[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 76 (Tuesday, May 25, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1091]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING SISTER BRIGID DRISCOLL

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 25, 1999

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join in 
honoring sister Brigid Driscoll, President of Marymount College, who, 
as a prominent figure from my district, has been a role model for the 
espousal of women's education for the last forty years. Sister Brigid, 
who will be retiring from her position in June, has devoted her life to 
Marymount College, establishing its solid foundation within the 
educational arena and the greater Tarrytown, New York community.
  For more than twenty years as its president, and before that as an 
administrator and faculty member, Sister Brigid's visionary leadership 
has overseen Marymount's transformation from a homogeneous liberal arts 
college exclusively for women, to an institution that maintains a 
strong focus on women, while serving an inclusive population of adult 
and international students. She has been recognized as an outspoken 
supporter of state and federal financial assistance for students, as 
well as a public policy advocate for independent higher education.
  Among Sister Brigid's many contributions to Marymount was her vision 
for an educational setting that would enable many people in the 
surrounding communities to reach their full potential through 
education. In 1975, Sister Brigid founded Marymount Weekend College, 
one of the country's first full bachelor's degree programs for working 
women and men exclusively in the weekend format.
  Sister Brigid's leadership and interest in the community is far 
reaching, as is her service and expertise in the field of education. 
Currently, she serves as a board member of First American Bankshares, 
Inc., the Westchester County Association, and as a member of Women's 
Forum, a group of 300 leading women in the professions, arts, and 
business in New York whose membership is by invitation only. In the 
educational sector, her present directorships include Saint Mary's 
College in Notre Dame, Indiana, Marymount School in New York City, the 
National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, and the 
New York State Commission of Independent Colleges and Universities.
  In the past, Sister Brigid has served on the board of Axe-Houghton 
funds, the Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island Commission, the United Way of 
American Second Century Initiative, the National Board of Girl Scouts 
USA, Governor Mario Cuomo's task force on the General Motors Plant 
Closing in Tarrytown, and Governor George Pataki's Transition Team for 
Education. Her previous directorships include the Council of 
Independent Colleges, the Westchester Education Coalition, and the 
Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, where she also 
served as a representative to the Consultation on the Apostolic 
Constitution on Catholic Universities in Rome.
  Recently, the issue of gender bias in America classrooms has sparked 
a national advertising campaign supporting women's achievements in 
education. Sister Brigid served on the committee of the Women's College 
Coalition that approved the creative content for the national campaign. 
Before the idea of this campaign was ever conceived, Marymount College, 
with the full support of Sister Brigid, responded to the challenge of 
making the educational needs of all women and girls a priority by 
creating the Marymount Institute for the education of women and girls, 
an organization offering workshops to educators and parents in the area 
of gender equity.
  For her dedicated and distinguished service in many areas of 
professional and community life, Sister Brigid has been honored by the 
Westchester Chapter of the National Conference of Christians and Jews, 
the Sleepy Hollow Chamber of Commerce, and the Saint Jude's 
Habilitation Institute. Governor George Pataki honored her earlier this 
year with the Governor's Award for Excellence from the New York State 
Division of Women.
  Honorary Doctorates of Humane Letters have been bestowed on Sister 
Brigid by Siena College and Marymount Manhattan College which, in 
addition, presented her with the Alumni Association Award for 
Distinguished Life Achievement. Now, at the close of the millennium, 
Marymount College has conferred upon its esteemed leader the Honorary 
Degree of Doctor of Humane Letters. Finally, in a ceremony later this 
month, Sister Brigid will be granted an Honorary Doctorate of Humane 
Letters by the College of New Rochelle.
  After hearing this brief portrait of a remarkable woman, I know that 
my colleagues will want to join me in honoring and commending Sister 
Brigid Driscoll for her many achievements. I am confident that she will 
remain a vital component of Marymount's commitment to achieving 
equality of opportunity for women.
  We join with Sister Brigid's many friends, students and admirers in 
wishing her good health and happiness in her retirement.

                          ____________________