In Memoriam: Marylouise Fennell, 1939-2022

Marylouise Fennell, a long-time educator and former president of Carlow University in Pittsburgh, died on October 12 in West Palm Beach, Florida. She was 83 years old.

After high school, Fennell joined the Sisters of Mercy and remained a member of the order for 65 years. She earned a bachelor’s degree in education from the now-closed Diocesan Sisters College in Bloomfield, Connecticut. She went on to earn a master’s degree in counselor education from the University of Hartford and an educational doctorate from Boston University. Dr. Fennell did postdoctoral work management at Harvard University and family counseling at the University of Connecticut.

Her educational travel brought her to over 20 countries as a teacher, lecturer, and consultant. As a consultant, she is credited with forging partnerships between Central American and historically Black colleges in this country with other American colleges and universities. As a partner in the Hyatt-Fennel Executive Search firm, she was instrumental in finding candidates for top positions at colleges and universities across the United States.

In 1982, Dr. Fennell was named president of Carlow University. During her six-year tenure, she partnered with the American Management Association to offer courses directly on the Carlow campus. Cutting-edge degree programs in computer science, chemistry, and journalism were added.

For her work in higher education, Dr. Fennell earned more than 40 honorary degrees.