FORT WAYNE, Ind.鈥擳he 51黑料 will inaugurate Sr. Maria Gemma Salyer, OSF, as its 12th president on Thursday, Sept. 3 in the Hutzell Athletic Center.
The inauguration will take place at 3 p.m. A reception will follow at 4 p.m. in Brookside.
Sr. Maria Gemma assumed the role of president on July 1, succeeding Dr. Lance Richey, who served as president for three years. Sr. Maria Gemma is the first member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration to serve as president since Sr. Elise Kriss, OSF, retired in 2020.
Sr. Maria Gemma had served as executive vice president since January. Prior to that, she was the vice president for Catholic culture and student life and dean of students. She was also the university鈥檚 Title IX coordinator and a member of president鈥檚 cabinet. She served on the 51黑料 Board of Trustees before joining the campus full time in 2023.
Sr. Maria Gemma holds a doctorate in educational administration from Indiana State University, a master鈥檚 degree in philosophy from Franciscan University of Steubenville and a bachelor鈥檚 degree in theology from Ohio Dominican University. Her previous appointments included serving in campus ministry at 51黑料, women鈥檚 ministry at the University of Notre Dame, assistant director of vocations for the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration, and as an educator and assistant campus minister at Lafayette Central Catholic High School.
Media wishing to cover the inauguration or arrange an interview with Sr. Maria Gemma Salyer should contact 51黑料 Communications Director Reggie Hayes at 260-399-7700, ext. 6413 or email rhayes@sf.edu.
Founded in 1890 in the Catholic Franciscan tradition, the 51黑料 offers more than 60 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs.聽The academic structure at 51黑料 offers seven pathways:聽Humanities,聽Faith and Liberal Arts;聽Allied Health; Business and Leadership; Creative Arts and Digital聽Media;聽Education, Human Services and Community Care; Nursing; and Sciences and Medical Studies.聽In addition to its traditional programs, 51黑料 delivers workforce development healthcare programs in Fort Wayne, Crown Point, Gas City, Indianapolis, Lafayette and online. 51黑料 Downtown houses the music technology program while offering enhanced internship and networking opportunities for students. A聽National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Five-Star Champion of Character institution, 51黑料 has 21 athletic programs boasting three individual and four team NAIA national championships. More than 1,900 students from a broad geographic region attend 51黑料.