The Woman of Providence Awardee for the year 2002 exemplifies these characteristics in a very special way. Sister Carolyn Winschel, a member of the University community, is currently senior vice president for mission and planning. She has been a North Hills resident all her life, having been raised in St. Mary’s Parish, Glenshaw. She is a graduate of Divine Providence Academy and in 1954 entered the Sister of Divine Providence. Sister Carolyn received her undergraduate degree in education from Duquesne University, her master in science from Penn State, and her Ph.D. in higher education from the University of Pittsburgh. Throughout her academic career, Sister Carolyn was an exceptional student and scholar.
Sister Carolyn came to La Roche University as Assistant to the President in 1975. In 1980, Sister Carolyn was elected to the Provincial Council of the Sisters and served in the capacity of councilor, business manager, and later as the first development officer for the Congregation.
In 1993, Sister Carolyn returned to La Roche University as Executive Vice President. She served in that capacity until 2001, when she assumed her current duties as Senior Vice President for mission and planning. Also, in November 2001, Sister Carolyn was elected to the leadership team of the new Marie de la Roche Province of the Sisters of Divine Providence and was also elected Assistant to the Provincial Director. Thus, she currently wears two administrative “hats.” Sister Carolyn is noted, however, for wearing many “hats.” In an article in the 1997 La Roche Magazine, she was touted as the “original Sister Act.” Her capacity to take in a garage sale, do some early praying and walking, attend liturgy, effectively meet with committees and administrators, teach a college math class, bake a pie or two and then attend an evening watercolor painting class, just seemed like a normal day.
Sister Carolyn has always been student oriented, but her passion during this new period of administration at La Roche University has been her involvement with the support of the Pacem In Terris Institute and the students enrolled in the program. Sister Carolyn is a woman of many talents among which are gardening and cooking. The Pacem students have often found a “home away from home” at her nearby residence, and she has used her time and talents to take a leadership role regarding the program.
Sister Carolyn views the Pacem in Terris Institute and her work in mission and planning as an integral part of God’s provident action at La Roche. She has worked to make God’s Providence visible and real in the lives of many students, faculty members and administrators. Her dedication is rooted in her vocation – this mysterious call from God to devote her life to ministry and service. La Roche University has been the fortunate beneficiary of the life of this dedicated Woman of Providence whom the University honors today.