Rose Marie Kujawa, former president of Madonna University in Livonia, Michigan, died on December 29. She was 79 years old.
A native of Detroit, Kujwa was accepted into the Felician Congregation in 1960, received the name Sister Rose Marie and pronounced final vows in 1968. She earned a bachelor’s degree at Madonna University and a master’s degree from Wayne State University in Detroit.
After teaching at several high schools in the Detroit area, in 1976 Kujawa was assigned to Madonna College where she taught mathematics and organized and taught the first computer courses. In 1979, Sr. Rose Marie began 17 years of service as academic vice president and was instrumental in introducing the first graduate program in 1982, a joint venture of the nursing and business departments.
Kujawa served as the university’s sixth president from 2001 to 2015. After retiring as president on June 30, 2015, Kujawa served for over five years as the Delegate for Consecrated Life for the Archdiocese of Detroit.
A video tribute may be viewed below.