The university’s board of directors has also approved the selection of William Cardinal Levada to receive an honorary degree from the university at the May ceremony. The Cardinal will not be able to attend commencement ceremonies this year, he will be presented with his honorary degree in April 2007 when he visits the university.

She has served as a teacher, principal and the director of education for her community. Sister Mary Peter has also directed workshops for faculties, parish catechists, and diocesan teachers’ institutes across the country. Her work has taken her to Europe, Asia, Australia and South Africa. She joined the faculty of the Institute for Catholic Educational Leadership (ICEL) at the University of San Francisco in 1984 and became the director of that program in 1989. In that position, she guided numerous students to the completion of their doctoral studies.

From 1976-1984, Sister Mary Peter served as adjunct professor of education in the Institute for Catholic Educational Leadership. Upon her retirement from the University of San Francisco in 2005, NCEA presented her with the Elizabeth Ann Seton Award. Sister Mary Peter began a new role in 2006 as president of Queen of the Holy Rosary College, Mission San Jose in California; and she is now professor emerita at the University of San Francisco.

William Cardinal Levada holds a key doctrinal position in the Catholic Church and has become the most influential American at the Vatican. In May 2005, Archbishop William Levada of San Francisco was named by Pope Benedict XVI the next prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. In March of this year, Levada received the red hat from Pope Benedict XVI and became a cardinal of the church.

Levada’s previous positions include that of Archbishop of Portland in Oregon from 1986 to 1995, and Archbishop of San Francisco 1995 to 2005. He was also a principal editor of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. He was ordained to the priesthood in St. Peter’s Basilica in 1961.