The St. Mary's Way
St. Mary's College of Maryland lies in a setting of natural beauty and historic meaning which enhances our ability to reflect on our lives in an increasingly complex, technological, and interdependent world. As a member of St. Mary's College of Maryland, I accept the St. Mary's Way and agree to join in working with others to develop this College as a community:
- Where people respect the natural environment and the tradition of tolerance which is the heritage of this place
- Where people cultivate a life-long quest for disciplined learning and creativity
- Where people take individual responsibility for their work and actions
- Where people foster relationships based upon mutual respect, honesty, integrity, and trust
- Where people are engaged in an ongoing dialogue that values differences and the unique contributions of others' talents, backgrounds, customs, and world views
- Where people are committed to examining and shaping the functional, ethical values of our changing world
- Where people contribute to a spirit of caring and an ethic of service.
By choosing to join this community, I accept the responsibility of helping to build on its past heritage, of living its ideals, and contributing to its future.
Welcome to St. Mary's!
About the Dean
Laura A. Bayless joined St. Mary's College of Maryland as the Dean of Students in August of 2007, and was promoted to Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students in 2011. She was attracted to St. Mary's for its unique mission of providing a liberal arts education in a public school setting, its effective use of its place through collaborating with Historic St. Mary's City and taking advantage of the river both in and out of the classroom, and its incorporation of international experiences for students, faculty, and staff. Laura has worked in higher education for 20 years, most recently as Assistant Dean for Student Affairs and then Dean of Students at Longwood University. Actively involved in her field, Laura serves on the ACPA: College Students International Assembly as the Coordinator-Elect for Commissions and on the Convention Steering Team for the 2012 Louisville Convention. She is a regular presenter at conferences and workshops, including topics such as "The Role of Student Affairs in Accreditation," "Transformative Learning within a Campus Mission of Citizen Leadership," and "Distance Education and Student Affairs Preparation: Successes and Challenges." She is a member of Phi Kappa Phi and Omicron Delta Kappa, both honorary societies based on academic excellence, contribution to the community, and leadership. Laura was honored as an ACPA "Diamond Honoree" for 2010, recognizing her outstanding and sustained contributions to higher education and to student affairs, and was presented with the Commission for Administrative Leadership Senior Level Professional Award in 2011.
A Rotarian on and off since 1995, Laura believes in the Rotary motto "service above self" and its goal of building peace and goodwill one person at a time. She is President-Elect of the Leonardtown Rotary Club, and teaches on the faculty of the Rotary Leadership Institute. Laura is also a graduate of the inaugural 2009 class of Leadership Southern Maryland. She is an active participant in community-based arts, most recently singing with "Two Rivers Harmony”. Laura also rekindled her love of kayaking and hiking by taking advantage of the natural resources in the tri-county region.
Laura earned her PhD from Virginia Tech University in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies; her MS from Miami University of Ohio in College Student Personnel Services; and her BA from Denison University in Speech Communication/Mass Media. She lives in Lexington Park, MD.
