Mount Magazine Spring 2026

Mount Magazine Spring 2026

PRESIDENT

Gerard J. Joyce, Ph.D.

VP ADVANCEMENT

Patricia Hill-Callahan, C’87

VP UNIVERSITY AFFAIRS

Elizabeth C. Monahan

EDITORS

Ashlen Renner

Katherine Stohlman Pieters, C’20

WRITERS

Ashlen Renner

Katherine Stohlman Pieters, C’20

Michelle Pickett-Valentine

Casey Smial, C’20, MBA’25

PROJECT MANAGER

Joy Klauder

PHOTOGRAPHY

Mike Miller, Ph.D.

Michael Miville, MM Visuals

Salina Lazarus

DESIGN

ArachnidWorks

PRINTING

Ironmark

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The Cornerstone of the Mount's Long-Term Health Professions Vision

THE NEWLY ESTABLISHED TIMOTHY E. TRAINOR COLLEGE OF HEALTH PROFESSIONS HOSTS ITS INAUGURAL CLASS OF PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT (PA) STUDENTS. page 16

The future of healthcare is shaped by ethical leaders who build teams that heal communities from within. I don’t know of a program more ready to graduate these leaders than the Mount’s College of Health Professions.”

RICHARD P. MILLER, C’74 BOARD OF TRUSTEES CHAIR

Dear Alumni, Parents, and Friends of Mount St. Mary's,

ONE OF THE THINGS I LOVE MOST about the Mount is how our community consistently steps forward to meet the world’s greatest needs. It is simply part of who we are. Our Catholic mission calls us to serve God and neighbor, and on Mary’s Mountain that calling has always been lived out through the formation of men and women who go into the world prepared to care for others.

Today, one of those needs is especially clear. Our nation and our state are facing a growing shortage of healthcare professionals, particularly in rural communities like our home here in Emmitsburg. Across the country, hundreds of thousands of nursing and clinical positions remain unfilled each year. In Maryland alone, there are currently thousands of registered nurse vacancies, and projections suggest that number could grow significantly in the coming decade. Behind every one of those numbers is a patient, a family, and a community hoping for care and compassion.

At the Mount, we believe our response to this moment must be both thoughtful and mission driven. The creation of the Timothy E. Trainor College of Health Professions and the launch of our Physician Assistant Program represent important steps in that direction. In just a short time, this program has brought together exceptional faculty and a remarkable group of students who understand healthcare not only as a profession, but as a vocation of service. They are preparing to deliver high quality, team-based care in hospitals, clinics, and community settings across our region.

Building on that strong foundation, the University is now pursuing the establishment of a nursing program that would further expand our ability to form healthcare leaders. The proposal is currently moving through the appropriate academic and regulatory approval processes, and we are taking the time to do this work carefully and thoughtfully. If approved, the program

would prepare nurses who combine clinical excellence with the ethical grounding and commitment to human dignity that flows from Catholic Social Teaching.

This effort also carries deep meaning for the Mount because it reconnects us with a powerful part of our shared history. For generations, the St. Joseph College School of Nursing and the Daughters of Charity prepared nurses who served communities throughout the Catoctin Mountains, Baltimore, and far beyond. Their legacy of compassionate care continues to inspire us, and we are honored to build upon that tradition as we look toward the future of healthcare education at the Mount.

Together, our Physician Assistant program and our efforts to expand healthcare education represent a larger commitment: to prepare graduates who will bring both competence and compassion into a healthcare system that urgently needs them. Whether they serve in rural hospitals, community clinics, or major medical centers, my hope is that the patients they encounter will experience what we strive to live each day on Mary’s Mountain, that they are seen, they are valued, and they are loved.

Thank you for walking alongside us in this important work.

GERARD J. “JERRY” JOYCE, PH.D. President, Mount St. Mary’s University

Features

WELCOME ST. JOSEPH COLLEGE ALUMNAE

The Mount’s former sister college is formally welcomed into our Alumni circle

HOW IT ALL BEGAN

The history and legacy of St. Joseph College’s nursing program

INTRODUCING THE FIRST PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT CLASS

Our College of Health Profession’s first PA cohort began classes this year

FORMED IN CARE

How the Mount shaped three alumni in healthcare

OPERATION SMILE

Alumni Bill Magee, C’66, shares the story of the founding of Operation Smile, and the winding journey that began at the Mount

DAVID GINTY, PH.D., C'84, AWARDED THE BRAIN PRIZE

The Harvard professor and member of the Mount’s Class of 1984 is this year’s recipient of the prestigious neuroscience award

