It is with deep sadness that the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) acknowledges the passing of La Roche University President Sister Candace Introcaso.

Sister Candace was named the university’s seventh president in 2004.  She served as chair of the AMCC Presidents Council for the 2014-15 academic year.

“We all mourn the loss of a great woman, our longtime president and our friend, Sister Candace Introcaso,” said Acting President and Provost Howard Ishiyama.

She was a member of the Sisters of Divine Providence, the congregation that founded then-La Roche College in 1963.  During her tenure as President, Sister Candace was responsible for leading numerous capital improvements which included the Wright Library, the Zappala College Center, the Palumbo Science Center and the Baierl Athletic Complex.  She led the institution's advancement to university status in 2019, preceded by a number of expanded academic offerings to meet the changing needs of the La Roche student body.

"The AMCC was so blessed to have experienced the gift of Sister Candace's leadership," remarked conference commissioner Donna Ledwin.  "She was such a warm and supportive presence at every athletic event she attended, which were many.  I know how proud she was of every La Roche team and wanted the student-athletes to know she was always on their side.  She was a Redhawk through and through."

Sister Candace rose through the ranks in higher education before her appointment at La Roche, where she had served a member of the university’s board of trustees since 2001. Early in her career she was La Roche's director of grants and also spent time in the Department of Student Affairs.  From there she advanced to Barry University (FL) as the Vice President for Planning and Assessment. She was also the Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs at Heritage College, located on the Yakama Indian reservation in Toppenish, Washington. Sister Candace received her doctorate in higher education administration from the Claremont Graduate University.

“We have lost a treasured member of our community,” Sister Michele Bisbey, provincial for the Congregation of the Sisters of Divine Providence, said. “Sister Candace distinguished herself through her belief in the importance of institutions founded by women religious in American higher education. She served our largest ministry with integrity, compassion and a commitment to making higher education available to all students.”

A funeral mass will be held on Saturday, May 27 at 11 a.m. in the Visitation Chapel of The Commons at Providence Heights.  A livestream of the service will be available at 
https://video.ibm.com/channel/Q4zW6rUvwPq