Please join us in celebrating Ursuline Academy’s full-time faculty and staff members retiring this year. We congratulate them on their retirements and express our collective and immense gratitude for their dedication and unwavering commitment to Ursuline Academy.
Click here to make a donation in honor of Marie, Meg, Vic, or Terri. Select “honor” and enter their name while making a gift.
Marie Ferrier – 45 years
Director of Facilities and Services and Assistant to the President
If you have been a part of the Ursuline community during the past 45 years, then you most likely know Marie Ferrier. To know her is to love her. She has a kind and caring way that carries into her daily interactions with every person who steps foot on Ursuline’s campus. Marie began working at Ursuline in 1976. At the time, she was working for Appoquinimink School District as the Assistant to the Assistant Superintendent. When her boss took a new job at Ursuline as the Upper School Principal, Marie came with him but at the time only planned to stay for 5 five years. Little did she know, Ursuline quickly stole her heart and would become a permanent home for her lifelong career. Over 45 years, Marie has held various positions as Receptionist, Administrative Assistant, and her current role serving on the Administration as both Assistant to the President and Director of Facilities.
Marie reflects fondly on her time spent at Ursuline, recalling many memories of students and colleagues. She enjoys keeping in touch with many students, even many years after they have graduated, and always looks forward to hearing updates from them on their many accomplishments, both professionally and personally. When she thinks back on her many memories, a longstanding Ursuline tradition that remains her favorite is the annual Sisterhood Ceremony which pairs each incoming freshman with a senior as their big sister. Perhaps one of the funniest memories was when the seniors dressed in their full uniform, called The News Journal, filled the fountain on Pennsylvania Avenue with bubbles and jumped in as a senior prank. Marie recalls that she always knew when they would be doing it because it was one of the rare times that they were all in full uniform! The city has since removed the fountain, but the memory still makes her laugh to this day.
To her colleagues, Marie expresses her sincerest thanks for their dedication to Ursuline’s mission. She has appreciated being part of such a fantastic team that has all shared the same vision, following in the footsteps of St. Angela. Her favorite quote by St. Angela, and one that she lives by, “You will accomplish more by kind words and a courteous manner than by anger or sharp rebuke, which should never be used except in necessity.”
Upon Marie’s retirement in June, she and her husband have one-way tickets booked to her second home in Florida to enjoy the summer. She looks forward to having additional time to spend with her family and friends. Marie will be volunteering at St. Paul’s in Wilmington, Sean’s House as part of Unlocke The Light in Newark, and a few other local nonprofits.
Meg Kane-Smith – 23 years
Upper School Theology Teacher
Since 1998, many Ursuline students have enjoyed being a student in Meg Kane-Smith’s Theology class. When she started working at UA, she brought both her daughters with her – Katie, class of 2006, and Gabrielle, class of 2011. Meg began teaching grades 7, 8, and 9 during the first few years, then later transitioned to the Upper School, teaching sophomores the New Testament and Church, and seniors World Religions and Social Justice. In addition to teaching, she has also served various initiatives over the years, including Serviam, Cultural Day, Academic Bowl team, and most recently, Environmental Club.
Meg’s love for the students is mutually shared. Her students admire her dedication and desire to help them succeed. They always know they can count on her for support. Some of her favorite memories include taking her Upper School students to the Lower School to do faith-based crafts with younger students, St. Angela Day, all-school Masses, choir concerts, Cultural Day, and helping to run the Arc Christmas party for adults with developmental disabilities. Ursuline’s motto, Serviam, meaning “I will serve,” has been a way of life for Meg, as she has consistently been active in Ursuline’s Global Education service-based trips, where she has chaperoned eight trips in the United States and one to Peru. She also volunteered for many years with the Habitat for Humanity and Ministry of Caring’s Guardian Angel Child Care Center in Wilmington as a tutor.
The most rewarding aspect of her time spent at Ursuline has been working with the students. Meg has always felt that it is such a privilege to be a part of her students’ lives at a critical juncture, coming to age with their hopes and dreams. She has especially enjoyed working in the beautifully renovated Student Life Center and teaching in a bright and airy classroom setting.
In her retirement, Meg looks forward to continuing to pursue a second master’s degree at the University of Delaware in Liberal Studies, which she began this past fall. She will continue to serve as a Board Member for Serviam Girls Academy and as a docent at the Historic Odessa Foundation for three colonial houses, including one on the Underground Railroad. Meg also volunteers on the diocesan Guatemala Solidarity Committee with our sister diocese in San Marcos, Guatemala, and the fair trade committee at her church. In her free time, she plans to spend time with family and friends, travel, read, and work in her garden. She leaves us with a favorite St. Angela quote, “Build community wherever you go.”
Victor Hewitt – 16 years
Maintenance Supervisor
For the past 16 years, Victor (Vic) has been our go-to guy, maintaining the facilities and grounds on Ursuline’s campus. We often hear how beautiful Ursuline’s campus is, and Vic is largely to thank! Vic was first introduced to UA by our Director of Facilities, Marie Ferrier. At the time, Vic worked for Salesianum School doing maintenance. Marie was so impressed with his work and asked if he could occasionally help on a part-time schedule at UA, to which Vic replied, “give me a call when you need me.” Vic said after their meeting, his phone rang almost daily! After 35 years at Salesianum, he retired and made the switch to Ursuline. Since then, his friendship with Marie has continued, and it seems only fitting that they are both retiring together at the end of this school year.
Vic recalls that his favorite memories include helping the students with various projects on campus and when UA bought a 4-wheeled snowplow! Beyond taking care of Ursuline’s community, he is also known for his soft spot for all animals on Ursuline’s campus. He’s known to carry a dog treat in his pocket for dogs walking by, feeding the squirrels, and has a love for all of God’s creatures. Upon his retirement, Vic looks forward to heading to his home in Florida to enjoy the warm weather and relax.
Terri Ferguson – 16 years
UA Café Manager
Terri has spent the last 16 years working as Ursuline Academy’s UA Café Manager. Terri joined our Ursuline family when her oldest daughter Alie decided Ursuline felt like home after visiting many local high schools. She has reached levels of UA stardom after she carried on the tradition of making a UA Café staple – the chocolate chip muffin! Terri’s favorite memories include seeing the students each day, the new UA Café that was built in the Fusco Student Life Center, which opened in January 2019, working with her fellow staff, and cheering her daughters on at Ursuline volleyball games! While she will miss the students and her colleagues, she looks forward to retirement as her first grandchild will be born in June, making Terri a new “Mimi!”
