March 25, 2026
A Celebration of Inspiring Women
In 1986, the National Women’s History Project successfully petitioned Congress to expand Women’s History Week to encompass all of March, so we can celebrate the women whose contributions have changed the world. Every day at Saint Mary’s, students are taught about extraordinary women. We asked our faculty to share a few of the innovative women—past or present—who are shaping their curriculum.
March 25, 2026
The Indelible Mark of Saint Mary’s
Born in 1931 into a working-class Catholic family in Depression-era Ohio, Betty Ann Ames Dorsay ’55 worked tirelessly to afford college, first earning her nursing diploma, then arriving at Saint Mary’s on a working scholarship at age 22. By day she served as the campus nurse, followed by long night shifts at Memorial Hospital in downtown South Bend. She’d often return close to midnight, finding the Dean of Women, Sister M. Sophia (Winifred Morris ’30), CSC, waiting for Betty at the dormitory door as the taxi dropped her off.
Saint Mary’s didn’t just educate Betty; it shaped a lifetime of resilience, faith, and service. She became a head nurse, raised six children, and today—at 95—still begins and ends each day in New Jersey talking with God while feeding the birds, ducks, squirrels, and even the gentle night creatures that wait patiently for her.
March 3, 2026
Summer Camps and Programs Welcomes New Director, Andrew Pierce
Saint Mary’s Summer Camps and Programs has announced that Andrew Pierce will lead the Dialogue and Democracy Institute, a pre-college program running July 12 – 17.
February 24, 2026
The Transformative Power of Grace
In her February letter, President Katie Conboy offers a poignant reflection on one of the most pressing questions of our time: what it truly means to "live well together in a fractured world." After a visit to Washington, DC, and attending a Mass celebrated by Cardinal Robert McElroy, her reflection on "Love" feels especially urgent. Echoing the cardinal's message, President Conboy challenges readers to reimagine February not merely as a celebration of individual affection, but as a call to radical, communal love—love which has the power to heal and illuminate paths forward in a divided world.
February 17, 2026
Voice and Swallow Lab Added to Speech-Language Pathology Grad Studies
A new Voice and Swallow Lab launched this month at Saint Mary’s. The Lab serves as both a treatment choice for patients in the Judd Leighton Speech and Language Clinic and a way to train SLP graduate students and medical professionals in the community. “We’re hopeful this lab will strengthen partnerships with ear, nose, and throat physicians in the region—particularly by creating a referral pathway for patients who can’t afford, or don’t have access to, high-quality voice and swallowing assessment and treatment. At the same time, it gives our graduate students meaningful, hands-on training with the same kind of equipment and processes they’ll encounter in clinical practice,” said Erin Connelly, director of the graduate SLP program.
February 12, 2026
Two Departments Create a Culture of Giving for Saint Mary’s College
Year after year, the 48 employees within the Campus Services departments demonstrate their belief in and commitment to Saint Mary’s during the College’s annual giving event, Donor Challenge. The 48 not only give, for the past eight years, they have been the first department to give at 100 percent. “We have a good team,” said Supervisor Ashley DeFault. “So, when it comes time, they just want to give back for what Saint Mary’s has done for them.”
February 10, 2026
First Year Seminars Foster Dialogue, Belonging
Course topics such as Religions and the Good Life; Event Design; #MeToo: Communication, Advocacy, and Accountability; Race and Place in 20th Century America; and Mystery Across Time, Space, and Text defy comparison at first glance. However, these First Year Seminar (FYS) classes, taught for the first time last fall at Saint Mary’s College, shared a common goal: to create community and to foster a culture of belonging through meaningful dialogue.
February 9, 2026
Toni Brock Johnson ’89 Named 2026 Shannon Executive Scholar
In January 2026, Saint Mary’s College welcomed Toni Brock Johnson ’89 as the Shannon Executive Scholar. A trailblazing alumna, Johnson returned to share her remarkable career. From pharmaceutical sales pioneer to corporate vice president, entrepreneur, and advocate for women and sustainability, Johnson met with current students in business, chemistry, and STEM classes.
February 2, 2026
Saint Mary’s Summer Camps and Programs Launches Leadership and Purpo...
As Saint Mary’s College prepares to welcome another season of campers to campus this summer, it does so with a new pre-college program: The Leadership and Purpose Institute.