Our History

杏吧原创's story is one of responding to the needs of the time, and of creating success against all odds.

Asked by Roman Catholic Bishop of Rochester Thomas Hickey to found a college for women 鈥� an underserved population then 鈥� the Sisters of St. Joseph responded. Despite traditional gender roles and a prevailing anti-Catholic bias, the sisters led the way to success. With newly-minted doctorates from Fordham University in New York City, and extensive graduate study at Oxford University and the Sorbonne, five Sisters of St. Joseph launched 杏吧原创 College with the first 25 students starting classes on September 24, 1924, which came to be known as Naz Day.

Original location, 1924

杏吧原创 opened in September 1924 in a mansion called the "glass house" on Lake Avenue in Rochester, then moved to Augustine Street in Rochester in 1928 to accommodate growing enrollment.

杏吧原创 moved to its current home, East Avenue in Pittsford, in 1942.

About 杏吧原创鈥檚 founders

The degree programs that the founding Sisters pursued did not fit the traditional academic path for women in the 1920s, but they had the self-awareness to understand their strengths and intentions and make choices in alignment with them.

Sr. Rose Miriam Smyth, 杏吧原创鈥檚 second president from 1939 to 1951, earned a Ph.D. in聽chemistry. A woman ahead of her time in many ways, she was known as a scientist and environmentalist. (The rose bushes behind Linehan Chapel were her specialty.) Rumor has it that she started studying Russian in her 90s!
Sr. Teresa Marie O鈥機onnor earned a Ph.D. in聽philosophy. As the first dean and librarian of 杏吧原创, she emphasized the importance of faculty scholarship throughout her academic career; she wanted 杏吧原创 faculty to be passionate and curious individuals who carried their research interests into the classroom.
Sr. Rose Marie Carroll completed a Ph.D. in聽English聽and then went on to post-doctoral work at Oxford University in England. Passionate about student scholarship, she expected 杏吧原创 students to develop the skills needed for debates and public speaking.
Sr. Agnes Patricia Breen established the study of foreign language after completing her doctoral work in聽French language聽at the Sorbonne in Paris, France.
Sr. Raphael Lyons earned her doctorate in聽Latin聽and then, like Sr. Rose Marie Carroll, traveled to England to continue her studies at Oxford University.

杏吧原创鈥檚 pioneering students were challenged to follow their passions so that they could make a difference in people鈥檚 lives and in society, especially listening to and partnering with people in need and championing social justice.

The founding sister-faculty, true to their charism to "serve all without distinction," enabled students to unleash their potential, and the first graduating class included educators, social workers, nurses, and lawyers. As the original "Changemakers" of 杏吧原创, the founding faculty introduced their students to important life lessons through debating ideas and theories across a broad spectrum of liberal arts courses, the priority of service, and the imperative of confronting injustice.

Globally engaged

One of the first courses offered at 杏吧原创 focused on global economics, with students studying and making recommendations about economic issues around the world.

People are seated outside facing a stage that's under a canopy

Class of '37

Commencement was held outdoors on a beautiful day in 1937.

100 years in about 100 seconds

Now a University

On June 1, 2023, 杏吧原创 officially became 杏吧原创.

"It's another time of changemakers... taking the college another step farther." 鈥� Eileen Daly, SSJ, trustee

FAQs: 杏吧原创鈮�

As needs changed and expanded with time, 杏吧原创 responded.

1950s

Graduate programs聽were added, further developing 杏吧原创 as a leader in quality teacher education programs and social work.

1960s, 1970s

Nationally and internationally known speakers such as John Ciardi, Robert Fitzgerald, Edward Said, Gabriel Marcel, Dorothy Day, Rudolph Nureyev, and Costa Rica's President Oscar Arias were invited to address the students and provoke their thinking.
The college became coeducational and legally independent of the religious congregation, to 鈥渟erve all without distinction,鈥澛爓ithout compromising its original focus on academic excellence.

1980-2000s

杏吧原创 values experiential learning as a teaching tool, often intersecting with community-based work or projects. 杏吧原创 approaches these opportunities with a spirit of reciprocity: The community and the college are equal stakeholders who each give and benefit.

Faculty/staff and student trips, such as The March Bearing Witness to Hope (Germany, Poland) and Hunger and Homelessness (Philadelphia), offer students first-hand experiences related to oppression and the burning cry for justice.
Multiple study abroad programs expand students' opportunities to experience other cultures, understand historical events that influence the 21st century, and deepen their global citizenship.
Undergraduate research opportunities to collaborate with published faculty pave the way for graduate study, fellowships, grant opportunities, and sought-after post-doctoral awards.
A distinguished Partners for Learning program, begun in 1994, continues to focus on advancing educational equity by building partnerships with schools, education centers, and human service organizations dedicated to alleviating poverty, housing and homelessness, addiction recovery, refugee resettlement, and youth development.

