Sister Michele Bisbey Named 2026 Distinguished Daughter of Pennsylvania

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Brady Butler
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Phone: 412-536-1300  
Email: brady.butler@laroche.edu

From left: Debra Caplan, Western Region Co-Chair; Velma A. Redmond, President; Sister Michele Bisbey; and Mary Lou McLaughlin, Western Region Co-Chair.

PITTSBURGH, Oct. 8, 2026 – Sister Michele E. Bisbey, CDP, Ph.D., a 1971 graduate of La Roche University, Provincial Director of the Marie de la Roche Province of the Sisters of Divine Providence, and vice chair of the La Roche University Board of Trustees, was named a 2026 Distinguished Daughter of Pennsylvania.

Sister Michele was one of 10 women selected this year for the statewide honor, which recognizes women for outstanding professional and volunteer accomplishments that bring distinction to the Commonwealth. She received a gold medal during the Distinguished Daughters Annual Presentation Luncheon Oct. 7 at the Governor’s Residence in Harrisburg.

La Roche University President Christina A. Clark, Ph.D., nominated Sister Michele for the recognition, citing a lifetime of leadership and service as an educator, faith leader, children’s advocate, and foster parent.

“Sister Michele’s extraordinary life of service exemplifies what it means to use one’s gifts and opportunities for the good of others,” Dr. Clark said. “As an educator, she has influenced generations of students, including hundreds of La Roche alumni who continue to speak about the impact she had on their lives. As a Sister of Divine Providence, foster parent, children’s advocate, and leader, she has lived her commitment to others in ways both profound and deeply personal. I was honored to nominate her for this recognition.”

“I receive this honor with deep gratitude, but I do so standing on the shoulders of generations of Sisters of Divine Providence and women religious who have quietly served others for centuries,” Sister Michele said. “Our charism calls us to trust in the Providence of God and to be participants in God’s abundance, not simply its beneficiaries. Everything I have been given through my sisters, my students, and the children who have come into my life has only multiplied in the sharing.”

Sister Michele’s career in education spans elementary, secondary, and higher education. She began as an elementary school teacher and later served as an elementary school principal and high school English teacher before moving into higher education. She taught theology at Saint Vincent College before beginning a long academic career at La Roche.

At La Roche, Sister Michele served as an adjunct professor of religious studies from 1992 to 2000 and joined the faculty as an associate professor in 2002. She was promoted to professor in 2010 and is now professor emerita of religious studies. She also served as chair of the Religious Studies Department and division chair of the Humanities. In 2002, she was named the Ketteler Endowed Faculty Chair of Theology.

Sister Michele also played a pivotal role in shaping the formation of first-year students through her leadership in developing the La Roche Experience, a foundational series of courses introducing students to the University’s history and mission, Catholic Social Teaching, social justice, and the academic and personal skills needed for college success.

She also served as director of La Roche’s Pacem in Terris program, which welcomed students from war-torn and post-conflict countries to pursue a college education with the hope that they would use their education to help rebuild and strengthen their communities.

Sister Michele’s commitment to others has been especially evident through her decades of service to children. Since 1992, she has served as a foster parent, welcoming 28 children into her Pittsburgh-area home and providing stability, guidance, and support during critical periods in their lives. She also volunteered as a Court Appointed Special Advocate, advocating for children involved in the juvenile court system.

Today, Sister Michele serves as Provincial Director of the Marie de la Roche Province of the Sisters of Divine Providence, providing spiritual and organizational leadership to the congregation. As vice chair of the La Roche University Board of Trustees, she continues to support the University and its mission.

Her leadership extends to environmental stewardship and community well-being. Under her guidance, the Sisters of Divine Providence donated more than eight acres of congregation land to the Rachel Carson EcoVillage initiative, supporting the development of a sustainable residential community while preserving the land’s natural environment.

Sister Michele’s contributions have earned numerous honors throughout her career. She received the La Roche College Alumna Achievement Award in 1990. In 2004, she and Sister Elena Almendarez, CDP, received the President’s Medal for Meritorious Service in recognition of their dedication to children in the foster care system. Sister Michele received the La Roche Commitment to Excellence Award in 2007, was named to the Irish Voice Irish Education 100 for her contributions to education in 2012, was inducted into the University’s Distinguished Alumni Circle in 2013, and received the La Roche Woman of Providence Award in 2014.

Founded in 1949, Distinguished Daughters of Pennsylvania recognizes women who have given distinguished service to their communities, the Commonwealth, and the nation. With the 2026 class, 584 women have received the honor.