St. Joseph's College for Women, Alappuzha

St. Joseph's College for Women, Alappuzha, is the first women's college in Alappuzha district, Kerala, India. It is run under the aegis of the Canossian Daughters of Charity, the international congregation found by St. Magdalene of Canossa, of Verona, Italy [1]. St. Magdalene of Canossa who considered education as one of the stated missions of the Canossians has expressed her belief that "Education is the most demanding sector of the apostolate but it is the most effective since it normally determines one's conduct of life." This is the only college under the Canossian aegis.

Sri. Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma, the Rajapramukh of Travancore laid the foundation stone on April 18, 1953. The college officially came into being on ist July, 1954. Rev. M. Fernanda Riva was the first Principal. The completed college building was officially inaugurated by Dewan Bahadur Sri. A. Ramaswamy Mudaliar, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Travancore.

The College is situated at the Convent Square in the Alappuzha town, on the NH 47.

The College offers Degree courses in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Botany, Zoology, Home Science, English Literature, Communicative English, Commerce and History, and Post Graduate Courses in English Language and Literature, Physics and Nutrition and Dietetics.

The college was re-accredited with A grade, by the National Accreditation and Assessment Council in 2013. The college celebrated its Diamond Jubilee in 2014.

The first Principal of the college Venerable M. Fernanda Riva is in the process of being Canonized.

The notable alumnae include Tessy Thomas, the missile woman of India, Mini Antony, IAS, M. Margaret Peter, the erstwhile Mother General of the Canossian Congregation. Jalaja, the Malayalam actor of yesteryears, Devi Chandana, dancer and cine artiste, and the actor Saranya Mohan.