September 12, 2008 (Notre Dame, Ind.)—Saint Mary’s College is proud to welcome back to campus alumna Mary Anne Luzar (SMC ’72), PhD, Chief of the Regulatory Affairs Branch, Division of AIDS, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health. Dr. Luzar, who works on international AIDS research for the Department of Health and Human Services and is originally from Greencastle, Ind., will teach a not-for-credit mini-course called “Human Clinical Trial Research: The Complex World of International Drug Development,” October 6-9.
August 6, 2008—Just as the fall athletic season gets underway at Saint Mary's College, the Belles have some extra support from the stands. Sarah Miesle ’07, a former Belles athlete herself, is the College’s new sports information director. In her position, Miesle will be the main media contact for athletics and will keep news outlets updated on the College’s teams through press releases, game notes and game summaries. She will also help create various media guides for the teams and maintain accurate individual and team statistics.
August 5, 2008—Congresswoman Donna Christensen (D) ’66, who represents the U.S.Virgin Islands, received an award from the Century Council on July 23 for her efforts to fight drunk driving and underage drinking. The Century Council is a national not-for-profit organization funded by distillers fighting drunk driving and underage drinking. Thirty-seven members of the House of Representatives received the recognition.
August 5, 2008—Kathleen Kilway ‘85, a chemistry professor at University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), recently received the University of Missouri President's Award for Outstanding Teaching. University President Gary Forsee presented Kilway with the award at a ceremony in Columbia, Missouri on June 5, 2008. The honor carries with it a $15,000 stipend and invitations to participate in teaching forums throughout the University of Missouri system. Earlier this year, Missouri Governor Matt Blunt awarded Kilway with the Governor's Award for Excellence in Teaching.
August 1, 2008—Gabrielle Campo ‘03 was recently selected by the GOP to run against incumbent Rep. Andre Carson (D) in Indiana’s 7th District in December’s Congressional election. The world traveler, social worker, and advocate for children and families, is currently the director of Theology on Tap Indianapolis. Theology on Tap provides those in the Indianapolis area with an informal platform to meet and socialize, while strengthening their faith.
July 25, 2008—Maureen Barber-Carey ‘72, will receive the EP Maxwell J. Schleifer Distinguished Service Award on July 27. The award is the highest honor given by EP Global Communications, publisher of Exceptional Parent Magazine. The late Maxwell J. Schleifer is the founder and former editor-in-chief of Exceptional Parent and was an advocate for people with disabilities and other special needs.
July 11, 2008 (Notre Dame, Ind.)—Saint Mary’s College is pleased to announce Adriana Garces Petty ‘01 has started her position as the international student and scholar coordinator for the Center for Women’s InterCultural Leadership (CWIL), a revised position in the Center. In her role, Petty advises the College’s international students and provides them with programming and immigration services; she supports and assists visiting scholars from other nations; and facilitates the planning and implementing of student-led programs.
June 25, 2008—Elizabeth VanDersarl ‘92 has been promoted to vice president of government affairs of the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA). In her new role, VanDersarl will manage the association’s advocacy efforts in Washington, DC, as well as on the state and international levels.
⎯College Alumnae and University of Notre Dame President Emeritus among them⎯
May 28, 2008 (Notre Dame, Ind.)—The Saint Mary’s College Board of Trustees elected two members and appointed two this spring. In addition, a current board member was elected to the position of treasurer. The terms, which begin in June, range from one to three years.
May 22, 2008—Anne Meagher Northrup '70 is a step closer to reclaiming the congressional seat she narrowly lost two years ago. In Tuesday’s Kentucky primary, the Saint Mary’s College alumna and five-time former congresswoman beat two lesser-known primary opponents in her bid to regain Louisville’s 3rd District congressional seat, which she held for 10 years. Northup won nearly 80 percent of the vote. The stage is now set for a rematch with U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth, the Democrat who defeated her in 2006.
May 21, 2008 (Notre Dame, Ind.)— Saint Mary's College is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2008 Alumnae Association Awards, which will be distributed at the Reunion Banquet on Saturday, May 31 as part of Reunion Weekend, May 29-June 1. Click on the headline above to see the list of the awards and the recipients, and click on the names to learn more about them. The Distinguished Alumna Award is the Alumnae Association's highest recognition.
