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Dear Alumni, Parents, and Friends of St. Mary’s College:

It is a distinct pleasure to serve as the new vice president for advancement at St. Mary’s College of Maryland and as the executive director of the St. Mary’s College of Maryland Foundation. I am proud to represent a college with such a strong reputation, talented students, and dedicated faculty, staff, alumni, parents, and friends.

My family and I relocated to St. Mary’s County in mid-August, and we had the pleasure of residing in the May Russell Lodge for nearly three weeks. My time living on campus helped me to more fully appreciate the institution you care for so deeply. I was able to interact with the hard-working orientation student leaders, join forces with first-year students in a community service activity, meet devoted faculty and staff, and enjoy the beauty of the sun setting on St. Mary’s River. I appreciate the warmth and openness that has been shown my family and me over the past few months, and I am excited about meeting many more community members.

In this issue of The Mulberry Tree, President Urgo speaks of the importance of reporting to you, our stakeholders, on our accomplishments. He writes in his letter about some of the data that demonstrate our value as a public liberal arts college, while our contributing writers highlight our impact through stories of personal experiences at St. Mary’s. We also provide the Foundation’s annual report.

This issue is also designed to thank you for your philanthropic contributions to the foundation in support of the College. While the state provides invaluable support to St. Mary’s College, you have empowered hundreds of students with your gifts of financial aid; you have strengthened research experiences for faculty and students; and you have ensured our ability to respond to unanticipated opportunities. In other words, your gifts create a margin of excellence for our programs, faculty, and students. I am especially pleased to note that there has been an 18% increase in the number of alumni donors from last year to this year. Support like this ensures our ability to fulfill our mission to “serve as a living legacy to the ideals of freedom and inclusiveness.”

We know that in order to strengthen such opportunities, we must continue to build on and expand our connections with all of you. As a means of facilitating these relationships, we have renovated the rectory on campus to receive visitors. I invite you to stop by the Advancement Office/Alumni House located at the corner of Trinity Church and Old State House roads, across from Calvert Hall. Our new space is designed as a place for those dedicated to St. Mary’s College to reconnect with faculty or staff, browse through yearbooks, meet students or take advantage of the alumni office hospitality services.

President Urgo, members of the Advancement Office, and I will also be traveling throughout the region and across the country to connect and reconnect with you. It is through our time with you that we will more fully understand the impact of St. Mary’s College on your lives. We look forward to hearing those stories.

My very best,

Maureen C. Silva

 

Click on image for Annual Report