Saint Mary's News & Stories

Sister Helen Prejean, CSJ, Visits Saint Mary’s College…Again

Helen Prejean, CSJ, is a lecturer, activist, and author of several books, including The New York Times bestseller, Dead Man Walking. Prejean is a member of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph and is a leading advocate for abolishing the death penalty in the United States. In May 2025, Saint Mary’s College bestowed upon Prejean the title Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters, recognizing her lifelong ministry and pursuit of justice.

Read More
Rise Together Mural Project Creates Community Through Art

During National Hispanic Heritage Month, area middle and high school students and South Bend artist Federico Rodriguez III collaborated to create a 6x20 foot mural titled Rise Together. The project’s mission—to create uplifting imagery of girls supporting each other, symbolizing education, leadership, and strength—aligns with the mission of Saint Mary’s College of empowering women and building leadership skills. For seven weeks, students gathered with Rodriguez in Moreau Gallery on evenings and weekends to build community, create friendships, and develop new artistic skills. The mural features bold images of a jaguar, a girl holding up the world, a tree with a heart at its pulsing center, and a friendly cat, all surrounded by fluffy clouds and roses. The project wrapped up with a mural unveiling and reception for the students, their families, and the South Bend community on November 13, 2025.

Read More

Saint Mary's Stories Archive

Search Stories
November 11, 2025 Saint Mary’s College Named a National Unique Venue The Office of Campus Experience and Events at Saint Mary’s College was named a 2025 Planner’s Choice Award winner by Unique Venues, a national collective that celebrates outstanding meeting and event destinations.Recognized in the Small Venue category, Saint Mary’s earned distinction for the versatility of its campus spaces and the exceptional volume and quality of hosted events. November 6, 2025 Saint Mary’s Healthcare Summer Institute Provides Sisterhood and Com... As the fall season progresses, it’s hard not to reminisce about warm summer memories, when campus was packed with hundreds of students participating in Summer Camps and Programs. Ava Kennard was one of them. October 31, 2025 A Song for Autumn With the campus bathed in late season light, President Conboy reflects upon patterns big and small, and how their continuity fortifies the College and its mission rooted in learning, faith, community, and justice. October 29, 2025 Allison Koenig McLean ’98 named 2025 Shannon Executive Scholar This October, Saint Mary’s College welcomed home alumna Allison Koenig McLean ’98 as the 2025 Shannon Executive Scholar. Over the course of two days on campus, McLean visited several Business Administration and Economics classes, such as Principles of Marketing, Advertising and Promotion, Brand Management, as well as an Introduction to Communication class. Both departments played a pivotal role in setting the stage for her career. Executive Scholars visit the College and share their expertise with students in professionally related classes as well as informal meetings. October 22, 2025 Language and Literacy Lab Opens in Havican Hall In September, Saint Mary's College dedicated the Language and Literacy Lab in Havican Hall, made possible by a generous donation from alumna Susan Scherer Calandra '72. The goal of the lab, according to Susan Olney Latham '91, associate professor of speech-language pathology, is to give children chances to interact with and learn from literature. The lab includes five instructional areas designed to engage children through reading, dramatic play, story time, writing, and art. “I can’t think of a better place than Saint Mary’s for this language and literacy lab to be born. Saint Mary’s excels at creating environments that nurture discovery," said Calandra. October 20, 2025 Pivot and Persevere—Laura Early '15 When Laura Early ’15, lower right, returned to Saint Mary’s for her 10-year college reunion in May, she said the experience felt like coming home. During her years at the College, Early was a strong student and president of the Sisters of Nefertiti, now known as the Black Student Association. She overcame much adversity during her college days, earning her bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a minor in Business. She’s the founder and CEO of Heart of Gold Senior Group Home in Maricopa, Arizona. October 2, 2025 A Heart for Giving Back: A Journey from Student to Scholarship Benefac... Denise Donofrio ’73 graduated from Saint Mary's with a business degree, a solid work ethic, and a desire to help others whenever possible. Decades later, she has established a scholarship to help young women earn a degree and maybe some day, continue the tradition of leadership and philanthropy. September 30, 2025 Creating Community In her monthly letter, President Conboy encourages us to use this moment in time to encounter each other more fully, to listen more generously, and to disagree without contempt. In doing so, she writes, we will model something urgently needed in our polarized world: a way of living together that is about seeking truth and building a common life that serves the common good. September 9, 2025 Rosary Rally Unites Community in Prayer On Sunday, September 7 from 1:30-3:30 a Holy Cross prayer event took place at Bond Quad on the University of Notre Dame campus. The event was the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of a rosary event held at ND in 1950 in which 20,000 people gathered in Notre Dame stadium. Sunday’s event was held to promote family prayer, especially the Rosary.