Releases

It is my great pleasure and honor to announce, on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, that Mary Claire Ryan began as President of JVC on May 1, 2013.

Mary Claire is an inspiring and visionary leader who has demonstrated, throughout her executive career, superior social entrepreneurship, fund raising, and leadership skills.  Mary Claire’s professional accomplishments include the establishment, in 1993, of the Cornelia Connelly Center, a pioneering middle school for girls on the Lower East Side of New York, one of the earliest replications of the Nativity model.  The school is sponsored by the Society of the Holy Child Jesus and Mary Claire was a member of the Society for nearly 20 years. She served as the executive director of the school until 2005. 
 
Mary Claire has also served as the director of mission assessment for the NativityMiguel Network of Schools, the executive director of the Bronx Charter School for Excellence, and most recently as the executive director of the NativityMiguel Network of Schools.   Mary Claire has extensive experience working with boards both as a leader and board member.  Her past board service includes both New York Nativity and Cristo Rey New York High School.  She has a B.S. in Business Administration from Misericordia University and a M.A. in Theological Studies from Weston Jesuit School of Theology, now Boston College, where she was the recipient of the Pedro Arrupe Medal for Excellence in Ministry.
 
Mary Claire comments that “I’ve been familiar with JVC for a long time since the volunteers often serve in the middle schools I’ve been aligned with for 20 years.  With my religious background, the Jesuit tradition has always been a treasure to me and I feel great excitement about this opportunity. Like so many others, I believe it is not too much to hope that the Church will once again discover its real beauty in service and care for the poor.  What a privilege to be chosen to lead JVC at this time.”
 
We are, as always, extremely thankful for your support of JVC. Your support is essential to the JVC mission, begun in 1956, of serving poor and marginalized populations and forever changing the lives of the young volunteers who commit themselves to service at JVC’s placements in the United States and around the world. 
 
Thank you.  
 
Lisa A. Grattan
Chair, JVC Board of Directors 
 
Contact information for Mary Claire Ryan
mcryan@jesuitvolunteers.org
917-295-1212