The Social Responsibility Committee formulates the social responsibility philosophy and policy and implements the social investing goals adopted by the Board of Directors. This includes engaging, retaining and replacing socially responsible investing vendors and research providers; establishing negative and positive investment screens; engaging corporations by filing shareholder resolutions and participating in dialogue, and voting proxies. The Social Responsibility Committee also continues a community investment program called the Mercy Partnership Fund to invest in organizations that either work in or provide captial underserved communities worldwide. Through vendors and the information they provide, the committee ensures the Mercy and Sponsored Ministry Funds comply with the social responsibility philosophy.
The Social Responsibility Committee includes members of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, chief financial officers of several Sisters of Mercy Communities and others with backgrounds in ethics, social justice, corporate responsibility and community investing.
Karen Donahue, RSM (Chairperson)
Suzanne Elliott, RSM
Dale Jarvis, RSM
Gordon Judd, CSB
Eileen O'Connor, RSM
Rose Marie Tresp, RSM
Susan Vickers, RSM
Carolyn Williams
Pat Wolf, RSM
Karen Donahue, RSM, a member of the West Midwest Mercy Community Justice Team, has been active in local, national and international justice ministry for almost 40 years, serving on the Institute Justice Team, Mercy International Justice Network and local justice coordination in Chicago and Detroit. She serves on the steering committee for the Catholic Caucus of Southeast Michigan, chairs Mercy Investment Program’s Social Responsibility Committee and works with many other groups, including the LCWR Region VII justice promoters, Coalition for Corporate Responsibility for Indiana and Michigan (CCRIM) and Michigan Peace Team. Sr. Karen has traveled widely and has participated in international efforts to promote peace in the Middle East.
Suzanne Elliott, RSM, is special assistant to the president for mission and planning at Georgian Court University in Lakewood, New Jersey. In this position she serves on the president’s administrative team and is responsible for the oversight of mission-related services, human resources, information technology, and the implementation of strategic planning. Sr. Suzanne also spent more than 14 years in community leadership. She is a past member of the Institute Finance Committee and the Institute Search Committee for the Institute chief financial officer and chief investment officer.
Dale Jarvis, RSM, is the vocation minister for the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, Northeast Community. Prior to this position, she served on the leadership team for the Sisters of Mercy, Portland, Maine. Sr. Dale has served in many social justice roles, both nationally and internationally, including chair of the Mercy International Justice Network, and director of Mercy Global Concern, the Sisters of Mercy’s non-governmental organization at the United Nations. She also worked as a social justice coordinator for the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas for eight years. Sr. Dale currently serves on the St. Joseph’s College Board of Trustees.
Gordon Judd, CSB, currently serves as the vicar general for the Congregation of St. Basil. He has a private practice in group facilitation and conflict resolution. He has worked in social justice advocacy for more than 25 years. From 1996-2002, he served as director for corporate social responsibility for the Sisters of Mercy Regional Community of Detroit and Trinity Health. He serves on several nonprofit boards, including Mercy Educational Project. He has masters’ degrees from DePaul University and Antioch University.
Eileen O’Connor, RSM, recently retired from full-time ministry as vice president of mission integration at Kenmore Mercy Hospital in New York. She represented the Sisters of Mercy in the Western New York Coalition for Responsible Investment, associated with the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility, for many years. Sr. Eileen has recently re-entered the investment ministry as a member of the Social Responsibility Committee of Mercy Investment Services.
Rose Marie Tresp, RSM, is the director of justice for the Sisters of Mercy, South Central Community. Sr. Rose Marie has served as the director of ethics for hospitals in Texas and Arkansas, as well as in leadership for the Sisters of Mercy, Regional Community of St. Louis. Sr. Rose Marie earned her bachelor’s degree from Fontbonne College in St. Louis, and her master’s degree in religious studies from Boston College. She also completed graduate work in ethics and philosophy at Georgetown University. Sr. Rose Marie is active in social justice work at the local and national levels. She has more than 20 years of experience serving on the boards of hospitals and nonprofit organizations.
Susan Vickers, RSM, is the vice president of community health for Catholic Healthcare West, a healthcare delivery system with facilities in California, Arizona and Nevada. She is responsible for directing and overseeing system-wide community benefit initiatives, corporate social responsibility and ecology programs. In conjunction with her community health work, Sr. Susan directs Catholic Healthcare West’s shareholder initiatives. She currently serves as board member of several organizations including Practice Greenhealth, Partners for the Common Good Loan Fund, and the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility.
Carolyn C. Williams is the president/CEO of Galilee Housing Initiative & Community Development Corporation in New Orleans. Carolyn has served as a board member of the Sisters of Mercy Ministries in New Orleans. Previously, she served on the Program and Finance Committees of McAuley Institute and Catherine’s Legacy. Currently, she serves as a committee member of Catherine’s Fund for the Sisters of Mercy Health System. Carolyn holds a bachelor of science degree in speech pathology from Southern University and a master of social work degree from Tulane University. Carolyn is a certified urban planner and property manager, realtor, housing developer and CHISM chaplain for crisis events.
Patricia Wolf, RSM, is president of St. Catharine Academy, Bronx, New York, and Our Lady of Victory Academy, Dobbs Ferry, New York. Prior to assuming a leadership role in education, Sr. Patricia served as executive director of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility. She has served as executive director of the Tri-State Coalition for Responsible Investment, and is a founding member of the Mercy Investment Program and co-founder of the Leviticus Fund. Sr. Patricia served for 14 years in community leadership, as a member of the leadership team of the Sisters of Mercy of the Union, and as president of the Sisters of Mercy, Regional Community of New York.
