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Sister
Samuel Conlan
By Kathleen Mullen
In conjunction with the Writer's Center of Marin
Members of her profession especially in Marin County recognize Sister
Samuel Conlan as a leader in the area of education.
As a testimony to her more than 40 years of contributions in the field,
she not only has made strides herself as a leader but equally important, has
inspired countless others who have achieved designation in their profession.
Her career in education has been varied starting with classroom teaching
at the grade school level, moving into the high school and still later as a
college professor. Sister Samuel Conlan went on to serve as president of
Dominican College for more than twelve years, concluding that role in 1980 and
returning to teaching once again.
Let me tell you about her early life
Patricia Edith Conlan, her name until she entered religious life at the
age of 22, is a third generation San Franciscan and still has a special place in
her heart for that City across the bay. Her
family, a source of great support and encouragement, fostered her independent
spirit. The young Miss Conlan attended St. Rose Academy, in San Francisco, a
girl’s college prep school, as did her mother and her grandmother, before her.
Looking back now, Sister Conlan greatly values many teachers throughout
her extensive education. Though, it
is when she talks of those who inspired her during her early school years, that
a warm smile spreads across her face. Her
first teachers are the ones to whom she gives the most credit for some of her
long standing beliefs, such as to the importance of quality education for all,
but especially for students at a young age. Remarkably, she remembers each of
her grade school teachers by name!
While Patricia Conlan had no siblings, she did have many cousins, including
some her own age. She has enjoyed
the benefits of a strong extended family in San Francisco throughout her life. It may be hard to imagine now, what it was like growing up in
San Francisco during the 30’s and 40’s.
The City had genuine neighborhoods where generations of families had
roots. As their children grew into
adulthood, they made their life in the City too.
Patricia’s parents both worked in San Francisco -her father in business
and her mother as a secretary. Within
her Richmond District neighborhood, Patricia Conlan had grandparents, uncles,
and cousins. It was the norm to
have the freedom to enjoy walking throughout the neighborhoods, into the early
evening hours feeling safe and secure, in part because people knew each other,
either as family or friends.
Patricia was very active and
took advantage of the many opportunities at hand as she grew up.
She very much enjoyed sports. Without
even having to leave her neighborhood, she could pursue two of her favorites,
golf and tennis. Joined by her many
cousins and friends, at the nearby golf course and tennis courts, young Patricia
spent hours of recreational fun. The
natural beauty of places like Golden Gate Park and Baker Beach were also
gathering spots for family activities. Nearby
too, were major museums and the public library.
These were places that provided intellectual opportunities to explore.
Some of Patricia’s childhood
memories include major events of the day, such as watching the construction of
the Golden Gate Bridge and seeing the first Pan Am Clipper fly out to the
Hawaiian Islands. She fondly
recalls independently taking public transportation to attend the exhibits at the
World’s Fair when it was on Treasure Island, and having multi course Italian
dinners at North Beach restaurants, which cost a dollar or less!
It is hard to point to one specific thing that inspired Patricia.
Perhaps is was the excitement of these significant changes, maybe it was
her strong family life, or maybe it was the mood of the nation as it recovered
from the Great Depression, that most shaped her personal and professional
future. Quite likely, it was all
these things and more. But what was
evident, even at a young age, was Patricia Conlan’s ability to accomplish the
things she set her mind to. Competition
and challenge were followed by accomplishment
When asked what type of work she may have chosen if she had not gone into
education, she admits to dreams of becoming the author of the “great American
novel” while living in her favorite City, someplace on Telegraph Hill.
Instead of that path however, she chose to nurture and serve others as a
teacher, and later in her career, as a “teacher of teachers”.
The gifts of a teacher
Patricia Conlan received a bachelor’s degree from Dominican College in
1948. As a college senior, she was student body president.
Later she earned a master’s degree from Catholic University of America
and a Ph.D. from Stanford University in English Literature.
After receiving her bachelor’s degree and teaching
certificate, in 1949 she answered a calling by entering the Dominican Order,
specifically the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael.
As young Catholic nun, she began novitiate training, which lasted for a
total of three years and included vows of poverty,
chastity, and obedience. Patricia
took the name of Sister Samuel Conlan. As
part of her religious life she made a commitment to live simply and in
community, to focus on a personal relationship with God, to study and to be of
service in the church and in the world.
Assignments for her service were made based on where the need most
existed, considering of course her talents and skills.
As is still the case, a teaching credential requires one year of college
training after finishing a bachelor degree, which Sister Samuel had completed.