A LEGACY OF LEARNING

The story behind the Anthony F. and Alice G. Agnone School of Education's new name and the lifelong educators who inspired it

Mount Magazine

6 Flag Football Team Makes History and Meets with Success in their First Season as Part of the ECAC

7 Mount St. Mary’s University Alumni Release ELOS Heated Insoles to Amazon Marketplace

8 Human-Centered Education in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: How the Mount’s New AI Minor Tackles Humanity’s Hardest Questions

9 A Q& A with a Few of Our Recent Graduates

10 Two Mount Students Serve as Inaugural Sage Fellows

11 Music Professor Philip Ravita’s Jazz Album, Alice Blue, Nominated for Regional Award

Mount News

The Mount Joins New Women's Flag Football League

MOUNT ST. MARY’S University’s women’s flag football team celebrated their first semester as members of the newly-formed ECAC league. The groundbreaking league, funded by a $1 million grant from the Betty Wold Johnson Foundation, is the largest in the nation, with 15 member schools at its opening.

“We’re thrilled at the opportunity this presents for our women’s team. Thanks to the Betty Wold Johnson Foundation’s generous grant, we’ll be competing on a regional level with other cuttingedge teams across the Northeast,” said Head Coach Sandi James.

Mount St. Mary’s University made history at the start of the 202526 academic year by launching the first women’s flag football team at a Division I school in the Northeast.

In February they celebrated Media Day alongside other league member schools, at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

“We’ve had our growing pains, as expected with such a new team, and we’ve grown closer because of it,” exclaimed James.

“One recent highlight was attending Media Day, and we also had our jersey reveal. That was exciting, to see all the ladies’ smiling faces and joy!”

The grant from the Betty Wold Johnson Foundation is directed by Woody Johnson, chairman of the New York Jets. The foundation previously sponsored the creation of a highly successful flag football high school girl’s program as well.

As the trailblazing Mount women’s flag football team wraps up their year as ECAC members, they look forward to the impact they’ll continue to make on the Mount community.

“Having a flag football team at the Mount will bring a level excitement that few people can imagine! We get to make ‘herstory’ at the Mount as the first Division I program on the East Coast and the second overall in the country,” said James.

Mount St. Mary’s University Alumni Release ELOS Heated Insoles to Amazon’s Marketplace

MOUNT ST. MARY’S University alumni Thunlwyn Garcia, C’23, and Anthony Milazzo, C’24, have officially brought their patented innovation, Temperature Regulated Insoles, to the Amazon marketplace through their company ELOS Thermal, marking another milestone success story born from the Palmieri Center for Entrepreneurship (PCE).

In August 2023, Garcia and Milazzo were granted their first U.S. patent for their temperature-regulating insole technology, a design concept that originated and grew in the PCE during their time as students.

In December 2024, they were granted their second patent. During their undergraduate years, the team developed and tested multiple prototypes, leveraging mentorship, feedback and resources from the PCE.

ELOS Thermal continued optimization and product development to deliver the product to market. The insole activates quickly, can fit into almost any footwear and heats for at least eight hours. The company’s debut product, the ELOS Heated Insoles Starter Trim Kit, is offered on Amazon, through elosthermal.com and in select retail outlets.

“From our first conversation, I knew I wanted to use what they were developing. As for many, my feet often hurt when it is cold. Perhaps more importantly, I thought the process of conceiving

the idea and trying to execute would be an exceptional learning opportunity, and it was,” said Garth Patterson, Ph.D., director of the Palmieri Center for Entrepreneurship. “But to see it now as a fully released product, I cannot convey how proud I am of the team. They were not only able to be creative, but they also executed their plan and have brought a product to market that will absolutely benefit people.”

The Palmieri Center for Entrepreneurship serves as a hub for creativity, innovation and experiential learning at Mount St. Mary’s University. Through constant mentorship, support and skill development, the center equips students with the tools to identify challenges, design solutions and bring their ideas to life. The center’s mission is to continue empowering students to turn their ideas into reality and help create more future success stories like ELOS Thermal.

I thought the process of conceiving the idea and trying to execute would be an exceptional learning opportunity, and it was.”

Garth Patterson, Ph.D., director of the Palmieri Center forEntrepreneurship

Human-Centered Education in the Age of Artificial Intelligence:

How the Mount’s New AI Minor Tackles Humanity’s Hardest Questions

AS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE reshapes classrooms, careers, and culture, many universities are racing to keep up. Rather than approaching AI as merely another technical skillset, Mount St. Mary's University is training students to wrestle with larger questions: What is intelligence? What does responsible innovation look like? How does this technology affect human dignity and the common good?

