Saint Mary's College (Indiana) facts for kids
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| Motto | Spes unica (Latin) |
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Motto in English
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Our only hope |
| Type | Private women's liberal arts college |
| Established | 1844 |
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Religious affiliation
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Catholic Church (Sisters of the Holy Cross) |
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Academic affiliations
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ACCU CIC NAICU |
| Endowment | $201.6 million (2019) |
| President | Katie Conboy |
| Provost | Megan Zwart (interim) |
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Academic staff
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167 full-time 63 part-time |
| Undergraduates | 1,600 |
| Location |
,
United States
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| Campus | Rural, 75 acres (0.30 km2) |
| Colors | Blue and White |
| Nickname | Belles |
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Sporting affiliations
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NCAA Division III – MIAA |
| Mascot | Belle |
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Saint Mary's College is a private Catholic college for women in Notre Dame, Indiana, United States. It was started in 1844 by the Sisters of the Holy Cross. The college's name honors the Virgin Mary.
Contents
History of Saint Mary's College
In 1843, four Sisters of the Holy Cross came from Le Mans, France. They came to help teach, invited by Edward Sorin. He and his group, the Congregation of Holy Cross, had started the University of Notre Dame.
In 1844, the sisters opened their first school in Bertrand, Michigan. It was a boarding school for younger students. In 1855, the school moved to its current spot. This move was led by Mother Angela Gillespie. The main building and an old office were pulled by oxen to the new place.
Many years later, in 1886, a typewriting class was added. Students learned using Remington typewriters. In 1915, a class on auto mechanics was offered. This was to help students become "smart" drivers. A car was even given by Albert Russel Erskine for hands-on learning.
In 1945, the original Saint Mary's Academy moved to a new location. Saint Mary's College is now across the street from the University of Notre Dame. It was the first college for women in the Great Lakes region.
Today, the college offers five bachelor's degrees and four master's degrees. The master's programs are open to both men and women. In the early 1970s, Saint Mary's College chose not to merge with the University of Notre Dame. Notre Dame then started admitting women on its own in 1972.
In 2023, the college's leaders discussed admitting transgender female students. They later decided not to, after many in the community shared concerns about the college's Catholic identity.
College Presidents
- M. Pauline O'Neill, 1895–1931
- Irma Burns, 1931–1934
- Madeleva Wolff, 1934–1961
- Maria Renata Daily, 1961–1965
- Mary Grace Kos, 1965–1967
- John J. McGrath, 1968–1970
- Alma Peter, 1970–1972 (interim appointment)
- Edward L. Henry, 1972–1974
- John M. Duggan, 1975–1985
- William A. Hickey, 1986–1997
- Marilou Eldred, 1997–2004
- Carol Ann Mooney, 2004–2016
- Janice Cervelli, 2016–2018
- Nancy P. Nekvasil, 2018–2020 (interim appointment)
- Katie Conboy, 2020–present
Campus Life and Buildings
The campus is about 278 acres. It has buildings with different styles and from different times. Two important buildings are Le Mans Hall and Holy Cross Hall. Le Mans Hall was finished in 1926. It is the second oldest building and holds offices and student rooms. Holy Cross Hall is the oldest building, finished in 1906, and is also a place where students live.
The Angela Athletic Facility has courts for tennis, basketball, and volleyball. It has seats for 2,000 people. There are also courts for racquetball and areas for gymnastics and fencing. This building was designed by architect Helmut Jahn. It was opened in 1977 and is named after Mother Angela Gillespie. She was the first American to lead Saint Mary's Academy. The facility was updated and remodeled in 2017.
Cushwa-Leighton Library was opened in 1982. It was designed by architect Evans Woollen III. This four-story building is about 78,000 square feet. It mixes modern and Gothic styles. The library has study areas and many books. It also has a tower with offices and meeting rooms. Students can find over 268,000 books and many online resources here. The lower level has a technology center. Since 2016, it also has a writing and tutoring center.
Madeleva Lecture Series
The college has a special lecture series. It is named after Madeleva Wolff, who was the college's third president. She started a program in 1943 that allowed women to study theology at a high level for the first time in the U.S. The lecture series celebrates the work of women in theology. In 2000, past speakers wrote "The Madeleva Manifesto." It was a message of hope and courage.
College Sports and Athletics
Saint Mary's College is part of the NCAA Division III. It is also a member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association. The college has eight main sports teams:
Saint Mary's students can also join intramural sports or clubs. These clubs offer fun ways to compete and learn new skills. Many clubs are open to both Saint Mary's students and students from the University of Notre Dame. Saint Mary's has clubs for cheerleading, dance, and volleyball. Other clubs shared with Notre Dame include equestrian, figure skating, gymnastics, skiing, water polo, field hockey, ice hockey, Ultimate, and cycling.
The Angela Athletic Facility helps with campus-wide activities. Inside, there are courts for basketball and volleyball. There is also a fitness center with exercise machines. Outside, there are six tennis courts. There are also fields for softball, lacrosse, and soccer. Students can also find areas for cross-country skiing and a nature trail for hiking or jogging.
The Saint Mary's College sports teams are called the Belles. In 1975, the college started forming its sports teams. They began playing in 1977. The tennis team won their first match 8-1. That is when the college teams first showed off their new T-shirts with "Belles" on the front.
Notable People from Saint Mary's
Faculty Members
- Richard Aaker Trythall, taught at the Rome campus
- John Brademas, 1956–1958
- Leo Podolsky, taught for 18 years
- Cyriac Pullapilly, started the Semester Around the World Program
- Sister Miriam Joseph Rauh, CSC, 1931–1960
- Barbara Blondeau
- Daniel Horan
Alumnae (Graduates)
- Mary Ellen Quinlan O'Neill (1872–1875), mother of famous playwright Eugene O'Neill
- Mary Fels (1880), a generous giver, supporter of women's voting rights
- Mary Daly (1953, PhD), a scholar who studied women's issues
- Eddie Bernice Johnson (1955, Nursing certificate), a congresswoman from Texas
- Helen Klanderud (1959, BA), mayor of Aspen, Colorado
- Maryanne Wolf (1969, BA), a scientist who studies the brain
- Denise DeBartolo York (1972, BA), a businesswoman and owner of the San Francisco 49ers football team
- Catherine Hicks (1973, BA), an actress who starred in 7th Heaven
- Nora Barry Fischer (1973, BA), a U.S. federal judge
- Adriana Trigiani (1981, BA), an author
- Jill Tiefenthaler (1987, BA), CEO of National Geographic Society
- Kristin Crowley (1993, BS) Chief of Los Angeles Fire Department
- London Lamar, (2013, BA) Tennessee state senator
