Mercyhurst University

President Thomas Gamble, Ph.D., officially announced in the Carolyn Herrmann Student Union Great Room that Mercyhurst was approved yesterday at 4:30 p.m. to become a university.

“We’ve been sort of talking about a birth here … the birth of a dynamic … Catholic university,” said Gamble. “We are now, we are Mercyhurst University.”

Joe Pudlick photo: President Thomas Gamble, Ph.D., announced that Mercyhurst was approved for university status.
Gamble also said that the class of 2012 will be the first to graduate as a university.

“This may look abrupt, but it is the tangible fruition of a long time and hard work,” Gamble said.

He went on to discuss the economic benefits of having five universities in Erie, saying that together, the five bring in 20,000 students and much more energy.

“Far from being competitors, I think all five of us know … are working together,” said Gamble. “While pride is a sin, gratitude is not.”

Gamble recognized the Sisters of Mercy and many others who worked toward this, including Chair of the Board of Trustees Marlene Mosco.

“Eight years ago we started talking about this,” she said.

Gamble closed with, “Let me be the first to welcome you all to the campus of Mercyhurst University.”