After building a robust vision and plan, and with very significant progress towards our vision, Sister Mary Agnes Greiffendorf, O.P., has elected to step down as Executive Director of The Institute for the Transformation of Catholic Education (ITCE) and move on to other opportunities. Dr. Daryl Hagan, Director of Catholic Schools Accreditation at ITCE will serve as the interim director until a search for a new executive director can take place.

Sister Mary Agnes is a Dominican Sister of St. Cecilia from Nashville, Tennessee, a religious congregation that has engaged in the apostolate of Catholic education for over 160 years. She took over as Director in 2021 after several years of consultations with dioceses around the country and input from various education and religious stakeholders. Sister writes, “I consider it a great privilege to have served at our nation’s Catholic university, and to promote its mission. Dr. Hagan will be an outstanding interim director for ITCE. He has devoted his career to Catholic education, serving as a Catholic school teacher, principal, director of schools, superintendent, and lead evaluator before joining the ITCE team in July 2022. He is a man of great faith and commitment to advancing the distinctive excellence of Catholic education. I know that the Institute will flourish under his direction and guidance.”

“Sister Mary Agnes launched ITCE at a critical time for our nation’s Catholic schools,” said Catholic University Provost Aaron Dominguez. “Under her leadership, the institute has served as a vital resource for Catholic educators looking to grow spiritually, improve their educational offerings, engage more with the culture and operate more efficiently, all by putting and constantly keeping Christ at the center of the school.  She has made a tremendous amount of progress in just one year.”

ITCE advances the distinctive excellence of Catholic education as a gift for each person and for society. It does that by inspiring and promoting the spiritual, intellectual, cultural, and operational renewal and transformation of our nation’s PK-12 Catholic schools through teacher and leader degree and professional development programs, school accreditation, and research.

“Continuing the renewal of Catholic education in our country is a vital part of Catholic University’s mission as we seek to serve the nation and the Church,” said Tom Smith, Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences. “We appreciate Sister Mary Agnes’ contributions in pursuing this mission, which will undoubtedly make for better, faith-filled Catholic schools. We wish her every success in her future endeavors.”

The Catholic University of America thanks Sister Mary Agnes Greiffendorf for her leadership, excellent work and service to the Church, both professionally and in her personal witness as a woman of faith.