The Desmond Center for Community Engagement and Wellness hosted “Healthy Communities: A Shared Responsibility Towards Wellness” in October of 2023, featuring community leaders like City of Newburgh Mayor Torrance Harvey ’03.
The Desmond Center for Community Engagement and Wellness, a Mount Saint Mary College initiative, announces the conclusion of its programming this December.
The Desmond Center’s operations are concluding following the successful completion of its five-year, grant-funded program. Through the annual grants provided by the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation, the center provided wellness and educational services for underserved individuals and families, including the uninsured.
Since its launch, the Desmond Center has served approximately 6,300 individuals across the local community. The center established a strong framework of collaboration through partnerships with key healthcare providers, educators, nonprofits, and local agencies, including the Orange County Office for the Aging and Catholic Charities. These collaborations ensured the delivery of innovative and accessible health education, movement classes, and comprehensive wellness opportunities to thousands of residents both on and off campus.
The center’s success was marked by several significant milestones, including the 2023 Health and Wellness Conference, the 2024 Community Impact Fair, and the 2025 Summer Institute for Nursing Exploration, which provided valuable insights for local high school students interested in health fields.
A core element of the Desmond Center’s mission was the integration of student learning. Through their involvement with the center, students engaged in impactful community-based service projects, contributed to large-scale campus events such as the Annual Easter Celebration, and benefited from meaningful internship and employment opportunities.
“Leading this work has been one of the great honors of my career and I’m proud of the lives we touched, the partnerships we built, and the standard we set for what community engagement can look like,” said Ashley Collazo, Acting Director of the Desmond Center. “I extend my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who poured their energy and care into this work, and I look forward to seeing how the spirit of the Desmond Center – its commitment to care, collaboration, and service – will continue to flourish in the years ahead.”
While Desmond Center programming will conclude at the end of the year, the college remains deeply committed to its community engagement mission. The institution will continue ongoing collaborations with key partners like the Newburgh Armory Unity Center, Newburgh Ministry, and Habitat for Humanity of Greater Newburgh. Signature initiatives, including the highly successful Summer Institute for Nursing Exploration, will also continue under the college’s leadership.
The Desmond Center will host its final Winter Wellness Celebration on December 3, from 5 to 8 p.m. in the Guzman Hall Multipurpose Room on campus, 330 Powell Ave., Newburgh. All members of the local community are invited to attend and celebrate the center’s legacy of service and success.