January 1, 2013 Nursing Student on Sidelines with Notre Dame at Championship (Erie.com... Laura Krahe's interest in joining a college club has taken her on an unexpected path -- all the way to college football's national championship game. Krahe, a senior nursing student, told her hometown newspaper in Erie, PA, "One day during my freshman year they had clubs available for students of both schools," she said. "They chose seven out of fifteen to become full-time student trainers, and I was selected to work with the football team." January 1, 2013 Economist on Low Consumer Confidence and Holiday Shopping (WSBT-TV) A Gallup Poll found shoppers plan to spend less on the Christmas holiday this year compared to 2012. Experts say that means stores are focused on consumer confidence. While Black Friday is the biggest shopping day of the year, some economists and retail experts think the best deals may happen in the coming weeks. Richard Measell, assistant professor of economics and chair of the Department of Business Administration and Economics, was interviewed for this story. January 1, 2013 College Announces New Director of the Center for Spirituality Saint Mary’s College is pleased to announce that Elizabeth Groppe has joined the College as the director of the Center for Spirituality (CFS). Groppe served as an associate professor of theology at Xavier University in Cincinnati, teaching there from 2001 to 2013. For the past four years she also served as co-director of Xavier’s Ethics/Religion and Society Program, directing a lecture series that engaged members of the university and the Cincinnati community in interdisciplinary and interfaith exploration of issues of ecology and sustainability. January 1, 2013 Center for Women’s Intercultural Leadership Honored with National Aw... The Center for Women’s Intercultural Leadership (CWIL) at Saint Mary’s College has been named the 2012 recipient of the Diversity and Inclusion Award from the National Council for Research on Women (NCRW). NCRW is a network of 120 leading research, policy and advocacy centers committed to improving the lives of women and girls. CWIL will receive the award in June. January 1, 2013 Valencia Collects NSCAA Academic Honor KANSAS CITY, Kan. - Senior midfielder Mollie Valencia was one of only five MIAA women's soccer players to be named to the 2013 National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) College Division Women's Scholar All-North/Central Region list. January 1, 2013 College Announces Major Gifts Director Saint Mary’s College is pleased to announce and welcome Emily James as major gifts director. James brings an energetic and dynamic approach to this position, which she began in September. In her new role, James will initiate and strengthen relationships with donors, resulting in increased investment in the College. Her arrival comes at an opportune time, as the College is in the midst of the $80 million Faith Always, Action Now campaign, the largest in Saint Mary’s history. January 1, 2013 World Cinema Festival Feb. 11-15 : Women Make Movies 2013 The Saint Mary's College Center for Women’s Intercultural Leadership (CWIL) will host the World Cinema Festival: Women Make Movies, Monday, February 11 through Friday, February 15. The award-winning films, which are free and open to the public, will be shown in the Vander Vennet Theatre on the ground level of the Student Center each night at 7 p.m. January 1, 2013 Saint Mary’s College Announces 2013 Commencement News The College is proud to announce the 2013 Valedictorian is Allison Sherman, a computational mathematics major from Batavia, Illinois. The 2013 Commencement Speaker is social entrepreneur Kyle Zimmer, president and CEO of First Book, a non-profit that provides new books to children in need. She will receive an honorary doctor of humanities degree, as will Jennifer Mathile Prikkel ’95, a philanthropist, mentor, advocate, and entrepreneur whose list of priorities includes women’s access to quality education and fulfilling employment. January 1, 2013 Choirs to perform in Spring Choral Concert 2013, May 2 The Saint Mary’s College Department of Music will present the Spring Choral Concert with performances by the Saint Mary’s Women’s Choir and Collegiate Choir. The concert will take place on Thursday, May 2 at 7:30 p.m. in the Little Theater of the Moreau Center of the Arts.