Saint Mary's News & Stories

Amplify Your Saint Mary’s Degree with a Graduate Certification in Autism Studies

Saint Mary’s currently offers a Graduate Certificate in Autism Studies, and undergraduates can complete the four-course certificate while earning their bachelor’s degree at no additional cost. “This credential helps the students to stand out from the crowd,” said Michael Waddell, professor of Philosophy and director of the Autism Studies program. “Having this very distinctive credential positions them to go into their fields and develop a level of specialization in autism. It allows them to stand out from the competition.”

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On Being Local

In her October letter, President Conboy reflects on her Fall break in South Bend which sparked new, unexpected discoveries. Influenced by two local artists who extract native dyes and honor ancestral memories, a simple wrong turn on a drive becomes an invitation to see familiar Midwest landscapes with fresh eyes, leading to deeper curiosity and renewed wonder in a place she calls "home".

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October 21, 2026 Professional Success and Personal Faith Christina Fleming ’90 decided long ago that if she were ever in a position to give back, she would. It wasn’t only what she refers to as her “Midwestern Catholic values” that led to this decision, but also a stint working on life-threatening disease research with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital early in her career that led her to establish The Nekvasil Fund, and later The Fleming Giesinger Family Endowed Research Fund. October 20, 2026 From Nepal to Saint Mary’s College Shreejan Shrestha’s journey to becoming a digital fabrication instructor and director of the Spark Lab at Saint Mary’s College took him more than 10 years and a distance of about 8,000 miles to complete. The Spark Lab is an entrepreneurial maker space and a hub for collaboration and innovation at the College. Reflecting on his journey from Nepal to Saint Mary’s College, Shrestha said, “It has been a wild ride.” October 20, 2026 Sparking Imagination in the Spark Lab For the past three years, Shreejan Shrestha, Digital Fabrication Instructor in the Department of Art, has directed the Spark Lab, a makerspace that encourages hands-on learning, creativity, and collaboration at Saint Mary’s College. What began as a creative innovation hub where users could create buttons, stickers, and totes has expanded to include the design and fabrication of learning aids for a multitude of adaptive and academic applications. September 29, 2026 Saint Mary’s First International Student Body President, Daniela Riv... We’re proud to celebrate Daniela Rivera ’27, Saint Mary’s first international student body president. We sat down with Rivera to hear more about her experience at Saint Mary’s, her journey as a student leader, and the ways her culture has shaped her leadership. September 28, 2026 Belief and Practice Animate Our Work In her September letter, President Conboy frames leadership as a delicate balance between visionary belief and daily practice. For Conboy, "Belief gives us a horizon; practice is how we move toward it. Perhaps leadership—and perhaps a life shaped by mission—asks us to hold the two together: to keep believing in something just beyond our reach while doing, faithfully and sometimes quite routinely, the work that brings it a little closer." September 22, 2026 Saint Mary’s College Receives Six Key Rankings from U.S. News and W... Saint Mary’s College announced that it received six national rankings from U.S. News and World Report in its list of Best Colleges for 2027. September 22, 2026 Liz Hanlon Sands ’04: A Story of Courage and Change Alumna Liz Hanlon Sands ’04 is a survivor and a thriver. As part of the upcoming Raise Your Voice Sexual Violence Prevention Symposium, Sands will share her story with the College community, showing her trajectory from survivor to advocate. "I feel called to keep sharing my story and to continue to find ways to help and encourage others to do the same.” September 21, 2026 Young Donors Make a Long-Term Impact Millennial and older Gen-Z alumnae at Saint Mary’s are carving their own path for charitable gifts which, down the road, will have a big impact. In this interview, alumnae Caroline Johnson '18 and Julia Wilson '21 discuss how being part of the Young Madeleva Society is an opportunity worth sharing. September 15, 2026 Lauren Groff and Marion Turner to Deliver 2026 Francis A. McAnaney Hu... Authors Lauren Groff and Marion Turner will be live on stage at Saint Mary's College on September 23 to share their take on storytelling and truth-telling. The public is invited to attend as Groff and Turner come together to deliver the 2026 Francis A. McAnaney Humanities Lecture.