12 Faculty & Staff
SISTER PETRONILLA FRANCOEUR, OP
Professor of French, Spanish and
English, 1946-51; President of Siena
Heights College, 1965-69. Popular
teacher, excellent instructor and friend
to students. Introduced full coeducation
as president and laid the foundation for
the changing era of the 60s and 70s.
Her tenure was cut short because of
serious injuries in an auto accident.
Great teaching and dedicated tea
have been constants at Siena Heights throughout its n
College in 1919, to its renaming as Siena Heights Col
Heights University. On these pages, we recall a few o
mentors and friends to Siena students through the deca
well publish your letters in the next issue.
SISTER BENEDICTA MARIE LEDWIDGE, OP
Dean of the College, 1934-51; Vice President,
1951-57; President, 1957-65. Sister Benedicta
Marie was very close to the students, and was
loved and respected in return.
SISTER EILEEN RICE, OP
Professor of Education and Director of the
Education Program, 1975-1994. A teachers
teacher and learners learner, a lover of cats, a
woman of boundless energy.
HELEN DUGGAN, OP
(Sister Ann Charles)
Professor of Biology and Chemistry, 195663, 1975-90; named Professor Emerita,
1990; Archivist, 1987-present.
A steady cheerful presence in the present
day corridors of Sacred Heart Hall, Sister
Helen has turned her inquiring mind from
science to history, and has been compiling
oral histories and establishing the archives
of Siena Heights for the past 12 years. She
is quick to point out that, when former
students recall great Siena teachers of the
past, their memories relate not just to
classrooms and laboratories, but also to
life in the residence halls, where some
sisters lived, performing duties now
handled by Resident Assistants and
other house mother responsibilities long
since abandoned. Special thanks and
recognition to Sister Helen for providing
all of the facts, photos and insights
appearing on this page.
SIENA HEIGHTS
IS MY UNIVERSITY
SISTER REGINA MARIE LALONDE, OP
Professor of Languages, 1922-1971; Assistant to
President Thompson, 1971-1975. One of the
original faculty members at St. Joseph College.
Using Army surplus materials, she built one of the
first recognized language labs: two booths (one
pictured at left) at the back of SHH 312.
SISTER MARY GEORGE NOLAN, OP
Business Manager, Treasurer and Business/
Secretarial Instructor, 1936-1970. Beloved
moderator of the Alumnae Association through
several decades.
SISTER M. BERTHA HOMINGA, OP
Advisor, Science Instructor, and Legendary
Registrar, 1920-65. A founding faculty member
known for her warmth, efficiency, and
extraordinary memory. It was not unusual for her
to remind students as they passed in the hall which
requirements they still needed to fulfill.
SISTER M. CARMELIA OCONNOR, OP
Professor of Theology and Philosophy of Education
for 17 years, from 60s-80s. Beloved mentor who
led student volunteer groups to Appalachia for 15
years. Greeting students in the cafeteria or tidying
the residence halls as she passed through, her two
favorite words were beautiful and wonderful.