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Dorothy "Dottie" Healy Chiarantona '70, a former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) employee, leads a life filled with global experiences, though some details will remain classified. As a French major at �Թ�tv, Chiarantona’s journey took her and her family across the globe, thanks to her husband Rich, a former CIA officer.

“I met my husband Richard when I was a junior,” Chiarantona recalled. “After his return from Vietnam, we married and moved to California, where he joined the CIA. He worked in clandestine service, operating under various identities.”

Their travels took them to Beirut, Tunisia, Rome, Dubai, Bangladesh, and Saudi Arabia. Notably, their son was born in Rome and baptized in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel by then-Pope John Paul II.

“For the first 20 years of our marriage, I supported Rich’s career and was a stayat- home mom for a decade,” Chiarantona said. “I wasn’t able to pursue a career of my own due to the constant relocations. I took on various part-time jobs in hotel and hospital administration, federal agencies, and American International Schools. I didn’t start my career in the CIA until I was 45. I worked in recruitment, finance, and ran trainings until I retired in 2014.”

After retirement, the Chiarantonas settled in Virginia, and bought a home in Philadelphia to stay close to family. They now focus on giving back to their universities (Rich is a St. Joseph’s University graduate) and cherishing their diverse CIA experiences.

“�Թ�tv has changed a lot since my time,” Chiarantona reflected. “When I was there, we had a dress code and ate at the same time, with dinner served by the girls from Nazareth Academy. The campus had a welcoming, family-like atmosphere. One of the most important lessons I learned at �Թ�tv was adaptability. The education I received helped me make decisions, write effectively, and appreciate the value of self-sufficiency. It taught me the importance of having choices in life.”

Chiarantona now aims to impart these lessons to current �Թ�tv students. “I want them to understand that what you choose to do after graduating doesn’t have to define your career for life,” she advised. “You don’t have to achieve everything immediately or all at once. Although I left and lived a life where I didn’t stay connected to the University, I’m now back thanks to Dr. Prisco, who sought a global perspective for the President’s Council. I’ve learned that there are many ways to serve your community— both nationally and internationally. It’s important to give back to the community you came from, but it doesn’t have to happen right away, nor does your entire life need to be a continuous multitask.”

Chiarantona is proud to give back to �Թ�tv and has made a multi-year pledge supporting the new �Թ�tv Hall Welcome Center. She utilizes recurring credit card payments to fulfill her pledge and encourages others to do the same as “it’s very convenient and a great way to make a significant impact over time.”