Providence College’s New Hire

by Shannon Kelly ’26 on December 11, 2025

News

An Interview with Catholic Scholar, Gloria Purvis

On Wednesday, Dec. 3, I interviewed Gloria Purvis, special advisor for Integral Human Development and Dignity at Providence College. This is a new role at the college part of the Office of Mission & Ministry that seeks to combine the work of mission and ministry, the School of Nursing and Health Sciences, and institutional equity.

The first question I asked regarded Purvis’ motivation for pursuing this work, including social justice, while upholding Catholic values and combating racial injustice. She emphasized the importance of “saying yes to God in small things” and “following the queues.” She also referenced her past experience in real estate and the world of finance. She said that she eventually felt compelled to “leave corporate America” because it was not fulfilling. Additionally, Purvis discussed her desire to do the work God calls her to do, which does not entail her having a website or business card to give to others. She believes in the importance of spending one’s time engrossed in theological texts and being open to hearing opinions that may differ from her own.

We also talked about the importance of diversity, both in the workplace and in the greater world. She divulged by explaining that she has worked with many racist people in her past roles, and that raised a fundamental question for her—“Shouldn’t it be natural to accept everyone?” She talked about the need for marginalized people to bring their full selves into the workplace, meaning all elements of their identity, because that is how we thrive as human beings. She also explained the history of Black women being historically excluded from participating in corporate America, which was particularly valuable. When talking about diversity, equity, and inclusion and the controversies surrounding it in present-day society, Purvis encouraged everyone to ask their family members about their lived experiences to be able to gauge the need for prioritization of DEI policies and practices in our world today. Purvis continually spoke to the need for people to understand the concept of justice through a Catholic perspective, which ultimately tends to the innate dignity that can be found in every human person.

During the interview, we discussed the history of our country at length. We both agreed that many people, including those on this campus, fail to understand our nation’s full history. Specifically, we spoke to the very nature of slavery and the multifaceted ways in which we see the impacts of this in the present day. When discussing both the stolen land that was once taken from Native Americans and the practice of chattel slavery, Purvis spoke to the obligation we all have to repair what was once broken or harmed. She mentioned the sin of racism, which is innately sinful in its very principle. She spoke of her firm belief in the preferential option for the poor, which is a concept that is founded in Catholic Social Teaching that speaks to the need for the poor and marginalized to be prioritized in all decisions—including political, social, and economic.

Purvis spoke at length about her deep-rooted belief in the bonds of the human family, which we so often fail to recognize the importance of. She said that “justice comes out of love” and how our current societal framework largely does not allow for people to legitimately understand how to act towards one another. She said the current climate in society often endorses resistance to justice and that there is an “evil spirit of hatred that has had its claws on our country” for many years. She said this evil must be named and expelled, as it diminishes the depth and beauty of the Christian faith. Purvis spoke to the need for believers to trust in and lean into the word of God, rather than the rhetoric being used by politicians, in order to avoid leaning into hate for those who differ from us.

Love of thy neighbor is a fundamental tenet of the faith, and Purvis aims to practice this in her everyday life. She repeatedly emphasized the collective need to recognize that love makes all things possible, recognizing one’s dignity is the first step to loving someone, and to understand that justice is radical. She called upon all students to ask themselves what it truly means to be a Dominican college and to gauge whether or not our behavior often proves to be in alignment with the mission of the college. She said one of the greatest tenets of her work is promoting the mission of the Church and the dignity so deeply embedded in that work. She encouraged us all to acknowledge that faith can be practiced in so many ways and the beauty that can be found. She said we must always vow to act in accordance with the dignity of the human person. When talking about the current political atmosphere in the United States, Purvis said that oftentimes, it feels as though we are living in a culture of death, rather than a culture of life, with our current administration often upholding the latter sentiment. She said we must not be afraid to speak to one another, regardless of whether or not the subject is controversial.

Nearing the end of our conversation, Purvis spoke to the need for all of us to act in light of who we truly are as people. She also referenced her desire for people to engage in acts of both service and love, while honoring the dignity of human beings and acting in a way that honors the common good. Purvis profoundly explained that faith is the act of choosing to believe without seeing, which she finds to be a necessary reminder on our campus.

Giving Grace: A Feature Story

by Bridget Carroll ’26 on December 11, 2025

News

For most people, Providence College is home for four years. For Graciete Morales, it has been home for 34 years—not as a student, but as a member of the community of hard-working individuals who help it run every day.

Graciete (“Grace”) Morales was born in Cape Verde, Africa, on Jan. 9, 1962. She was the firstborn of five children to two incredibly loving parents. Her birth was something of a miracle in itself. Before she was born, her father had lost two children from a previous relationship, both taken far too soon. Because of that loss, the bond between Morales and her father was unbreakable from the start. Her family lived and worked on a large fruit farm in Cape Verde. After attending school for only a short time, she began working for her father at the age of 12, selling fruit in busy marketplaces. While most kids would have complained, Morales recognized at a young age that her family needed her. She sacrificed an education to work, making sure there was always food on the table. Morales recalled loving to work. She quickly embraced meeting and talking to customers—some of whom were the kindest people she has ever known. Another small reward was that she got to eat her favorite fruit, mango. Beyond her work, Morales remembers spending every Sunday at church with her family. It was there she first felt a deep connection with God— one that has only strengthened through the years.

