March 3, 2026 Summer Camps and Programs Welcomes New Director, Andrew Pierce Saint Mary’s Summer Camps and Programs has announced that Andrew Pierce will lead the Dialogue and Democracy Institute, a pre-college program running July 12 – 17. February 27, 2026 Study Abroad Helped This Student Locate Her Moral Compass Mariá Balata Wilburn discovered her calling to leave the world a better place for others while at Saint Mary's. “There’s something really special about the environment that helps nurture the voices of people who typically go unheard. Saint Mary’s helped to find our voice.” A tattoo of the French cross on her wrist serves as a reminder of this moral compass. February 24, 2026 The Transformative Power of Grace In her February letter, President Katie Conboy offers a poignant reflection on one of the most pressing questions of our time: what it truly means to "live well together in a fractured world." After a visit to Washington, DC, and attending a Mass celebrated by Cardinal Robert McElroy, her reflection on "Love" feels especially urgent. Echoing the cardinal's message, President Conboy challenges readers to reimagine February not merely as a celebration of individual affection, but as a call to radical, communal love—love which has the power to heal and illuminate paths forward in a divided world. February 17, 2026 Voice and Swallow Lab Added to Speech-Language Pathology Grad Studies A new Voice and Swallow Lab launched this month at Saint Mary’s. The Lab serves as both a treatment choice for patients in the Judd Leighton Speech and Language Clinic and a way to train SLP graduate students and medical professionals in the community. “We’re hopeful this lab will strengthen partnerships with ear, nose, and throat physicians in the region—particularly by creating a referral pathway for patients who can’t afford, or don’t have access to, high-quality voice and swallowing assessment and treatment. At the same time, it gives our graduate students meaningful, hands-on training with the same kind of equipment and processes they’ll encounter in clinical practice,” said Erin Connelly, director of the graduate SLP program. February 12, 2026 Two Departments Create a Culture of Giving for Saint Mary’s College Year after year, the 48 employees within the Campus Services departments demonstrate their belief in and commitment to Saint Mary’s during the College’s annual giving event, Donor Challenge. The 48 not only give, for the past eight years, they have been the first department to give at 100 percent. “We have a good team,” said Supervisor Ashley DeFault. “So, when it comes time, they just want to give back for what Saint Mary’s has done for them.” February 10, 2026 First Year Seminars Foster Dialogue, Belonging Course topics such as Religions and the Good Life; Event Design; #MeToo: Communication, Advocacy, and Accountability; Race and Place in 20th Century America; and Mystery Across Time, Space, and Text defy comparison at first glance. However, these First Year Seminar (FYS) classes, taught for the first time last fall at Saint Mary’s College, shared a common goal: to create community and to foster a culture of belonging through meaningful dialogue. 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. February 2, 2026 Saint Mary’s Summer Camps and Programs Launches Leadership and Purpo... As Saint Mary’s College prepares to welcome another season of campers to campus this summer, it does so with a new pre-college program: The Leadership and Purpose Institute. January 30, 2026 Widening the Circle of Opportunity In her monthly letter, President Conboy reflects on the recent opening of the Prikkel Advising, Career, and Experience (PACE) Center. Here, she's finds herself reflecting on "how often important moments in the life of the College reveal something larger than the occasion itself." Read how the opening of the PACE Center reflects something essential about Saint Mary's: "We are not standing still. We are building with clarity and confidence—making judicious investments on behalf of our students."