Calumet College of St. Joseph celebrated 75 years since its founding in 1951 by the Missionaries of the Precious Blood with a birthday bash on Sept. 19. Because of the rainy weather, the celebration was held in the Rittenmeyer Athletic Center Gym, where the college welcomed over three hundred guests. Students, employees, community members, and CCSJ alumni broke bread together, enjoyed live music, and shared stories about what Calumet College of St. Joseph means to them and to the community.
Accompanying the party was a closing reception for the alumni gallery show, Grit & Gratitude: 75 Years of Alumni Stories, where alumni from nearly every decade of the college’s history contributed photos and stories of the friendships, opportunities, and life-changing experiences that shaped their time at CCSJ.
As CCSJ celebrates the culmination of its 75th anniversary year, the college will inaugurate its eighth president, Ronald (Ron) J. Tulley, PhD, MBA. The inauguration Mass and ceremony will be at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Whiting, Indiana, on Nov. 13 at 2:30 p.m. For more information visit ccsj.edu/inauguration. Dr. Tulley assumed the role of CCSJ president on July 1, 2026.
“I have often said that Calumet College of St. Joseph feels like home to me,” said Dr. Tulley. “CCSJ’s mission resonates deeply with me because its students reflect my own background and journey. I understand firsthand the transformative power of faith, opportunity, mentorship, and belief in one’s potential. It is an extraordinary honor to join an institution so committed to access, service, and student success, and I look forward to working with the entire CCSJ community to build on its momentum and shape an even stronger future together.”
While the college welcomes new leadership, the campus is also undergoing exciting changes, with several outdoor improvement projects nearing completion. Over the summer, the college had the parking lots in front and behind the school completely redone, adding green spaces, new pedestrian pathways, and a pickleball court.
The Paula Dybel Zabrecky Alumni Park is currently under construction with a beautiful water feature added to the base of the cross, new seating, and a covered pavilion that will provide space for outdoor concerts and activities for the college family and community to enjoy. Earlier in October, the practice field just south of campus began to take shape, with new turf and goalposts installed in preparation for the women’s flag football team’s spring 2027 season. At CCSJ, this fall brings together 75 years of memories, a new chapter of leadership, and forward momentum for the future.