When Dr. Anne Prisco first arrived as the new president of Holy Family University in Philadelphia on July 12, 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic looked to finally be on the downward swing after more than a year of holding the world captive. There was a robust vaccination campaign playing out, and people long holed up in their houses were beginning to rediscover the joys of being outside in the Summer and in the physical presence of other people.

Upon Prisco’s arrival, the plans were grand. “We talked about having an inauguration in the Fall… everybody needs a big party and celebration, so won’t it be wonderful?” she said of the first week plans. “Yeah right.” Within a week of Prisco’s arrival, COVID-19 had reemerged in a new form — the Delta variant — and education leaders like her were left scrambling again to develop an action plan with the pandemic in mind.