In addition to being La Salle’s first lay and first woman President, Hanycz is also the first mother and La Salle parent to lead the University.

The mother of three has spoken extensively on the complicated balance between work life and family life facing modern professional women, a topic she touched on frequently during her seven-year tenure at the helm of Brescia, Canada’s only women’s college. “When I get to speak with young women, which is one of the most wonderful things I get to do, I tell them to be patient with themselves, and to be prepared to be flexible and adaptable and nimble,” Hanycz said. “There will be periods of imbalance that you have to correct.”

She also reminds women not to get too caught up in their best-laid plans for the future, because personal and professional goals tend to shift without notice. “If my career path was straight, I’d be a partner in a law firm, or I’d still be in Canada in higher education administration,” she said.

While the President has had a packed schedule preparing for the start of her first semester at La Salle, she and husband, Peter, have also been busy at home. The couple, who will celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary this December, are helping the kids transition into their first school year in the States. (Also helping: the family’s two mini schnauzers, Jack and Polly.)

Erik, 18, studied at King’s University College in London, Ontario, before making the decision to transfer to La Salle. An accomplished church cantor, he moved into a dorm on campus and will begin his American collegiate career as a freshman secondary education major. Emily, 16, a competitive equestrian, has started her junior year at Mount St. Joseph Academy in Flourtown. Claire, 11, who entered seventh grade at Norwood Fontbonne Academy in Chestnut Hill, is an avid Irish dancer and aspiring basketball player. “She will be looking for some hoop tips when we host the men’s and women’s basketball teams at our house this fall,” Hanycz said.

As a family, the Hanyczs are happy to have joined a new parish, St. Genevieve in Flourtown, and they also enjoy travel. For now, though, Philadelphia is their playground: “We’ve been enjoying getting to know our new hometown by public transit, and perhaps our favorite destination so far has been the Reading Terminal Market,” Hanycz said. “Amazing!”