Sister Sheila Megley, RSM Papers (6.1.9)

Biographical / Historical

Sister Sheila Megley, RSM, PhD a member of the Sisters of Mercy, served as Provost/Executive Vice President and Vice President and Academic Dean for Salve Regina University where she undertook many strategic initiatives to further the academic growth and technological developments for the University. Such initiatives include but are not limited to the five-year Technology Project, institutional planning, and the construction of McKillop Library. Sister Sheila also served in the capacity as a faculty member and Dean of Students. As an active member of the Salve Regina academic community, Sister Sheila Megley became an integral force for improving the work of the administration, faculty, and student services at Salve Regina University.

Prior to obtaining appointments at Salve Regina University, Sister Sheila Megley also served at Saint Xavier University, Chicago IL, as Director of Residence, Assistant to the Dean, and as a faculty member. In addition she served at Barat College, Lake Forest, IL as Director of the Mathematics Programs (Summers) and as part of the secondary school faculty for the upward bound program. Sister Megley also served at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE as a faculty member.

As it pertains to education, Sister Sheila Megley obtained her BA at Rosary College in Mathematics in 1961. She later went on to receive her MA in Theology at Saint Xavier College in 1968 and a second MA in English Literature at the University of Chicago in 1970. Sister Sheila Megley obtained a PhD in English Literature at the University of Nebraska in 1974 and completed her MS at Salve Regina University in Financial Management/Accounting in 1989.

Sister Megley also became involved in various professional memberships, boards, and committees including but not limited to chair of the Executive the Board of the Mercy Higher Education Colloquium, Board of Directors for the Economic Innovation Center in Newport, RI, Board of Trustees for Trinity Repertory Theater, Chair for Citizens Advisory Committee for the City of Newport, and in various roles working with the Rhode Island Committee for the Humanities.

As a result of Sister Sheila Megley's excellence and innnovation to the academic community at Salve Regina University, she received a doctor of humane letters, honoris causa. In addition, Megley Theatre formerly the Little Theatre in Mercy Hall by the Theatre Department in 1985 was dedicated in honor of Sister Sheila Megley and is currently known as the Black Box Megley Theatre in the Antone Academic Center at Salve Regina University.

In 1992, Sister Sheila became the eighth president of Regis College in Weston, MA leaving behind a legacy of shaping and evolving the integrity and academic fervor of Salve Regina University and the academic community.