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Marywood University swears in first lay president

New leadership marks a new chapter in the 109-year-old university's history. Newswatch 16's Jack Culkin was on campus during the swearing-in.

SCRANTON, Pa. — Students, faculty, and staff gathered to watch Lisa Lori get sworn in as Marywood University's 13th president. She was one of the last people to walk into the auditorium Friday afternoon.

"Hopefully, she can keep propelling the good things for the future of Marywood," said Lexus Lee. 

Lori marks a new chapter in the institution's 109-year history. She's the first President who is not a member of The Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

"This is a very important role for me, and I am so honored and privileged to have been selected to take the university forward," said the President of Marywood University, Lisa Lori. "We're talking about the small letter c, Catholic, all-inclusive. It's not about faith. It's not about religion. It's about accepting everybody and being a university for everybody of all faiths of all backgrounds."

Having graduated from Marywood in 1993, Lori worked with the University in other roles for roughly a decade, including on the board of trustees. Students believe the school can only benefit from this experience.

"It's cool to see some of those things that have been changing recently that maybe weren't changed in the past years," said Gina Sacco, a junior at Marywood University.

"There's a lot of opportunity for growth, and I feel like Lisa's got that down, and she has a lot of experience to help fulfill the school in its mission," said Lexus Lee, a sophomore at the university.

Lori plans to expand Marywood's reach across Northeastern Pennsylvania and the world.

"Marywood has a high standard of excellence for its academic programs, but it's also about training students for life. How to cope with life and build a foundation that will allow them to have a second, third, fourth, fifth career. This is my third career. I was a fashion designer. I was a lawyer for 25 years, and now I'm a college president. I attribute it all to my Marywood Foundation," explained President Lori.

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