Mother Generals of the Sisters of Charity served ex officio as president of the College of Mount St. Joseph from 1920 to 1959, when the separate office of College president was established.  Sister Maria Corona Molloy, who was dean since 1933, was named the first president in 1959 and served until 1967.  She led the College’s growth and oversaw the building of the new campus which opened in 1962.

The second president was Sister Adele Clifford, a professor of biology, who was tapped to lead the College from 1967 until 1972.  At that time, the Sisters of Charity separately incorporated the College of Mount St. Joseph under a Board of Trustees and retained the role of sponsor. 

Robert Wolverton was named the Mount’s third president in 1972 and he served until 1977.  He was the first lay president of the College. 

Sister Jean Patrice Harrington was appointed as the College’s fourth president and served from 1977 to 1987.  She directed the College’s expansion into adult and graduate education.

In 1987, Sister Francis Marie Thrailkill, a member of the Ursulines of the Roman Union, became the fifth president of the Mount.  She retired in June of 2008 after 20 years in which she led the College’s transformation into a fully coeducational institution; expanded student services and the intercollegiate athletics program from 4 to 21 sports; strengthened the curriculum; and oversaw the largest campus expansion.

Sister Maria Corona Molloy	Sister Adele Clifford	Dr. Robert Wolverton	Sister Jean Patrice Harrington	Sister Francis Marie Thrailkill