The Case for Social Capital Social capital is all about strong relationships and mutual trust. In this month's letter, President Conboy discusses how joining—being part of a collective—not only raises one's social capital, it has the power to elevate an entire community. The Power of Story For the past three years, we have been working steadily to achieve the goals outlined in our strategic plan, Revere and Revise. Several exciting projects are coming together as we complete the first phase of the plan and move into 2024. In her first letter of the year, President Conboy dives deeper into what this means for the Saint Mary's institutional story. College is a Bag of Beans The College has been ripe with cultural events this fall. There is so much to do, and in her monthly letter, President Conboy brings to mind the many ways there is to learn. "A college education is a bag of beans: it’s up to students to plant them, climb the stalks, find the treasures." All Y’all Are Welcome Here On the first Sunday after their arrival on campus, President Conboy spoke with several first-year students after Mass. In her August letter to the community, she reflects on this conversation, and how the simple phrase "all y'all" embodies the welcoming spirit of Saint Mary's College. Swing High and Let It Fly Swing high and let it fly! President Conboy asks: What could be better words than these—not just for golf balls and baseballs, but for the ambitions and the accomplishments of Saint Mary’s students and graduates, and frankly, for our ambitions for the future of the College? Our Graduates Step Out! Taking a beat to reflect on the high spirits of a beautiful Commencement weekend, President Conboy shares her admiration of the hundreds of graduates who made their way across the stage and took hold of their moment that was years in the making. Creativity Is In Our DNA At Saint Mary’s, April and May are the months when we see many culminating projects that demonstrate “vigorous creative activity” of different kinds. This month, President Conboy takes a look at the breadth of creative works that emerge from the Saint Mary's community. Let’s Make History We are called to develop leaders of moral imagination and civic commitment—people who will build community, strive for justice, lift up the least advantaged, and collaborate to steward our planet. At this moment, when girls and young women have momentous needs, President Katie Conboy commits Saint Mary's to be part of women’s history by shaping the future. The Shortest Month Brings Moments of Awe In her February letter to the community, President Conboy explores two experiences she's witnessed in recent weeks at Saint Mary’s. The first is the awe that stems from the actions of other people, the “moral beauty.” The other is “collective effervescence” in which humans come together around a shared purpose and feel a sense of energy and harmony.