By Katya Fitzpatrick
DeSales University Executive Vice President, Dr. Gerard J. Joyce, is a fixture at the Center Valley Campus. The Philadelphia native started his 33-year career at DeSales as a hall director when he was an undergrad finance student. After more than three decades at the university, Dr. Joyce will be leaving DeSales at the end of the spring semester in 2024, to become the 27th President at Mount Saint Mary's University in Emmittsburg, Maryland.
"It was a little overwhelming knowing that this would be a very big change in my, not only professional life, but in my family life."
The father of five says he's excited about the new opportunities he'll tackle at "The Mount."
"Something that's different about the Mount than here at DeSales, the Mount is not just a university. It also includes the seminary, which has seminarians from across the country, as well as the National Shrine Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes. Which gets over 600,000 pilgrims each year. And I think that's the brand of the Mount."
Among the seminarians attending Mount St. Mary’s Seminary are two from the Diocese of Allentown, and Monsignor Andrew Baker, a priest of the Diocese of Allentown, is the rector.
Dr. Joyce admits his new journey will be bittersweet. He gets emotional thinking about leaving his mentor - Bishop Alfred Schlert, his coworkers, his friends, and the university where he has served in various roles including as an adjunct instructor, vice president for student life and dean of enrollment management.
"I've met some great people because they're really dedicated to wanting Catholic education to thrive, not just to survive, but to thrive."
Bishop Schlert will deeply miss his presence and years of service in and to the Diocese of Allentown. “Dr. Joyce is an extremely talented and dedicated Administrator who places a high priority on Catholic mission and identity. He will bring these considerable gifts to Mount Saint Mary’s.”
Dr. Joyce tells us DeSales University President, Father Jim Greenfield, is still deciding how he wants to move forward in regards to his position and responsibilities, but he says there's already a good team in place that can help facilitate the transition of his departure. "I'm very confident that DeSales will continue to be successful in the enrollment area, in the marketing area and in the international programming area. I know they will most likely look for leadership in the institutional advancement area that I just started, in the past year, to oversee."
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