Trailblazing Jesuit Higher Education Leader Dr. Linda LeMura to Deliver 2025 Holy Cross Commencement Address

The College of the Holy Cross announced today that Le Moyne College President Dr. Linda LeMura will address this year’s graduates during the Holy Cross commencement ceremony on Friday, May 23, at 10:15 a.m. at the DCU Center in Worcester. This year's commencement marks the College's 179th graduating class.

A child of Italian immigrants, Dr. LeMura was a first-generation college student. She is a much-quoted expert in the financing of higher education and is a passionate advocate for increasing Pell Grants to address inequities in higher education access and completion rates. An avid basketball fan, Dr. LeMura was a basketball standout both in high school and at Niagara University where she graduated summa cum laude. She earned her Ph.D. in applied physiology from Syracuse University.

As an academic, her teaching and research interests include pediatric obesity and applied pediatric physiology. The author of over 30 peer-reviewed scientific journal articles and an internationally translated textbook, Dr. LeMura’s most significant research accomplishments always included students as co-investigators and co-authors. During her tenure as a professor, she served as a research consultant for both the United States and the Italian Olympic
committees.

When Dr. LeMura was named the 14th President of Le Moyne, a private Jesuit college located in Syracuse, N.Y., she became the first female layperson to be named president of a Jesuit institution of higher education in the United States. Previously, she served Le Moyne as the provost and vice president for academic affairs (from 2007 to 2014) and dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (from 2003 to 2007).

Since Dr. LeMura’s accession to the presidency, Le Moyne has enrolled its eight largest classes in its history. Under her watch, the College has created numerous partnerships with other universities to increase graduate opportunities for Le Moyne graduates in engineering, law and the health sciences, pursued federal and local grants to stabilize the economic well-being of the College neighborhood and raised more than $200 million for endowed faculty professorships, student scholarships and capital projects. Under Dr. LeMura’s leadership, Le Moyne made the bold move to pursue athletic competition at the Division I level and is now a full-fledged member of the Northeast Conference.

Dr. LeMura will be given an honorary degree during commencement. Holy Cross will also award an honorary degree to Sister Barbara Rogers, RSCJ, a longtime leader of the Newton Country Day School of the Sacred Heart.

Both Dr. LeMura and Sister Rogers are former board members of the College of the Holy Cross, with Dr. LeMura serving from 2015 to 2023 and Sister Rogers from 2016 to 2024.

Sister Barbara Rogers, RSCJ

Sister Rogers is head emerita of Newton Country Day School of the Sacred Heart, a private, all-girls Roman Catholic high school and middle school in Newton, Mass., after serving as Headmistress from 1989-2023. The school’s student body of nearly 400 girls represents 65 communities, with 100 percent going on to attend colleges and universities after graduation.

Since assuming the role in 1989, Sister Rogers has played a pivotal role in strengthening the school’s mission, expanding its facilities, and securing its financial stability. Under Sister Rogers’ leadership, the school’s endowment grew from $220,000 to nearly $50 million.

Her tenure saw the construction of the Sweeney-Husson building, which includes a theater, science laboratories, and Middle School facilities, as well as the expansion of the library, the renovation of the Chapel, and the creation of the Kathleen R. Martin Wellness Center.

Sister Rogers has been recognized for her commitment to Sacred Heart education and her ability to balance tradition with innovation. She has emphasized the importance of mission-driven decision-making, ensuring that Newton Country Day remains a leader in educating young women. Prior to joining Newton Country Day, Sister Rogers worked at Sacred Heart schools in Washington, Princeton and Miami.

Sister Rogers is an alumna of the Convent of the Sacred Heart, Elmhurst, and Manhattanville College, and earned an MBA from the Yale School of Management.

“I'm thrilled to honor Dr. Linda LeMura and Sister Barbara Rogers at our commencement ceremonies this year. Their commitment to helping others, specifically in the realm of education is an inspiration to everyone on campus. As former members of our board, I appreciate their dedication to Holy Cross. We can all learn from each of them and follow in their footsteps. It's a privilege to have them as our honorary degree recipients,” said Holy Cross President Vincent D. Rougeau.

The College will host a reception and dinner for members of the Holy Cross community on Thursday, May 22, to celebrate the recipients of this year’s honorary degrees.

For more information on this year’s Commencement events, please visit the Commencement website.