The Case for Social Capital Read More February 29, 2024 The Case for Social Capital Social capital is all about strong relationships and mutual trust. In this month's letter, President Conboy discusses how joining—being part of a collective—not only raises one's social capital, it has the power to elevate an entire community. The Power of Story Read More January 8, 2024 The Power of Story For the past three years, we have been working steadily to achieve the goals outlined in our strategic plan, Revere and Revise. Several exciting projects are coming together as we complete the first phase of the plan and move into 2024. In her first letter of the year, President Conboy dives deeper into what this means for the Saint Mary's institutional story. College is a Bag of Beans Read More October 9, 2023 College is a Bag of Beans The College has been ripe with cultural events this fall. There is so much to do, and in her monthly letter, President Conboy brings to mind the many ways there is to learn. "A college education is a bag of beans: it’s up to students to plant them, climb the stalks, find the treasures." All Y’all Are Welcome Here Read More August 31, 2023 All Y’all Are Welcome Here On the first Sunday after their arrival on campus, President Conboy spoke with several first-year students after Mass. In her August letter to the community, she reflects on this conversation, and how the simple phrase "all y'all" embodies the welcoming spirit of Saint Mary's College. Swing High and Let It Fly Read More July 24, 2023 Swing High and Let It Fly Swing high and let it fly! President Conboy asks: What could be better words than these—not just for golf balls and baseballs, but for the ambitions and the accomplishments of Saint Mary’s students and graduates, and frankly, for our ambitions for the future of the College? Our Graduates Step Out! Read More May 22, 2023 Our Graduates Step Out! Taking a beat to reflect on the high spirits of a beautiful Commencement weekend, President Conboy shares her admiration of the hundreds of graduates who made their way across the stage and took hold of their moment that was years in the making. Creativity Is In Our DNA Read More May 1, 2023 Creativity Is In Our DNA At Saint Mary’s, April and May are the months when we see many culminating projects that demonstrate “vigorous creative activity” of different kinds. This month, President Conboy takes a look at the breadth of creative works that emerge from the Saint Mary's community. Let’s Make History Read More March 31, 2023 Let’s Make History We are called to develop leaders of moral imagination and civic commitment—people who will build community, strive for justice, lift up the least advantaged, and collaborate to steward our planet. At this moment, when girls and young women have momentous needs, President Katie Conboy commits Saint Mary's to be part of women’s history by shaping the future. The Shortest Month Brings Moments of Awe Read More February 28, 2023 The Shortest Month Brings Moments of Awe In her February letter to the community, President Conboy explores two experiences she's witnessed in recent weeks at Saint Mary’s. The first is the awe that stems from the actions of other people, the “moral beauty.” The other is “collective effervescence” in which humans come together around a shared purpose and feel a sense of energy and harmony. The Holy Cross Legacy of Service and Action Read More January 24, 2023 The Holy Cross Legacy of Service and Action While Martin Luther King Day is intended as a national day of service—a “day on,” not a “day off”—Katie Conboy sees Saint Mary’s community members as shining examples of consistent action not just on one day of the year, but in regular quiet commitments. In her monthly letter to the community, she shares how we are succeeding with Fr. Moreau’s commitment to educating the heart as well as the mind. In Tune With the Traditions of the Season Read More December 20, 2022 In Tune With the Traditions of the Season The season of Christmas brings with it a chance to bask in the warm embrace of music and reflect on what is holy. President Katie Conboy shares the musical moments that have lifted her heart and mind this holiday. Strengthening Our Culture of Belonging Read More November 8, 2022 Strengthening Our Culture of Belonging In her monthly letter to the community, President Conboy reflects further on the word "belonging", and the ongoing commitment to it at SMC. "We need to acknowledge the strength of diverse ideas and the force of differences that are already inside the college... Whatever our differences, we have all chosen Saint Mary’s. We all belong under this roof." Building Opportunity for Pre-College Girls Read More October 19, 2022 Building Opportunity for Pre-College Girls Over the decades, more than 20,000 girls have participated in SMC summer youth programs. We have great momentum, writes President Conboy in her October letter to the community. Thanks to a $1 million grant from Lilly Endowment, Saint Mary's can now extend their reach, remove barriers to access for under-resourced and first-generation students, and to leverage community partnerships that add value to Saint Mary’s and to the program experience. 37 Words That Opened Opportunities for Women Read More September 13, 2022 37 Words That Opened Opportunities for Women Our fall sports are well underway, and President Conboy is reflecting on the history of women in sports and the impact of Title IX. In her monthly letter to the community, Katie writes, “...at Saint Mary’s, our entire purpose—from our founding in 1844—has been to provide access and opportunity for women.” Saint Mary's College on the Move Read More August 17, 2022 Saint Mary's College on the Move In her August letter to the community, President Katie Conboy has been thinking about momentum as a metaphor for the single quality essential to Saint Mary’s right now—the process of change currently underway at Saint Mary's. With a new academic year is upon us, combined with dozens of forward-thinking projects and positive outcomes, Saint Mary's is a campus on the move.