LATROBE, PA – When Tiffany Gilbert, C’03, transferred to Saint Vincent College, she was looking for more than just a new school. After a year at another institution that didn’t feel like the right fit, she was searching for a place where she could grow academically, spiritually and personally.
She found that, and more, at Saint Vincent.
One of her earliest experiences on campus set the tone for what would become a deeply formative chapter in her life. “My assigned roommate is now one of my best friends,” she said. “We’re so different… I wondered how it was going to work. But we hit it off immediately.”
Their bond strengthened through shared faith. Despite different religious backgrounds, they were united in trying to find themselves. Even today, while living in different states, they stay in touch. It became a symbol for the warm and welcoming community Gilbert found at Saint Vincent.
Gilbert’s Saint Vincent story is rooted in family. Her father, the youngest of 11 children and the only one to graduate from college, was a Saint Vincent alumnus who inspired all four of his children to follow in his footsteps. “In high school, he would always tell us that the only job you have right now is to get good grades,” she recalled. “All four of us went to Saint Vincent and graduated.”
After graduation, the siblings’ paths diverged. One became a college professor, another works in technology in California, and one is a CPA. Gilbert, who graduated with a degree in political science, pursued a life of service in faith. But as she puts it, they all benefited from a foundation of academic excellence, spiritual growth and a strong sense of community.
That foundation continues to shape her life today. Together with her husband, she co-founded Voices for the Unborn, a pregnancy care center in Pittsburgh’s East Liberty neighborhood that offers free and confidential support to women facing unexpected pregnancies. She is an associate pastor at Another Level Ministries and co-host of the “Dimensions” podcast, on which she discusses faith, family and community.
In each of these roles, Gilbert draws on the values and skills she developed at Saint Vincent. Whether she’s mentoring young women, leading a team or speaking to a congregation, she credits her ability to connect with others to the relationships she built in college.
“I didn’t know it then, but I needed the small class sizes,” she said with a smile in her voice. “I was able to build a connection with instructors. Anytime I get the opportunity, I brag about Saint Vincent because of what it did and how it caused me to grow.”
Among the professors who left a lasting impression was the late Dr. Gabriel Pellathy, professor emeritus and distinguished professor of political science at the College. “I recognized even at that age the degree to which he cared for people,” she recalled. “You were important to him, and your success was important to him. You were not just another student.”
Meanwhile, a constitutional law class taught by Dr. Bruce Antkowiak, C’74, JD, pushed her to think more deeply. The B she earned in his class remains a source of pride for the hard work she put in.
Even now, Gilbert applies the lessons learned from her instructors and mentors at Saint Vincent. “You have the opportunity to go beyond the work,” she said. “I have found that a lot of times, you’re peeling back layers so when people know that you care, they perform better. Before you know it, they’re achieving higher than they would have ever expected because they have found someone in their life that cares about them.” She calls it “making the impossible more probable.”
Outside the classroom, Gilbert embraced campus life. She participated in mock trial, joined the Ultimate Frisbee Club, served as a prefect in Aurelius Hall and spent her summers working in the Pathways to Success program, an academic enrichment initiative for inner city youth. “The social piece helped to balance everything,” she said. “Even now, with all my responsibilities and workload, I still need that time to get away and have fun. It’s about finding that balance.”
Today, Gilbert serves on the Saint Vincent Board of Directors, giving back to the college that shaped her life. She visits campus regularly, not only for quarterly Board meetings or the annual Pittsburgh Steelers Training Camp, but sometimes, it’s just to share the experience with her family and to visit Father Paul Taylor, O.S.B., C’87, S’91, PhD, president of Saint Vincent College.
“My kids now look forward to going to Saint Vincent,” she said. “Father Paul experienced me growing up, and now my kids are excited every time they see him. Their connection and relationship with him are generational.”
This past September, Gilbert served as the keynote speaker at the Third Annual Women of Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care Conference. It’s a fitting role for someone whose life and work are grounded in faith and leadership as well as community—just as her ongoing connection to Saint Vincent connects directly back to her faith and purpose.
“I believe in the mission and the vision of Saint Vincent,” she said. “If I didn’t believe in it, I would not be here. In my church, we say that ‘when you’re here, you’re family.’ I feel the same way about Saint Vincent. When you get there, you’re family.”