This approach is emblematic of the Mount’s Catholic tradition and its mission of graduating well-rounded leaders ready to face a rapidly changing world. It is also a prominent part of the university strategic plan.

“Organizationally, we need to think about how we’re going to engage with this new technology. Not only when and where we can and should engage with it, but how people should be engaging with it.” said Vice President for Mission and Ministry, Layton Field, Ph.D., who co-chairs the university’s AI task force.

At the center the AI task force effort is a proposed minor in artificial intelligence, which will equip students with technical proficiency while grounding them in ethical reflection shaped by Catholic Social Teaching.

“There’s already a core here at the Mount that is going to put the Catholic tradition in conversation with the world… so why not take that approach and apply it to AI?” said Taylor Nutter, Ph.D., assistant professor of theology.

The minor, while it will be housed in the mathematics and computer science department, is also being developed collaboratively by faculty in the theology department. The Mount is one of the few universities that incorporate the intersection of AI and theology into the curriculum.

Luis Vera, Ph.D., chair of the theology department and a moral theologian specializing in technology ethics, is currently exploring the connection between AI and Catholic teaching as part of an AI research group for the Vatican.

“I think a lot about what our students will need in order to not just scrape by but thrive as human beings and in service to the common good in that world, and how can the Mount help them get there,” Vera said.

Rather than preparing students for a single tool or trend, faculty aim to cultivate habits of mind—critical thinking, discernment, flexibility, and collaboration—that will endure as technology evolves.

At the same time, students will gain hands-on experience with the inner workings of the technology. Daniel Salinas Duron, Ph.D., assistant professor of mathematics and computer science, hopes to demystify the technology so students understand both its power and its limits.

“I want students to have the opportunity to think about AI outside of something like Grammarly or Copilot and think about what we can really do with it. I want students to have that close to the metal experience,” he said.

Field said the goal of the Mount’s AI initiatives is not simply to keep pace with technological change. It is to ensure that students are prepared intellectually, ethically, and spiritually to navigate it.

“This question about artificial intelligence isn’t going to go away,” Field said. “I think from our perspective, with the way we approach education as person-centered and leaning on the robust nature of Catholic Social Teaching, this positions us well to have this conversation in ways that others may not be well positioned.”

Panelists Mariele Courtois (Benedictine College), John Slattery (Duquesne University), and Mount St. Mary’s University’s Luis Vera discuss how artificial intelligence affects the dignity of work, guided by Catholic Social Teaching, during the Vatican AI Working Group’s July 2025 plenary at the University of Notre Dame.

Members of the Vatican AI Working Group pose in front of the University of Notre Dame Main Building.

Commencement Recap

ON SATURDAY, MAY 16, Mount St. Mary’s University celebrated its 218th commencement exercises. Presided over by President Joyce, and featuring a talk from the 2026 commencement speaker, CEO of CARE Pharmacies Michael R. Wysong, over 500 students were conferred their bachelor’s or master’s degrees.

We caught up with a few members of the Class of 2026 to hear how their time at the Mount has impacted them:

CHIARA MAZZA

Hometown: Toms River, New Jersey

Major: Business, with a concentration in management

Post-grad plans: Wrapping up her MBA, which she’ll obtain in May of 2027

On why she chose the Mount: “Coming from a small Catholic high school, I chose the Mount because I wanted to continue my education at a smaller university with a strong community. I have made numerous lasting connections with faculty and friends, and I credit most of the countless opportunities provided to me to those relationships.”

SAMANTHA STEPHENS

Hometown: Frederick, Maryland

Major: Elementary education and early childhood education

Post-grad plans: Beginning work as an elementary school teacher while simultaneously earning her master’s in education at the Mount

On the impact the Mount has made in her life: “My favorite part about the Mount is the friendships it has brought me. I chose the Mount because the environment immediately felt like home. The small class sizes and the ability to receive individualized support from professors has been incredibly beneficial. The Mount has shaped me into the person I am today, and the professors along the way have continually encouraged and supported my growth both academically and personally.”

JOHN BAROODY

Hometown: Fredericksburg, Virginia

Major: Political science, with a minor in history

Post-grad plans: Commissioning in the United States Army as a Second Lieutenant, after participating in ROTC at the Mount

On how he knew the Mount was the right choice: “While visiting the Mount as a prospective member of the swimming and diving team, I immediately felt like this was somewhere I could call home. The close-knit community I witnessed made the decision easier than I could have ever imagined it being.”

