New president - next chapter

Posted by: Debbie Bowley on Mon, 13 July 2009 01:47:35

The Board of Trustees announces its selection of Dr. Antoinette Iadarola to serve as president of the academy, effective July 1, 2009.  Dr. Iadarola succeeds President Barbara Griffin who retired at the end of June after serving six successful years as Lauralton Hall’s president.

Click to read the Catholic Transcript article on Dr. Iadarola.

Sister Genie Guterch, R.S.M., Chair of the Search Committee commented:  “The Sisters of Mercy are secure in the belief that the values-oriented Mercy education at Lauralton Hall will continue to grow and blossom under Dr. Iadarola’s inspiring and transformative leadership."

A native of New York City, Iadarola was raised in Shelton, Connecticut and graduated from Shelton High School.  She comes to Lauralton with significant experience and passion for Catholic and single-sex education for women.  A product of a Mercy education herself, Iadarola graduated with a B.A. in History/Political Science from Saint Joseph College in West Hartford where she began her career as a history professor in 1973.  A Fulbright Scholar affiliated with the London School of Economics, Iadarola holds master’s and doctoral degrees from Georgetown University and did post-doctoral studies at Fordham University and Yale Divinity School.  While at Saint Joseph College, she served as chair of the history department, coordinator of the women’s studies program and special assistant to the president.  Before her appointment as the first lay president of Cabrini College in Radnor, PA in 1992, the president-elect was Provost and Dean of Faculty at the College of Mt. St. Joseph in Ohio and Colby-Sawyer College in New Hampshire.

During Iadarola’s 16 year tenure as president of Cabrini College, the College tripled its enrollment and successfully completed three capital campaigns raising over $100 million for new construction, renovations of existing buildings, and substantial additions to endowment and reserves.

“I am honored to become Lauralton Hall’s next president,” said Dr. Iadarola.  “For over 100 years, the Sisters of Mercy, and the faculty and staff have established a long tradition of academic excellence in arming young women with the skill they need to succeed in college and go out and build just societies.  I am excited about joining the Lauralton community as together we continue this important work and lead Lauralton into a new era of distinction and achievement.”