She had prepared to become a high school teacher while at Dominican
College. However, things did not
initially go as planned. At the
time she finished her training as a Dominican Sister, the greatest need was for
3rd grade teachers. Being a flexible person, willing to seize an
opportunity when presented, she accepted the assignment.
These personal characteristics along with her giving spirit, energy and
the confidence that she could meet a challenge would become the hallmark of her
successful career to come. Although, she took the assignment as a 3rd
grade teacher with a smile on her face it was not an easy challenge for her as a
first year teacher. She had to work
hard to provide for the needs of her young students, who by the way, never let
on if they knew that their young teacher was really a high school teacher, with
limited preparation for the rigors of the array of subjects required in 3rd
grade. Nonetheless, she had a very
good experience with many rewards and has followed the lives of those young
students who have become active citizens in their community. Teaching had “hooked” her passion and would become her
life’s work.
After a short stint as an
elementary teacher, Sister Samuel accepted an opportunity to teach at Dominican
Convent Upper School, now known as San Domenico in Marin County, which was then,
and still is, a renowned high school for girls. Sister Samuel was well suited for demands of high school
teaching. Her subjects included
English, history and ethics. DCUS was an all-girls boarding school.
The Sisters lived with the resident students and shared their lives
fully. For some of the students it
was hard to be away from home, especially as the school year began.
For most, eventually, boarding school became an adventure.
Sister Samuel was in her element not only as a teacher, but also because
of her love of the competition, excellence and encouragement among those around
her. Her playfulness, and humor
mixed well with the academic challenges. There
was fierce rivalry between athletic teams, and between classes, much vying for
accolades in artistic activities as well as games.
Above all, it was then and still is, known as a very challenging college
preparatory school. In fact,
the high school students found Sister Samuel quite demanding in the classroom,
even expressing the thought that she should teach at the college level instead.
Truly, Sister Samuel loved every minute of her five years as DCUS and
credits her experiences there, particularly the mentoring she received from the
principle, Sister Maurice, with lessons that would serve her well in future
career decisions. In 1957, after
five happy years at DCUS, Sister Samuel received another assignment from the
Dominican Order. This time her
teaching assignment would be at Dominican College. You see, by the time her tenure was complete at Dominican
Convent Upper School, she had also finished her master’s degree from Catholic
University of America. .
There’s a big job to be done.
In 1957, at the age of 30, Sister Samuel took on a new challenge; one
that it seemed was inevitable given her personal and religious experiences, and
her education. She accepted a
position as an English professor at Dominican College.
At that time Dominican College was a woman’s only Catholic college
primarily for the study of liberal arts with an emphasis on educating teachers.
Sister Samuel enjoyed her work with the
students at Dominican College. It
seemed her career was bringing her full circle.
As a professor, she was returning to the very college, which had given
her a foundation in higher education. Since Dominican Convent Upper School was
such an academically challenging school, college teaching really did not seem
all that different. On the other
hand, given the age and maturity of the students, all around expectations were
higher, students had more freedom, their pranks and mischief was a bit more
sophisticate. Being able to teach what she loved, English literature, at a
college she loved, was a pleasure. The
college was and is, physically beautiful and is still known for its beautiful
arboretum like setting. The park
like setting of the campus with its majestic architecture has more than 100
varieties of trees and shrubs. First
chartered in 1890, Dominican College remains tucked away in a quiet neighborhood
in San Rafael. What better place to
teach the classics of English literature. But college life was beginning to under go dramatic change
and as a teaching institution, Dominican College was facing some very tough
realities about its future. A
future, this young English professor would play a large role in shaping.
As a professor on the faculty, Sister Sam was comfortable with the philosophy
and mission of the college. Dominican
was a community of students and teachers who instinctively came together in
support and prayer for each other, both in time of need and celebration.
Quickly, her role at the college expanded. She had not only teaching responsibilities but also committee
and administrative duties. Initially
she served as Dean of Students, then Academic Dean. Her colleagues recognized her as a woman who was passionate
about the important role the college played in the community it served.
The idea that Dominican had a responsibility to its Marin County
community and that the college could benefit from cultivating a closer
relationship with it, was a vision inspired and nurtured by Sister Samuel.
There were those in the community who too shared her belief, that Marin
County would be much poorer if Dominican College suffered from continued lack of
community support. It seemed that
because Dominican had been around since 1890, it was taken for granted by some
who felt it would always have the money and students it needed to survive.
This was far from reality. In
fact when Sister Samuel took on the role of president, the college was in a
financial crisis with no real plan for recovery.
When the college needed a new president the Board of Trustees turned to
Sister Sam Conlon for leadership. She
was the answer to a whispered prayer. Even
though, as yet those around her had no idea what amazing gifts she would bestow
on the college, that she loved so much.
