Annual Giving
Contact Information
Annual Fund Office
Susan Thomas
Santa Rita Hall, 1st Floor
Phone: (973) 290-4703
sthomas@steu.edu
On May 2, 2020, Sr. Francis Raftery, the sixth president of Saint Elizabeth University,
was born into eternal life. While Sr. Francis served the institution as president
for 16 years, she began her tenure as a faculty member and continued to advance in
her career. As chair of the education department, Sr. Francis was instrumental in
shaping the program. In fact, she was responsible for securing Saint Elizabeth's first
doctoral program in Educational Leadership.
Throughout her career Sr. Francis was focused on one thing: ensuring all students
had access to a high-quality education. Inspired by this passion for teaching and
learning, both the Sister Francis Scholarship and the Sister Francis Student Relief
Fund were named in her honor.
Help us make sure that Sr. Francis' legacy continues by making a gift to the Sister
Francis Raftery Scholarship Relief Fund.
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Success Stories
Moises Garcia, '20
This spring, Moises became the first man to graduate as an educator from SEU's traditional
undergraduate education program. His teaching abilities earned him recognition as
a Distinguished Clinical Intern by the New Jersey State Department of Education.
As a recipient of scholarship support from the Sister Francis Raftery Student Relief
Fund, our generous donors facilitated Moises's ability to earn his degree and become
the teacher that he needed growing up.
Jessica Velasquez-Julca, '20
Jessica received the Sister Francis Raftery Scholarship and earned the Elizabeth Ann
Maloney Award of Distinction at graduation. Inspired by the charism of the Sisters
of Charity, Jessica has dedicated her life to helping others. She's an EMT, a medical
scribe and an AmeriCorps member serving at a community health center.
As a first-generation college student, born to hardworking parents who immigrated
to the US from Ecuador with very little, she required assistance in attending school.
Due to your gifts, Jessica was able to earn a degree in biology and intends to continue
positively impacting the world by becoming a cardiologist.
Memories of Sr. Fran
- Deba Z.