Catholic Sisters as Community College Faculty and Administrators: 1969 to 1999

Objective: This qualitative study describes the participation and contributions of Catholic sisters as faculty and administrators at public U.S. community colleges during a 30-year period from 1969 to 1999. The purpose of the research is to write Catholic sisters into the history of America’s public community colleges by examining their role in these institutions. Methods: Using interviews and document analysis, I examined the employment of 23 Catholic sisters in the community colleges of 12 states. The study was guided by a framework of feminist theory in an effort to correct the invisibility of the subjects’ roles in community colleges. Results: Among the findings, the research revealed that many subjects desired employment in community colleges in order to contribute financially to their religious community, often after their own congregationally-sponsored Catholic school or college either closed or merged with another institution. Although most subjects did not go out of their way to reveal their religious identity on campus, when students and faculty became aware of it, they were often initially struck by the novelty of a Catholic sister leading or teaching at a public community college. Ultimately they seemed to perceive and relate to the women based on their professionalism. Conclusion: By focusing on Catholic sisters, the study offers a look at the role of a unique group of women in academia and helps paint a fuller picture of women faculty and administrators at the community college during a time period for which little such research existed.