Scholarship Gift Expands the Saint Mary's Circle
By BARBARA ALLISON
Lorraine Sheehan Wilson ’85 and Chris Wilson (ND ’85) recently endowed the Wilson Sheehan Scholarship Fund, the largest scholarship gift in Saint Mary’s College history. This multi-million dollar gift aligns with the Wilson Sheehan Foundation’s mission to support families and reduce poverty by creating educational opportunities. Students with demonstrated financial need will receive these scholarship funds as part of their financial aid packages, many for all four years at the College, beginning in the 2027-2028 academic year.
The belief that education helps people thrive has guided the Wilson Sheehan Foundation since its inception in 2012. “We all have different talents and abilities. It’s really about making sure that everyone is provided the opportunities to develop their unique talents,” Lorraine said. Chris added, “We’re strong believers in giving people the opportunity to succeed.”
Longstanding benefactors of Saint Mary’s, the couple considered this a pivotal moment in the College’s history to make another impactful gift, this time for student scholarships. Enrollment at Saint Mary’s has risen over the past few years, and that has included new opportunities to serve students who may have thought Saint Mary’s was out of their reach. Lorraine and Chris’s confidence in the College’s leadership has made now the perfect time for this gift to the Ring Out Ring True campaign, which will launch publicly on June 6, 2026.
One of the central recommendations in Revere and Revise: Saint Mary’s 2030, the College’s strategic plan, is to grow and sustain Saint Mary’s by fostering a culture of belonging and inclusion. The plan deems this as an essential element of Saint Mary’s community.
“We want every qualified student who hopes to attend Saint Mary’s to be able to do so,” said President Katie Conboy. “Through an earlier scholarship gift and their investment in the Office for Student Empowerment, Lorraine and Chris had already demonstrated a deep commitment to student access and success. This new leadership investment in need-based scholarships will allow Saint Mary’s to offer this empowering education to many more students. We could not be more grateful for their support.”
The confluence of growing income inequality, poorly performing K-12 schools for low-income students, and the rising cost of a college education over the past several decades has contributed to an “excellence gap,” according to the Institute for Higher Education Policy. This means that many low-income, potentially high-achieving students tend to choose less-selective colleges due to a lack of awareness that top-tier colleges like Saint Mary’s offer generous scholarships, such as those offered by the Wilson Sheehan Scholarship Fund. “A scholarship gift can transform lives. We know this just by seeing the success of so many Saint Mary’s alumnae who benefited from a scholarship and are now out in the world making contributions to their careers and communities,” said Lori Johnson ’91, Vice President for Student Enrollment and Engagement.
A scholarship gift is one of the most direct ways to support students. Scholarships make Saint Mary’s College accessible for students and by doing so, open doors to the transformative power of a Catholic, liberal arts education.
- Lori Johnson ’91, vice president for student enrollment and engagement
Of students attending a four-year college or university, one out of four is enrolled at a private, nonprofit college or institution. According to a 2025 report by Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce, prime age (25-54) college graduates with a bachelor’s degree earn 70 percent more income at the median than those with a high-school diploma, making a college degree a solid investment. College graduates are also more likely to have jobs that include healthcare benefits than those with a high school diploma, which also leads to better life outcomes.
“One barrier is the misperception that a college education is unaffordable, when with financial aid and scholarships, it actually is affordable,” Chris said. Data from the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities supports this, noting that 84 percent of students at four-year non-profit private colleges received grants and institutional support. At Saint Mary’s, 100 percent of incoming students receive a scholarship or grant. What’s more, four out of five graduates of private colleges earn their degree in four years, which translates to less overall tuition cost per student. Again, Saint Mary’s outpaces this. In 2025, 92 percent of the graduating class finished their degree in four years.
For Lorraine and Chris, continuing to create educational opportunities for women to attend Saint Mary’s is foundational. Both realize that self-actualization through education consistently lifts up communities. At the same time, directing their philanthropy to ensure success for all students aligns with their Catholic values. “Our philanthropy was always going to be people-focused. We’re getting right at the core of how to help people help themselves, by providing opportunities,” Chris said. Lorraine is consistently impressed with the students’ belief in themselves, and the hard work and efforts they put into their education. “They’re imagining a different future for themselves, and I find that inspiring,” she said.
Students appreciate the support they receive from the generosity of donors. “As a first-generation college student whose parents never had the opportunity to attend college, this support means more than words can express,” said a first-year student. “Growing up in a low-income household has taught me to value every opportunity, and it has deepened my appreciation for the generosity of others. Without a scholarship, attending Saint Mary’s would not have been possible.”
Access is just one of the many facets that gifts such as the Wilson Sheehan Scholarship Fund offer to the women of Saint Mary’s. “A scholarship gift is one of the most direct ways to support students,” said Johnson. “Scholarships make Saint Mary’s College accessible for students and by doing so, open doors to the transformative power of a Catholic, liberal arts education.”
We all have different talents and abilities. It’s really about making sure that everyone is provided the opportunities to develop their unique talents.
- Lorraine Sheehan Wilson ’85
“When students graduate empowered and supported, they become leaders, educators, entrepreneurs, healthcare providers, and changemakers who carry forward the same spirit of generosity,” said Redgina Hill, Vice President for Belonging. “When we remove barriers to access and participation, we do more than support individual students; we strengthen the entire campus.”
Lorraine and Chris met in 1981 when they were first-year students at Saint Mary’s and Notre Dame. Lorraine majored in accounting and was a self-described serious student. Both have fond memories of the many hours they spent studying together at the library. “The only reason I studied at all is because Lorraine was always in the library,” Chris said with a laugh.
Looking back on her student days, Lorraine would tell today’s Saint Mary’s students to make college a more well-rounded experience than she did. “I was laser-focused on my studies. I was a little one-dimensional,” she said. “My advice would be to get involved in extracurricular activities. To say yes to new experiences.” Lorraine continues to give back to her alma mater with her time and talents as well, serving on the Saint Mary’s College Board of Trustees since 2022 and as the vice chair since 2024.
For his part, Chris advises today’s students to worry less about having their whole life figured out, something his own three children stressed over. “You don’t have to have your life planned by the time you graduate college.” It’s a concept covered well in the book Range by David Epstein, which Chris recommends. “College kids these days, especially at places like Saint Mary’s and Notre Dame, they think they have to have it all figured out and lined up, and they don’t. God willing, there is a long life ahead of you to explore your interests, shift focus a few times, and these diverse experiences enhance your skills and your enjoyment of life.”
Because of the Wilson’s gift, generations of young women will have the chance to explore and prepare for their future careers with less financial burden, allowing them to immerse themselves in all that Saint Mary’s offers.
“We know that a college education is still important for women’s independence and quality of life,” Johnson said. “A Saint Mary’s education provides the confidence, knowledge, skills and network for lifelong success.” Chris echoed Johnson’s sentiments. “When you’re helping a student today, that’s going to help her children and their children. It just compounds.”
May 11, 2026