Rhona Free has led the University of St. Joseph since 2015, and has overseen major changes, including transforming the formerly all-women private Catholic college into a coed institution to help jump-start stagnant enrollment, a move that’s had success.
Free, 66, was born in Scotland where she said her mother, a scientist, paved the way for her to believe that she could be successful in any career.
“I was very fortunate to have a mother who, first of all, always worked and was very involved in her career. I saw, from an early age, that women worked and that it was the responsibility of a father, as much as of a mother, to take care of the children so that both of them could work,” she said.
Immediately prior to joining USJ, Free served as vice president for academic affairs from 2007 to 2013 and provost from 2013 to 2015 at Eastern Connecticut State University.
During her seven years at USJ, Free has overseen the transition from five schools to three and the implementation of several capital projects, including the $16.2-million expansion of the O’Connell Athletic Center; the start of a physician assistant studies program; the launch of the Catholic Promise Scholarship and men’s sports programs; and championed the creation of the Women’s Leadership Center.
USJ also recently moved its School of Pharmacy from downtown Hartford to its main West Hartford campus.
In 2023, Free said a major initiative will be to provide more customized services that target the needs of specific populations.
“We have a very diverse undergraduate population with more international students,” she said. “We want to make sure they are aware of the many services we can provide to them.”
USJ has had nine presidents and, because of its bylaws, all have been women.