Alumni Profile
Dr. Rose Cerroni’s career at Franciscan University spans half a century, from her student days in the early 1950s to her retirement from the biology faculty in 2000. She has seen all the changes on campus and taught “thousands of our students.” Through it all, Rose says, the University has remained “a lovely place … I’m happy to have been there.”
Rose majored in biology and minored in chemistry here in Steubenville. She fondly remembers best friend Nettie (Mantica ’53) Grant and chemistry professor Dr. F. Ralph Bucci. After graduation, Rose taught for one year at the Wheeling School of Nursing before going on to grad school. She obtained both a master’s and a doctoral degree from Vanderbilt University. Afterwards, she worked at a research facility in Philadelphia, and then taught for several years at West Liberty State College in West Virginia as a biology professor. In 1966, she came back to Steubenville and joined the biology faculty. She remained here until her retirement, and lives in Weirton.
Rose keeps busy in retirement, attending daily Mass and volunteering twice weekly at the YWCA, of which she is an auxiliary board member. She is active in the Business Professional Woman’s Club, the Alpha Delta Pi sorority, and the Catholic Daughters of America.
Originally published in the Spring 2006 Baronette newsletter. Since then, Dr. Rose Cerroni has passed away. May she rest in peace.