Celebrating 75 Years

A look back at the remarkable accomplishments of the University, where Mercy has always made the difference

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The commemorative issue of TODAY Magazine, celebrating GMercyU's 75th anniversary, is out now! Read it here

President Deanne H. D'Emilio, JDMessage from the President

On October 1, 1948, Gwynedd Mercy University was officially launched by a group of adventurous and tenacious Sisters of Mercy.

They really didn’t have any experience with creating or running a college, but that didn’t stop them. They saw a need to provide a place where women, in particular, could earn a college degree and be grounded in Mercy values to use their knowledge and education to better themselves as well as others in the greater community, much like Catherine McAuley did when she opened the House of Mercy in Dublin, Ireland in 1827.

I am happy to report that this Mission has not changed in 75 years... read more

Gwynedd Mercy University Timeline

1940s 1950s 1960s  |  1970s  |  1980s  |  1990s  |  2000s  |  2010s  |  2020s

Click on each milestone below to read more.

1940s


1947

Land Purchased

1948

GMercyU Is Founded

Opening Ceremony Held

First Carol Night

1949

First Formal Dance

First Lawn Fete

Science Laboratory Built

Newspaper Started


1950s


1950

First Musicale

First Senior Ball

First Commencement

First Harvest Dance

1951

Admissions House Building Is Purchased

1952

Day Camp Opens

1953

Marylyn Residence Hall Opens

First Masque

Yearbook Launched

1954

First Senior Week

Final Approval Granted

1955

First Holiday Bazaar

1957

Outdoor Pool Opens

1958

Middle States Accreditation

1959

Second President Named

Library Opens

ASN Degree Launches


1960s


1960

Mercy Honor Society

1963

GMJC Becomes GMC

Stained Glass Commissioned

1964

McAuley Center Opens

1965

Loyola Hall Opens

1966

"Officially" Co-Ed

1968

First Baccalaureate Degrees

The Gwynedd Journal

1969

First Layman Hired


1970s


1971

Third President Installed

1973

Hobbit House Opens

1974

CIS Degree Established

First Male Graduate

1978

Connelly Center Opens

TODAY Magazine Established


1980s


1982

First Graduate Program

1983

Lourdes Library Addition

1988

Groundbreaking for Athletic Center

1989

James Bond Dies


1990s


1990

Athletic Complex Opens

1991

Fastest-Growing College

1992

Bell Tower

Black Student Union

1993

The Gwynedition

MBA Offered

Weekend Nursing Program

1994

Honors Program Begins

Fourth President Installed

Glee Club to VOG

1995

Graduate Education Program

1996

Move to DIII

1997

New Schools Introduced

ARC Debuts

1998

50th Anniversary

1999

The Griffin Launches

Baseball and Softball Debut

Keiss Hall Opens


2000s


2003

Fifth President Inaugurated

2005

Intramurals Begin

Mascot Debuts

2006

Alexandria Hall Opens

2009

Turf Field Opens

Nursing School Renamed


2010s


2012

Nursing & Allied Health Consolidate

Construction Begins on University Hall

2013

First Doctoral Program

University Status Achieved

Learning Commons

2014

University Hall Opens

EdD Launches

2015

Maguire Hall Renamed

2017

Sixth President Named

2018

East Campus

2019

Historical Commencement


2020s


2020

Response to Pandemic

DEI Office Opens

2021

School Consolidation

Student Services Renamed

2022

East Campus Sold

Transformational Gift

2023

Loyola Hall Renos

HIC Groundbreaking