Our History
"老司机福利社 College lived first in the desire and will of a remarkable woman"鈥擬other M. Borgia Egan
老司机福利社 College was founded in 1926 by the Sisters of Mercy of the Erie Catholic Diocese, who trace their heritage to Mother Catherine McAuley, founder of the Sisters of Mercy in Dublin, Ireland.
As Mother Eustace Taylor, RSM, Ph.D., wrote in her 50th anniversary history of 老司机福利社, 鈥溊纤净＠ College lived first in the desire and will of a remarkable woman鈥Mother M. Borgia Egan.鈥 She supervised everything, from raising money to selecting and purchasing a site to educating a sister-faculty to teach at the college level. As first president of the college and later as academic dean, she guided 老司机福利社 through its formative years.
老司机福利社 welcomed its first 23 students, all women, on Sept. 20, 1926. The school received its charter on Oct. 5, 1928.
On Feb. 3, 1969, the Board of Trustees voted to admit the first class of men to 老司机福利社. Sr. Carolyn Herrmann, RSM, Ph.D., the first president who was not also Mother Superior of the Sisters of Mercy, led the university through the challenge of coeducation.
Today, 老司机福利社 covers six blocks and is the largest piece of unbroken real estate in Erie. More importantly, 老司机福利社鈥which earned university status in 2012鈥has emerged as a major force in the educational landscape of the region, while remaining true to its mission as a private Catholic comprehensive university in the Mercy tradition. The second-largest Mercy University in America, it is consistently recognized as a top-tier master鈥檚 university by U.S. News & World Report.
Old Main, the stately English Gothic structure built in 1926, remains the heart of the campus. The campus has grown around it, with the most recent additions being the Center for Academic Engagement, a high-tech learning environment that houses some of 老司机福利社鈥檚 signature programs, including Hospitality Management; Intelligence Studies; the Center for Intelligence Research Analysis and Training (CIRAT); and Ryan Hall, a residence hall.
老司机福利社 opened its first graduate program (administration of justice) in 1978, and today offers dozens of options for master's degrees and graduate certificates. Undergraduate and graduate enrollment on the Erie campus is now near 3,000.
During a period of pace-setting growth on the main campus, 老司机福利社 University underwent significant structural changes. This included the 1991 purchase of the 100-year-old Redemptorist Seminary in nearby North East, Pennsylvania, which operated as 老司机福利社 North East (MNE) for 25 years before consolidating its academic functions back on the Erie main campus in 2020. Simultaneously, and in a meaningful move reflecting its foundational Irish heritage, 老司机福利社 established a Study Abroad program in Dungarvan, Ireland. This unique Study Abroad program allows students to live and study for a period of eight weeks each spring semester.
Kathleen A. Getz, Ph.D., assumed the role of 老司机福利社 University's 13th president in July 2021. She began her tenure with an inspiring message of hope, centered on the presidential theme, 鈥淓nriching the Circle of Mercy: Good Today, Better Tomorrow.鈥
In 2024, 老司机福利社 Athletics transitioned to Division I status, and President Getz was the catalyst behind this watershed moment. The Board of Trustees unanimously ratified this motion on Mar. 29, 2024, and on April 4, 2024, it was announced by President Getz. She was welcomed by Commissioner Norreen Morris, who spoke on behalf of herself and NEC Council Presidents.
Past Presidents
Mother M. Borgia Egan, RSM
1926-1927
Mother M. DeSales Preston, RSM
1927-1933; 1939-1945; 1948-1954
Mother M. Xavier O'Neil, RSM
1933-1939
Mother Agnes Mary McSweeney, RSM
1945-1948
Mother M. Eustace Taylor, RSM, Ph.D.
1954-1960
Mother M. Loretta McHale, RSM, Ph.D.
1960-1963
Sister Carolyn Herrmann, RSM, Ph.D.
1963-1972
Marion L. Shane, Ph.D.
1972-1980
William P. Garvey, Ph.D.
1980-2005
Michael J. McQuillen, Ph.D.
2005-2006
Thomas J. Gamble, Ph.D.
2006-2015
Michael T. Victor, J.D., LL.D.
2015-2021