TIERNEY MCCARROLL

Hometown: Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania

Major: Mathematics and chemistry

Post-grad plans: Beginning a doctoral program in materials science and engineering in the fall

On the most meaningful part of her time at the Mount: “The best part was being a member of the track and field team, and the family I gained from that. The Mount has given me such purpose in life. From the science department to the track and field team, I have been shaped for success!”

Learn More

To see more from Commencement 2026, scan the code to view the Flickr album!

Commencement

CHIARA MAZZA

SAMANTHA STEPHENS

TIERNEY MCCARROLL

JOHN BAROODY

Two Mount St. Mary’s Students Selected as Sage Research Fellows

THIS YEAR, two students had the chance to help pilot a new experiential learning opportunity, alongside William Christiansen, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Mount St. Mary’s University Department of Political Science. Aiden Day, C’27, and Rashley Rodrigo, C’29, served as Sage Research Fellows for the 2025-26 academic year, working alongside Christiansen to develop educate_R, an application created by Christiansen to help students learn data science and statistical programming.

As Sage Research Fellows, Day and Rodrigo conducted international relations and political science-based research projects using educate_R, to aid Christiansen in the app’s refining. Both were able to publish their research as coauthors with Christiansen, and receive a stipend for their work. The project is funded by the Sage Concept Grant Christiansen was awarded in 2024.

“Rashley and Aiden are both excellent students, and together we conducted projects in the area of international studies and political science focused on questions that utilize datasets that students can use early on in their academic careers,” said Christiansen. “I’m excited to have them join me in developing educate_R. We intend to publish our work in a variety of online formats.”

Day, a native of Pasadena, Md., is double majoring in history and political science. He was excited for the opportunity to “further cultivate my scholarly interests as a Sage Fellow. In this role, I’ve not only advanced my own research, but also contributed to the development of the program’s application.”

Rodrigo is a double major in political science and communication. Originally from Sri Lanka, she now calls Frederick, Md., home, and is passionate about writing and journalism in addition to political science. “I’ve found particular value in my coursework, especially [with Dr. Christiansen],” she said. “Over the next four years, I strive to become an integral member of the political science department’s research initiatives and further develop my professional journalism skills.”

I’m excited to have them join me in developing educate_R. We intend to publish our work in a variety of online formats.”

William Christiansen, Ph.D., assistant professorin the Mount St. Mary’s UniversityDepartment of Political Science

Ravita Jazz Wammies

MOUNT ST. MARY’S University is proud to share that Philip Ravita, DMA, lecturer in the department of visual and performing arts, and the ensemble he’s a member of, Ravita Jazz, received regional recognition following the release of their acclaimed album, Alice Blue. The group has been nominated for three 2026 Washington Area Music Awards (Wammies), honoring outstanding achievement in jazz music.

Released in May 2025, Alice Blue has been met with strong critical response and commercial success, earning positive reviews and chart attention within the jazz community. The album showcases Ravita Jazz’s refined ensemble sound and reflects years of collaboration among its members, combining expressive compositions with a modern jazz sensibility.

Ravita Jazz has performed in its current configuration for more than six years. Ravita formed long-standing musical partnerships with drummer Nuc Vega and pianist Greg Small while studying at the University of Maryland, College Park School of Music, and later welcomed vocalist Deirdre Jennings, also a UMCP graduate. The ensemble also includes percussionist Mark Leppo, the drum and percussion instructor at the Mount. The group’s shared musical background and commitment to artistic growth have shaped the distinctive sound heard throughout Alice Blue.

“It was great to get into the studio and do this project,” said Ravita. “We set out to make a strong record with music we truly

enjoy performing. We did not anticipate the level of response it would receive.”

The ensemble’s success has resulted in Wammie nominations for:

BEST ALBUM // Alice Blue

BEST GROUP // Ravita Jazz

BEST SONG // “Broken Light”

The Washington Area Music Awards, now in their 37th year, celebrate musical excellence throughout the greater Washington, D.C., region.

Alice Blue is available on Apple Music and other major streaming platforms.

Mount St. Mary’s University applauds Ravita for his continued artistic accomplishments and for bringing national and regional distinction to the University through his creative scholarship and professional leadership in the arts.

Scan the code to follow the results of the 2026 Wammies and learn more!

Feature Stories

The Heart of Serving Others

The Mount's Healthcare Journey

Welcome St. Joseph College Alumnae!