Perhaps even she did not know what a huge challenge she had accepted.
The 60’s brought special
challenges to university life for both students and faculty everywhere in the
country. Although, Dominican was a
private woman’s college, it was in no way immune to the stress of the times.
As the new president, Sister Samuel quickly learned first hand of the
college’s financial problems, and the many needs it had for money and support.
Dominican, although a Catholic college, received no financial support
from the church and needed to find alternate ways of compensating faculty,
maintaining deteriorating buildings, building new ones and developing strong
academic programs to draw both top faculty and students. Student enrollment was
on the decline at Dominican and across the county other colleges just like it
were being forced to close their doors, a reality Sister Samuel saw first hand
when she traveled to Boston in 1970, staying at a Catholic college for women
while at a conference. When she
returned in 1972, for another conference, that same college had closed for good.
The survival of Dominican as a college was not something Sister
Samuel took for granted. At the
same time she knew that to “just survive” was not enough.
The college needed to use its own resources, develop new ones…and grow!
How to accomplish that goal became her leadership task. And it was a big one.
The influences affecting Dominican
College during the early years that Sister Samuel served as president, reached
beyond issues inside its own classroom walls, even beyond life in Marin County.
The turmoil she had to deal with, as a college administrator was much
bigger. During these years, the entire country was undergoing political and
identity change. The late 60’s
and 70’s were times of struggle for many in the country.
Students were rioting, the United States was fighting a war in Vietnam
and great leaders like Martin Luther King and John and Bobby Kennedy who
advocated change, were assassinated before they could fully implement their
dreams. Long-standing policies and
practices were questioned, which eventually brought change in many institutions
including the government of our country. Admittedly,
the pressures Sister Samuel felt, as a new president of a struggling college,
were great. Wisely, she drew from her inner spirit and had the discipline to
maintain her vision. Most
importantly was not afraid to meet these challenges head on.
Even though Sister Samuel had an
excellent background in education, she quickly found her role, as president of
the college, required her to become an expert in many new areas involving the
“business” of the college. Indeed,
her father, to whom she had turned with the proud news that she had just become
president of Dominican College, suggested she might want to get some business
training before taking on the job. Things
like budgeting, facilities management, personnel and fund raising were just a
few of the areas, which required her attention.
She worked very hard to become familiar with all that her new job
required. As she had done in the
past, when faced with personal challenge, Sister Samuel drew from her spiritual
inner strength and the confidence that she was not alone in her work. Qualities
she gained from her experiences with so many inspirational people in her life
became part of her reservoir of strength. Some of the other traits that were
especially helpful to her included, her willingness to work hard and learn new
things, likewise she benefited by her ability to inspire others around her, to
do their best work. Being a good
leader, she knew she could not do all the work, instead called on the talents of
her staff and faculty. It helped a
great deal too, that the faculty at the college had tremendous respect for
Sister Samuel’s knowledge and judgment. Throughout
her career at the college, prior to becoming the president, all those who worked
with her knew that any task she was given or committee on which she served would
be productive and well led by her efforts. Knowing that her personal traits and past experiences
would not be enough to accomplish the awesome tasks at hand, Sister Samuel went
back to school to study business management, while maintaining her duties as
president. She earned a certificate
from the Institute for Educational Management at Harvard University, in 1972.
Her lasting gifts to the college
To her credit, Sister Samuel carefully and quickly evaluated ways that
Dominican College would maneuver through the challenges it faced.
She wasted no time in tackling some of its biggest problems.
As a keen leader, she used caution and the guidance of others in making
important decisions and most importantly as a leader she listened
to the needs of the community the college served.
Until her leadership, Dominican had been seen as a private college
located in Marin County with little direct connection between the two.
Yet she had a vision of what the role of the college should be in service
to the community. The question
became, who was the community being served?
And were their needs being met? Dominican
College had long had the distinction of being the only four-year college in
Marin County but it was a woman’s only college.
Perhaps the most visible change implemented under Sister Samuels’s
leadership, was to abolish the woman’s only program and institute a
co-educational student program.
Men were admitted to the graduate school at the college in
1950. In 1971, admissions were
expanded to include men in undergraduate classes and in 1972, for the first
time, male students became residents on campus.
Undoubtedly, this was a significant change.
In some ways, it was a change made easy because of the vision that
Dominican College had a role in serving the whole community.
