Seton Hall Celebrates Charter Day: Honoring Service and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton’s Legacy

In April, the Seton Hall community gathered to celebrate Charter Day, an annual tradition that honors the University’s founding in 1856 and the granting of its charter by the State of New Jersey in 1861. 

Rooted in both history and mission, the day offered a series of opportunities to reflect on the enduring influence of the University’s patroness, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, and to recognize Setonians who embody her example of service, faith and resilience.

Treats, Trivia and Panels
The day began with Treats and Trivia in the University Center, where a table of sweets and a prize wheel invited students and other community members alike to test their knowledge of Seton Hall’s history — and spin for prizes.

At midday, a panel luncheon in Bethany Hall brought together Catherine O’Donnell, Ph.D., professor of history at Arizona State University and author of Elizabeth Seton: American Saint, Nancy Enright, professor director of the University Core and junior Lucus Brasil, who served as the moderator. 

Guided by Brasil’s thoughtful questions, O’Donnell and Enright explored the extraordinary resilience faced by the first American-born saint—moments of personal loss, to her spiritual conversion, to her faithful conviction in everyday life.

Opening the conversation, O’Donnell reflected on the emotional hardships that shaped Elizabeth Ann Seton’s early life, both outward and inward. These ranged from losing her mother and experiencing a strained relationship with her stepmother to the more personal, internal turmoil she battled within.  

“I was always struck by Elizabeth’s struggles with her own temperament. She felt things really deeply […] she wished she looked calmer than she was […] she felt that she wasn’t the center of anybody’s life after her mother died and before her marriage,” O’Donnell shared.

A screening of the University’s mini-documentary, The Life and Legacy of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, helped set the tone for the conversation, tracing Elizabeth Ann Seton’s life while underscoring the quiet strength that served as the central thread of the afternoon: resilience. 

The program continued on to examine St. Elizabeth Ann Seton’s spiritual life. Referencing St. Elizabeth Ann Seton’s personal letters, Professor Enright emphasized how Seton’s inner life — her prayer, her trust in God and her perseverance — was always grounded in compassion.

“She was able to deal with her suffering in a lot of ways, even before her conversion to Catholicism, by looking outward. By looking at the people who were suffering more than she was, she was always able to keep a compassionate focus,” noted Enright, who has studied St. Elizabeth Ann Seton’s life particularly as revealed through her letters, for many years. 

Her letters, both O’Donnell and Enright emphasized, showed how she turned to scripture and prayer during time of grief, drawing strength from faith and love. 

Closing the afternoon on a personal note, Brasil — who also appeared in the documentary — shared that his own faith and sense of purpose are his source of resilience. Inspired by his late mother and guided by scripture, he views his education as part of a larger mission: to honor his family and serve others, echoing Seton’s legacy of courage, compassion and care.

Charter Day Continues: Convocation Ceremony
Later that afternoon, bagpipes sounded in the Event Room of the University Center, marking the start of the annual Convocation Ceremony. In addition to a reading of the Charter and a keynote speaker, one of the hallmarks of Charter Day is honoring the recipients of the Bishop Bernard J. McQuaid Medal for Distinguished Service, the President’s Award for Student Service and Servant Leader Scholars. 

From the banner draped main stage in the University Center, Monsignor Joseph Reilly, S.T.L., Ph.D., University President, recognized not only the historic significance of the anniversary celebration, but the many devoted people who have contributed to the University’s legacy for more than 170 years.

Speaking of all honorees, Monsignor Reilly opened, “We are here to honor today’s luminaries — people we are blessed to live, learn and labor together. They add to Seton Hall’s rich tradition of academic excellence, Catholic faith and devoted service.”

2025 President’s Award for Student Service Honorees
First came the recognition of three University colleagues honored with the President’s Award for Student Service, given to employees who demonstrate their dedication to ensuring student success. Announcing each awardee, Monsignor Reilly offered a glimpse of the high regard in which these exceptional community members are held through snippets from nominating essays.

One student described Mary Mueller, Ph.D., associate professor within the College of Human Development, Culture, and Media and director of the Elementary and Special Education program, as someone who “has touched the life of every student in the education program.” Mueller, the student continued, is “the most heartwarming, intellectual, passionate, and devoted woman I have ever met in the field of education.” 

Of Jorge E. Rivera, director of the Career Center, a student recalled: “[Rivera] truly cares about each and every one of his students.” The student went on to describe the profound impact a short conversation at the hub of the University’s South Orange campus, the University Green, had: “He took the time to talk to me […] asking about my progress in academics and career opportunities. He encouraged me to stop by the Career Center to talk more in depth, and cared about my advancement.”

Father Nicholas Sertich, director of Campus Ministry, was also recognized for his unwavering care: “He had never fallen short of greeting me and asking how I am every single time.” The student continued, “He is always willing to talk with and help a student, giving of himself to provide resource, support and comfort.” 

A Life Filled with Love, Work — and “Daring”
Next, keynote speaker Catherine O'Donnell took to the podium to deliver her keynote address. She opened with gratitude and said her goal was simple: let Elizabeth’s Ann Seton’s life speak for itself. A life, she noted, one not only marked by love and work, but also “filled with more one more thing: daring.”

Drawing on Elizabeth Ann Seton’s profound resilience in the face of personal loss, adversity and societal challenges, O'Donnell emphasized that her life was a testament to the transformative power of compassion and service.

From early years marked by grief, to her later work founding the Sisters of Charity, her journey exemplified courage, particularly in her willingness to listen, learn and act with kindness in the face of uncertainty.

