Franciscan to step down after 31 years as Hilbert College president

Published: 2005-06-28

HAMBURG, N.Y. (CNS) -- Sister Edmunette Paczesny, president of Hilbert College in Hamburg since 1975, has announced plans to step down at the end of the 2005-06 academic year. A Franciscan Sister of St. Joseph for the past 50 years, Sister Edmunette, 72, said she thinks "it's time for a new leader to take the helm and continue Hilbert's mission based on our Franciscan foundation." During her tenure as president, Hilbert moved from a two- to a four-year institution, increased its undergraduate degree programs from five to 12, dramatically increased its enrollment and added such academic innovations as a forensics training lab and two professionally based resource centers. "I'm confident Hilbert will continue in this positive movement and achieve its future goals with a leadership change," she said in a statement. "Hilbert has been a part of my life for more than 40 years, starting when I first taught at the college, and that connection will always be with me."

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