BORN IN EMMITSBURG'S same valley on shared Catholic foundations, St. Joseph College and the Mount were always sister institutions. Today, we warmly welcome St. Joseph alumnae into the Mount St. Mary's University Alumni Association—where your cherished Valley Echo lives on through Mount Magazine. Your remarkable experience and enduring spirit will help shape the Mount's future. Thank you for strengthening our community.

How It All Began:

The Mount’s Healthcare Journey Built on the Legacy of St. Joseph College

WITHIN SIGHT of the quiet building that once housed St. Joseph College, Mount St. Mary’s University’s College of Health Professions is bringing new energy to a legacy that shaped generations of women in Emmitsburg, Md. Where St. Joe’s School of Nursing once formed caregivers grounded in compassion and faith, the Mount now prepares future health care professionals to serve with that same enduring spirit.

For more than 160 years, the Mount’s sister institution, St. Joseph College, founded by St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, educated women in Emmitsburg in a variety of professions. Nursing was one of the most popular programs, rooted in local history that dates back to the Civil War.

Though St. Joe’s closed its doors in 1973, the School of Nursing left a legacy that the Mount is now building upon over 50 years later through the new Timothy E. Trainor College of Health Professions.

(Continued on page 14)

It is a joy to welcome the St. Joe’s alumnae home to the Mount family. The energy you bring strengthens the Mount, and I am excited that your remarkable legacy will continue here through the Timothy E. Trainor College of Health Professions.”

PresidentGerardJ.Joyce,Ph.D.

St. Joseph College began as St. Joseph’s Academy, founded in 1809 by St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, just a few years after Father John DuBois established Mount St. Mary’s.

How It All Began:

The Mount’s Healthcare Journey Built on the Legacy of St. Joseph College

THE HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COLLEGE

St. Joseph College began as St. Joseph’s Academy, founded in 1809 by St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, just a few years after Father John DuBois established Mount St. Mary’s. The two institutions grew side by side, sharing faculty, faith, and friendship among their founders. In 1902, St. Joseph’s expanded into a four-year college dedicated to women’s higher education.

Operated by the Daughters of Charity, the college educated generations of women on a campus that now houses the National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and the FEMA Emergency Management Institute. Though St. Joseph College has been closed for more than 50 years, its community remains vibrant. While the St. Joseph College Alumnae Association disbanded in 2025, the alumnae continue to speak fondly of the college’s heritage of faith, service, and scholarship.

ST. JOE’S NURSING ROOTS

Among St. Joseph’s hallmark programs was its highly regarded School of Nursing. The program reflected the Daughters of Charity’s long tradition of healthcare ministry, emphasizing both excellence in clinical training and a deep respect for human dignity.

This history of care dates back to July of 1863 when, during and after the Battle of Gettysburg, the Daughters of Charity went out to the makeshift hospitals around the battlefield to tend to the wounded Civil War soldiers. There, they built an early reputation for skilled, compassionate nursing ministry.

Compassion and care were seamlessly integrated into the mission of St Joseph’s School of Nursing.

“The message that we got was when you are practicing nursing, you have respect for the dignity and worth of the individual,” said Kathie (Robinson) Moritis, SJC’70. “You don't call people by their diseases. You talk to them as individuals, and that was pounded into our heads.”

NURSING IN THE 1960S AND 1970S

St. Joseph College was small—about 500 students at its peak—but that closeness fostered a remarkable sense of community. Life on campus blended scholarship with laughter and friendship: playing football on the lawn, skating on Tom’s Creek, walking to Emmitsburg for a Coke, or attending mixers and dances at the Mount.

Day-to-day life as a nursing major was shaped by time away from campus as much as time on it. Beginning in the second semester of sophomore year, students were bused to Providence Hospital in Washington, D.C., for clinical work two days a week. By junior year, the women spent the entire year at the hospital, living in nurses’ quarters, with only weekends and occasional events bringing them back to Emmitsburg.

Summers included an intensive eight-week clinical term, and senior year layered in psychiatric and public health nursing in Baltimore and Hagerstown, Md.

“We were definitely the group of students that had different experiences than the rest of the class,” said Suzanne (Knipfing) Smith, SJC’71. “Some of the other students were even jealous that we had the opportunity to go down to D.C.”

The alumnae note that the professors and teachers—sisters, priests, brothers, and laypeople—were highly qualified and deeply dedicated. Their rigorous curricula and personal attention created a close academic community that left a lasting impact.

