Founded in 1963, La Roche University is a privately owned university located in McCandless, Pennsylvania. It’s located just a few short mile north of Pittsburgh. Originally established by the Sisters of Divine Providence, the university currently occupies an 80-acre campus within the Diocese of Pittsburgh. It is a Catholic university with strong ties to the Catholic Church.
History Of La Roche University
La Roche University was established in 1963 as a private college for religious sisters by the Sisters of Divine Providence. It was called after the first Mother Superior of the Sisters of Divine Providence, Stephanie Amelia la Roche von Starkenfels. Sister Annunciata Sohl, C.D.P. was the initial president of the university and served until 1968. The college started admitting lay students in 1965 and continued to expand. In 1967, the John J. Wright Library was built as the first permanent structure to accommodate the university’s growth.
After its establishment, La Roche faced financial troubles. The possibility of shutting down the college was considered, but Sister de la Salle Mahler, C.D.P., who served as president from 1969 to 1975, persevered. The Board made changes to its charter in 1970, transforming La Roche into an independent, coeducational Catholic institution. Additionally, the university expanded its course offerings by partnering with the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. This collaboration introduced new areas of study such as graphic and interior design, which are now recognized as some of the university’s top programs.
In the mid-1970s, the construction of two new residence halls was deemed necessary due to a rise in enrollment. During the presidency of Sister Mary Joan Coultas, C.D.P. (1975-80), the college initiated its initial capital campaign in 1979 and successfully raised enough funds to build the Palumbo Science Center, which was officially opened in 1980. Over the course of eleven years under the leadership of Divine Providence Sister Margaret Huber, the college continued to expand and celebrated its 25th anniversary in 1987 with the unveiling of the $2.5 million-Zappala College Center. In 1990, the Magdalen Chapel was added and three years later, the Kerr Fitness and Sports Center was inaugurated under the college’s growing campus.
In 1992, Monsignor William A. Kerr became the sixth president of La Roche College. During his tenure, he focused on increasing the college’s visibility and expanding its academic, cultural, and athletic programs. In 2004, Sister Candace Introcaso, C.D.P. was elected as the seventh president by the La Roche College Board of Trustees. In March 2019, the Pennsylvania Department of Education approved the college’s request to change its name to La Roche University, which went into effect immediately. Sadly, Sister Candace passed away on May 22, 2023. Since then, Howard Ishiyama, the University’s Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, has been serving as the Interim President.
Athletics
The athletic program at La Roche University is constantly evolving and improving, providing students with opportunities to compete and excel in a variety of sports.
La Roche University is a member of the Division III of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. They compete in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC). The university has both men’s and women’s sports teams, including baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis, and volleyball. In total, La Roche University has won sixteen AMCC Conference Championships in various sports such as baseball, basketball, softball, and tennis. The university’s baseball team made history by becoming the first team in the conference to win an NCAA Regional Championship in 2016. They went on to compete in the NCAA Division III College World Series but lost to Keystone in the National Semifinals. The head coach of the women’s basketball team is Kamela Gissendanner, who has an impressive record of 152-39.
Facilities
The first building of the university, the John J. Wright Library, was constructed in 1967 and later renovated in the early 2000s. In the mid-1970s, two residence halls were built and in 1980, the Palumbo Science Center was opened. The Kerr Fitness & Sports Center, with a capacity of 1,200 seats, was established in 1993 and has undergone updates over the years. The campus currently has a variety of athletic facilities, including a baseball field, soccer field, softball field, aerobics room, dance studio, gymnasium, indoor track, and weight room. However, the addition of tennis courts and outdoor basketball courts is still pending. In 1997 and 2003, the campus added and expanded its residence halls with the construction of Bold Hall and Bold Hall II. In 2002, an electronic classroom technology building was built next to the Zappala College Center.
Institute for Peace on Earth
Since 1993, the Pacem In Terris Institute has been facilitating the enrollment of students from regions of the world that have experienced conflict, post-conflict, and are still developing to study at La Roche University. This program offers financial aid and support to students from 21 different countries. The selection of students is based on their academic and personal capabilities, as well as their commitment to return to their home countries after completing their studies and contribute towards promoting peace and prosperity in their respective regions.
Key figures on the Institute’s Board include Kim Dae-jung, former president of South Korea; Queen Rania Al-Abdullah, the first lady of Jordan; and Janet Museveni, the first lady of Uganda.
