Sister Mary John Francis Schuh was born Lucille Schuh in 1911. The Milwaukee native entered Mount Mary as a freshman in 1929, the school’s inaugural year. Lucille graduated from Mount Mary in 1933 with a B.A. in English. She entered the Congregation of the School Sisters of Notre Dame in Milwaukee in August 1936 and took her final vows in 1944.
Sister Mary John Francis Schuh completed post-graduate work at DePaul University. After teaching High School in Chicago for nine years, Sister Mary John Francis returned to Mount Mary in 1947 to teach English, American Literature, and Journalism. She left Mount Mary to earn a Ph.D. in Administration of Higher Education from the Catholic University of America but returned again in 1953 as Dean of Students.
Sister Mary John Francis Schuh was named President of Mount Mary in 1954 following the death of Edward A. Fitzpatrick. As president Sister Mary John Francis combined an emphasis on academic excellence with a feeling of responsibility to help students mature spiritually, intellectually, socially, and physically. She was also determined to keep tuition to a minimum so economically disadvantaged students could have the opportunity to attend Mount Mary. Under Sister Mary John Francis enrollment soon doubled and both the faculty and the school campus expanded. Sister Mary John Francis oversaw fund-raising for and construction of Bergstrom Hall in 1964 to accomodate a larger dining room, offices, bookstore and service areas. During the tenure of Sister Mary John Francis Mount Mary refined its theology and religious education curriculum and the Fashion Department was established.
Sister Mary John Francis Schuh served as President of Mount Mary until June 1969, when she resigned due to ill health. She passed away in late July of the same year.
