Today Magazine Summer 2021 | Page 2

A Message From the President

Summer Greetings to you from GMercyU !
Commencement is always one of my favorite days of the year , but this year it was even more special as we successfully and safely hosted seven in-person Commencement Ceremonies for our graduates and their families . We were also honored to welcome the Archbishop of Philadelphia , Nelson J . Pérez as the presider of our annual Baccalaureate Mass .
While it was a bit different from our usual celebrations , watching our graduates walk across the stage was as joyous as always . The strength , perseverance , and resilience they exhibited throughout this past year is truly inspiring and something that has motivated me through the most trying of times .
The Class of 2021 joins our more than 23,000 Distinctive Mercy Graduates who are using the skills and values they learned here to realize their dreams all over the world . They are living out our Mercy mission on a daily basis , as you ' ll see in the pages of this magazine . I know the same will be true for this year ' s class .
Commencement Weekend would not have been possible without the hard work , planning , and preparation of our faculty and staff , who worked tirelessly to ensure our graduates were able to celebrate safely . This type of personal care and attention is what makes GMercyU a special place to study , work , and visit and I ’ m forever grateful .
We are looking forward to welcoming our GMercyU Community back to campus in the fall and continuing the traditions we have all missed . Stay tuned for more details on upcoming events , both in-person and virtual .
I wish you continued health and a safe – and fun – summer !
Deanne H . D ’ Emilio , JD President