“It is with a heavy heart but with a bright hope for tomorrow that we share in the mourning of losing our beloved alumna, the Honorable Ellen Bree Burns. A trailblazer, she shattered the glass ceiling to become the first woman in the state to sit on the federal bench. Because of her brilliant mind and her passion for the law, she inspired other women to achieve prominent positions in the community, in business, and in government. A member of the Class of 1944 who was also recognized with an honorary degree in 1974, this Trustee Emerita said that Albertus prepared her for the really important business of living – and she lived that life to the fullest and with distinction,” said Carolyn Behan Kraus, vice president for Advancement at Albertus Magnus College.