Bellarmine University

Msgr. Alfred Horrigan, Bellarmine's first president Early history Bellarmine University has been led by four presidents: Alfred Horrigan (1950–1972), Eugene V. Petrik (1973–1990), Joseph J. McGowan (1990–2016), and Susan M. Donovan (2017–present). Horrigan, elevated to Domestic Prelate by the pope in 1955, led the school during its formative years. Petrik strengthened Bellarmine's financial footing. [ 9 ] McGowan led the school in a massive building program, culminating in his Vision 2020 plan. Raymond J. Treece [ 10 ] served as interim president in 1972–73, between presidents Horrigan and Petrik. John Oppelt [ 11 ] served as acting president during McGowan's sabbatical in 1999. [ 12 ] The first important public announcement of the establishment of Bellarmine College was made in November 1949 by the Archbishop of Louisville, John A. Floersh . [ 3 ] He selected Horrigan and Treece, associate editors of the Louisville Archdiocesan newspaper, The Record , to begin the school. [ 12 ] The two designed a curriculum and the school's core philosophy , taking cues from The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC , and seeking advice from a number of Catholic institutions, including the University of Notre Dame , the University of Scranton , and the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas . [ 12 ] Aerial view of Bellarmine College in 1954 In 1950, The Catholic Archdiocese of Louisville founded Bellarmine College with a pioneer class of 115 freshmen. [ 3 ] The only building, Pasteur Hall, was still without its front door on the first day of classes. [ 12 ] Archbishop John A. Floersh called the school into existence at its first Convocation, saying, "We are looking forward to the day when the college ranks with the great colleges of our country." [ 12 ] From its opening day under founding president Horrigan, Bellarmine welcomed people of all faiths and races. [ 3 ] In 1953 the college added the Administration Building (now Horrigan Hall).

At its first commencement in 1954, Bellarmine graduated 42 students. [ 3 ] The Korean War interrupted or ended the educations of many in the pioneer class, but the school persevered despite rumors of closure. In December 1956, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools formally announced Bellarmine's accreditation. [ 3 ] Enrollment rose from the initial 115 in 1950 to 1,033 in 1959. [ 12 ]

The 1960s was an era of growth for the university. The university added Knights Hall, Bonaventure Hall, Lenihan Hall, Newman Hall, Kennedy Hall, an addition to Pasteur Hall and a small student activities building. [ 12 ] 1963 witnessed the arrival of students from 17 states and 2 foreign countries. [ 12 ] In 1964 the school awarded its 1,000th diploma. [ 12 ] By the end of the decade, enrollment exceeded 2,000 and the college installed its first computer. [ 12 ] In 1967, Thomas Merton designated Bellarmine as the official repository of all his manuscripts leading to the formation of Bellarmine's Catholic identity in the inclusive Merton spirit. [ 13 ] And in 1968, Bellarmine College merged with Ursuline College, becoming coeducational and independent of the Archdiocese. [ 12 ] The college now had its own self-perpetuating board of trustees. [ 12 ] In May 1971, president Horrigan issued a report describing the state of Bellarmine College, especially in light of the Second Vatican Council , noting that the school's board of trustees consisted of representatives from a number of groups, reflecting the "open, progressive, ecumenical and experimental spirit" of that papal council. [ 12 ] Also mentioned were various distinctions Bellarmine's students had achieved, including 14 Woodrow Wilson Fellowships , 7 National Science Foundation fellowships, 3 Fulbright Scholars , and 2 Danforth Fellowships [ 14 ] and two East-West Fellowships, [ 15 ] achievements he attributed to Bellarmine's commitment to excellence. [ 12 ] The college welcomed its second president when Horrigan resigned in 1972. His vice president, Raymond J. Treece, served as interim president for one year. Enrollment had fallen sharply, to 1,306 by 1973, and several years of deficit budgets put the school at risk of closure. The board of trustees appointed Eugene V. Petrik of California to the presidency in 1973 and he quickly began to revitalize the college with new programs and directions.

He added the first graduate program – the MBA in 1975 – found resources for marketing and publicity, and brought enrollment back above 2,000. [ 3 ] The school also added women's basketball in 1973, and men's soccer and women's volleyball in 1976. [ 12 ] The 1980s saw another decade of growth. Enrollment rose from 2,284 to 2,660. The Brown Activities Center (named for George G. Brown), Wyatt Center for the Arts (named for Wilson W. Wyatt ), Norton Fine Arts Complex (named for Jane Morton Norton), Alumni Hall (Humanities Building), and Maurice D.S. Johnson quadrangle (named for former board chair) were added during these years, along with the W. Fielding Rubel School of Business and the Donna and Allan Lansing School of Nursing and Health Sciences (1984). The subject of changing the name of the school from Bellarmine College to Bellarmine University was broached, but it was decided that the school should become a university in fact before it became one in name. More opportunities were added for women to participate in athletics, including softball, track, cross country, tennis and field hockey. A $20 million capital campaign propelled the college into the 1990s.