Alumnae Profiles

When Mary Pat Ferron Canes ’63 graduated from Magnificat, she was headed toward a summer internship at the White House and a degree from St. Catherine’s University. It wasn’t until decades later that she learned she almost had to leave Magnificat before her senior year. In a letter written to President Moira Clark ’77, Mary Pat told the story of her mother calling then principal Sr. Bernadette Vetter, H.M. in 1962 to say Mary Pat and her sister Peggy Ferron Downey ’65 would not be returning to Magnificat because she could no longer afford tuition, which was $300 per student at the time. Sr. Bernadette replied that their mother shouldn’t worry, as she would find the resources to ensure that the Ferron girls could stay at Magnificat. While there was not a formal scholarship program at the time, Magnificat’s Endowed Scholarship Program was later established, to which Mary Pat now gives generously to support current families who cannot afford the full cost of tuition.

“If I hadn’t graduated from Magnificat, I never would have received a scholarship to St. Catherine,” Mary Pat recalled. She remembers her time at Magnificat fondly, especially as a member of the Debate Club and an officer of the Future Nurses Club. After graduation, she completed an internship at the White House, where she worked for the Kennedy Administration. She said, “It really opened my eyes to new possibilities and propelled me in a new direction.” From there, Mary Pat attended St. Catherine University, where she studied sociology and anthropology before pursuing a master’s degree in cultural anthropology from George Washington University. All along the way, she received financial aid to make her education possible. Mary Pat went on to teach sociology and anthropology at the Rochester Institute of Technology, and she continued to teach part time at other institutions as her family grew. A lifelong passion for writing inspired her to pen numerous articles and papers on cultural issues and current events throughout her time as a professor. Today, Mary Pat lives in Virginia with her husband Michael, and she recently published her first novel, Dark Queen of Donegal. “In some ways I feel like I have been writing this book since I heard the story of our family from my grandmother,” she said. When asked why she supports Magnificat through an endowed scholarship, Mary Pat said, “I give specifically to Magnificat because of its values. Being a woman, I feel very strongly about women having these values and having a strong education. I was a scholarship student at Magnificat, and I didn’t know about it. That is why I wanted to support other students, to help them pave the way to their future.”

Mary Pat interning at the White House.

The Canes Family.

Magnificat helped pave the way to success for architect Jill D’Amico Brandt ’89. Jill always knew she wanted to be an architect, loving the “puzzle solving” aspect of the job. She completed her Genesis at a local architecture firm, confirming her love for the industry. She then continued on to earn her undergraduate degree at Washington University in St. Louis and her graduate degree at the University of Michigan. In 2006, Jill started her own business, Brandt Architecture, LLC. She said, “My business grew from word of mouth. I was building relationships, working hard, and doing good work.” Her firm does a wide range of projects, which keeps her job exciting. She wants to design spaces that make her clients’ lives easier. “My favorite part of a project is walking through the final space with a client and seeing how happy they are,” Jill said. She has worked on projects such as 5 Points Tea & Coffee and Harness Cycle, and she was one of the architects of record for Mancuso Homes' Gut Job house featured on HGTV.

Jill is excited to be back at Magnificat to help design a new concession stand for Karnatz Family Field. “Being in a single-gender environment helped me to speak up and build confidence,” she said. Her advice to students is: “Find something you are passionate about, work hard, and be nice. You never know where personal connections will take you.” Jill and her husband, Todd, have three children. She resides in Rocky River, where she serves on the Design and Construction Board of Review. One of her projects is pictured below.

Sandra Hong, MD ’90, says she has come a long way since her time at Magnificat, noting, “Staples are what kept my skirt hem up the entire senior year.” Sandra was accepted into Northeast Ohio Medical University’s (NEOMED) combined BS-MD program straight from Magnificat. She completed three years at the University of Akron and finished her medical degree in four years at NEOMED. She continued her residency training in internal medicine at Summa Health Systems, during which time she served as the program’s chief resident for one year. From there, Sandra completed a two-year allergy and immunology fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital/ Harvard University. When she returned to Cleveland, she began working at University Hospitals and married one of her medical school classmates, Raymond Hong, a Rocky River High School alumnus. A few years later, she accepted a role at the Cleveland Clinic, where she has worked for 17 years. Sandra wears many hats at the Cleveland Clinic. She is the director of the Food Allergy Center of Excellence, the regional medical director for the Southern Region, and the physician leader of all scribe programs, including the Medical Observation and Scribe Training (MOST) Fellowship. Her vast accomplishments have not gone unnoticed; in 2020 she was recognized as one of Crain’s Cleveland’s “Women of Note.”

“With hard work and perseverance you can achieve anything,” she said, and she thanks Magnificat for setting her, and her sister—Susan Hong ’88—up for success. Being in an allgirls environment “truly teaches you to be an independent thinker,” she said. “This is why I have chosen to send my children to single-gender schools.” Sandra owes a debt of gratitude to her mother, she said, “I couldn’t have done any of this without [her]. She chose that we went to Magnificat. She has been the one to help us every step of the way.” She also thanks Magnificat and retired faculty member Rick Phillips for her love of travel. During the summer leading up to her junior year, Sandra and fellow classmates took an educational immersion trip—led by Mr. Phillips—to Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. Sandra and her husband have one son and three daughters, and they enjoyed a family vacation to England and France last summer.

Adventures in Colorado. Kelly, her husband Dean, and their three sons.

“You are the leader you have been waiting for,” a quote from Gloria Steinem, has stuck with Kelly Compiseno Lamirand ’94 throughout her 20 years at KeyBank. With her recent promotion to President and Commercial Sales Leader for the Cleveland Market, Kelly is proving

Steinem’s sentiment to be true in her own life.

After graduating from Magnificat, Kelly went on to study finance and economics at Miami University. She started her career at KeyBank through their Management Training Program and secured a full time position as an analyst. From there she moved through the ranks, going from Credit Officer to District Credit Officer, until she transitioned to the sales side of the business last summer.

Kelly is a proponent for single-gender education, saying that Magnificat’s competitive environment “drives you toward a leadership role in all areas of your life.” Growing up in a predominantly female environment helped her to gain the confidence and drive she needed to navigate through a maledominated industry. She said, “surround yourself with good people and people that support your success.”

Along with her new promotion, Kelly recently joined Magnificat’s board of directors, in the hope of paying it forward. As a mother of three boys, her role as a board member helps her to stay connected to the school. Kelly cherishes the friendships she made at Magnificat and hopes to help guide the next generation of young women.

From left to right: Lisa Compiseno Whelan ’93, Kristin Compiseno Olson ’03, andKelly Compiseno Lamirand ’94.