Rev. Edmund Joseph Corby

Dean and President of Villa Madonna College (1943-1944)

A respected scholar of philosophy and theology, Father Corby taught at Villa Madonna College and lectured in ethics at St. Elizabeth Hospital School of Nursing while serving as chaplain to the Sisters of Notre Dame at St. Joseph Heights. Following the death of Monsignor Michael Leick in 1943, he was appointed Dean and President of Villa Madonna College, where he maintained academic stability, strengthened partnerships with St. Elizabeth Hospital and Covington Latin School, and advanced Catholic higher education for both religious and lay students. Renowned for his commitment to Thomistic philosophy, intellectual excellence, and pastoral care, Father Corby left a lasting influence on the college’s academic mission despite his brief administration.

Father Edmund J. Corby was appointed Dean and later President of Villa Madonna College in 1944, assuming leadership during the challenges of World War II. He worked to preserve the college’s academic stability by maintaining rigorous curriculum standards, supporting faculty development, and ensuring continuity in the institution’s educational mission despite wartime disruptions. Father Corby also fostered closer collaboration between the Sisters of Notre Dame and the clergy of the Diocese of Covington, strengthening Catholic higher education throughout Northern Kentucky. Under his leadership, Villa Madonna College expanded its educational partnerships with St. Elizabeth Hospital and Covington Latin School while encouraging greater educational opportunities for both women religious and lay students during a period of institutional growth.

In addition to his administrative responsibilities, Father Corby was a respected teacher and spiritual mentor. He taught philosophy and theology at Villa Madonna College and lectured in ethics at the St. Elizabeth Hospital School of Nursing, where he integrated Catholic moral teaching with professional education. Grounded in the principles of Thomistic philosophy, a school of thought based on the teachings of Saint Thomas Aquinas, his instruction emphasized the harmonious development of intellect, faith, and character. Through his ministry and teaching, Father Corby encouraged a lifelong commitment to scholarship, discipline, and Christian service, reinforcing the college’s mission to educate students for lives of faith, leadership, and service.

A respected scholar, educator, and pastor, he strengthened the college’s academic standards while reaffirming its Catholic identity and educational mission. His death on March 26, 1944, was deeply felt by the college community, including its students, faculty, and the Sisters of Notre Dame, who remembered him for his intellectual leadership, pastoral dedication, and unwavering commitment to Catholic higher education. He was laid to rest in St. Mary Cemetery in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky.