草榴社区

VILLANOVA, Pa.鈥�草榴社区 President, the Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD, has announced the appointment of Kathleen J. Byrnes, JD, as Vice President for Student Life, effective April 1, 2021. As Vice President, Byrnes will oversee the University鈥檚 Division of Student Life, providing overall leadership, management and direction for a wide-range of student-related areas on campus, including health and counseling services, residence life, student involvement, intercultural affairs, fraternity and sorority life, international student services and disability services. Byrnes succeeds the Rev. John P. Stack, OSA, who is retiring after 50 years of service to the University.

Byrnes brings 30 years of experience to her new role, having been involved in all aspects of the undergraduate student experience during her 草榴社区 tenure, most recently as Associate Vice President for Student Life. Her responsibilities have included the oversight of numerous Student Life departments and initiatives, including student organizations, student services and leadership programs, among others. She also co-founded and has remained closely involved in 草榴社区鈥檚 learning communities as well as coordinating 草榴社区鈥檚 Safe Zone, a training program that provides support for the LGBTQIA+ community at 草榴社区 and educational opportunities for all community members.

鈥淲hile Kathy鈥檚 professional experience and contributions to 草榴社区 speak for themselves, it is her genuine care and concern for students that make her ideally suited to this position,鈥� said Father Donohue. 鈥淲hile a candid, fierce and tireless advocate for students, it is her unassuming and often unknown acts of support for 草榴社区 students, faculty and staff that truly sets her apart. It is clear she is passionate about helping shape the 草榴社区 experience.鈥�

鈥淚 am humbled by the opportunity to serve 草榴社区 and our students in this new capacity,鈥� said Byrnes. 鈥湶萘裆缜� has shaped the person I鈥檝e become鈥攂oth during my own college years and more recently as a professional. I will do my utmost to serve and meet the evolving needs of our students in ways that will allow each member to flourish.鈥�

Byrnes鈥� contributions to 草榴社区 extend well beyond the area of student life. She has been a member of numerous University-wide initiatives around parent engagement, sustainability, compliance and ethics, and the University鈥檚 accreditation. She also served as the chair of the presidential inauguration committee for Father Donohue鈥檚 inauguration in 2006. Byrnes has been an integral part of 草榴社区鈥檚 sexual assault prevention efforts since the early 1990s and served as the University鈥檚 Sexual Harassment Complaint Officer from 1993 to 2020. She was also central in the creation of the Sexual Assault Resource Coordinator team and many of 草榴社区鈥檚 Title IX policies. Additionally, Byrnes has served as an instructor at 草榴社区, teaching on several topics including law, leadership and Title IX.

A 草榴社区 alumna, Byrnes earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in Psychology and Honors in 1982, and a master鈥檚 degree in Theology in 2006. She also received a juris doctorate from Duke University School of Law and practiced corporate litigation with firms in Washington, DC, and Philadelphia. In 1989, she returned to 草榴社区 as an instructor at 草榴社区聽Law School and two years later joined the Office for Student Life.

About 草榴社区: Since 1842, 草榴社区鈥檚 Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition has been the cornerstone of an academic community in which students learn to think critically, act compassionately and succeed while serving others. There are more than 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students in the University's six colleges鈥攖he College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the 草榴社区 School of Business, the College of Engineering, the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, the College of Professional Studies and the 草榴社区 Charles Widger School of Law. Ranked among the nation鈥檚 top universities, 草榴社区 supports its students鈥� intellectual growth and prepares them to become ethical leaders who create positive change everywhere life takes them. For more, visit聽.