In 1991, when Morales was 29, she received her green card and moved to the United States. It was the hardest decision of her life—one made even more painful because it meant saying goodbye to her children. Despite the heartbreak, Moralese knew this path meant an opportunity to build a life that would allow her to provide even more for her family. Deep down, she had no doubt it was something she had to do. What made the journey a little easier was that she was with her cousin, Zeferino, who gave her comfort and strength every step of the way.

Her life in the United States began in Massachusetts. She worked cleaning fish for a year before moving to Providence in 1992. Morales found her current home in Pawtucket and immediately started looking for work. When I asked Morales how she found Providence College, she didn’t hesitate. “I asked God,” she said with a smile. “God told me, Grace, I’m going to give you a job very close to your house.” He kept His promise. She heard about jobs cleaning on-campus buildings from a friend of Zeferino’s and wasted no time. She was at PC the next day with her papers in hand, ready to work. Morales was hired and started work immediately. “On my first day, I didn’t understand anything,” she recalls, “but everyone was so welcoming.” Today, 34 years later, Morales says that the welcoming feeling on campus hasn’t faded—if anything, it has only grown stronger. In many ways, Morales herself has been a big part of that—making Providence College students feel not only welcome, but truly at home.

I first met Morales early in the fall semester of my sophomore year at Providence College. As I was leaving for class, she was in the lobby of my dorm taking out the trash. I couldn’t believe how easily she lifted the heavy bags—this petite woman was handling them like it was nothing. I held the door open for her, and she gave me a smile that melted my heart. Over time, I saw her around the building more often, and before long, we formed a bond that has lasted ever since. In those first few months of getting to know Morales, I was struggling with homesickness, but her kindness—and her hugs, always the tightest and most comforting—made everything feel a little easier. Now, as a senior, I always make an effort to stop by our old dorm, where Morales continues to work. Whenever I need one of her hugs, I know exactly where to go.

As our friendship grew, Morales began sharing stories—and many photos—of her family. It was wonderful to hear about and see the people who have always been the center of her world. While some of Morales’s family members still live overseas—in Cape Verde and throughout Europe, including Portugal, Spain, and France—many of them have followed in her footsteps. They, too, came to the United States and have since built families of their own. She now has 19 grandkids, three great-granddaughters, and countless nieces and nephews. Moralese keeps in touch with everyone in her family. Although she hasn’t seen her siblings or children in more than three years, she calls them often to stay connected. She also makes sure they’re up to date on her own life, frequently posting photos and messages on Facebook. As her family has grown, so has her desire to sacrifice for the people she loves most. Since 2000, Morales has bought her oldest son a car, paid for her niece to go to school in Cape Verde, helped distant relatives with paying their rent, provided sufficient funds for her nephew to have a surgical operation, and has continued to give monthly donations to the church where Zeferino first found work when the two of them arrived in the United States.

When I went to Morales’s house to interview her for this story, I could see very clearly the love she has for her family. Her walls were covered with photos of her kids and grandkids in all stages of their lives. She also had a highchair tucked into the corner of her dining room and baby bottles drying on a dish rack next to her sink. Something else that caught my eye was the hand-drawn pictures hanging up on her fridge—drawings that likely would have been framed and hung up on the walls too if she had any space left. As we spoke, I couldn’t help but ask what her favorite thing about being a mother and grandmother was. Her eyes lit up as she answered, “They changed my life and have brought me so much love.”

Aside from the love she has for her own family, Moralese holds an incredible amount of love for the Friar Family. Though many of her friends and coworkers have come and gone, she has enjoyed every moment of her 34 years at the college. Morales has worked through four PC presidents, seen the campus change dramatically, attended countless basketball games at the AMP, and met thousands of students. “I thank God for it all,” she told me. When I inquired about how her job must be difficult at times, she simply said, “Nothing bothers me. I love to clean. I may not have the strength I once did, but I still love it.” At one point, the topic of retirement came up, and she told me that she had never thought about retiring until a couple of years ago, when her sister mentioned it. “I love my job. I don’t know what I’ll do when I retire,” Morales said. “I want to go to Cape Verde, but not for long. I will miss my grandkids.”

Whether she’s in her work uniform or dressed in her favorite Friars gear, Morales wears both with pride. When I visited her at home for our interview, she greeted me in a gray Friars crewneck—a small reminder of just how much the school means to her.

