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1 7 0 H a r t f o r d Saint Joseph College Saint Joseph College blends academic excellence with a values-based approach to education that fosters diverse, innovative learning opportunities which extend into the broader community. T his is a 21st century institution: growing, thriving, and forward- thinking," says Dr. Pamela Trotman Reid, president of Saint Joseph College (SJC). Founded in 1932 by the Sisters of Mercy as a college for women, today more than half of SJC's 2,500 students are enrolled in co-educational doctorate, master's, certificate and adult education programs, some of which are offered online. The traditional undergraduate program is the only four-year women's program in Connecticut, offering a unique experience for 850 full-time and 200 part-time students. "Saint Joseph College is one of a kind," says Na-Tasha Bryan, Class of 2013. "I really love the small community we have here. All of the professors are willing to go out of their way to help you." Na-Tasha is majoring in social work with a minor in political science. She plans to get her MSW and then go on to law school. "A lot more can be done to make the world a better place," she commented in a video featured on the college's YouTube channel. Na-Tasha feels that her experience at SJC has given her the tools not only to take charge of her own destiny, but to help others as well. The top reason students choose SJC (according to a survey conducted by the College in 2008) is for the qual- ity of its academic programs. U.S. News & World Report ranked the College in the top tier of regional colleges in the northeast in 2011. Another important factor for students is the opportunity to grow in a supportive envi- ronment. "They feel a sense of community, that this is a warm and nurturing place where they can be successful, take risks, and learn things beyond what they ever thought they could do," observed Reid. "Students may be unassuming at first," added Cynthia Mariani, direc- tor of marketing and communications, "but by the time they leave they have found their voice and are ready to take on the world." SJC's academic programs are offered through the schools of Education; Graduate and Professional Studies; Health and Natural Sciences; Humanities and Social Sciences; and Pharmacy. Many programs offer students opportunities for real-world experience in the community. Additionally, the College has two laborato- ry schools that give students in a number of disciplines first-hand observational and practicum experiences. The Gengras Center, a school for children with special needs, serves 125 students from 52 communities in Connecticut. The School for Young Children, a nation- ally-accredited preschool program, was one of the first preschools in the state and one of the first student labo- ratory programs in the nation. In the fall of 2011, Saint Joseph College launched its first doctoral program, welcoming an inaugural class of Saint Joseph College is a comprehensive institution offer- ing more than 22 majors and six pre-professional programs plus accelerated bachelor's to master's degrees. Responsive to the evolving educational needs of the community, the College offers men and women gradu- ate degree programs both online and in the classroom. In addi- tion, SJC's Weekend Program for Adult Learners provides an undergraduate degree program, while professional certificate programs relevant to today's workforce are also available. In August 2011, the Saint Joseph College School of Pharmacy, the College's first doctoral program, welcomed its inaugural class to Hartford 21 on Trumbull Street in downtown Hartford. Pictured here: McDonough Hall on the campus of Saint Joseph College in West Hartford. "