Rosemary Jantzen Doherty

Rosemary taught first-year English and children's literature, and founded the Freshman Office.

Her Story

Rosemary Doherty cared deeply about her students and believed the best way to show that was to set high standards for them.  She came to Saint Mary's after teaching English at Riley High School in South Bend, and taught first-year English courses here for many years.  In the process of raising four children of her own, she developed a specialty in children's literature and taught it to aspiring teachers. Realizing that incoming students needed more guidance than they were getting, she persuaded the College administration to create the Freshman Office and served as its first Dean.  She was thrilled to receive messages of congratulation from many former students in 2008 on the occasion of her 90th birthday. She almost made it to 98.