President Ross is pleased to announce that Sr. Mary Johnson, SNDdeN ’79, Congregational Leader for the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, will serve as Emmanuel College’s 2026 Commencement Speaker and receive an honorary degree.
An alumna educated by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, Sr. Mary’s life and vocation embody the values Emmanuel leadership, a global perspective, and a deep commitment to justice and the common good. As a student at Emmanuel, she served as president of her class, an experience she attributes to the formative shaping of her leadership. Her return as Commencement speaker carries special meaning not only because Emmanuel helped shape her vocation, but also because she devoted twenty-two years to the College as a professor of sociology. During that time, she and her colleagues conducted the first national study of young adult Catholics, a groundbreaking and influential study in sociology and in the Church in the United States. Through teaching, mentorship, and scholarship, she shaped generations of Emmanuel students in enduring alignment with the College’s mission.
Following her service at Emmanuel, Sr. Mary became Distinguished Professor of Sociology and Religious Studies at Trinity Washington University in Washington, D.C., also founded by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. Her academic work, including research on Catholic religious orders of women, global migration, and Catholic Social Teaching continues to influence religious and academic leaders, demonstrating the power of a liberal arts education rooted in inquiry, ethical reflection, and engagement with the most pressing challenges of our world.
Sr. Mary’s leadership journey led to her election as Congregational Leader of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. In this role, she is based in Rome and, with the other four members of the Congregational Leadership Team, she is entrusted with responsibility for the global congregation and its ministries across five continents. Her leadership includes regular engagement with the International Union of Superiors General, international justice and peace organizations and Vatican offices, reflecting her influence and standing within the global Church.
As our Commencement speaker, Sr. Mary brings not only academic distinction and global leadership, but also a deep understanding of Emmanuel College, its history, its mission, and its aspirations for the future. Rooted in the spirit of Saint Julie Billiart and shaped by decades of teaching and leadership, her message will invite graduates to live with confidence, freedom of spirit, and a lasting commitment to justice.
In welcoming Sr. Mary Johnson back to Emmanuel College, we honor a beloved alumna and former faculty member whose life exemplifies the transformative power of an Emmanuel education and the enduring mission of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur.