March 29, 2026
Showing Up for the Next Generation: Why Giving to Saint Mary’s Matte...
Kelly Cook Lewis' 97 is a regular visitor to the College, offering her time and talents to assorted committees and student initiatives. Lewis is also relishing in her time as a champion for Ring Out Ring True, the College’s fundraising campaign, which will publicly launch on June 6. Recently, Lewis sat with us to talk about the benefits of giving, and how Saint Mary’s continues to be part of her life.
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.
January 20, 2026
Dog Tales
For Marilyn Dargis Ambrose ’52, dogs have been constant companions throughout her long, adventurous life serving others. In December, Ambrose, age 94, published her first book, Caleb, Come: Quotidian Miracles of a Therapy Dog. She graduated from Saint Mary's College with a degree in dietetics in the Home Economics department and a minor in chemistry. She and her late husband Raymond welcomed 10 children over their marriage. Ambrose went on to earn her PhD from Purdue University in English and Environmental Design. Following retirement, she served in the Peace Corps in Lithuania.
January 4, 2026
A Legacy Blazes Her Own Trail
“Saint Mary's always felt like my second home,” said Emily Peppers Towne. The daughter of alumna Lisa Reed Peppers, who has worked at Saint Mary’s for 37 years, Emily says this early exposure created that sense of belonging. “Even before I formally attended Saint Mary’s, it already felt like it was my second home."
January 3, 2026
Why Choosing Saint Mary's Was Her Best Decision
When Nadia Muniz arrived at Saint Mary’s College, she knew she’d be part of a strong science program. What she found was something bigger: a campus community that felt like home, professors who pushed her to be her best, and research opportunities that helped launch her into a highly competitive role at Pfizer.
November 11, 2025
Saint Mary’s College Named a National Unique Venue
The Office of Campus Experience and Events at Saint Mary’s College was named a 2025 Planner’s Choice Award winner by Unique Venues, a national collective that celebrates outstanding meeting and event destinations.Recognized in the Small Venue category, Saint Mary’s earned distinction for the versatility of its campus spaces and the exceptional volume and quality of hosted events.
October 20, 2025
Pivot and Persevere—Laura Early '15
When Laura Early ’15, lower right, returned to Saint Mary’s for her 10-year college reunion in May, she said the experience felt like coming home. During her years at the College, Early was a strong student and president of the Sisters of Nefertiti, now known as the Black Student Association. She overcame much adversity during her college days, earning her bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a minor in Business. She’s the founder and CEO of Heart of Gold Senior Group Home in Maricopa, Arizona.
August 7, 2025
A Father's Influence, A Lifelong Impact
Joanne Gatti’s Saint Mary's story didn’t begin with her own college search, but much earlier—woven into the fabric of her childhood by her father, William Marshall Gatti, M.D. “My father graduated from Notre Dame in 1960,” the alumna from the Class of ’93 explains. “Family trips to Notre Dame football games often included unplanned detours to Saint Mary's campus. The car would just find its way down the Avenue.” Guided by love and a transformative Saint Mary's experience, Gatti hopes to inspire self-discovery and curiosity in future students.
June 30, 2025
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.