Broadway's Audra McDonald Coming to Saint Mary's (playbill.com) Read More Broadway's Audra McDonald Coming to Saint Mary's (playbill.com) January 1, 2012 Playbill posted Broadway star Audra McDonald's January 28 visit to Saint Mary's College on its website. Five students are preparing to perform for her in a master class. What an opportunity! Alumna and Broadway producer Margaret Hill makes these annual visiting artist opportunities possible through her endowment. Saint Mary's College Announces $10 Million Combined Gift Read More Saint Mary's College Announces $10 Million Combined Gift January 1, 2012 With gratitude, Saint Mary's College President, Carol Ann Mooney, announced today that Saint Mary’s received the largest single private gift in the College’s 167-year history. A Student's Best Friend (South Bend Tribune) Read More A Student's Best Friend (South Bend Tribune) January 1, 2012 Most college dormitory policies clearly state "no pets allowed," but that's no longer the case at Saint Mary's College. In an attempt to attract more seniors to live on campus, the college now allows seniors living in Regina South to keep dogs weighing less than 30 pounds and cats. Students Cassandra Jerkovic '13 and Mara Scott '13 are interviewed for this article, as is Janielle Tchakerian, assistant vice president for Student Affairs and director of Residence Life. Human Trafficking, More Common Than We Think (Ask an Expert, WNIT-PBS) Read More Human Trafficking, More Common Than We Think (Ask an Expert, WNIT-PBS) January 1, 2012 She's appeared on The Today Show, MSNBC and several other television shows and Friday, Theresa Flores spoke at Saint Mary's. As a teen from an upper-middle class family in Michigan, Flores was forced into the sex trade and talked about her experience. Her story is an example of human trafficking. The College’s Justice Education Program and Congregation’s Justice Office coordinated the engagement, with support from Social Work students in the course Human Behavior and the Social Environment II. Flores, who is a licensed social worker, also spoke about what students can do to join the abolitionist movement. On this local PBS program, "Ask an Expert," Flores appears with Jan Pilarski, director of Justice Education at Saint Mary's; Amy Smessaert, director of communications for the Sisters of the Holy Cross; and Becky Callendar, with S-O-S of St. Joseph County. College Announces New Director of Gift Planning Read More College Announces New Director of Gift Planning January 1, 2012 Saint Mary’s College is pleased to announce and welcome Jennifer Winnett Denniston ’98 as director of gift planning. Denniston began her position earlier this fall. In her new position Denniston serves as the primary representative for the Mother Pauline Society, the College’s gift planning society. Denniston works with alumnae and friends of the College as Saint Mary’s gift planning representative for the development and administration of a comprehensive gift-planning program. Old Issues Linger in This Election (South Bend Tribune) Read More Old Issues Linger in This Election (South Bend Tribune) January 1, 2012 Political science professor Sean Savage is interviewed on what the issues are that voters care about. He says it boils down to how much people want the government to be involved in the economy. "Even though technically the recession ended in 2009, we still have a stagnant economy and slow economic growth," Savage said. "People are trying to figure out why we have a slow economy and what we can do about it." Mahoney Tabbed as MIAA Player of the Week Read More Mahoney Tabbed as MIAA Player of the Week January 1, 2012 ROYAL OAK, Mich. – The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association has named Saint Mary's guard Patsy Mahoney its Player of the Week in women's basketball for games played through February 4. Christmas Madrigal Dinners Are Coming! (WNIT-TV) Read More Christmas Madrigal Dinners Are Coming! (WNIT-TV) January 1, 2012 The Saint Mary’s College Department of Music will present its 40th annual Madrigal Dinners, November 30-December 2. It's a Renaissance-style Christmas banquet and performance celebration. The merry feast includes entertainment provided by colorfully attired singers, instrumentalists, jugglers, a jester, and a lord of the manor. This year there's a new set (designed and constructed by students), a new script (by a faculty member), and the Madrigal Dancers are back. Tickets available at moreaucenter.com. Conductor and music professor Nancy Menk and Joy Viceroy '13, a Madrigal Singer, recently appeared on the WNIT (PBS) program Experience Michiana. Belles Earn NSCAA Team Academic Award Read More Belles Earn NSCAA Team Academic Award January 1, 2012 KANSAS CITY, Kan. - The Saint Mary's College soccer team was one of 498 NCAA Division I, II, and III and NAIA women's teams to earn the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Team Academic Award for the 2011-12 academic year.