Jubilarian - 2022 Sister Jane Hassett

Sister Jane was born in St. Louis, Missouri. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in 1951 and was received into the novitiate in 1952 as Sister Mary Barat. She is a recipient of a bachelor’s degree in history from Maryville College (now University) in St. Louis in 1949, a master’s degree in history from St. Louis University in 1960, and a doctorate in history from St. Louis University in 1967. Sister Jane had the opportunity to spend a year in Paris, France, doing research for her dissertation.

Sister Jane began her career in education in the 1950s at St. Teresa’s Academy in Kansas City. After serving in several elementary and secondary schools in St. Louis, Texas and Michigan, she commenced teaching at Fontbonne College (now University) in 1960.

In 1972, having been appointed to an internship in the U.S. Office of Education in Washington, D.C. and completing her doctoral studies, Sister Jane was chosen as president of Fontbonne, serving in that position for 13 years.

Following her period as president of Fontbonne, Sister Jane served as the executive director of the Sisters’ Energy Conservation Program funded by the Conrad Hilton Foundation and later as the administrator of Our Lady of Life Apartments in St. Louis, Missouri.

In 1997, she returned to Fontbonne University in the Advancement Office as records researcher, writer and archivist. She retired from that position in 2012. In the year of her retirement, Fontbonne University recognized her with its Founders’ Award. Sister Jane moved to Nazareth Living Center in 2019.

She is the author of two books on Fontbonne University history: As Strong as the Granite and Decade of Growth.

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