Communications from the President

Plans for Commencement and Reunion Read More February 5, 2021 Plans for Commencement and Reunion President Katie Conboy updates the Saint Mary's community on the College's plans for Commencement and the two Reunion weekends planned for this summer. Leaning Out and Listening Read More January 30, 2021 Leaning Out and Listening On January 24, 2021, President Katie Conboy offered the following liturgical reflection at the Church of Our Lady of Loretto. Skates and Snowshoes? Yes and YES! Read More January 28, 2021 Skates and Snowshoes? Yes and YES! When students arrive on campus, they're going to see some pretty "cool" additions. President Katie Conboy announced a skating rink is coming to Saint Mary's campus! Looking Back and Looking Forward Read More January 15, 2021 Looking Back and Looking Forward In a letter to the Saint Mary's community on January 15, 2021, President Katie Conboy announces the approval of the new strategic plan for the college. She touches on the spirit of "Looking Back and Looking Forward". A Call to Civil Discourse Read More January 8, 2021 A Call to Civil Discourse At Saint Mary’s, where we dedicate ourselves to the core values of learning, community, faith/spirituality, and justice, we have a special opportunity to become the kinds of citizens who will serve and protect our democracy and who will not be bystanders. The Season of Waiting Read More December 7, 2020 The Season of Waiting I’m sure that, like my husband and I, many of you celebrated an unusual Thanksgiving. But we are grateful for our health and for the safety of family and friends, even if we missed their presence around the table. Now we have all moved quickly from the season of gratitude to Advent, the season of waiting. Equity and Inclusion on our Campus Read More November 18, 2020 Equity and Inclusion on our Campus President Katie Conboy addresses Equity and Inclusion on our campus in a letter to the Saint Mary's Community on November 18, 2020 Building The Future to Scale Read More October 30, 2020 Building The Future to Scale Back in June, I mentioned that I would be living on campus in Riedinger House for my first several months at the College. I was amused that whenever I told someone this, they asked, “How does it feel to be in that miniature house?” And I had to admit: I hadn’t really noticed. Count Your Blessings Read More October 2, 2020 Count Your Blessings Dear Saint Mary’s Friends, There’s a serious moment in the 1991 comedy Hear My Song when Ned Beatty — who plays the real-life Irish tenor Josef Locke — sings one of Locke’s classic songs, “Count Your Blessings.” It is a favorite movie moment for me, and I began playing Locke’s recording of the tune right after the prayer at our family’s Thanksgiving meal each year. It became a tradition. I know we haven’t even reached Halloween yet, much less Thanksgiving, but I find myself humming “Count Your Blessings” quite a lot these days. Spring Semester 2021 Plans Read More September 24, 2020 Spring Semester 2021 Plans Saint Mary's celebrates our seventh week on campus and announces plans for the spring semester. Expecting the Unexpected Read More August 26, 2020 Expecting the Unexpected Dear Saint Mary’s Friends, We often talk with students about becoming life-long learners, and this year the entire faculty and staff at Saint Mary’s have had to lead by example, demonstrating the many ways that we, too, can remain open, flexible, determined, and creative in our work. A Letter from the President Read More August 19, 2020 A Letter from the President In a letter to the students of Saint Mary's College, President Katie Conboy urges students to stay on campus. "Let me be clear. Our precious time together on campus is at risk," she writes. "Right now, while we have only three positive cases among the Saint Mary’s College community, we are growing concerned. The trends on other campuses — high infection numbers that are largely due to off-campus activities — are undermining our own campus precautions. We are alarmed by what we are seeing, and it has us on high alert." The Chance to Explore Read More July 28, 2020 The Chance to Explore Dear Saint Mary’s Community, When I ended my letter to you last month, I was feeling the heady rush of the Le Mans start: I compared launching my first week as President of Saint Mary’s with revving up for that classic endurance race involving high-powered automobiles. But at the end of my message, I promised that while I would continue to move quickly to get up to speed (as it were), I would also slow down and balance important decisions and actions with research and reflection on the unique character of this College. Live Learn Work: Our Fall 2020 Semester Read More July 9, 2020 Live Learn Work: Our Fall 2020 Semester President Katie Conboy outlines the first steps for students arriving to campus. The Le Mans Start Read More June 10, 2020 The Le Mans Start Dear Saint Mary’s Friends, Greetings from the President’s Office in Le Mans Hall! I arrived at Saint Mary’s just over a week ago and found the campus in its late-Spring glory, but strangely devoid of people! The sun had just set when I arrived at Riedinger House, where I’ll be staying until my husband and our two cats join me later in the summer. The church bells were the only interruption of a deep and abiding silence.