Le Moyne College history

Owen College was established in 1947, when the Tennessee Baptist Missionary and Educational Convention bought property on Vance Avenue to build a junior college.

In 1948, the College’s first two structures, now known as Grewen Hall and the Coyne Science Center, were built.

Watch a video about Le Moyne's inaugural class -- the class of 1951 -- and their recollection of the first few years of the College.

The school opened in 1954 with 33 students as S. A. Owen Junior College, in honor of a distinguished religious and civic leader.

In March 1957, Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr. paid his first visit to Memphis and to our campus.

Unfortunately, in the mid-1960’s, Owen College began facing fiscal challenges, including inadequate funding and lower tuition fees at the recently de-segregated Memphis State University.

Since its establishment in 1965, Upward Bound has served more than 2 million students.

Both schools had been in discussions about a potential merger; in 1968, both schools joined, symbolically linking their names together.

Grabowski, who has been at Le Moyne since 1987, has served the College as a professor of business administration and director of Le Moyne’s information systems program.

The New York State Senate’s “Woman of Distinction” program was created in 1998 to honor New York women who exemplify personal excellence, or whose professional achievements or acts of courage, selflessness, integrity or perseverance serve as an example to all New Yorkers.

Since Cristo Rey was founded in 2004, 18 of its alumni have matriculated to Le Moyne.

Todd Sundell (2008) B.A., State University of New York College at Oswego; M.S., State University of New York at Albany; M.A., City College of New York Grewen Hall 215, sundelta@lemoyne.edu

Joseph Guiffrida (2009) M.A., State University of New York College at Cortland Grewen Hall 215, guiffrjc@lemoyne.edu

Thomas Magnarelli (2010) B.A., M.S., Syracuse University Grewen Hall 215, magnart@lemoyne.edu

Barrett Esworthy (2012) B.A., State University of New York College at Cortland; M.A., Ph.D., State University of New York at Buffalo Grewen Hall 215, eswortbd@lemoyne.edu

Le Moyne was named to the 2013 list of Military Friendly Schools, released by G.I. Jobs magazine.

Launched in 2015, Manresa is a one-of-a-kind initiative that blends academic experience with career development, personal growth and a desire to change the world.

State Senator David J. Valesky recognized President Linda M. LeMura as the 53rd Senate District’s 2016 Woman of Distinction at a May 10 ceremony.

John J. Sheehan (2017) B.A., New York University; M.A., Ph.D., St John's University Grewen Hall 215, sheehjoj@lemoyne.edu

Gerald Goodwin (2018) B.A., Carleton University; M.A., University of Kentucky; Ph.D., Ohio University Grewen Hall 215, goodwig@lemoyne.edu

In 2019, it began offering its first doctoral program, a Doctor of Education in Executive Leadership.

AndreaCatroppa (2020) B.A., Geneve College; M.L.S., M.A., Ph.D., Syracuse University Grewen Hall 215, catropam@lemoyne.edu

During the 2021-22 academic year, Le Moyne celebrated its 75th anniversary.