Joseph Hall, which houses the college's newest academic space, will be formally dedicated in honor of Bishop Emeritus Joseph Gerry, O.S.B., on Friday, March 27 at 2:30 p.m.
The dedication will take place in the foyer of Joseph Hall. Following the ceremony, refreshments will be served in the Bready Chair Room.
Joseph Hall houses the offices of the economics, history, and education departments. Business students have the opportunity to follow the stock market in the Bloomberg Room, equipped with a “trading computer,” a Real-time stock ticker, and a television tuned to Bloomberg TV. Joseph Hall also contains four seminar classrooms, a faculty lounge, a conference room, and the office of the Richard L. Bready Chair in Ethics, Economics, and the Common Good.
Renovation of the former convent began last May, following the departure of the Sisters of Saint Joan of Arc to their motherhouse in Quebec. Before the sisters occupied the building in 1955, it was the Benedictine monastery. The building, originally constructed in 1919, cost about $2.5 million to transform.
The building is being dedicated in recognition of Bishop Joseph’s commitment and contributions to the college community
Bishop Joseph has been part of the Saint Anselm community since arriving on campus as a student in 1946. After graduate school, he returned to campus and taught philosophy and humanities from 1958 to 986. Bishop Joseph also served the college in a number of administrative capacities, first as Dean of the College from 1971 to 1972 and then as Chancellor from 1972 to 1986, when he also served as the third Abbot of Saint Anselm Abbey.
On February 21, 1989, Bishop Joseph was ordained the 10th Bishop of the Diocese of Portland, Maine. While he was in Portland, Saint Anselm College was never far from his heart. Bishop Joseph returned to the Abbey after retiring on Feb. 10, 2004.
The formal dedication of Joseph Hall comes on the heels of February’s opening of the campus’s new $2 million fitness center.