On the heels of her recent inauguration as the 29th (and first woman) president of Saint Joseph’s University, Dr. Cheryl McConnell recently shared her thoughts on her new role and the important relationship between the campus and the City Ave District, where she is a board member.

Organizationally, City Ave District unites businesses, property owners, developers, and residents in a common goal of making City Avenue a great place to live, work, play, and learn.

According to Dr. McConnell, the university’s location on both sides of City Avenue in Philadelphia gives it a unique perspective and makes it invaluable to the overall growth and vitality of the area.

“We see firsthand that our strength as a district lies in the diversity of the people, as well as the topography,” she said. “At the same time, we see the commonalities, too. We all want a vibrant corridor that is clean, safe, easy to navigate, and offers those of us who live and work here access to great culture, dining, shopping, and schools.”

Serving on City Ave District’s board enables McConnell to bring the university’s long-term perspective to the table.

“Saint Joseph’s has been on City Avenue for nearly 100 years, and we plan on being here for at least another century,” she said. “We are an anchor institution. As such, we take the long view, which not only serves us well, but also the community.”

Read more about Saint Joseph’s University’s role in the vitality of the City Ave District.

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