Historic Gift Strengthens a Shared Mission and Positions La Roche University for Thoughtful, Long-Term Growth

PITTSBURGH, Dec. 16, 2025 – La Roche University today announced that the Sisters of Divine Providence (CDP) have gifted the Providence Heights Motherhouse and approximately 15 acres of adjoining property to the University. This gift represents the second-largest single donation in La Roche’s history and deepens a six-decade partnership rooted in shared mission, Catholic identity, and service. The transfer includes the Providence Heights Motherhouse, the Marie De La Roche Center, Ketteler Hall, a parking lot, and the surrounding grounds.

The donation, formalized through an Agreement to Convey Real Property, marks a significant milestone in the enduring relationship between the Sisters and the institution they founded in 1963. The gift comes as the Sisters prepare to celebrate 150 years of ministry in the United States, an anniversary that adds historic and spiritual resonance to the transfer.

“This gift is an extraordinary expression of trust, partnership, and shared purpose,” said Christina A. Clark, Ph.D., president of La Roche University. “The Sisters of Divine Providence shaped La Roche’s identity from the very beginning. As stewards of this legacy, we are honored to ensure that the values they have embodied—inclusiveness, integrity, determination, compassion, inspiration, and a commitment to justice and peace—remain embedded throughout campus and visible for generations to come.”

A Sacred Space with a Living Legacy

Since 1926, the Providence Heights Motherhouse has been an iconic presence in the North Hills and a symbol of the Sisters’ commitment to education, community, and faith. Together with Ketteler Hall, which once housed some of La Roche’s first classrooms and earned it the nickname “the college in the basement,” these buildings have played a pivotal role in the University’s early history and ongoing mission of formation, reflection, and service.

“This property holds deep meaning for us,” said Sister Michele Bisbey, CDP, Ph.D., provincial for the Sisters of Divine Providence. “By entrusting the Providence Heights Motherhouse and Ketteler Hall to La Roche, we know that the legacy of our ministries, including education and justice, will not only be preserved but actively lived forward for generations of students and the broader community.”

Positioning the University for Long-Term Mission Growth

While La Roche will assume operational responsibility for the facilities, any renovations or program expansions will be strategically aligned with—and contingent upon—secured philanthropic funding. This approach ensures that enhancements remain consistent with the Sisters’ mission. The additional space provides long-term flexibility to support mission-aligned initiatives, including nursing and health sciences, intercultural engagement, community outreach, lifelong learning through the Introcaso Center for Lifelong Learning, eco-justice programming, and expanded opportunities for the Ketteler Center for Peace, Justice, and Inclusion—a collaborative initiative between La Roche and the CDPs that will be further strengthened by this transfer.

“This gift allows La Roche to plan boldly but responsibly,” said George Barron, vice president for University Advancement. “We are committed to stewarding these buildings with the same care the Sisters have shown for generations. Any enhancements will follow a thoughtful, capital-supported approach that honors the sacred nature of this place.”

Faculty teaching within Providence Heights also emphasized the programmatic continuity this gift provides.

“Nursing students already learn and serve within the Motherhouse,” said Assistant Professor Leigh Frederick, Ph.D., MSN, RN. “This transfer secures long-term stability for programs that prepare students to care for others with dignity, compassion, and skill—values central to the CDP mission and to our curriculum.”

“The Radiologic Technology program has a new fully equipped X-ray room in the Motherhouse and currently has a waitlist of students eager to enroll,” said Lori Fazio, M.S., R.T. (R), director of La Roche’s Radiography Program. “This gift ensures that we can continue providing hands-on, career-ready training in a facility that directly supports student success and future growth.”

Strengthening a Shared Mission of Service

As part of the agreement, La Roche will continue to support the Sisters through ongoing groundskeeping of CDP property, perpetual care of the CDP cemetery, shared security presence, and other mission-aligned services. The University will also maintain its commitment to revenue-generating rentals—such as weddings and community events—with a shared revenue arrangement supporting the Sister of Divine Providence.

“This is more than a property transfer,” Dr. Clark said. “It is a reaffirmation of the deep relationship between La Roche University and the Sisters of Divine Providence. Together, we are building the next chapter of a shared legacy anchored in faith, education, and service to others.”

About La Roche University: An independent liberal arts university in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, La Roche University offers 71 undergraduate programs of study, eight master’s degrees and two doctoral degrees, with particular strengths in education, business, criminal justice, cybersecurity and forensics, psychology, nursing, and health and medical sciences as well as interior architecture & design and graphic design. This residential university provides a vibrant campus community for women and men enjoying multiple student organizations and an exciting NCAA Div. III athletics program. Founded by the Sisters of Divine Providence in 1963, La Roche University embraces its Catholic heritage while welcoming people of all faiths and backgrounds. With a legacy of social justice and a commitment to international exchange, La Roche University educates students to be lifelong learners and achievers in an increasingly diverse and global society.

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