January 1, 2012 Educating Tomorrow's Female Global Leaders (AACU newsletter) Over the summer, Saint Mary’s College welcomed twenty undergraduate women from Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Burma (Myanmar), and Mongolia for a five-week Study of the United States Institute (SUSI) for Student Leaders. Funded by the Department of State and run through the College’s Center for Women’s Intercultural Leadership (CWIL), the institute aimed to facilitate a better understanding of the United States abroad and to contribute to the development of future world leaders. This article appears in the fall/winter issue of Association of American Colleges and Universities (AACU) newsletter. January 1, 2012 Bold Beauty Conference Tackles Media Impressions of Beauty (Fox 28) On Tuesday, May 1, students will host the 4th annual Bold Beauty Conference, an event that challenges societal standards of beauty. This year’s conference will focus on issues women face in the workplace. The event, which is free and open to the public, will take place from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the Student Center. Jolynn Williams ’12, one of the event organizers, was interviewed this morning on Fox 28. January 1, 2012 Poli Sci Prof Says Super Tuesday "Not Super" (WSBT-AM) Political science professor Sean Savage offers his insights on the outcome of Super Tuesday. The day was "not super" for any one Republican candidate, said Savage. Mitt Romney won six states, Rick Santorum clinched three, and Newt Gingrich prevailed in one. January 1, 2012 Lifestyle Balance for Women, a Motivational Evening The Women’s Entrepreneurship Initiative (WEI) at Saint Mary’s College and KeyBank will host a talk titled “Lifestyle Balance!” given by motivational speaker Joni Arredia, “The Queen of Self Esteem.” Women business owners are encouraged to attend this free event in Stapleton Lounge of Le Mans Hall on Thursday, November 15. It begins at 5 p.m. with a wine and cheese reception. January 1, 2012 Professor on "You're Not Special" High School Graduation Address (WSBT... It’s a news story that’s gone viral, a Boston-area high school teacher's blunt commencement speech that told graduates they "are not special." Wellesley High School English teacher David McCullough, Jr. told them: "You've been pampered, cosseted, doted upon, helmeted, bubble wrapped ... You see, if everyone is special, then no one is. If everyone gets a trophy, trophies become meaningless ...We Americans, to our detriment, have come to love accolades more than genuine achievement." Is this a message teenagers need to hear? Professor Rebecca Stoddart, a developmental psychologist at Saint Mary’s College offers her opinions. January 1, 2012 Saint Mary's Welcomes Director of Human Resources and College Counsel Saint Mary’s College is pleased to announce and welcome Richard F. Nugent, Jr. to the position of director of human Resources and college counsel. Nugent comes to Saint Mary's with 16 years of human resources experience including six years at the University of Notre Dame. He spent 11 years as a practicing attorney with May Oberfell Lorber in Mishawaka. He has also served as outside counsel to Saint Mary’s College. January 1, 2012 Professor's Tips for Blended Families during Holidays (WSBT-AM) Holidays and family. The combination can bring joy and anxiety. Trying to visit and buy gifts for two sides of the family can be tricky. But for many, the family is much larger. The fact is, 60% of first marriages in the U.S. end in divorce. About 75% of divorced people remarry and most bring kids into the marriage. According to the Census Bureau, more Americans live with step-families than in nuclear families.Saint Mary’s College associate professor of psychology Catherine Pittman, whose expertise is anxiety and stress, has some tips for the holidays. January 1, 2012 Business Professor: Save Early and Often (Bankrate.com) For many years, baby boomers and other workers looked at their homes as giant piggy banks. Rather than saving for retirement, they assumed rising home values would bail them out in their golden years. But since 2008, a "huge paradigm shift" has made the road to a secure retirement much rockier, according to Jill Vihtelic, professor of business at Saint Mary's College. Vihtelic says the best way to prepare for an "uncertain future" is to spend less and invest your savings. January 1, 2012 Students to Host Dance Marathon-Related Events Feb. 6-10 The countdown has begun for the seventh annual Dance Marathon at Saint Mary's College. The event is less than two months away, taking place on Saturday, March 31 from noon until midnight in the Angela Athletic Facility. Dance Marathon is organized completely by Saint Mary’s students and benefits Riley Hospital for Children, a Children’s Miracle Network facility. The Indianapolis hospital treats sick children from all over the state, including the South Bend area.