President's Letter

Dear Alumni, Parents & Friends,

SOME MAY HAVE WORRIED that the power of the university’s motto, Spes Nostra, Our Hope, would dim without the golden statue of the Blessed Mother watching over us all day, every day while she is being repaired. I assure you that Mary remains in our hearts and continues to be Our Hope, helping to move the university forward.

In this issue, you will read about some of the ways Mount St. Mary’s is gaining momentum in spreading hope and goodness by delivering on our mission statement of “graduating ethical leaders who are inspired by a passion for learning and lead lives of significance in service to God and others.”

Through a partnership between the university and Frederick Health, a stateof-the-art healthcare facility is being built on campus that will serve not only Mount students but also the northern Frederick community. As Frederick County Executive Jan Gardner noted at the recent groundbreaking ceremony, the Mount soon can be proud to have a cutting-edge student health center on campus even though we do not have a medical school. Just as significantly, the partnership extends the service aspect of our mission by ensuring that local residents have access to quality healthcare services, as detailed on page 6.

Turn to pages 12-13 to learn how the Mount’s newest alumni are beginning their lives of significance by studying ocean sciences to preserve the environment, applying ethical and moral knowledge as an accountant, using collaboration skills in a graduate chemical and biological sciences program, and more.

Faculty, administrators and staff work every day to ensure that students succeed academically. Providing support throughout students’ academic journey is the Department of Learning Services, whose programs include peer tutoring, disability services and a mentorship program. Go to page 16 to read about Learning Services’ caring and highly capable staff, who focus on empowering the human person.

A profile of a graduate of the accelerated undergraduate program demonstrates the power of a Mount education (see page 19). Michael Tomlin, C’20, enrolled at the Mount in 2016, nine years after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Choosing to continue his education helped him to earn two promotions at Wells Fargo, counteract the cognitive symptoms of MS and spur his volunteer efforts with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society as an advocate, fund raiser and cyclist. In completing 11 100-mile rides, Tomlin has raised $32,648 for Bike MS!

Mount Executive Vice President Kraig Sheetz, Ph.D., also turned his passion for pedaling into an opportunity to raise funds for a cause in which he believes—the renovation and expansion of the Coad Science Building. In completing a 4,017 mile, 62 day bike trip across America over the summer, Sheetz raised more than $65,000 for the science building, and came back to campus filled with hope for the future. He found reinforcement of Spes Nostra in generous support and encouragement from students, alumni and other friends of the Mount before, during and after the journey; in our country’s beauty; and in the wonderful people he and his wife Lori met along the way. In “Our Hope for the Future,” starting on page 20, he writes that he hopes that “each of us can pause from the digital firehose we subject ourselves to every day and recognize the kind and compassionate people from all walks of life and all corners of the land.” Go Mount!

Timothy E. Trainor, Ph.D.

Robert J. Brennan, C’85

Jack Chielli

Donna Klinger

Nicole Patterson

Joe Paciella, C’03, MBA’11

Donna Klinger

Nicole Patterson

Stephen Schwing, C'92

Kraig Sheetz, Ph.D.

Kim Johnson, MBA’18

Emily Myers, C’13, MBA’15

Isabella Laurel

Tom Lesser

Mike Miller, Ph.D.

Michael Miville of MM Visuals

Paige Roberts, C'21

Laura C. Moyer

Jessica J. Boyer, C’16

HBP Inc.

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The Office of University Marketing & Communications publishes Mount Magazine two times a year for alumni, parents and friends of Mount St. Mary’s University. Opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the author and do not specifically represent opinions of the magazine staff or the university. Reader responses and alumni contributions are welcome. The Mount reserves the right to refuse or revise comments or contributions for style and length.