President's Report 2017-2018 | Page 6

Undergraduate and Graduate students showcased their research at the annual Student Research Conference. The night began with a general poster session followed by individual presentations. Gwynedd Mercy University hosted its 69th Annual Commencement Ceremony, celebrating the dedication and accomplishments of 820 Distinctive Mercy Graduates earning their associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. Members of the GMercyU Community packaged more than 15,000 meals which were sent to Burkina Faso, West Africa through Catholic Relief Services’ Helping Hands Program. GMercyU hosted an Academic Symposium titled “Integration of the Critical Concerns of the Sisters of Mercy into the Signature Seminars.” Deanne H. D’Emilio, JD was inaugurated as the sixth president of Gwynedd Mercy University. Inauguration Day kicked off with an Ecumenical Service, followed by the Installation Ceremony and Campus Fair and Reception. The women’s tennis team won its fifth-straight Colonial States Athletic Conference Team Championship, beating Immaculata University 5-0. PRESIDENT’S REPORT The new space where GMercyU’s recently launched Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy programs will be housed was unveiled. Six members of the GMercyU Community, comprising of faculty, staff, and a student, traveled to Gros Morne, Haiti for a week-long discovery and fact- finding trip as part of GMercyU’s new partnership with the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. GMercyU’s annual Health and Wellness Fair featured more than 20 organizations providing health and wellness services, including nutritional counseling, eye exams, and information on sports safety. 4 Ann Gibbons Phalen, PhD, CRNP, NNP-BC was named the new Dean of the Frances M. Maguire School of Nursing and Health Professions. Dr. Phalen began her tenure on August 1, 2018. Women’s Tennis Head Coach Jim Holt hosted the Touch of Tennis clinic for its 19th season. The free camp brings together members of the GMercyU tennis teams, community volunteers, and athletes with special needs for a night of fun and fitness.