‘Phoenix Project’ Rises at St. Joe

The recently-appointed rector of Saint Joseph’s College has announced the team charged with what officials are calling the "re-engineering" of the Rensselaer school. Father Barry Fischer has launched "Saint Joseph’s Phoenix Project" to take on what he says is the "enormous and daunting" task of attempting to reopen the college. St. Joe officially suspended operations May 5.

In a letter to the St. Joe community posted to Facebook Tuesday, Fischer detailed the initial team members and said more will be added. He said "we are already up and running as each day is precious and we have no time to waste if we would be ready to re-open perhaps as early as August 2018. It may take longer, but that we won’t know until we have examined different possibilities for what Saint Joseph’s might look like when we do come back." Fischer also said "I take up the challenge with hope that Saint Joe’s will rise from the ashes."

In addition to Fischer, the Phoenix Project team includes:

• Vice President for Academic Affairs Chad Pulver
• Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs Tom Ryan
• Core Coordinator Michael Nichols
• Chief Financial Officer Spencer Conroy
• Director of Grants Sandy McMullen
• Office Manager Sheila Hanewich

You can read the full letter by clicking here.