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Description
The New Haven Museum will host Albertus Magnus College Interim Director of Library Services and College Archivist Catie White for a presentation, “Fearless Females of Albertus,” on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at 6 p.m., preceded by a reception at 5:30 p.m.
This final presentation in White’s “Celebrating a Century” lecture series will focus on key female figures in the history of Albertus Magnus College, highlighting stories of faculty, staff, and students from 1925 to present. White notes that as an all-female institution for its first 60 years, the school produced many fearless women who have gone on to do extraordinary things within and outside of the college.
White notes the difficultly in telling the story of Albertus without mentioning a few key characters. In celebration of Women’s History Month, she will have an opportunity to go deeper into the defining characters of school by focusing on some lesser-known figures and their contributions. “Whether they were living in the 1920s or the 2020s, Albertus women have always followed their dreams, pursued their passions, and become their purpose in any era,” she adds.
During her presentation, White will highlight some of the remarkable Albertus Magnus College faculty, staff, and alumnae who have been acclaimed for their “firsts.” Among those to be featured are:
- Dr. Julia McNamara - President of Albertus Magnus 1982 - 2016, and the first woman to serve on The Committee of the Proprietors of The New Haven Green.
- Madame Marcella O'Grady Boveri – The first biology professor at Albertus Magnus College and founder of their science curriculum.
- Ellen Bree Burns, Class of 1944-A, the first female federal judge in Connecticut.
- Mary Benevento, Director of Athletics at Albertus Magnus College from 1952 to 1980, and the first woman in New England (possibly the nation) to be named athletic director of a high school (Richard C. Lee High School) in 1966.
A related “What’s in the New Haven Museum’s Whitney Library” program, “The Evolution of Girls Education,” will highlight the topic using documents, books, and materials from the Albertus Magnus College Archives and the Whitney Library on April 11, 2026.
About Catie White
White is the interim director of library services and college archivist at Albertus Magnus College. She holds a master’s degree in library and information science from Simmons University and a Bachelor of Arts from Saint Michael's College. With a decade of experience in the library and museum field, she has a passion for research and uncovering stories from the past that may not have been previously told. She is the author of “Albertus Magnus College: Fearless Endless Truth - Celebrating a Century of Impact Through Education, Faith, and Tradition - 1925-2025,” a new and updated history of Albertus Magnus College to mark the college’s centennial.
About Albertus Magnus College
Founded in 1925, Albertus is a coeducational Catholic College in the Dominican tradition. Albertus' values- and liberal arts-based education is recognized by external rankings such as US News & World Report, Money, and The New York Times, and has been named a Top 10 Military Friendly School. For ten consecutive years, at least 95% of Albertus graduates have attained employment or gone on to graduate studies within six months of completing their degrees. The College has an enrollment of approximately 1,300 students across its traditional undergraduate, accelerated adult undergraduate, and graduate program levels. Proud to enroll a student body where nearly half of its undergraduate students receive Federal Pell Grants and are first-generation college goers, Albertus is known for its innovative curricular offerings, recently launching new Bachelor's degree programs in Nursing, including BSN and Connecticut's first LPN-to-BSN; General Health Sciences; Interdisciplinary Studies; and Public Health.
Among its graduate offerings is the State of Connecticut's only Master of Arts in Art Therapy and Counseling program, and it is just one of three schools to offer a Master of Science in Human Services. In 2025-26, Albertus is celebrating its historic 100th Anniversary and completing implementation of the Albertus 2025: Lighting the Way to a Second Century strategic plan, with a bold vision to "be a destination liberal arts-based college, distinguished in its interdisciplinary and experiential approach to education, rooted in Dominican values, that prepares students for lifelong civic engagement and success." To learn more, please visit albertus.edu
About the New Haven Museum
The New Haven Museum has been collecting, preserving and interpreting the history and heritage of Greater New Haven since its inception as the New Haven Colony Historical Society in 1862. Located in downtown New Haven at 114 Whitney Avenue, the Museum brings more than 375 years of New Haven history to life through its collections, exhibitions, programs and outreach. As a Blue Star Museum, the New Haven Museum offers the nation’s active-duty military personnel and their families, including National Guard and Reserve, free admission all year. For more information visit newhavenmuseum.org or call 203-562-4183.
Date & Time
Wed, Mar 18, 2026 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Venue Details
New Haven Museum
114 Whitney AvenueNew Haven, Connecticut 06510
