With every new year comes new experiences at Chestnut Hill College. That was certainly true as 2022 was filled with championship celebrations, implementations of new programs, campus-wide improvements, a presidential transition, and distinguished speakers. As we turn the calendar toward 2023, marking the College’s 99th year, here is a look back at some of the highlights from 2022. 

A presidential transition 

In June-July, Chestnut Hill College embarked on a historic milestone as Sister Carol Jean Vale, who served the college faithfully as president for 30 years, was retiring. Sister Carol was one of the most tenured presidents in the nation and to celebrate her accomplishments, the college hosted a gala in her honor and worked with Chestnut Hill Brewing Company to create a signature beer, the Vale Pale Ale. Her departure marked the end of an era in CHC history, but it also welcomed in a new chapter as her successor, William Latimer, Ph.D., MPH, is the first male and first lay president for the college. Dr. Latimer joined the campus in July and in his short time here, has already made significant impacts on the student experience, including but not limited to improvements to the dorms and the food offerings in the dining hall. The college looks forward to his continued leadership in 2023 and beyond. 

Athletics: Men’s lacrosse does it again, basketball programs reach new high 

Adding to their legacy as the Chestnut Hill College’s most successful NCAA Division II program, the Men’s Lacrosse Team secured their second consecutive Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Championship, defeating Wilmington University. The team begins their quest for a three-peat in February, 2023.  

Another success story came on the basketball courts as the men and women’s teams reached the CACC playoffs, where both also hosted a home playoff game for the first time. The women’s team, despite falling short in their quest to claim a title, reached the NCAA D2 Women’s Basketball Tournament for the first time in program history. 

Academics: College adds neurodiversity, introduces new ways of learning 

Seeking to administer to an underserved population when it comes to higher education, Chestnut Hill College created the Neurodiversity Initiative, designed to help neurodivergent individuals transition to college. The initiative includes several programs, some of which took on life this year. As the college’s Neurodiversity Initiative continues to grow, CHC has already become a recognized name in the industry and leader in the space, hosting several key conferences and events in 2022 with plans for more in the following years. 

Having always embraced collaboration and interdisciplinary work, CHC faculty and administration created a new center model for learning and introduced a brand new, skill-centric core curriculum. Both of these academic avenues have begun to flourish and will continue to grow in the coming years. 

Campus Events: Biomedical lecture, Undocuweek, and Griffins for Life 

College campuses are always busy and rife with events and activities for students and CHC is no exception. Events focused on academic advancement of students, in addition to those raising awareness of inequalities and barriers to education and prioritizing the college’s mission and core values, highlighted 2022. 

Started in 1994, CHC’s Biomedical Distinguished Lecture Series welcomed two speakers this year, both highly regarded in their fields. Thomas Kaminski, a doctor, professor, and researcher, shared his work on concussion and the impacts of head injuries. The event was co-sponsored by the college’s Center for Concussion Education and Research, which is funded through the NCAA and Department of Defense. The second lecture, welcomed Dr. Drew Weissman, a physician known all over the world thanks to his work in developing the COVID vaccines. Dr. Weissman, who was named one of TIME Magazine’s “Heroes of the Year” in 2021, shared next steps in a talk titled, “Action Plan: What to do After 10 Billion Doses of Vaccine.” 

Inspired by a panel regarding the topic of immigration, the CHC community joined together to plan the College’s first-ever Undocuweek. The event featured student panels, workshops, guest speakers, and cultural events designed to share heritage and customs with the campus community. It was an opportunity for the college to come together and share stories, engage in dialogue, and most importantly, embrace a call to action.  

Endeavoring to create a project for a cause, students took part in the College Challenge for Gift of Life, sponsoring events and PSAs in order to help raise awareness for the importance of being an organ donor. The College’s campaign was a huge success, as the Griffins recruited donors on campus and finished in 2nd place in the challenge among all other participating colleges nationwide. 

Marilee Gallagher is assistant director of communications for online content at Chestnut Hill College.