Sister Marybeth Beretta, RSM is welcomed as the third President of St. Mary Academy - Bay View

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RIVERSIDE — The Board of Trustees of St. Mary Academy - Bay View has announced the appointment of Sister of Mercy, Sr. Marybeth Beretta, as the new President of Bay View Academy - Rhode Island’s all-girls, Catholic school, founded and sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy.

“The appointment of Sr. Marybeth Beretta, RSM, as President of St. Mary Academy - Bay View will ensure that Catholic values and Mercy charism remain alive and visible to students, alumnae and the entire school community,” says Sr. Jacqueline Marie Kieslich, President of the Sisters of Mercy - Northeast Community. “Sr. Marybeth, a gifted leader and administrator, is committed to working with the faculty, administration and staff to continue to provide academic excellence reflecting the educational needs of our students today.”

As a native of Rhode Island, Sr. Marybeth graduated from Salve Regina University and received her MBA from the University of Rhode Island. Since 1987, she has devoted herself to Catholic education. Drawing on her financial training and experience, she was recruited to St. Mary Academy - Bay View where she served as Business Manager from 1987-1989. Following that, Sr. Marybeth worked for 22 years at La Salle Academy in Providence, Rhode Island where she held the position of Vice President of Financial Administration/Chief Financial Officer and served as a member of the President’s Executive Team.

In 2013, Sr. Marybeth left Rhode Island to become a member of the Mid-Atlantic Community of the Sisters of Mercy. Desiring to continue her work in Catholic education, she accepted the position of Dean of Students at Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School, also founded and sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy and located in Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania.

Throughout her 28-year career in educational administration, Sr. Marybeth has also made time to serve as a board member for several organizations, including ReFocus Inc., Mercymount Country Day School and Special Olympics of Rhode Island. She has held membership in the Rhode Island Association of Business Managers, the National Association of Independent Schools, the National Business Officers Association and the Rhode Island Women’s Golf Association.

As a Sister of Mercy and an experienced leader with exceptional skills in the areas of strategic planning, finance, facilities management and school operations, Sr. Marybeth is an ideal person to lead Bay View forward as it continues to foster academic excellence and empower young women in the tradition of the Sisters of Mercy. She will begin her work at Bay View on August 15, 2017.

Barbara Haynes, who has been serving as the Academy’s Interim President since January, will continue overseeing operations until that time. She and Sr. Marybeth will work closely together to ensure an orderly transition of leadership responsibilities. Barbara will resume her role as Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees later this summer.

Under the leadership and direction of Sr. Marybeth, Bay View Academy looks forward to another 143 years of fostering academic excellence in an innovative and creative learning environment while empowering students to be confident, independent, compassionate and socially conscious young women who fully live their faith.

“It is with a deep sense of honor and humility that I accept this invitation from the Board of Trustees to serve as the next President of St. Mary Academy – Bay View and to contribute to the Academy’s rich tradition of educational excellence” states new Academy President, Sr. Marybeth Beretta, RSM. “It is truly a joy and privilege to be a part of the journey that leads to the education of generations of young women who will not only contribute to our world both nationally and globally, but who will influence our society with values that are inspired by and grounded in Mercy. “