Mount Saint Mary Academy

Sister Lisa D. Gambacorto, RSM, Ed.S., Directress

Sister Lisa D. Gambacorto, RSM, Ed.S., assumed the role as ninth Directress of Mount Saint Mary Academy in the summer of 2000. She is the longest serving Directress of the Academy.

Sister Lisa has a wealth of academic credentials, as well as professional accreditations and experience in varied fields of education and counseling. These enrich her ability to serve as an effective administrator, spiritual role model, and nurturing school head.

Denise E. Materia, M.A.

Denise Materia may have retired as Assistant Directress and Athletic Director in June 2025, but her impactful legacy lives on. Gazing up the hill from the old Sears department store parking lot, back in the early 1980’s, started it all.

She noted, “I was mesmerized by it. I could never have imagined the path that my life would have taken after that day.”

Sister Mary Amadeo Morganti, RSM

“I am very happy. It is a beautiful life. You live with wonderful people. They (the Sisters) are all committed. Their life is committed to God. They treat each other as Christians should treat each other, seeing God in each person.”

These were Sister Amadeo’s musings in 2023 upon celebrating 70 years in religious life. Quite a shift from her original plan to attend Temple University and become a pharmacist! Inspired by her Mercy teachers at Cathedral High School (Trenton), she entered the order on Mercy Day, September 24, 1953, answering a calling that had become insistently louder.

CDR Linda Guadalupe Phipps, United States Navy (Ret.), ‘73

Linda Ann Guadalupe Phipps graduated in 1973 from Mount Saint Mary Academy. After completing Bachelor’s degrees in marine biology and English literature at Fairleigh Dickinson University, she served for 20 years in the United States Navy.

Over that time, she served in Washington, D.C.; Dam Neck, VA; Monterey, CA; Iselin, NJ; Tampa, FL; and Newport, RI. Among her duties were training and recruitment, developing Navy-wide personnel policy, analyzing force structure, and designing and executing war games at the Naval War College. In 1988 Linda completed a Masters of Operations Research degree at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA.

Carolyn Sheenan, D.M.D., ‘82

Carolyn Sheenan’s roots are in Dunellen, NJ. A 1987 graduate of LaSalle University, she received her Doctorate of Dental Medicine from the Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, followed by a one-year residency in Advanced General Dentistry at Boston University. Then it was home to Dunellen to nurture the roots of a professional career.

Carolyn notes, “As a dentist, I am passionate about providing the highest quality care to my patients. They deserve nothing less.” She maintains that quality of care through seminars, conferences, and courses, and has been honored with the Academy of Operative Dentistry Award.

Sister Alice Swartz, RSM, Ph.D., ‘62

Sister Alice Swartz celebrates her 64th anniversary as a Sister of Mercy this year. Her spiritually devout family led her to life as a religious which, she says, “has always been and continues to be full of blessings, challenges, and grace.”

After leaving Carbondale, PA, Sister Alice attended elementary school at Saint Mary’s (Plainfield), then joined the MSMA Class of 1961. The deep spirituality, prayer life, and professionalism of her Mercy teachers greatly influenced her and the decision to join their community upon her Mount graduation.

Claire Sullivan Tucciarone ‘81 P’16

Claire Sullivan Tucciarone’s connection to Mount Saint Mary Academy began in 1976 when she earned a merit scholarship to join the Class of 1981, following her sister Margaret (’78) and then was joined by Elizabeth (’82). She graduated cum laude from the College of Saint Elizabeth in 1985 with a double major in Economics and English.

Married for 36 years to her beloved husband John, Claire resides in Warren, where they raised their two children, Connor and Brianna (MSMA ‘16). Together, they operated John Tucciarone Enterprises, a successful plumbing, heating, and contracting business. Claire worked there for 27 years. Claire’s business acumen was strengthened by her 13 year banking career with CoreStates Bank and United Counties Trust.

Elizabeth Weiler, Esq., P’08’11

Elizabeth (“Liz”) Weiler, an attorney, was introduced to Mount Saint Mary Academy when her two daughters, Carolyn (‘08) and Christine (‘11) attended. Impressed with the Mount’s mission of providing young women with a rigorous education in a supportive environment imbued with the foundational Mercy Core values, she decided to volunteer her time and expertise at the Mount.