Neglecting the Right Things Read More October 31, 2024 Neglecting the Right Things In reflecting on the book Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman, President Conboy finds his perspective on our relationship with time to be both challenging and refreshing. His reminder to accept our finite time resonates deeply as she asks us to consider what we would hope to see in the rear-view mirrors of our own lives. That's the Spirit! Read More September 25, 2024 That's the Spirit! It's Spirit Week at Saint Mary's, and in this month's communication, President Conboy describes how the rich array of talent and character of our student population activates our collective strength and vitality. Leavening Our World and Each Other Read More August 12, 2024 Leavening Our World and Each Other Recently, Father Bill Lies, CSC, challenged his congregants to consider the ways in which we are providing spiritual and emotional sustenance for others, and the ways in which we receive such sustenance in return. President Conboy left Mass and reflected on the ways in which our community is leavening our world and each other. From Garden to Table: Food for Thought Read More July 1, 2024 From Garden to Table: Food for Thought In this summer season of growth and thriving, President Conboy reflects on her recent sojourn to the Eternal City with leaders from other Catholic institutions. The powerful experience, she shares, has provided her with food for thought about the place Saint Mary's holds in today's world. The Endlessly Renewable Story of Saint Mary's College Read More June 11, 2024 The Endlessly Renewable Story of Saint Mary's College The academic year is in the rear-view mirror, with Commencement and now even Reunion behind us. What a whirlwind of festivities, smiles, and tears. In her monthly letter, President Conboy takes a little time to reflect on what really matters in the work that our faculty and staff do with students every day. Strengthening Our Bonds Read More April 30, 2024 Strengthening Our Bonds Saint Mary’s is a community of learners. In this month's letter, President Conboy continues her commitment to a high standard of honest discourse, and shares her hope that in learning from each other's differences, our bonds will grow stronger. The Case for Social Capital Read More February 29, 2024 The Case for Social Capital Social capital is all about strong relationships and mutual trust. In this month's letter, President Conboy discusses how joining—being part of a collective—not only raises one's social capital, it has the power to elevate an entire community. The Power of Story Read More January 8, 2024 The Power of Story For the past three years, we have been working steadily to achieve the goals outlined in our strategic plan, Revere and Revise. Several exciting projects are coming together as we complete the first phase of the plan and move into 2024. In her first letter of the year, President Conboy dives deeper into what this means for the Saint Mary's institutional story. College is a Bag of Beans Read More October 9, 2023 College is a Bag of Beans The College has been ripe with cultural events this fall. There is so much to do, and in her monthly letter, President Conboy brings to mind the many ways there is to learn. "A college education is a bag of beans: it’s up to students to plant them, climb the stalks, find the treasures." All Y’all Are Welcome Here Read More August 31, 2023 All Y’all Are Welcome Here On the first Sunday after their arrival on campus, President Conboy spoke with several first-year students after Mass. In her August letter to the community, she reflects on this conversation, and how the simple phrase "all y'all" embodies the welcoming spirit of Saint Mary's College. Swing High and Let It Fly Read More July 24, 2023 Swing High and Let It Fly Swing high and let it fly! President Conboy asks: What could be better words than these—not just for golf balls and baseballs, but for the ambitions and the accomplishments of Saint Mary’s students and graduates, and frankly, for our ambitions for the future of the College? Our Graduates Step Out! Read More May 22, 2023 Our Graduates Step Out! Taking a beat to reflect on the high spirits of a beautiful Commencement weekend, President Conboy shares her admiration of the hundreds of graduates who made their way across the stage and took hold of their moment that was years in the making. Creativity Is In Our DNA Read More May 1, 2023 Creativity Is In Our DNA At Saint Mary’s, April and May are the months when we see many culminating projects that demonstrate “vigorous creative activity” of different kinds. This month, President Conboy takes a look at the breadth of creative works that emerge from the Saint Mary's community. Let’s Make History Read More March 31, 2023 Let’s Make History We are called to develop leaders of moral imagination and civic commitment—people who will build community, strive for justice, lift up the least advantaged, and collaborate to steward our planet. At this moment, when girls and young women have momentous needs, President Katie Conboy commits Saint Mary's to be part of women’s history by shaping the future. The Shortest Month Brings Moments of Awe Read More February 28, 2023 The Shortest Month Brings Moments of Awe In her February letter to the community, President Conboy explores two experiences she's witnessed in recent weeks at Saint Mary’s. The first is the awe that stems from the actions of other people, the “moral beauty.” The other is “collective effervescence” in which humans come together around a shared purpose and feel a sense of energy and harmony.