Saint Mary's News & Stories

Saint Mary’s College Adds Vice President and Chief of Staff to Leadership Team

President Katie Conboy announced today that Erin M. Hoffmann Harding, J.D. will join the leadership team at Saint Mary’s College on August 1 as Vice President for Strategy and Legal Affairs and Chief of Staff.

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From Camper to Counselor: Navigating SMC from a New Point of View

Summer 2016: A young girl walks in ready to take on summer at Saint Mary's. The world of Fine Arts is ready to be explored, there are friends to be made, and fun to be had. Little did she know that this summer would propel her into her future at Saint Mary’s. Elizabeth (Libby) Dunn '28  began as a returning camper, taking all four years, exploring each discipline the fine arts camp had to offer. These four years helped solidify her decision to pursue a bachelor's degree in Music here at Saint Mary’s. 

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Threshold Moments May and June have been busy months, full of the wonderful occasions that mark this time of year. In mid-May, Saint Mary's celebrated the accomplishments of our graduating seniors and sent them out into the world with the anticipated pomp and circumstance. And just a few weeks later, we welcomed alumnae—the 0s and 5s—for Reunion weekend. In this month's letter, President Conboy reflects on other such threshold moments. Serving Alongside the Sisters The Sisters of the Holy Cross have spent generations planting seeds of compassion, community, and Gospel-rooted service around the world. They invite others to help those roots grow. Dress for Success Event Held at SMC Thirty young women are serving as camp counselors in Valparaiso, Ind., this summer thanks to a collaboration between the Camp Counselor Career (C4) Program, the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago, and Northwest Indiana. These young women will serve as camp counselors in their summer camps in Valparaiso, Ind., many of whom come from underrepresented backgrounds. As part of the program, the young women all receive career training designed to prepare them for life beyond camp. In support of this initiative, Saint Mary's College, the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago & Northwest Indiana, and Dress for Success Michiana joined forces on Wednesday, June 11, to host a Dress for Success workshop between Holy Cross and Spes Unica here at the college New Trustees Join Saint Mary’s College Board On June 11, Saint Mary’s College welcomed seven new members to the Board of Trustees at the 2025 summer meeting. The new Trustees are Christina Calhoun Augustine ’96, Mollie Meehan Baumer ’90, David M. Jones, Candace L. Novak Sabers ’96, young alumna Trustee Princess Mae Dela Rosa Visconde ’18; and new student Trustee, Angelina Stupak ’26. The Board also welcomed new Trustee Sister Sharlet Ann Wagner, CSC, President of the Sisters of the Holy Cross, who began her term in January. Oh, It’s On for the Class of 1950 As Reunion 2025 nears, Sister Geneal Kramer, OP and Anne Reynolds Pyron, alumnae from the Class of 1950, reminisce about their days as students at Saint Mary’s College. The classmates were among one of the last graduating classes from Sister Madeleva Wolff’s presidency. New Club Brings Awareness to Asian American Pacific Islanders May marks Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, a time to raise awareness and educate others about AAPI culture. Avery Lazaro ’26 recognized the need for this kind of awareness at Saint Mary’s. “It has been my mission in leadership positions to spread awareness of our underrepresented communities on campus, and that includes AAPI,” Lazaro says. In 2024, she made good on that mission by launching the Asian American Pacific Islanders club on campus. Five Saint Mary’s Faculty Receive Honors On May 6, President Katie Conboy and Interim Provost Megan Zwart honored five faculty members for a variety of awards and recognitions at the 2025 President’s Reception. The reception was held in Stapleton Lounge in Le Mans Hall. Megan Zwart Named Provost and Vice President Dr. Megan Halteman Zwart will transition to the role of Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs on June 1, 2025. For the past year, Zwart has served as the College's Interim Provost. A Mother’s Lasting Gift for Her Daughter In 1990, Jennifer Herzog Clark ’90 graduated from Saint Mary's with a heart full of literature, a gift for writing, and the love of her professor and peers. A joyful soul who cherished Faulkner, Plath, and quiet moments at the Grotto, Jennifer lived her life with grace—even through a decade-long battle with brain cancer that took her too soon, just shy of her 20th reunion. Today, thanks to the enduring love of her family and friends, Jennifer’s light shines on through a scholarship endowment in her name. From a memorial bench beneath the shade trees outside the dining hall to a lasting investment in the futures of young women, her story is one of inspiration, resilience, and faith.