May 7, 2008—The Silicon Valley Conference for Community and Justice (SVCCJ) will present Saint Mary’s College alumna Denise DeBartolo York ’72 and her husband, John, with its 2008 Exemplary Leadership Award at the organization’s annual gala on May 8, 2008.The Yorks will be honored for their involvement in the San Francisco 49ers RESPECT community outreach campaign, established to leverage the power of the 49ers brand—and its players and coaches—to highlight the importance of showing respect. The program teaches Bay Area youth about the importance of demonstrating respect for their families, schools, and communities.
March 13, 2008—The Saint Mary’s College Department of Social Work will honor Hollye Harrington Jacobs '93 of Chicago, Ill. for her exceptional passion for the field of social work at its seventh annual spring luncheon on Tuesday, March 18, 2008. Jacobs is the featured alumna speaker at the event and will receive the Social Work Leadership Award for her work with at-risk youth in health care settings and her ardent support of social work education.
March 7, 2008— Sister M. Alma Peter, CSC, acting president at Saint Mary’s College from 1970-1972, passed away this morning at 5 a.m. at Saint Mary’s Convent. She was 98. Sister Alma’s career at the College spanned 34 years, from 1950-1984.
February 18, 2008— Eileen Beehan ’72, director of social services at Catholic Charities of Tennessee, Inc., has been appointed to the National Committee on Aging of Catholic Charities USA, a national network of 1,700 agencies and institutions serving more than 7.8 million people annually. Beehan is the only Tennessean to serve on the nine-member National Committee on Aging which advises Catholic Charities USA on best practices, programs, resources, issues and training related to services for older adults with particular concern for low-income seniors and their families. Beehan has been appointed to a three-year term on the committee.
February 13, 2008— Saint Mary’s College is pleased to announce that Kara M. O’Leary ’89 is the College’s new Director of Alumnae Relations. O’Leary comes to the College with understanding of its history, its mission, its students and its alumnae. She is a member of the College Board of Trustees and the current President of the College Alumnae Association Board of Directors, a role that was set to expire in June and that she will vacate a little early in taking her new position. In addition to her service as an alumna, O’Leary’s educational and professional experiences have prepared her well for the directorship of alumnae relations.
February 11, 2008- Anne Meagher Northrup '70 has plans to reclaim the congressional seat she narrowly lost two years ago. The Saint Mary’s College alumna and five-time former congresswoman filed candidacy papers recently in an effort to win back the 3rd congressional District seat she held for 10 years. Northup told the Associated Press the she is “thrilled” to enter the three-way GOP primary.
January 25, 2008- The YWCA of Greenwich, Connecticut has recognized Saint Mary’s College alumnae Susan P. Peters '75, Vice President of Executive Development for General Electric (GE), as one of its BRAVA Award winners. For more than 25 years the BRAVA Award has been given to women achievers who have excelled in their professional careers, while also volunteering their time and talent to help others.
January 24, 2008- Saint Mary's College is pleased to announce that fundraising is complete for the new academic building, Spes Unica Hall. More than 600 donors—including faculty, staff, alumnae, students, parents and friends of the College—committed $19.2 million to construct the building and underwrite its operating endowment. The Spes Unica construction project is the largest in Saint Mary’s history (in dollars) and was initiated and completed without placing a financial burden on students or the college.
Saint Mary's College Alumna Named Fellow of Virginia Law Foundation
January 21, 2008-The Virginia Law Foundation has selected Saint Mary’s College alumnae Elizabeth Bermingham Lacy '66 to its 2008 Class of Fellows. The prestigious honor is granted to Virginia attorneys, law professors, and retired members of the judiciary who are deemed outstanding in their profession and in their community. Total membership is limited to one percent of the active and associate members of the Virginia State Bar.
January 21, 2008- Sports has promoted Saint Mary’s College alumnae LeslieAnne Wade '85 to Senior Vice President of Communications. Wade is the first woman to hold the Senior Vice President title in the Network sports division. In her new position, she will oversee all corporate and media relations initiatives for the network’s sports businesses. CBS ranks as one of the largest radio and television networks in the United States.
