N E W S
SPRING 2017 ALUMNAE/I, STUDENTS, AND FRIENDS
MOUNT RANKS THIRD NATIONALLY IN STUDENT ECONOMIC MOBILITY
According to a comprehensive new study on student economic mobility by the University of California, Berkeley and the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the College of Mount Saint Vincent shares third place among 578 selective independent colleges and universities nationwide. Mount students experience greater upward mobility than those of all but two colleges and universities across the country. Using data from millions of anonymous tax filings and tuition records from 1999-2013, the college mobility ranking measures Mount Saint Vincent’s share of students who moved from the bottom fifth of incomes as students to the top fifth as adults. The New York Times highlighted the study in an in-depth analysis of student access to higher education. According to the Times, the study found that lower income students who attend elite colleges do almost as well as their wealthier counterparts, but access to elite colleges
has declined. In short, not many students from financially modest backgrounds attend independent or state schools that serve their mostly advantaged peers. In contrast, the study noted that schools including Mount Saint Vincent have become “vastly larger engines of social mobility” for underprivileged students. The study rates the Mount as one of the nation’s top colleges in providing exceptional access to students that leads to significant income growth in their post-graduate careers. Importantly, these success rates are equal to or greater than those for students who attend state schools. “This study reflects what the College of Mount Saint Vincent has been doing since our inception—providing life-changing opportunities for students across the economic spectrum,” said President Charles L. Flynn, Jr. “We are very proud that the College of Mount Saint Vincent is true to the traditions of high quality, transformative education: academic excellence, authentic inclusivity, and ceiling-breaking opportunity.” He continued, “Our college reflects the Catholic tradition. All are welcome. Whatever our students’ backgrounds— financially advantaged or financially modest, first-generation or the great grandchildren of alums, Catholic or of some other faith—the Mount transforms lives. We continue to lay the foundation of the American Dream.”
continued on page 3
SCHOLARSHIP TRIBUTE DINNER Mount Saint Vincent will host its annual fundraising gala, the Scholarship Tribute Dinner, at Cipriani 25 Broadway on Thursday, April 27, 2017. The Mount recognizes individuals at the Scholarship Tribute Dinner whose lives of achievement reflect a profound dedication to their principles, as illustrated by the values of the College’s mission and the charism of the Sisters of Charity. This year, the Mount is proud to honor Frank Kurre and Tal Piccione.
Frank Kurre is a notable industry leader, earning distinction through his service to Fortune 1000 companies, middle market public and private companies, financial in‑ stitutions, and not-for-profit organizations. Mr. Kurre is the managing partner of Grant Thornton’s Metro New York and New England market territory, the firm’s largest territory. Mr. Kurre continually supports an array of dynamic, successful organizations. Prior to joining Grant Thornton, he was a partner at Arthur Andersen LLP. continued on back cover
Dr. Flynn and Pope Francis during the International Forum on Migration and Peace in Rome.
MOUNT ANSWERS POPE’S CALL TO ACTION During the annual International Forum on Migration and Peace recently held in Rome, Mount President Charles L. Flynn, Jr. promised to lead an initiative among Catholic colleges and universities to fulfill Pope Francis’s call to protect migrants—including refugees. The College, with the support of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities (ACCU), is developing a program to create educational access for refugees at Catholic colleges and universities across the nation. The Mount will also seek to create a registry of displaced scholars and academics, which can be used by all ACCU member institutions to facilitate potential faculty appointments. “All Catholic colleges are committed to the dignity and worth of every human person,” President Flynn said. “By facilitating access to higher education, we can demonstrate our commitment to equality and opportunity.” President Flynn’s announcement reflected the forum’s theme this year: “Integration and Development: From Reaction to Action.” continued on page 3