ST. MARY’S PRESIDENT CHRISTINA FRIEDHOFF RECEIVES BUSINESS JOURNAL ORCHID AWARD!
St. Mary’s Academy is very proud to announce that President Christina Friedhoff has been honored by the Portland Business Journal as one of 25 female business leaders to win the publication’s 2008 Orchid Awards for women in business. Friedhoff was awarded the honor at a special reception at the Oregon Convention Center Thursday, April 24, 2008.
“While the award winners may be considered the best of the best, they also represent a cross-section of women in Portland’s business community,” says Business Journal Publisher Craig Wessel. “Their qualities – leadership, decisiveness and resilience in the face of adversity – are shared by many working women who are vital to Portland’s economy and community.”
As the program read, “For Christina Friedhoff, being president and CEO of St. Mary's Academy is the best of both worlds.” As a former teacher, she loves being close to the world of academia, but appreciates the challenge of exploring and implementing her longtime affinity for business.
“When I realized that the board of directors here understood the importance of a healthy business component to an academic culture, I was really excited,” says Friedhoff. “Our school is in a really healthy position because the attitude of the board has been: yes, we’re about academia, but no money no mission, no mission no money.”
Sixteen years after taking on her presidential role, Friedhoff is enjoying the strengths of the institution. The school is at capacity enrollment and applications are up. “The vitality of our institution right now is very life-giving for me,” she says. “It is not at all status quo. We are constantly growing and changing and embracing lots of opportunities.”
Keeping tuition affordable and increasing St. Mary’s endowment so that there is adequate financial aid for students are some of the biggest challenges the school faces. But nearly 150 years after its founding by the Sisters of the Holy Names, the academy is strong and Friedhoff is glad to be at the helm.
“It is very gratifying to me that we are actually unfolding the dream from 150 years ago to give women access to this incredible education,” she says.
