Board of Directors
Board of Directors (2022-2023)
FROM LEFT: TINA D'ORAZIO GEDGARD '94; MARY HARKINS; SISTER THERESA MAUGLE, SSJ; SISTER ROSANNE ORCHON, SSJ; JOHN PRENDERGAST; JEFFREY KOHLER (CHAIR); PATRICK M. FOLEY, CFP; SISTER CHARLENE DIORKA, SSJ (PRESIDENT); JAMES K. PAUL; STEPHEN GOZDAN; JENNIFER BIERMANN DUBAS '93; ROBERT SWARTLEY; PAMELA HUNT GWALTNEY '79; JOSEPH CIASULLO; MONICA DUVALL DILELLA '88; ROBIN COMERFORD.
NOT PICTURED: SISTER OWEN P. BONNER, SSJ; JENNIFER BOSTON; SISTER DEBORAH HUGHES, SSJ; LAURA JOHNSON '08; HEATHER KATES KELLY '88; DEACON JOHN MISCHLER.
Board ChairMAN Chat with Mr. Jeff Kohler
November 2022
It is my extreme honor and privilege to serve as the Chairman of the Board of Mount Saint Joseph Academy. This is my fifth year serving on the Board and my first as Chair. Together with my Board colleagues, we support Sister Charlene Diorka in her leadership of a talented and committed team of administrators, faculty and staff.
As Board Members, we have been entrusted in governance of an institution, founded 164 years ago by some very courageous, determined and committed Sisters of Saint Joseph. These brave women, who arrived in Chestnut Hill in 1858 with little more than deep faith in God, had to rely upon the generosity and support of the “dear neighbor” to establish Mount Saint Joseph Academy.
Though the members of the Board are deeply connected to the school, we realize that members of the current community may not be entirely aware of who we are or have knowledge of our roles. We hope this new chat feature will give you some insight. For our first installment, I’ll start with a basic overview.
Mount Saint Joseph Academy is a legal corporation whose President serves as the Chief Executive Officer. The By-laws of the corporation recognize a Board of Directors whose single power and duty is to select the President, as circumstances may require. But the role of the Board is to support the Mission of the Mount to the best of our collective experience, talent and abilities.
Our governance role is advisory. We do not manage daily operations or decisions. The Board and the President are partners committed to the same goals. Our 2022-23 Board is comprised of 22 members. By charter, at least one-fourth of the Board shall be at all times perpetually professed members of the Sisters of Saint Joseph and this includes five Sisters currently. Each Board Member is also a member of at least one standing Committee which includes Development, DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion), Enrollment & Marketing, Facilities, Finance and Mission & Membership. These six Committees also include non-Board committee members.
As Board Members, it is our fiduciary responsibility to sustain and advance the Mission of the Mount. As such, we are committed to servant leadership. The 7 key principles of servant leadership are as follows:
1.Honor Others (Before Yourself)
2.Inspire Vision (Before Setting The Course)
3.Choose Ethics (Before Profit)
4.Empower Others (Before Personal Gain)
5.Privilege People (Before Tasks)
6.Balance Focus With Flexibility (Before Making Decisions)
7.Serve With Humility (Before All Else)
Source: Point Loma Nazarene University
As Board Members, we are asked to be dedicated and committed servants on behalf of the SSJ and their mission, The Mount and its mission, and perhaps most importantly, to the young women of Mount Saint Joseph Academy.
For the various other Boards we may serve, none are more important in their mission and our assertion that “On the education of women largely depends the future of society.”
Thank you for your continuing support of our Mount.
Respectfully,
Jeff Kohler
Chairman of the Board of Mount Saint Joseph Academy