Saint Mary’s College Honors Two Faculty with Newly Established Awards
Contact:
Gwen O’Brien
Director of Media Relations
Saint Mary's College
(574) 284-4579 (desk)
February 20, 2013 (Notre Dame, Ind.)—Saint Mary’s College announced the inaugural honorees of two new faculty awards for excellence at a luncheon today hosted by President Carol Ann Mooney ’72 and the Board of Trustees. These awards, made possible by the generosity of two alumnae and their spouses, recognize faculty members who are deeply dedicated to their students, their scholarship, and their communities.
“An exceptional education begins with exceptional faculty, and Saint Mary’s is proud of its many talented, passionate faculty members who engage students, enliven the campus, and advance their fields,” said Saint Mary’s College President Carol Ann Mooney.
Mary Ann Merryman, professor of
business and accounting, poses with
the award she received Wednesday,
The Donald R. (ND '73) and
Nora Barry Fischer '73 Award for
Teaching Excellence.Mary Ann Merryman, professor of business and accounting, was presented The Donald R. (ND ’73) and Nora Barry Fischer ’73 Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence. This award recognizes excellences in discipline-specific teaching by a faculty member in upper-division courses in a major. At the presentation of the award, Provost and Senior Vice President Patricia Fleming noted Merryman’s ability to “teach technically challenging subjects in a way that makes her students want to learn.” Her content expertise has enabled Saint Mary’s students to consistently score above the national average on the Uniform CPA examination. Many of Merryman’s students have gone on to become partners at “Big Four” international accounting firms. She has had a clear hand in shaping the expertise of these young professionals.
The quality of Merryman’s students is evidenced by their typically high placement in the annual Indiana CPA Society (INCPAS) College Case Competition and their performance in the Department of Business BBA Comprehensive Exam, which requires student teams to thoroughly analyze a contemporary company and address questions from business faculty judges.
In addition to her typical teaching responsibilities, over the past nine years, Merryman has organized and coached a team of four to compete in the INCPAS Case Competition, competing against teams from colleges and universities across Indiana. Merryman has led Saint Mary’s teams to the final six for seven of the last eight years with the teams finishing first in 2010 and 2011.
Merryman is a certified public accountant account; she received her BS from Manchester College, Indiana and her MSA from the University of Notre Dame.
Jayne Kendle, associate professor of nursing, was presented The Kevin J. (ND ’77) and Marijo Rogers Kelly ’77 Service Award. This award recognizes a faculty member who demonstrates exceptional commitment to local, regional, national, or international service to his or her academic field. Fleming cited Kendle’s work on the health and well-being of medically fragile children and their families. Kendle created the Time Out Pediatric Respite Care program that provides palliative care for children where she, along with her students, dedicate time in service to these special families.
On the right is Jayne Kendle, associate professor
of nursing, with Marijo Rogers Kelly '77. Professor
Kendle was presented The Kevin J. (ND ’77) and
Marijo Rogers Kelly ’77 Service Award. This award recognizes a faculty member who demonstrates exceptional commitment to local, regional, national, or international service to his or her academic field. Fleming cited Kendle’s work on the health and well-being of medically fragile children and their families. Kendle created the Time Out Pediatric Respite Care program that provides palliative care for children where she, along with her students, dedicates time in service to these special families.
The Time Out Pediatric Respite Care program helps Saint Mary’s nursing students understand the scope of the plight of medially fragile children and their families who make long-term sacrifices to provide for the well-being of their children. The program is a mainstay of nursing development and education and has functioned as an effective community outreach throughout its 14 years. Under Kendle’s direction, Saint Mary’s nursing students have provided more than 20,000 hours of respite care to over 100 community families.
Kendle has expanded her service role to include serving as a Board member of the O’Hana Heritage Foundation helping to establish A Rosie Place, a specialty care hospital for medically fragile children. She continues to work to educate Indiana legislators and work with the State Department of Public Health to secure funds to support these families.
Kendle received her BSN from the University of Evansville, Indiana and has a MSN from the University of Missouri, Columbia.
Faculty members nominated candidates for both awards. The recipients were not announced until the luncheon that was held in Stapleton Lounge, Le Mans Hall. President Carol Ann Mooney ‘72 presented the awards. Fleming read the accompanying citations, “We are so pleased to have these two new awards to affirm the work of our faculty. Now, faculty teaching in discipline-specific courses for a major will be acknowledged as well as faculty who contribute a great deal of time advancing some aspect of their profession on the local, regional and national level. Professor Merryman and Professor Kendle couldn't have been a better fit for the inauguration of these awards. I am enormously grateful for all of the donors who have made these awards possible.”
About Nora Barry Fischer ’73 and Donald Fischer: Nora Barry Fischer graduated from Saint Mary’s with degrees in history and humanistic studies; she went on to attain her law degree from the University of Notre Dame. Fischer is a U.S. District Court Judge for the Western District of Pennsylvania, an appointment approved unanimously by the U.S. Senate. Fischer has served as a member of the Saint Mary’s College Alumnae Board of Directors and returned to campus as a Shannon Executive Scholar. Fischer resides in Pittsburgh with her husband, Dr. Donald Fischer (ND ’73) who is Senior Vice President of Health Affairs and Chief Medical Officer, Highmark, Inc.
About Marijo Rogers Kelly ’77 and Kevin Kelly: Marijo Rogers Kelly graduated from Saint Mary’s with a degree in business administration and economics. She is a community volunteer serving in various volunteer capacities at Logan Center and was recently a Co-Chair of the Saint Joseph High School Capital Campaign. Kelly is a member of the Down the Avenue Steering Committee and co-chair of the 2005 Down the Avenue event; Down the Avenue celebrates Saint Mary’s outreach to those in need in the Michiana community and raises money to support the work of Saint Mary’s College Office of Civic and Social Engagement. Kelly resides in Granger, Ind. with her husband, Kevin Kelly, who is president of Walsh & Kelly, Inc. (civil contractors).
About Saint Mary’s College: Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Ind., is a four-year, Catholic, women’s institution offering five bachelor’s degrees and more than 30 major areas of study. Saint Mary’s College has six nationally accredited academic programs: social work, art, music, teacher education, chemistry and nursing. Saint Mary’s College ranks among the top 100 “Best National Liberal Arts Colleges” in the U.S. News & World Report 2011 College Guide. Founded in 1844, Saint Mary’s is a pioneer in the education of women, and is sponsored by the Sisters of the Holy Cross.