Dear UHC Family & Friends,
There's a special energy that returns to our campus this time of year. There is a hum of activity in Student Lounge, conversations spill out from across campus and the rhythm of academic life is in full swing! Whether you're a first-year student finding your footing or a returning student deep into your studies, I want you to know how glad we are to have you here.
This year holds so much promise. Our faculty and staff continue to prepare thoughtful coursework, strengthen our academic and student support programs, and find new ways to live out our mission of educating the whole person — mind, body, and spirit. We remain committed to walking alongside you in a community grounded in faith, academic excellence, and service to others.
This season reminds us of what makes Holy Cross special. It's the small class sizes
where professors know your name. It's catching up with friends over coffee at the
newly updated Hurricane Café. It's the quiet moments of reflection in our chapel and
the shared values of compassion and integrity that tie our diverse community together,
rooted in the legacy of the Marianites of Holy Cross.
As we continue through this academic year, I encourage you to stay involved on campus,
lean into your studies, and nurture the relationships that shape your time here. Our
faculty, staff, and I are here to support you every step of the way.
Spes Unica,
Stanton F. McNeely III, Ed.D
President
UHC Nursing Graduates Achieve 100% NCLEX Pass Rate as Enrollment Surges 33%!
The University of Holy Cross (UHC) Department of Nursing has achieved a 100% pass
rate on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for its 2026 graduating
class. The announcement comes alongside a 33% increase in enrollment since 2025.
The NCLEX-RN is the national licensure exam every nursing graduate must pass to practice
as a registered nurse. Administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing,
the test results determine who is prepared for entry-level practice. Pass rates are
one of the clearest measures of how well a program prepares its students to enter
the field.
“We are very proud of the class of 2026,” said Dr. Shawna Mitchell Johnson, interim
chair of the Department of Nursing. “Our program is built on hands-on training, close
faculty mentorship and high standards from day one. Our students consistently show
they’re ready for the rigor of clinical practice and licensure.”
In 2025, RegisteredNursing.org named UHC the No. 1 nursing school in Louisiana out
of 28 programs statewide, citing its sustained NCLEX performance and an average pass
rate of 96% since 2018.
Dr. Lisa Sullivan Named 2026 CityBusiness Woman of the Year!
Congratulations to our very own Dr. Lisa Sullivan, VP for Academic Affairs & Provost, on being named to the 2026 CityBusiness Women of the Year list! This well-deserved recognition of her leadership and dedication to UHC is no surprise to our community, as Dr. Sullivan impacts students, faculty & staff and the broader community on a daily basis in so many ways. We are grateful for all that you do for every single person who walks through our doors!
For nearly 40 years, Dr. Lisa Sullivan, has dedicated her life to the University of Holy Cross. She began her journey at what was then Our Lady of Holy Cross College in 1987 as the Moreau Scholar and soon became a student leader. After graduating with a degree in education, she became a member of the college’s alumni board. In 2005, Dr. Sullivan began teaching as an adjunct instructor of mathematics until 2007 when she joined the education faculty full time. Dr. Sullivan eventually moved into the role of Chair of Education where she led the department in opening new academic programs, including the Master of Education in Teaching and Learning and the Doctorate in Executive Leadership. In 2021, she was named to her current role as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.
Since 1999, the Women of the Year award has recognized fifty women from the Greater New Orleans area whose successes in business and contributions to the community have made them exemplary leaders in the region.
We are proud to celebrate Dr. Sullivan's achievement and her ongoing commitment to academic excellence at UHC. Congratulations, Dr. Sullivan!
Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross at UHC
On September 14th, we celebrated the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross as
a UHC family. A big shout out to UHC Campus Minister Tobi Flair for planning, to Fr.
Pat for celebrating, and to our beautiful choir for blessing us with joyful music.
Special blessings to all students, staff, and faculty who joined in the celebration
of the holy sacrifice of the Mass and the Veneration of the Cross! Ave Crux, Spes
Unica.
Click here to see more photos.
Welcome to our new Director of Admissions, Coty Lovelady!
We are pleased to announce that Coty Lovelady has joined the University of Holy Cross
as our new Director of Admissions.
Coty brings a wealth of experience in higher education, having worked in admissions
at Birmingham-Southern College, the University of West Alabama, and Eastern Oregon
University. He has also developed and led summer pre-college programs at the University
of Michigan, UC Berkeley, and the LSU Health Sciences Center, and he brings a strong
background in college access and counseling, having served as the founding College
and Career Counselor at Morris Jeff Community School, managed university partnerships
for KIPP New Orleans, and worked in institutional advancement at Xavier University
of Louisiana.
Coty holds a bachelor's degree in religion, with a distinction in leadership studies,
from Birmingham-Southern College, and is currently pursuing a master's degree in counseling
from the University of Louisiana at Monroe.
Please join us in welcoming Coty to the University of Holy Cross family. His experience
and dedication to student success will strengthen our admissions efforts and help
us continue to attract talented, mission-driven students for years to come.
Congrats to UHC Education Department Graduates on Archdiocese Leadership Appointments!
The University of Holy Cross proudly congratulates two of our own graduates on their
new leadership roles within the Archdiocese of New Orleans Catholic Schools this year!
Theresa Hebert, who earned her master's degree in educational leadership from UHC, has been named
principal of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School in Kenner. Brigid Van Timmeren, also a UHC graduate with a master's in educational leadership, will lead St. Cletus
School in Gretna as its new principal.
We are so proud to see our graduates carrying forward the mission of faith-filled, values-driven education into schools across our community. Congratulations, and best wishes for a wonderful school year ahead!
✅ Mark your calendars for these upcoming dates and opportunities to engage with our UHC community:
October 5, 2026 - Registration Opens for Spring 2027 semester
October 13, 2026 - Education Department Information Session
October 15, 2026 - Health Sciences & Nursing Information Session
October 15, 2026 - Fall Fellowship Day
October 17, 2026 - UHC 110th Anniversary Homecoming Mass and Reception
October 22, 2026 - Business Department Information Session
November 9, 2026 - Gumbo Cook-off and Veteran's Day Celebration
November 10, 2026 - High School Counselors' Luncheon
November 13, 2026 - 30th Annual Prayer Breakfast
November 14, 2026 - Fall Open House
November 19, 2026 - Business Department Information Session
December 3, 2026 - Winter Wonderland
December 15, 2026 - Ditta Scholarship Dinner
January 19, 2027 - First day of Spring 2027 semester
February 23 - 26, 2027 - Law and Ethics in Counseling Conference
March 13, 2027 - Crawfish Cookoff
April 20, 2027 - SPES UNICA
June 1, 2027 - First day of Summer 2027 semester
✅ Show your support for our UHC faculty, staff and students who have kicked off this academic year with gusto! Will you commit a small donation through the end of 2026?