The mission of Emmanuel—and its identity as a Catholic college, university in breadth and inclusive of all— is to provide a dynamic education in the liberal arts and sciences within a learning community shaped by strong ethical values. While much of the world has changed dramatically in the years since the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur first opened the College, Emmanuel's commitment to rigorous academics, compassionate service and the advancement of justice and peace has never wavered, and it remains as powerful and relevant as ever. In the spirit of the Catholic intellectual tradition, we challenge students to confront complex questions with imaginative, deeply personal answers, and to act on their beliefs in ways that benefit others as well as themselves, which reflects the Sisters' charism to live with "hearts as wide as the world."
Emmanuel's philosophical basis is affirmed in John Henry Newman's Idea of a University, which recognizes the need for open, informed debate in the search for truth. These ideas provide the context for how Emmanuel understands its mission, as do more recent discussions on the characteristics of American Catholic colleges. These characteristics include a continued dialogue between faith and reason; a strong sense of community; the centrality of theology and philosophy in the curriculum; a commitment to education for social justice; service to others; and the celebration of Liturgy.
In May 2019, Emmanuel College was selected as one of 100 Boston-area nonprofits to receive a $100,000 grant through Cummings Foundation's "$100K for 100" program. The grant will help support service initiatives through Emmanuel's Cardinal Seán O'Malley Center for Mission & Ministry.
Since graduating from Emmanuel College in 2016, Atka Bol has not only flourished in her commitment to service, she has let it take her across the world.
Elementary education major Amie Knowles '20 traveled more than 4,000 miles to Rome, where she volunteered to teach English at a local primary school—and learned to connect with her major in a new way.
Although half a world away in Pakistan, Justin Prairie '05 is never far from Emmanuel and Boston. A foreign service officer with the U.S. State Department, Justin currently works on political and military affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan.
When Meghan Larkin '19 was a first-year student at Emmanuel, she paid close attention to her resident assistants (RAs) and became inspired by the effort they put into creating a positive living environment.
When Rachael was applying to college, she hadn't quite figured out what she wanted to study. There were several routes she could take on the path to her future, but deciding on one seemed impossible. It was then that she realized she needed to attend a school that could support all of her interests.
During her academic year at Saint Petersburg Polytechnic University in Russia, political science major Ellison Chang '18 has learned to "live in the moment" and embrace the unfamiliar.
Emmanuel is a place where students broaden their sense of what’s possible and prepare for inspiring careers in an ever-changing world. Be here.
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