Sister Dorothy Ann Kelly, O.S.U. / 1929-2009

Sister Dorothy Ann Kelly, provincial superior of the Ursulines of the Eastern Province of the United States and former president of the College of New Rochelle, died at Westchester Medical Center on Friday morning, March 27, 2009. Her leadership as president of the College of New Rochelle from 1972 to 1997, following five years as academic dean from 1967 to 1972, brought about innovative changes to the college, founded as a liberal arts undergraduate college for women, notably by the creation of the School of New Resources for adult undergraduates, the Graduate School and the School of Nursing for men and women. She brought her leadership skills to the office of Ursuline provincial in 2003 as it adapted religious life to changing demographics, new ministries, and involvement in civic life. She was active in promoting racial justice. She brought a keen sense of humor, a commitment to the local civic community with a willingness to serve for the common good. In 1997 Sr. Dorothy Ann was appointed Chancellor at the College of New Rochelle. In 2001 she became superior of the Community of St. Teresa in New Rochelle. In 2003, Sr. Dorothy Ann became provincial superior of the Eastern Province Ursulines. Her six-year term of office was to be completed on May 31, 2009.

Over the years, her various memberships were diverse. Among them, she served on the Board of Trustees at Georgetown University, St. Aloysius School in Harlem, and Catholic University of America; Bridges to Peace (formerly Northern Ireland Peace People), the U.S. delegation to the Fourth UN World Conference on Women, and the National Museum for Women in the Arts; commissioner on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges; Board of Directors of the American Council on Education, National Conference of Christians and Jews. She was a member of the Boards of the Interreligious Council of New Rochelle, the Westchester County Association, and Sound Shore Hospital Medical Center. Her support of Ursuline ministries made her an active board member, from 1990 to 2001, of Angela House that provided a transitional residence for homeless women with children and from 2002, the board of the Adult Learning Center of Ursuline Social Outreach for language and citizenship preparation for new populations of adults.

Born in 1929 in New York to Sarah McCauley Kelly and Walter D. Kelly, she attended St. Simon Stock School in the Bronx. She graduated from the College of New Rochelle with a degree in history in 1951. She earned a master's degree in American Church History at the Catholic University of America in 1958, and a doctorate in American Intellectual History at the University of Notre Dame in 1970. Sr. Dorothy Ann was predeceased by her sister, Eileen K. Short. She is survived by a brother, Walter Kelly of California, 3 nephews and 2 nieces.

Visiting was held at the Castle at the College of New Rochelle on Sunday and Monday, March 29 and 30, at 2 to 4 p.m., and 7 to 9 p.m. Funeral Mass of the Resurrection was offered at Holy Family Chapel at the College of New Rochelle on Tuesday, March 31, at 10:30 a.m. Interment was at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be given to the Ursuline Development Office, 1338 North Avenue, New Rochelle, NY 10804-2121. www.LloydMaxcy.com


From the the Boston Globe

Sister Dorothy Ann Kelly, 79; led College of New Rochelle

NEW YORK - Sister Dorothy Ann Kelly, the innovative former president of the College of New Rochelle who built what was a small Catholic college for women into a laboratory for experiments in higher education for people in the workforce, died March 27 en route to a Westchester County hospital. She was 79 and lived at an Ursuline convent in New Rochelle.

The cause was a heart attack, her niece Dorothy Short said.

Sister Kelly was president of the College of New Rochelle from 1972 to 1997. Founded by the Ursuline Order in 1904, it was the first Catholic college for women in New York State. Under Sister Kelly, it expanded from one campus with about 900 students to seven branches in the New York area with an enrollment of more than 6,500.

Largely at her urging, the college's School of New Resources was opened in 1972, with sites in poor areas like the South Bronx, Harlem, and Bedford-Stuyvesant in Brooklyn. Designed to meet the needs of working women and men, the school holds classes on weekends and at night. While Sister Kelly was president, the college also opened a graduate school and a nursing school.

Her impact was felt beyond the college. In 1978, she became the first woman to lead the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities, a public-policy organization representing more than 100 schools in New York. In 1987, she was the first woman to head the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities.

Born in the Bronx on July 26, 1929, Sister Kelly was one of three children of Walter and Sarah McCauley Kelly. She leaves her brother, Walter.

Sister Kelly graduated from the college she would lead in 1951. Six years later, after joining the Ursuline Order, she became a history professor there. She earned a master's degree at the Catholic University of America in 1958 and a doctorate at the University of Notre Dame in 1970. he was academic dean at the College of New Rochelle from 1967 to 1972 and, after her presidency, became chancellor.