Feature Article
Friend and Mentor
Other than her family, Sister Peg’s closest friend is
Sister Jeanne O’Laughlin ’58, who served as Barry
University’s president for 23 years. She is presently
the Chancellor at Barry.
Sister Jeanne hired Sister Peg as a counselor,
and noticed her potential as a problem-solver
almost immediately.
“She would really help me with all the problemsolving,”said Sister Jeanne, who eventually
promoted her to Executive Assistant to the
President. “When students had a problem that
had to go beyond the vice presidential level, she
would enter into it. I never once thought that a
student was neglected or that a student would
not get a good hearing.
“She had a way of dealing with people. When
you’re the president of an institution, you look
for those who can do the things you can’t do. I
was very outward in searching for funding and
directions for the university to take. And I always
felt that I needed someone who was stable and was
concerned about the inner side of the university.”
That someone was S