In September 1965, the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia established Our Lady of Angels College, enrolling 115 female students. The College aimed to provide Catholic education in the Franciscan Tradition to female students in Delaware County. In 1980, the institution was renamed Neumann College, honoring Bishop John Neumann’s support of the Sisters of St. Francis. The College accepted its first male students in 1980, marking a significant milestone in its history. 

As Neumann University celebrates its 60th anniversary, we honor the achievements of Neumann alumni. Alumni embody Neumann’s mission and Franciscan values of reverence, integrity, service, excellence, and stewardship in their personal and professional lives. Many Neumann alumni choose to return to Neumann for employment, sharing the mission and values with current students and other community members. Currently, 68 alumni work at Neumann. These alumni live Neumann’s mission and values in their work, bridging their past experiences at Neumann to the present. 

Reverence & Compassion  

Nicolas Coppola earned his Bachelor of Art in Communications and Digital Media in December 2024 and currently works at Neumann as the Verification Specialist in the Registrar’s Office. Nicolas chose to work at Neumann because of his experience as a student when he found that at Neumann, “truly everybody cares,” and “the mission and RISES values are really at the heart of everything here.” Now that he is a staff member, Nicolas demonstrates the reverence he experienced for each person with whom he comes into contact. He carries the mission and values into his work as he serves others, helping them build their lives, helping each student, “get an education, grow as an individual, and get a job.” Nicolas explains that his “time at Neumann was transformational” and that it is “cool to be a part of what we do at Neumann.” 

Service & Sustainability 

John Sperduto has been the Director of the Neumann’s Child Development Center (CDC) since July 2019, but he says often that he became a student at Neumann in 1986 and “never left.” John earned a Bachelor of Art in Education in 1990 and has served the students at Neumann as an adjunct teacher. John’s leadership at the CDC reflects his commitment to Neumann’s mission and RISES values in countless ways. John and the CDC staff serve the students, their families, the Neumann community, and the community beyond the University. John ensures that the CDC offers affordable, high quality Pre-Kindergarten education for children of Neumann students, faculty, and staff, and to the Aston community. The CDC also offers child-centered events, such as the Annual Easter Egg Hunt, the Christmas Storytime and Concert, and Family Fun Day, that bring members of the wider community to campus. John ensures the CDC students participate in the service. For instance, the students participate in many events with the Sisters of St. Francis. The events include playing bingo and doing crafts. John has also led the CDC in sustainability efforts such as growing vegetables and getting the CDC on the National Bird Registry. As part of the Registry, the children at the CDC study and help provide nesting for birds. 

Academic Excellence 

Sr. Pat Hutchison, who earned her Bachelor of Art in French at Neumann in 1970, has served as the Director of the Neumann Institute for Franciscan Studies since 2002. The Neumann Institute for Franciscan Studies was established in 1998 and plays a pivotal role in advancing Neumann’s mission through offering seminars, lectures, and resources that integrate the Catholic Franciscan Intellectual Tradition into every aspect of the University. Sr. Pat’s commitment to Neumann’s mission and values is exemplified in all that she does for the Neumann community in her role as the Director of the Institute. 

Sister Pat Hutchison and Theresa Albany Huke, who earned her Bachelor of Art in English in 1972 work tirelessly at Neumann to ensure that students today receive the same excellent education that they received in the early days at Neumann. Sr. Pat, who teaches in the EdD in Educational Leadership program, recalls the rigor of her courses and the excellent preparation she had for graduate studies and her work as a teacher and school principal. Not only were her Neumann courses rigorous and expectations for academic excellence high, but she also recalls the support she received to ensure her success. When Sr. Pat was ready to graduate and assigned to teach French at Padua Academy, Neumann’s President, Sr. Everilda Flynn, met with Sr. Pat daily to teach her how to write lesson plans. In her work with doctoral students, Sr. Pat maintains both high expectations and the commitment to supporting individual students. Students love to talk about Sr. Pat’s ethics course. They comment on Sr. Pat’s expectations for excellent writing and the extensive feedback she gives them to ensure they can be successful.  

Theresa Albany Huke, who was the Director of the Academic Resource Center for 20 years and continues to contribute to Neumann’s mission as an adjunct instructor, recalls similar expectations for excellence and the dedicated support of individuals to ensure student success. Theresa was inspired by the Sisters, especially Sr. Jeanette Clare McDonnell who mentored and supported her throughout her time as a student at Neumann. Theresa says that “the education received was top notch,” and that Sr. Jeanette was tough but met with each student every time they wrote a paper to help them develop strong writing skills. In her work with her students, Theresa brings the same high expectations to her classes as well as the same dedication to each student’s growth and success. 

Neumann’s alumni remain dedicated to the University’s mission and values. The alumni who work at Neumann ensure Neumann’s mission and values remain at the heart of the University, ensuring that the legacy of its alumni will inspire generations to come.