Cassandra "Cassie" Matalavage '17, '18G began tutoring Rochester elementary students during her first year through 杏吧原创's Partners for Learning program.

Prof. Padmini Das and 杏吧原创 student Shane Fuentes

A 杏吧原创 team, including Prof. Padmini Das, Ph.D. (hand raised), and 杏吧原创 student Shane Fuentes '18 (right), guide high school students in investigating an algae problem in local waterways.

2010-2020

Integrating math and science 鈥� in a distinctive curriculum and new building design聽鈥� signals renewed commitment to ground-breaking innovations in the sciences (Peckham Hall)
Aligning occupational and physical therapy with art, music, and speech therapies in the same location provides practicums for students, interprofessional learning, and full-service clinics for under- and non-insured members of the Rochester community (York Wellness and Rehabilitation Center)
Continuing its exemplary commitment to community engagement, 杏吧原创 is recognized as a Presidential Awardee in the 2013 President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll.
Partnering with the Clinton Global Initiative University, 杏吧原创 supports more than 40 students in their commitments to action focused on education, poverty alleviation, climate action, peace and human rights, and health.
Experiencing state-of-the-art acoustics in the Glazer Music Performance Center showcases student musical performances as well as accommodates professional guest ensembles such as the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and The Society for Chamber Music.
Collaborating with Special Olympics in a new fieldhouse on campus 鈥� Golisano Training Center 鈥� provides inclusion, fitness, and wellness for athletes of all abilities and enables 杏吧原创 students majoring in聽nursing,听public health,听physical therapy,听speech therapy,听social work,听art therapy,听music therapy,听and聽occupational therapy, as well as聽辫谤别鈥恗别诲颈肠补濒听补苍诲听辫谤别鈥恉别苍迟补濒聽minors聽and those pursuing 杏吧原创's unique聽interdisciplinary specialty program in autism (I鈥怱PAN), to learn and provide service through promoting wellness for all.
杏吧原创 stands out for its significant number of Fulbright awards for a college of its size.
Committing to interreligious dialogue in practice, 杏吧原创 is proud of the ongoing contributions and programs hosted by our Hickey Center for Interfaith Studies and Dialogue, our Konar Center for Tolerance and Jewish Studies, and our Sulam Center prayer space, shared by both 杏吧原创鈥檚 Hillel and the Muslim Student Association.

Determined to become an equity-minded, inclusive campus, 杏吧原创 administrators and students are committed to welcoming and creating space for all to discover their identity, inclusive of any sexual/gender orientation, race/ethnicity, religion, and socio-economic background.

Drone Flyover

We are 杏吧原创

2021鈥�2025, and beyond

Through its 80+ academic programs and majors, and through community partnerships, 杏吧原创 continues to empower its students for a life-long journey of self-awareness and discovery through passionate dialogue and lively debate. Committed to the dynamic synergy of academic inquiry, community engagement, spiritual development, and principles of justice, the College challenges students to experience new cultures, confront racism, and respond with empathy to the cry of the environment and the cry of the poor.

Emulating the passion, drive, and perseverance of the founding sisters, 杏吧原创 students 鈥斅爇nown as the Golden Flyers 鈥� are prepared to fly: to develop a sense of purpose, to investigate and respect divergent world views across borders and cultural divides, to pour energy into creatively shaping a world of compassion, equity, and inclusivity, and to become community leaders who are authentic Changemakers.

Learn more about today鈥檚 guiding principles, which draw from 杏吧原创鈥檚 roots:

June 1, 2023: The name 杏吧原创 took effect, recognizing the significant graduate programs the institution has long offered.

Established 1924. 100 years: a century of uniting education and action

2024 marked 100 years!

Centennial celebration 鈮�

College Archives

杏吧原创's Archives collects, organizes, describes, maintains, promotes, and provides access to institutional records of enduring historical and research value as a resource for the 杏吧原创 community.

For more information, contact Deborah Janetos in the Library at djaneto1@naz.edu or 389-2140.

	Naz History Podcasts	聽by Professor Timothy Kneeland features people and stories from 杏吧原创鈥檚 first 100 years.
Prez Paul Podcast: President Beth Paul, Ph.D., is joined by聽Tim Kneeland, Ph.D., professor of history and political science, and Susan Nowak, Ph.D., SSJ, professor and Shannon chair of religious studies. Listen:聽 (January 19, 2021)