The Elizabeth Morrissy Honors Program at College of Notre Dame of Maryland is designed for Women’s College students of outstanding academic ability and high motivation. Named in honor of Elizabeth Morrissy, Ph.D., a distinguished professor of history, political science and economics at Notre Dame for 40 years, the program provides opportunities for students to experience the kind of excitement in learning that Dr. Morrissy inspired.

The Honors Program offers both general education and interdisciplinary seminars. It supports learning through experience with internships, service-learning and directed research. The Elizabeth Morrissy Honors House provides welcoming study areas, a seminar room for individual and group activities, and a comfortable lounge where students interact with other honors students and faculty.

Activities and Events for Morrissy Scholars

• Film series: "Honour pricks me on" (Falstaff, Henry IV, part 1) - Films include: "Cheaters," "Election," "Cry Freedom," "Citizen Ruth," "Rabbit Proof Fence"
• Exclusive study trips
• Director’s Night Out: dinner and activity with the director of the Honors Program
• Participation in national, regional and Maryland honors conferences: In November 2006, the Morrissy Scholars attended the National Honors Conference in Philadelphia, where one student gave a presentation and another student offered a poster. The Morrissy Scholars hosted the Maryland Collegiate Honors Conference, March 2-3, 2007, as students attended from colleges and universities throughout the state. The Scholars also actively participated in the Northeast Regional Conference in Providence, R.I., March 29-April 1, 2007, as two students gave a joint presentation and two students presented separate posters.
• Morrissy Honors Program formal dinners and presentations in Noyes Alumnae House
• Cultural outings in Baltimore: Center Stage, Baltimore Symphony, Baltimore Opera, Walters Art Gallery, among others.

Benefits to Morrissy Scholars

• Students participating in the honors program receive Notre Dame’s largest and most prestigious merit scholarships.
• Honors courses are designated on student transcripts.
• Morrissy Scholar” is noted on transcripts, diplomas and at Commencement (for those who complete 18 credits).
• Scholars are recognized publicly at Notre Dame’s annual fall Honors Convocation.
• The Morrissy Honors Club, with officers elected annually, works with the director to plan activities.
• Students may have opportunities to present outstanding research papers and posters at a spring symposium at Notre Dame and at regional and national conferences.
• Exclusive off-campus activities enrich students’ Notre Dame honors education.
• The Morrissy Honors Wing in Doyle Hall provides peer mentoring and expands the Morrissy experience to residence life.

Who was Dr. Elizabeth Morrissy?

Elizabeth Morrissy, Ph.D. was a popular teacher of history and economics at College of Notre Dame of Maryland from 1920 through 1963. She was renowned for her intelligence, wit and commitment to moral justice and had a profound influence on students and colleagues alike. Upon her death in 1981, scores of admirers contributed to establish the Elizabeth Morrissy Endowed Lecture Series to bring prominent speakers in the fields of economics, history or sociology to campus each year.

Beyond Notre Dame, Dr. Morrissy was well-respected for her wisdom, knowledge and judgment. A book about her life, Character, Decency & Joy: The Life of Elizabeth Morrissy, outlines these achievements: “An advisor to Presidents Roosevelt and Truman, a member of the school board of the City of Baltimore when Brown v. Board of Education was decided by the Supreme Court, she was also one of the few people ever awarded the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice medal by the Pope for outstanding contributions to the Catholic Church.” (Preface, 1998)

Dr. Morrissy cast a critical vote while on the school board in 1954 which resulted in Baltimore becoming the first school district in the country to desegregate.

Today, students in the Morrissy Program both represent and emulate the exceptional level of scholarship and leadership exemplified by Dr. Morrissy.

Honors Councils

The College maintains membership in the National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC), the Northeast Regional Honors Conference (NE-NCHC) and the Maryland Collegiate Honors Council (MCHC).