“Fear nothing so much as not to love enough,” O'Donnell concluded, leaving the audience with a quote directly from the American-born saint. 

2025 Bishop Bernard J. McQuaid Medal for Distinguished Service Honorees 
Following was the recognition of the 2025 Bishop Bernard J. McQuaid Medalists, three distinguished Seton Hall employees whose work and contributions to the University demonstrate commitment to mission and service.

Alyssa McCloud, Ph.D., executive vice president for Enrollment Management and Recruitment, was the first awardee. A two-time Seton Hall alumna, McCloud was recognized for her instrumental role in stabilizing and expanding enrollment and her profound contributions to the University’s growth, accessibility and Catholic mission. A staunch advocate for the university’s Catholic identity, McCloud has led initiatives like the Pirate Pathway program to increase access to higher education and championed inclusive outreach to all schools and colleges as a leader on the Strategic Planning Steering Committee for Harvest Our Treasures.

Following McCloud, Latisha Porter-Vaughn, Ph.D., legal support specialist, School of Law, stepped forward to receive her medal. Over more than three decades with Seton Hall, Porter-Vaughn has provided essential administrative support and more recently, supported the work of the Center for Social Justice. A prolific author of 14 self-published books, Porter-Vaughn has been a longtime shop steward for Union Local 153, and a passionate advocate for workplace fairness and employee rights.  Beyond her role at the University, Porter-Vaughn serves as president of the Hearing Loss Association of America New Jersey Chapter and co-founded its Essex County Chapter. Her advocacy for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community earned her the 2023 Oticon Focus on People Award.

John T. Saccoman, Ph.D., was the third McQuaid awardee. Saccoman, professor and chair of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, has been with Seton Hall for over three decades. A proud alumnus, he has served in various capacities from instructor to full professor. As department chair since 2010, he spearheaded the creation of new programs in Data Science and Financial Mathematics and established the John J. Saccoman Awards for outstanding students, named after this father. He played a key role in Seton Hall’s recent Middle States reaccreditation process as co-chair and has served on several strategic committees, including the University Structure Committee.

Presentation of Servant Leader Scholars
The event then moved to recognize Servant Leader Scholars, a group of students who epitomize the University’s mission and are examples of leadership for the good of others. 

The 2025 Servant Leader Scholars are:

Freshmen

• Daniel Dutches, Social Work
• Abigail Felten, Criminal Justice
• Julian Gray, Business
• Abil Hamded, Biology
• Michael LaVista, Political Science
• Quentin Pace, Finance
• Benjamin Pereira, Marketing and Sports Management
• Nicole Sedutto, Biology
• Valerie Tuning, Biology
• Corinne Williams, Nursing

Sophomores

• Paul Belasic, Secondary Special Education — History
• Emily Bruni, Social Work
• Jessica Burgeson, Psychology
• Sofia Ceballo, Nursing
• Elizabeth Cronk, Psychology and Philosophy
• Justin Mayewski, Biology
• Arianna Valte, Biology and Philosophy
• Gabriella DeGuzman, Psychology

Juniors

• Anna Ausanio, Nursing
• Arianna Cox-McClary, Athletic Training
• Dahlia Diaz, Biochemistry and Philosophy
• Antonio DiBerardino, Biology
• Gabriella Fernandez, Diplomacy and International Relations
• Amanda Grace, Secondary Special Education — English
• Alyssa Housley, Psychology
• Jacob Hummel, Finance
• Aliye Pehlivan, Biology

Seniors

• John Cavanagh, IT and Management
• Michael DeMarco, Political Science
• Nina Lolli, Nursing
• Robert Magliozzi, Secondary Education — English
• Callie McCool, Biology
• Joseline Molina, Business Management
• Isabella Rivera, Political Science and Religion
• David Smith, Communications
• Susanna Testa, Biology
• Marissa Todd, Elementary and Special Education — Speech

Graduate Students

• Kelsi Loewen, Physician Assistant
• Lidia Prusak, Physician Assistant
• Anthony Rocco, Master of Business Administration
• Patrick Wac, Professional Accounting

Following tradition, the reading of the University Charter and singing of the Alma Mater brought the event to a close. 

Meeting of the Minds: EAS and G.K. Chesterton
Upstairs on the University Center’s second floor, a thought-provoking discussion marked the last event of the day: a discussion exploring the state of Catholic higher education through the lens of two formative figures: G.K. Chesterton and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.

Seton Hall historian Dermot Quinn, D.Phil., offered historical context and commentary on Chesterton, while Catherine O’Donnell, shared the perspective of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.

Guiding the discussion, moderator Patrick Manning, Ph.D., director of the Center for Catholic Studies and associate professor of Pastoral Theology, invited the panelists — and the room — to imagine what a meeting between Seton and Chesterton might look like.

As Quinn and O'Donnell examined the contrasts and commonalities between the two, they explored both figures’ intellectual and spiritual legacies. What might Chesterton, with his wit and Catholic fervor, think of Seton’s pioneering role in American Catholicism? How would Seton, with her deep compassion and devotion to education, respond to Chesterton’s critiques of modernity and society?

While these figures were separated by time, Quinn and O’Donnell drew upon their expertise to offer compelling narratives and embody the faith, views and personalities of these influential Catholic voices.   

The event, hosted by the Center for Catholic Studies and the G.K. Chesterton Institute for Faith & Culture, was recorded and can be viewed in detail on the University’s YouTube channel.

Categories: Campus Life, Faith and Service