Yet at the same time instituting co-education was difficult because it
required a loss of some of the uniqueness Dominican College had to offer
students. Challengers saw it as
compromising the entire mission of the college. In the end, the thinking
prevailed that the needs of Marin County included a place of higher education
for men as well as women. Imagine
the courage it took to abandon a practice that was established in 1890! Admitting that first group of 19 men led the way by creating
a totally new mix of students, bringing with them many demands on the college
itself. A change in student housing
was obviously one of the immediate needs.
While the change to admit
both men and women to the college may have been the most visible, Sister Samuel
attributes her greatest accomplishment as president, to the change in the way
the college was governed. One of
the first things she did as a new president in 1968 was form a Citizens Advisory
Committee. This committee began to
bridge the gap between the college and the Marin community.
The benefits of this relationship soon led to a complete change in the
make up of the Board of Trustees. The
Board governs all important policy decisions regarding the current and future
direction of the college. Until
1969 the Board had been limited to five Dominican Sisters of San Rafael.
One of the most important and visionary decisions Sister Samuel made was
to open the Board to outside talent, which included members of Marin’s
business and private sector. This
action has had such a tremendous impact on the future and ongoing success of the
college, that it is considered the most significant accomplishment of her
presidency. During her leadership
the Board was transformed to include a much broader base of people, which has
had far reaching effects on its ability to meet the needs of a changing public
while still maintaining a reputation of excellence in student education.
Much of the growth and continued vision of the college today, would not
have been possible without the change in structure allowing contributions from
this new Board.
Throughout her demands as
president, Sister Samuel stayed in close touch with the needs of teachers and
the public. She took pride in
maintaining high standards in the college curriculum, for being flexible and
willing to experiment with new concepts in education without sacrificing
quality. Dominican College had become known for demanding academic programs in
the arts, especially music, humanities, history, literature and of course
teaching. During her tenure,
enrollment was on the rise and Dominican attracted some of the top educators
available. Her love of teaching was always an important part of her focus as an
administrator. She valued ideas not
only from the teachers at the college, but also the “student teachers” at
the college, whom she knew would become the foundation for education of the
community’s youth. With that in
mind, she spearheaded a new model in education, beginning with changes that
started in 1970 and later became the
Developmental Center for Children with Special Needs.
Her experience in the classroom at several levels of child development
and her first hand knowledge of the needs of families in the community inspired
her to realize the importance of this program.
She recognized the void of anything like it in existence, there was a
need to be filled. The Children’s
Center for Children with Special Needs, was developed in connection with the
new Special Education Teacher Training Program, which also began under the
watchful and inspirational eye of Sister Samuel. This cutting edge program became the model for the
development of similar programs in other institutions and colleges and has
gained statewide recognition for its excellence.
The program came to symbolize in a visible way, some of the values of
Dominican College and its commitment to service, for the needs of the entire
community.
Sister Samuel Conlon excelled as
president of Dominican College and so did the college with her as its leader.
She kept an open forum of communication with the students and community
that helped to obtain continued support from those involved. Her viewpoint and
“State of Affairs” comments were a frequent part of the Dominican
Notebook, the college newsletter. She
enjoyed a reputation of being personable, approachable and having a good sense
of humor, which did not change when she became president.
She knew the students and they knew her.
Looking back at her years as president, even her years as English
professor and a classroom teacher, the traits of leadership were always present.
Sister Samuel became highly respected for her work at Dominican College
by many throughout Marin community including her current and past colleagues and
students across the country. Her
name brings a smile to those who have had the good fortune of meeting and
working with her, a smile that reflects how her kindness touched them in a
special and personal way. She is
regarded as a leader who knew her flock. She
has that wonderful quality of making everybody she deals with, feel individually
special. Not an easy task for a
woman who meets and works with, hundreds of people in a given year. During her leadership the college made many important
changes, providing a solid foundation for its reputation as a top academic
institution then and for years to come.
When Sister Samuel Conlon
stepped down as president of the college in 1980 she returned to her love of
teaching and has stayed on at Dominican College to do her work. During the years
from 1980 through 1985 Sister Samuel taught literature and writing in the
undergraduate program at Dominican College, something that she had always loved.
She also found time for teaching in the new Pathways
program for working adults and graduate classes in the Humanities program.
1985, Sister Samuel took a three year leave from the College, while she
worked in Congregational administration. Returning
to Dominican College once again as a teacher, in 1988.
Sister Samuel
Conlan lights up with a smile, when she tells of ideas she has for the next
adventure of her life which make you wonder.
Maybe she will end up writing
that “great novel” after all. Whatever
she decides to do, it will likely involve service to others, which she has
always incorporated into her life’s work.
What ever she decides to do, be assured she will meet the challenge head
on with grace, passion and deep spirit.
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