Margaret M. Healy
11th President of Rosemont College 1995 - 2001
Margaret M. Healy, known to all as Peg, came to this area by way of Chicago, Illinois where she graduated from Rosary College with degrees in philosophy and mathematics. She earned an additional degree in philosophy as a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Louvain, Belgium, and obtained her M.A. in philosophy from St. John’s University, New York. In 1969, she was awarded her Ph.D. in philosophy from Bryn Mawr College.
In 1964, Rosemont College welcomed Dr. Healy as a lecturer in philosophy. From 1969 to 1976, she became Rosemont’s Academic Dean and associate professor of philosophy. Following these assignments, Peg began a distinguished nineteen-year career at Bryn Mawr College where she was director of financial planning, acting treasurer, and then, treasurer.
Dr. Healy had been serving on Rosemont’s Board of Trustees when, in 1995, the college needed a new president. Peg served as interim president (taking a leave of absence from Bryn Mawr) before assuming the role of President in 1996. Rosemont, again, became her focal point.
Peg’s contributions to the life of the college were many, but the most significant challenge was to rebuild its endowment, which she did fivefold. On the educational front, clear distinctions were made between the Undergraduate Women’s College, the School of Continuing Studies and the School of Graduate Studies. The accelerated degree program within continuing studies expanded to three additional locations— Philadelphia, Harrisburg and Allentown. There was an increase of concentrations in the master's degree program. Peg oversaw the installation of air-conditioning in the Kistler Library; installation of Alumni Terrace; construction of the Bill and Rosemary Seydel McCloskey Fitness Center. Peg also introduced the community based program called Summer Success. She encouraged art and music.
The grand finale to her career at Rosemont was raising funds for the restoration of Main Building (Rathalla) in the year 2000. Brought back to its former glory, Main Building was also brought up to date. It is still the site for special events, but it serves as offices for Admissions, Public Relations, Financial Aid, Institutional Advancement and Alumnae. Seeing the changes to completion, Peg retired in 2001.
Dr. Margaret M. Healy’s achievements have been recognized with various awards and honorary degrees. Honorary degrees were conferred by King’s College (PA), St. John’s University (NY), Villanova University (PA), Dominican University, Rosemont College and Holy Family College. Bryn Mawr bestowed on Peg the Helen Taft Manning Award for Distinguished Service to the College. She was the recipient of the Rosemont’s Cresset Award and the Cornelia Connelly award. Rounding out these distinctions was the Distinguished Business Officer Award from the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO).
Peg has served with distinction in the field of higher education for years and continues to do so. She has been a trustee of Denison, and Villanova Universities, Sara Lawrence College as well as the College of the Holy Cross, to name a few. At present Peg continues on the Board of the Blind Relief Fund of Philadelphia and on the Finance Committee of the American Philosophical Society.