Steubenville

Steubenville, Ohio sits on the banks of the Ohio River, on the border of West Virginia, just under 40 miles from Pittsburgh.  Once a booming steel town, the early 1900's saw the development of lovely homes on a hill overlooking the Ohio River.  Alas, economic expansion came with the price of putrid air and water.  When steel left Steubenville, the air and water became cleaner, but what remains of the city is run-down buildings and a largely unemployed population of some 20,000.  
 In 1946, when steel mills were still booming, Franciscan friars opened a college in Steubenville in response to the GI Bill.  The little college grew, but was besieged with many of the problems other college campuses faced in the late '60s and early '70s.  In 1974, just as the college was about to close its doors, Fr. Michael Scanlan was appointed president of the college.  He decided to make the school's Catholic identity the primary focus of his efforts.  He believed that the problems students faced could be addressed by a variety of faith initiatives.  Over time, through his efforts and the efforts of countless other dedicated souls, the college grew to become highly respected in Catholic circles, both at home and abroad.  Today, over 2,000 students - from all 50 states and from some 50 countries - are enrolled at Franciscan University of Steubenville.  The university offers a wide variety of majors and six graduate degrees.  


I am proud to be an alumna of this fine institution.  More than that, I am eternally grateful to God for leading me to it.  My time as a student in Steubenville was truly extraordinary, and I would not be the person I am today if I had not studied at Franciscan University.


Update:  Read the story of the University's turnaround, as told by the president responsible, here.