Upon Reflection Read More July 13, 2022 Upon Reflection As I look at this issue of Courier, I am struck by the overwhelming number of happy photographs from our two commencements and two reunions. Members of the Class of 2022 are captured enjoying all the expected pomp and circumstance connected to their Commencement. Vienna Waits for You Read More July 11, 2022 Vienna Waits for You In her July email, President Conboy takes a new look at an old song, and is reminded that it's ok for all of us to take a moment to catch our breath. Communal Ponderings Read More June 13, 2022 Communal Ponderings Spring has been a time of intense connection and reconnection for Saint Mary's College. Among the three commencement celebrations and two reunion weekends, President Conboy reflects on the business of the spring, the joy found in welcoming thousands of visitors to campus, and the promise of what's to come. The Art of Drafting Team SMC Read More April 12, 2022 The Art of Drafting Team SMC Many factors impact the greatness of any team. In her April letter to the community, President Conboy breaks down the many lessons in athletics that affect teamwork and leadership. In filling several key administrative roles, Katie is hiring "a team that will believe in itself, show staying power, and bring out the best in each other." Upon Reflection Read More March 15, 2022 Upon Reflection In the long and ongoing period of our global pandemic, many of us have felt the weight of loneliness. Some people, including many older adults, have suffered being completely alone, while others—living in various familial configurations—have still felt removed from a larger sphere of social interaction. Sow Your Goodness Read More March 3, 2022 Sow Your Goodness This week we marked the beginning of Lent with multiple Ash Wednesday services. In a letter to the community, President Conboy reflects on the words of Pope Francis, who asks that we slow down, care for others, and focus our prayers on peace in Ukraine. The Art of Circular Giving Read More February 3, 2022 The Art of Circular Giving As we leap into February, a major winter storm is sugar-coating our beautiful campus with a layer of fresh snow. Although the theme of this message may seem like it could belong to Christmas, it’s in this snowy season—this month, February—President Conboy finds herself thinking about the meaning of gifts. Extending My Mind in Surprising Ways Read More January 11, 2022 Extending My Mind in Surprising Ways If you are anything like President Katie Conboy, you probably made some new year’s resolutions, and at least some of them might have been about “productivity.” One recent morning, she went out for a long walk and learned some lessons that turned her resolutions inside out. Comfort and Joy: Delighting in the return of holiday traditions Read More December 2, 2021 Comfort and Joy: Delighting in the return of holiday traditions In her monthly letter to the community, President Conboy relishes a return to holiday traditions, both on campus and within her family. "Indeed, these special seasonal gatherings allow those of us here at Saint Mary’s to dwell in the spirit, to find respite from the busy tempo of our lives." Upon Reflection Read More November 8, 2021 Upon Reflection Inauguration events brought to mind the "ancestors" of the Office of the President for President Katie Conboy, and Sister M. Madeleva Wolff, CSC, was present to her throughout the week. Branch Out and Stay Rooted Read More September 3, 2021 Branch Out and Stay Rooted "This idea had occurred to me one evening as I contemplated the stately trees that line The Avenue and the many other majestic trees on campus that make this place a kind of sanctuary. What can a tree teach us?" President Katie Conboy muses in her September letter to the College the ways in which trees can serve as a metaphor for our Saint Mary's experience. Celebrating Resilience Together Read More August 10, 2021 Celebrating Resilience Together One ending is always the beginning of something new, whether it’s the end of a college education or the end of a global pandemic. Upon Reflection Read More August 10, 2021 Upon Reflection In the Summer 2021 edition of Courier, President Conboy reflects on women taking flight. The Dog Days of Summer Read More August 3, 2021 The Dog Days of Summer In her August letter, President Conboy dives into the origin of "the dog days of summer." What a Difference a Year Makes Read More June 1, 2021 What a Difference a Year Makes In her June letter, President Conboy reflects on her first year at Saint Mary's, its challenges and difficult decisions, but looks forward to the fall with an invigorated spirit of purpose.