Irvin, Sr. Mary Francis

Sister Mary Francis Irvin - born Lucy Irvin on October 3, 1914 - entered the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill in September of 1933. She received a bachelor's degree in fine art from the Carnegie Institute of Technology - now known as Carnegie Mellon University - in 1944. She was one of two graduates that year due to the circumstances of the war. Sister Mary Francis later received a master's degree in fine art from Cranbrook Academy of Art in 1953. She served in the art department of Seton Hill College as an assistant professor from 1944-1954 and as an associate professor from 1954-1977. Along with Sister Mary Estelle Hensler, Sister Mary Francis is remembered for her tireless efforts within Seton Hill's art department. 

Sister Mary Francis was one of the founders of the Doran Hall Retreat Center and worked in that capacity from 1977-1984. She also worked on the Seton Hill Capital Campaign, helped gather funds for the construction of Lynch Hall for Science on Seton Hill's campus, and was elected to the Seton Hill College Board of Trustees in 1980. Sister Mary Francis Irvin died on January 8, 2011.