Sister Susan Yochum, Seton Hill University Provost, continues the legacy of Elizabeth Ann Seton and the
Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill in her new position. “I wish to fit our students for the world in which they are destined to live.”
Seton Hill University President Mary Finger announced the appointment of Sister Susan Yochum, SC, PH.D., to the position of University Provost, June 27, 2016. A Seton Hill alumna, Sister Susan holds a master’s degree in chemistry from Duquesne University and a Ph.D. from Cleveland State University. She began her 31-year career at Seton Hill University as a chemistry instructor. In 1998, Sister Susan was named Seton Hill’s Professor of the Year. She went on to chair the division of natural and health sciences for eighteen years–– a role that afforded her a significant amount of administrative experience.
During the construction of the Joanne Woodyard Boyle Health and Sciences Center, Sister Susan was the contact person and faculty liaison with the architects, contractors, and construction workers, and all the teams who worked on the construction. Nearly one-third of Seton Hill’s students are engaged in programs at the Center, which is fully equipped to prepare students for careers in the health sciences well into the future.
Sister Susan began her discernment about religious life as a student at Seton Hill. The canonization of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first American-born saint, during her junior year in college was influential in her decision to become a Sister of Charity. As an educator, Sister Susan seeks to instill the academic and personal disciplines as well as the Gospel values that were taught to her by Sisters of Charity who mentored her. In a recent interview, Sister said, “Right now, I want to serve the students and the institution—whether as a faculty member or administrator––with the kind of influence I believe the Sisters had on me.” She quotes the words of Elizabeth Ann Seton, “I wish to fit our students for the world in which they are destined to live.”
For the past year, Sister Susan has worked with all of the academic programs and the entire faculty as the Acting Provost while teaching a class each semester. In accepting her new position, Sister Susan said, “I am privileged to work with our talented faculty as we continue to look at ways to advance academic programs, rooted in the liberal arts, that prepare our students for the workforce, graduate school, and research opportunities. I want to empower students and faculty alike to be agents for transformation.”
To learn more about Sister Susan’s academic honors and contributions to science and education, visit https://www.setonhill.edu/news/detail/seton-hill-university-names-susan-yochum-sc-phd-as-provost/.