Sr. Nancy J. Conway, CSJ ’71

Sr. Nancy Conway is a member of the Congregation of Saint Joseph headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio. She is among a group of dedicated women who have brought together seven formerly independent congregations of Sisters of Saint Joseph from seven states and Japan to form the new Congregation of Saint Joseph. The membership of the new congregation, of which Sr. Nancy serves as President of the Leadership Team, includes 850 sisters, 550 associates and 350 employees. The congregation sponsors more than 40 organizations/institutions, including schools, social service agencies, shelters and adult literacy programs. It also co-sponsors one of the largest Catholic healthcare systems in the U.S., with hospitals, acute care facilities, nursing homes and home health programs in 15 states.

Sr. Nancy has also served as a partner in the company Organizational Leadership. In that capacity, she has worked as an organizational consultant with over 130 not-for-profit agencies, hospitals and religious groups.

Sr. Nancy says she attended John Carroll University at a very significant time in its history, “when it was very active in facing social issues, like the war in Vietnam. My recollection is that the Jesuits provided a lot of leadership to help us understand our response in faith to social issues of our time.”

As a member of the first class of women admitted to John Carroll, Sr. Nancy recalls that “the majority of the female students in my class were nuns,” and adds, “I think that was a huge disappointment to the male students!”

For her lifetime of commitment to, and leadership of, the Congregation of Saint Joseph and their good work, it is with both pride and humility that the John Carroll Alumni Association awards Sr. Nancy J. Conway, CSJ, our 2008 Alumni Medal.