Villa Maria College was founded in 1960 by Mother Mary Annette Guzowski and the Felician Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Province. The College was initially a teacher-training center for sisters in the education apostolate and was established as an affiliate of the Catholic University of America. In 1961, a provisional charter was secured from the Board of Regents of the State of New York to grant Associate in Arts (A.A.) and Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degrees to women religious.