As our interview ended and I gathered my things to leave, Morales wouldn’t let me go empty-handed—or with an empty stomach. She poured me a glass of orange juice and served slices of her favorite fruit, mango, before handing me two more to take home to my roommates. It was a simple gesture—one she didn’t think twice about—yet it perfectly captured who Morales is: generous, thoughtful, and full of love.

Interview with Curtis LeGeyt

by Shannon Kelly ’26 on November 13, 2025

News

On Mon. Nov. 3, I interviewed Providence College alumnus Curtis LeGeyt ’00, alongside Karly Ward ’27, the general manager of WDOM. LeGeyt studied quantitative economics here at PC and currently serves as the President and CEO of the National Association of Broadcasters. This work supports local levels of broadcasting, the networks that they affiliate with, as well as commercial radio stations.

The first question he was asked surrounded his interest in PC and why he ultimately chose to attend this institution to pursue undergraduate studies. LeGeyt explained that he “was engaged in all things PC,” including being president of the student government his senior year and being very involved in athletics on campus. He also spoke about the time he spent in the WDOM office, stating that the station was “a little bit of an epicenter of student life here when you came into Slavin.” He talked about the importance of academics on campus, which he believes has remained the same since his time at PC, and mentioned the importance of the larger student experience here, which stems from being involved. LeGeyt contrasted the sense of community that many have here with his experience at Cornell Law School, where he described a relative lack of camaraderie.

He also talked about the bonds that have endured since graduating from PC and emphasized how special PC is for being able to create that sense of community for so many of their students. When asked about the ways in which PC prepared him for his chosen career path, LeGeyt explained that the prioritization of the liberal arts allowed him to learn how to be a critical thinker, which he finds to be pertinent to this current moment in our society that is often tumultuous. He explained that his role at the National Association of Broadcasters allows him to represent media companies in both television and radio spaces, while connecting this to questions regarding the role of new technology, the role of companies to inform the public with trusted information, and how community can be fostered through the exploration of knowledge. He pinpoints PC as the place that “really led to that questioning,” explaining that “we’re not just here to learn how to do a rote skill, we’re here to really ask questions about a stated set of facts.”

LeGeyt also reflected on the technological disruption that has come to define our generation while contrasting this with his own experience as an undergraduate student here, when “there was barely an internet.” He further explained that there was no social media, no iPhone, and “definitely no TikTok.” He also stated that he believes the veracity of institutional news sources was taken for granted in a way that the internet has now democratized. LeGeyt also spoke to the core curriculum here at PC, which he said “is not everyone’s cup of tea,” though it is “increasingly valuable with the age of technology and how everything is evolving as we experience it.” He said that there are two elements to the core curriculum that really distinguish PC from other schools. First, it establishes a commonality of experience across the student body through the Development of Western Civilization curriculum. Secondly, he said, despite everyone having a specific academic track, there is an emphasis on thinking about the world beyond our given moment, pondering what came before us, and how it shapes our ways of thinking about the problems we face today.

When asked about the principles that he learned during his time at PC that guide his work, LeGeyt emphasized the importance of community. He said that many come to PC without realizing that service is a focal point of one’s experience here, especially in regard to community. We also must understand the importance of immersion in the community and giving back to something that is larger than ourselves. This has also had an effect on the way that LeGeyt carries himself, as he constantly thinks about what he is giving back to the larger community. No matter if he is at work, at home, or in the community that he lives in, he prioritizes paying it forward.

In terms of the challenges that those in the broadcasting sphere are currently facing, LeGeyt expressed a strong desire to utilize local journalism and local connections to reach the audiences where they are. Local newspapers do not have the effect that they once did, and he emphasized the need for there to be trusted voices in local communities. Instead of prioritizing algorithms and division, LeGeyt mentioned the need for fact-based information, bringing folks together, and creating a sense of community. He said that more practically, his job focuses on collective industry advocacy, both on Capitol Hill and in the courts for policies, as well as regulations that best enable us to serve local communities. He also didn’t shy away from talking about the ways that in the advertising marketplace, local media has now shifted to being digital. He believes that we must ensure that there is money to reinvest in local journalism at local stations.

When asked about the impact of AI on the industry, LeGeyt mentioned the systemic mistrust that exists in the media right now and the amount of misinformation that is in our ecosystem. He said that we must allow humans to do the work that only humans can do. When LeGeyt was asked about the social responsibility of broadcasters, he said that it is necessary to be aware of the fact that they operate under a public interest standard, while recognizing that local broadcasters are the last bastion of trusted journalism at this current moment.

Throughout the interview, LeGeyt emphasized the importance of broadcast being the most democratized medium. He recognized the role that broadcast plays in underrepresented communities and the civic element that is deeply entrenched within this, as communities that are disproportionately affected by disinformation online are also considered. The advice he offered to people with similar interests was to “grind for a little bit and show that you’re willing to be a doer.” Critical thinking, willingness to participate, and social engagement stood out as key tenets necessary in the workplace. LeGeyt encourages us all to ask questions that we will never have the answer to, to tune in to your local stations, and to invest in relationships with others.