Franceen Lyons ’71 Gives Back with Bequest to Support Future Students

Franceen Lyons always aspired to study political science, but she wasn’t taken seriously by the men at her co-ed high school. She wanted to attend a women-only college, and Albertus was one of the few that offered a political science major.

“One thing I loved about Albertus was its intimate atmosphere for learning,” she says. “We had access to great faculty, and everyone knew our names. I like the idea that Albertus has maintained that familiarity between its faculty and students.”

To ensure her continued support, Franceen has arranged a bequest to the College in her will. “I want to help others get the same benefits I got from going to a small school with a very values-based environment,” she says. “Certain values were so embedded in everything we did—like trust, mutual support, charity to all, the strong sense of sisterhood, and a strong commitment to each other and to our College.”

One of the key benefits Franceen enjoyed in the all-female setting was that “it gave women a lot of confidence and credibility in their own ability. Albertus gave me the confidence to stand up on my own and say that I was qualified and competent to do jobs that I wanted.”

Franceen hopes the College’s upcoming 100th anniversary next year will inspire others to consider a legacy gift to support future Falcons. “You don’t have to give a large percentage of your assets, but just think about making a gift to Albertus.”