I am honored to be the Chancellor of St. John’s College with its rich history built on the grit and determination of the Hospital Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis. I can only imagine what it must have been like in 1875 for the founding Sisters, crossing the ocean to a new country able to speak only German and dedicating themselves to the service of others. I am awed by the Sister’s dedication to caring for the sickest members of their community in Springfield, which led to the creation of a nurse training school on October 4, 1886, the oldest Catholic nursing school in the country.
Today, that spirit of care, compassion, and nursing education excellence remain the bedrock of St. John’s College. We are committed to continuing our rich history of not only excellence in education, but also access to exceptional employment and the life-changing opportunities of a nursing career.
As part of St. John’s Hospital and the Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS), opportunities for learning and nursing practice in all areas of healthcare are integral to our college experience. I am proud of the breadth of caring opportunities for our students, from providing care in the community to our most at-risk members to the cutting-edge care provided at a Level I trauma center.
I believe nursing is a sacred calling and I feel fortunate to lead a single purpose college, where our time and attention are solely focused on creating exceptional nurses from the baccalaureate to the doctoral level. Our graduates leave the college ready to practice joyful compassionate holistic care in service to their community.
-Dr. Traci Krause