scientific research of marine invertebrates was situated at the intersection of biology, embryology, and zoology. Sister completed the research for her doctorate at the Marine Biological Laboratory at Woods Hole, Massachusetts. At the time, Woods Hole was the largest marine biological lab in the world. In the ensuing years, Sister Florence Marie became a member of the Corporation of the Marine Biological Lab and a member of the Board of Trustees. For many years, Sister conducted scientific research at the lab, even bringing biology students from Seton Hill to assist her and do research of their own.
Join us in Cecilian Hall for a dramatic presentation about the life and work of Sister Florence Marie. Seton Hill Provost Sister Susan Yochum, SC, Ph.D., will offer a talk about other Sisters of Charity who have contributed to scientific discovery. Casey Bowser, archivist for Seton Hill University and the Sisters of Charity, will discuss the Reframing the Saga project, and preschoolers from the Child Development Center will perform.
Poster Presentations: Admin Second Floor Hallway
Impact of a Randomized Supervised Versus Unsupervised Exercise Program and Its Impact on Fall Frequency and Risk in a Retired Religious Community, Jamie Dunlap Coates, Robin Joyce, and Jamie Chichy
Genotyping The FUT2 Gene: Secretor Status, Kayla Collins, Hannah Proud, and Jamie Fornsaglio
Institutional Commitment Rooted in Virtue: The Presidency of Sr. Mary Schmidt, Rachael Cameron, Sarah Marsh, and Casey Bowser
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Repurposing Scientific Instruments in the Chemistry Lab, Diana Hoover
Hazard Yet Forward: Reframing the Catholic Mission & Legacy of Seton Hill University, Casey Bowser
Invitation to The Setonian AI Ethics Forum, Sarah Marsh, Emily Wierszewski, Jessica Brzyski, Amanda DeWitt, and Christine Cusick
Thinking Globally, Acting Locally, Nicole McAllister Conrad, Camille Kuczynski, Abby Myers, Gage Sheffler, and Stephanie Price
Using Catholic Social Teaching to Reflect on the Environmental and Ethical Impacts of Textiles, Sarah Joiner, Jayla Andrews, AJ Ayala, Jordyn Ellis, Rowan Fitch, Eleanor Haas, Alma Podoletz, Sydney Speranzo, Trinity Thomas, and Laine Toth
Academic Presentations
ADMIN 206: Sustainability Mini-Symposium
10:00 – 10:20 a.m. – Posters
Disc Golf Course Sustainability, Nathaniel Hebster
Specimen Sustainability in Teaching: An Exemplar Study of Feline Anatomic Variation Analysis, Sophia Marcelli
10:20 – 10:35 a.m. – Wildlife Impacts of the Campus Relighting Project, Julie Fekete
10:35 – 10:50 a.m. – Q&A with students, Nathaniel Hebster, Sophia Marcelli, and Julie Fekete
ADMIN 308
10:00 – 10:45 a.m. – Framing the Mission & Legacy of SHU: Faculty Archival Research, David VonSchlichten, Sarah Marsh, Fran Leap, James Paharik, Diane Kondas, Denise Pullen, Casey Bowser, Sr. Susan Yochum, and Kathy Harris
ADMIN 405
10:00 – 10:20 a.m. – Bridging Generations and Disciplines: An Interprofessional 4Ms/5Ms Geriatric Collaboration Aligned With IPEC Competencies, Jamie Dunlap Coates, Carrie Slagle, and Jamie Chichy
10:30 – 10:45 a.m. – The Intelligent Design of God, Merize van der Westhuizen
ADMIN 402
10:00 – 10:20 a.m. – Inspiring Change Within, Project H.O.M.E., Taryn Yutzy, Ethan Fry, Leon Obura, and Ayianna Martin
10:30 – 10:45 a.m. - Sr. Mary Ann Winters: Her Path to Science and The Sisters of Charity, Barbara Flowers and Ashley Bartelson
A panel discussion in Cecilian Hall will offer varying thoughts on scientific advancement grounded in greater purpose. Panelists include:
Seton Hill Trustee, scholar and researcher Dr. Patricia O’Donoghue, the 2026 Sr. Mary Schmidt Lecturer; Dr. Jonathan Vande Geest, Professor, Bioengineering Department, University of Pittsburgh; Dr. Demetra Czegan, Dean of the College of Health Professions and Natural Sciences, Seton Hill University; and Brian Ferrell, BFS and MFA, Associate Professor of Art, Seton Hill University.
Service project and dialogue with the Sisters of Charity at Caritas Christi
Students will work with the Sisters of Charity to pack first-aid kits for Feeding the Spirit and engage in a dialogue with the Sisters about the intersection of faith and reason in our own callings to contribute to the common good.
Photo Scavenger Hunt sponosored by the Orientation Leaders
Get ready to explore campus in a fun and interactive way! During the Photo Scavenger Hunt, students will complete a series of creative photo challenges designed to introduce them to important locations, traditions, and hidden gems around campus. Led by our Orientation Leaders, this activity is a great way to learn more about campus, discover what makes Seton Hill special, and have fun along the way. There is an opportunity to win a prize for the completion of the hunt through a raffle! (If you go on the Founders’ Pilgrimage, you will automatically walk by half of the scavenger hunt destinations for a chance to win.)
Founders' Pilgrimage (Weather Permitting)
The Founders' Pilgrimage is a walking tour that begins at the original entrance to St. Mary's Hall and weaves its way across nine different stops on campus before ending at the grave of Mother Aloysia Lowe. At each stop, Darren Achtzehn, Director of Sustainability and Outreach, will offer a brief history about Seton Hill, a volunteer will offer a Scripture reading, and Tony Krzmarzick, Director of Campus Ministry, will lead us in a brief prayer.
Biology Open House
Participate in activities inspired by the work of Sr. Florence Marie Scott; learn about her study organisms at 'Meet the Tunicates,' in Boyle 369; explore the microscopic world as a biologist in 'The Cellular Zoo,' in Boyle 364; and explore fossil specimens in 'The Sisters of Charity Rock Collection' in Lynch 113. Hosted by the Biology Faculty: Brett Aiello, Jessica Brzyski, Nicole Conrad, Jamie Fornsaglio, Ja'Nean Reay, Renee Rosier.
Join the Seton Hill community at 7 p.m. in Cecilian Hall for the annual Sister Mary Schmidt Lecture. This year's speaker will be Patricia O'Donoghue, a scholar and teacher with broad clinical and research experience who is President Emerita of Mount Mary College (now University) in Milwaukee. She served as President of Mount Mary from 1997 to 2006. She was Vice President for Academic Affairs and Professor of Nursing at LaRoche College in Pittsburgh from 1995 to 1997 and served at Carlow University in Pittsburgh from 1979 to 1995, where she was Provost and Executive Vice President among other roles. O'Donoghue, who holds a doctoral degree in nursing from the University of Pittsburgh, currently serves on Seton Hill University's Board of Trustees.