From left to right: Barbara Connolly, Executive Assistant to the President; Dr. Robert Gervasi, President of Mount Saint Mary College; and Elaine O’Grady, Vice President of Students.
Mount Saint Mary College celebrates the dedicated service of two longtime employees who retired at the end of the Spring 2025 semester – Barbara Connolly and Elaine O’Grady – who together have devoted a combined 60 years to the institution.
Both have left an indelible mark on the college community through their commitment and various roles over the decades.
Barbara Connolly: A friendly face in the President’s Office
Barbara Connolly, who served as Executive Assistant to the President, is retiring after 25 years at the Mount. She began her journey at in the college’s IT department in 2001 before transitioning to her role in the President’s Office in 2008, under then-president Fr. Kevin Mackin, OFM.
Connolly described her decision to retire as “very exciting,” though initially “very scary.” The move brings a multitude of possibilities to Connolly, as she looks forward to focusing on family and potentially spending winters down south.
Something Connolly will miss about her time at the Mount is “the friendships that have formed over the years,” she said. “That has been truly a blessing for me. I’ve been able to maintain those friendships and still be involved and do a lot of different things. And getting myself involved in events on campus has made a big difference too.”
One of the most rewarding aspects of her job, Connolly noted, was working on Commencement each year: “Commencement has been my love,” she said. “It’s a lot of work, but man, is it fulfilling. It really is.”
As she starts this new chapter of her life, Connolly notes that she’ll always cherish her time working at the college and seeing it evolve over the course of more than two decades.
“The Mount’s a home away from home for me,” she said. “It’s been an absolute joy. Working with different presidents, and different personalities, has been an adventure. It’s bittersweet for me because it’s hard leaving, but I’m excited for that next step.”
Before coming to the Mount, Barbara worked at NEC Electronics in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. for about 20 years.
Elaine O’Grady: A lifetime of dedication to students
Throughout her many roles at the college, Elaine O’Grady has always been an advocate for the students, listening to their concerns and uniting her fellow employees to address them.
O’Grady’s connection to the Mount spans decades, beginning when she was a student. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations in 1989 and later earned a Master’s in Business Administration in 2008 from the School of Business. O’Grady began her professional career at the college in the Admissions Office during her senior year and dedicated her entire working life to the Mount, retiring at the end of the Spring 2025 semester after seeing off her 37th class.
She became the Executive Vice President of Operations and Housing in the early 2000s, where she was integral in the construction of many iconic buildings on campus, including Sakac Hall and renovations to the College Courts. But O’Grady is best known at the college for her impactful role as the Vice President of Students.
O’Grady and her husband, Andrew, were married in the Dominican Center Chapel on campus in 1991. Their two children, Ryan and Kayla, are also Mount alumni, having earned bachelor's and master's degrees from the college.
Taking over many of O’Grady’s responsibilities is Alisha McCorvey, Assistant Vice President for Students and Title IX Coordinator. McCorvey offered high praise for O’Grady’s impact on the college.
“Elaine’s tireless commitment to the Mount and her deep understanding of what makes a successful Student Affairs department is an inspiration to everyone who works for her,” said McCorvey. “Elaine always takes the time to offer guidance, support, and advocacy, to help us navigate challenges, and assist in the development of leadership skills in order to accelerate our professional growth.”
She added, “As I examine my own career trajectory these last eight years, I am certain that it’s a direct result of being inspired, respected, and encouraged while working with Elaine.”