President Mooney Honors Board Chair Mary L. Burke '85 with President's Medal

May 9, 2016 (Notre Dame) — Saint Mary’s College President Carol Ann Mooney ’72 honored Mary L. Burke ’85, chair of the Board of Trustees, with the President’s Medal at a dinner held in Chicago on May 5. Among those in attendance were Burke’s parents, Dick and Maryjeanne Ryan Burke '56. The President’s Medal is presented rarely and exclusively to those who have offered exceptional contributions to the life of the College and society. 

After earning a degree in humanistic studies from Saint Mary’s in 1985, Burke earned an MBA from the University of Chicago in 1995. Burke has been giving back to Saint Mary’s since she graduated. Her early service to the College included serving as the “Executive in Residence” and in leadership positions with the Chicago alumnae club. The Alumnae Association voted her as the Outstanding Young Alumna in 1999.

Burke was elected to the Board of Trustees in 2005 and served as vice chair of the Board for two years from 2007 through 2009. As vice chair she chaired the Trusteeship Committee and led the effort that resulted in “paperless” Board meetings. Her vision resulted in greater efficiency, productivity, and significant cost savings for the College. She also was responsible for shortening meetings when she gave committee chairs a time limit for their reports to the full Board.

Now in her twelfth year on the Board and sixth year as Board chair, she gives an unprecedented amount of time to the responsibilities of her position. In addition to her duties as chair, she willingly took on the role of campaign tri-chair for the record-breaking $105 million campaign, Faith Always, Action Now. During the campaign she gave countless hours and traversed the country many times to ensure a successful conclusion to this transformational campaign. An enthusiastic and energetic spokesperson for women’s education, Burke is one of the most persuasive fundraisers to ever sit on the Board.

In spite of her own demanding career as managing partner of Lakeshore Food Advisors, Burke is always willing to make time for the College. Now, as Saint Mary’s transitions to a new president, Burke agreed to stay on as chair to provide continuity and stability during the transition.

About Saint Mary's College: Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Ind., is a four-year, Catholic, residential, women’s liberal arts college offering five bachelor’s degrees and more than 30 major areas of study, such as business, nursing, art, chemistry, and social work. Saint Mary’s College also offers two graduate degrees: a Master of Science and a Doctorate. All programs that fall under these degrees are co-educational and include a Master of Science in Data Science, a Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology, and a Doctorate of Nursing Practice. Founded in 1844 by the Sisters of the Holy Cross, Saint Mary’s College seeks, according to its mission statement, to educate students, develop their talents, and prepare them to make a difference in the world. Saint Mary’s College ranks among the top 100 Best National Liberal Arts Colleges for 2016 published by U.S. News & World Report. Follow Saint Mary's College on Twitter @saintmarys and @saintmarysnews.

Contact for News Media: Gwen O’Brien, director of media relations, Saint Mary’s College, gobrien@saintmarys.edu (574) 284-4579.