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The university community is mourning the loss of Sr. Diane (Mary Alana) Kennedy, OP, ’55, Dominican Sister of Sinsinawa, who passed away on March 30, 2025 at St. Dominic Villa in Hazel Green, Wisconsin. 

Sr. Diane was Dominican University’s inaugural vice president for Mission and Ministry and founder of the St. Catherine of Siena Center, which examines critical issues of church and society in the light of faith and scholarship. She was also the Promoter of the Cause for canonization for Fr. Samuel Mazzuchelli, OP, founder of the community of the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa.

For over 50 years, Sr. Diane’s ministry was dedicated educating and animating communities in the Dominican Catholic intellectual tradition.  Since 2014, the Sr. Diane Kennedy Lecture at Dominican University has been held each March, the month of Sr. Diane’s birthday. Each lecture supports the university’s mission by exploring a dimension of the Dominican tradition. 

“Diane had a gift of seeing the face of God in everyone and reflecting that back to us,” said Dr. Rachel Hart Winter, current director of the St. Catherine of Siena Center. “Her love of God, community, prayer and contemplation was shared with each of us. Her commitment to good theological conversation and scholarship was such a joy to engage.” 

Sr. Diane received a Bachelor of Arts in English from Rosary College in 1955, a Master of Arts in English from the University of Notre Dame, a Master of Arts in Theology from the Aquinas Institute of Theology, and a Doctor of Ministry from the Pacific School of Religion in Berkley, California.

She made her profession of vows with the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa in 1957 and her ministry was dedicated to teaching, preaching and administration. In addition to her roles at Dominican University, she taught at Edgewood High School in Madison, Wisconsin; served the Sinsinawa Dominican Congregation as director of initial formation and later as vicaress of the congregation; was executive director of the Parable Conference for Dominican Life and Mission; was director of ministry at St. Paul Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota; and held the role of vice president and academic dean at Aquinas Institute of Theology, St. Louis, Missouri.

In 1996, Sr. Diane was elected president of the Association of Theological Schools, an accreditation agency for schools of theology in the United States and Canada, and received the association's Distinguished Service Award in 2006. She participated in the association's Women in Leadership in Theological Education program, where she was a mentor to other female leaders. 

Sr. Diane also served on the Dominican University Board of Trustees.

A funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, April 5 at 1 p.m. in Rosary Chapel, with visitation immediately prior. Check /sr-kennedy for a link to the livestream of the Mass.