CARRYING THE LEGACY FORWARD

Today, the Mount’s Timothy E. Trainor College of Health Professions directly continues St. Joseph College’s mission of forming compassionate caregivers, taking up the mantle of the nursing program that once defined Emmitsburg’s contribution to healthcare. Established to meet the nation’s growing demand for mission-driven professionals, the College offers programs in physician assistant studies, occupational therapy, and, soon, a nursing program of its own—all grounded in the same Catholic values of dignity, service, and holistic care that the Daughters of Charity instilled generations ago.

St. Joseph alumnae have played an active role in this renewal. Since 2015, their association has funded scholarships for Mount students, and most recently, they contributed to the lobby renovation in the new College of Health Professions facility. Now welcomed into the Mount’s Alumni Association, these women ensure their school’s spirit endures through the next generation of healers who will serve with the same heart and skill.

St. Joseph College was small— about 500 students at its peak— but that closeness fostered a remarkable sense of community.

New PA Program Established as a Cornerstone of the Mount’s Long-Term Health Professions Vision

THE NEWLY ESTABLISHED Timothy E. Trainor College of Health Professions at Mount St. Mary’s University is bustling with energy this year as the inaugural class of Physician Assistant (PA) students dives into their first year of studies. Their presence marks an exciting new chapter for the Mount—a milestone in the university’s growing commitment to preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals.

What was once an empty wing of the Daughters of Charity campus in downtown Emmitsburg, is now a state-of-the-art training center for the 46 new PA students preparing for a new semester of clinical rotations.

“I’ve been following this program for almost four years, watching the renovations, seeing how nice this place is,” said Tyler Nalls, a student in the PA program who used to drive past the building on his way to work. “Now being here as a student—it feels surreal.”

The establishment of the PA program, and plans for future programs in the College of Health Professions, was born out of

a need for healthcare workers across the country, especially in rural and underserved communities.

Ranked as the second top healthcare job in America by U.S. News & World Report, the physician assistant profession is projected to grow by 28 percent by 2033, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. PAs diagnose illnesses, develop and manage treatment plans, prescribe medications, work in every medical specialty, and serve as principal healthcare providers, which makes these professionals especially important in the mitigation of the current healthcare worker shortage.

Healthcare was a natural answer to the university’s question of “what’s next?”, said Physician Assistant Program Director Mary Jackson, DMSc, MMS, PA-C, CAQ-EM, C'05,

“The university's mission is to graduate ethical leaders who lead lives of significance in service to God and others. What better way to do that than to care for people in their toughest moments?” she said.

For Jackson, building the PA program was personal: she wanted to bring her own Mount undergraduate experience of dynamic, passionate teaching to new students in the healthcare field. The program was built locally by practicing clinicians who are actively navigating the healthcare system. This perspective shaped the curriculum as well as the holistic admissions process, so students graduate prepared for the real world.

The PA program offers an accelerated, rigorous pathway into medicine with the first year dedicated to on-campus learning and lab work. In year two, the students will begin 10 months of clinical rotations with community partners, caring for diverse populations and specialties before returning for a final “Transition to Clinical Practice” month that revisits equity and well-being, deepens highacuity topics like critical care, and prepares them for the board-certifying exam.

What sets the Mount’s program apart from all others is the focus on community outside and inside the clinic.

“The people, easily, are my favorite thing about this program,” PA student Tiffany Rodriguez said. “They’ve cultivated a group of people from all over the country, all different backgrounds, and it’s been really exciting to see us all starting to learn together, bring each other up and love each other.”

Another distinguishing factor lies in the PA curriculum, which weaves in the Mount’s Catholic mission and acts of service into every layer of training. The program emphasizes healthcare equity, preparing students to care for all communities, especially those most in need. Through its Care for America initiative, the program builds service and clinical experiences into every stage of training, placing students in settings like federally qualified health centers and prisons. To further this mission, the Mount also offers a fulltuition scholarship for select PA students who pledge to serve two years in underserved areas after graduation.

“Everybody has to touch on the social determinants of health,” Jackson explains. “Here, we are focused on changing attitudes and beliefs, which takes a lot more than a lecture.”

By pairing classroom learning with encounters across many walks of life, the program aims to nurture students’ heart for service in their desire to go out and give back to their communities.

Pamala Contreras, a PA student from the small town of Thomasville, Ga., said she was attracted to the Mount’s program because of its focus on equity and access to healthcare.

“The university's mission is to graduate ethical leaders who lead lives of significance in service to God and others. What better way to do that than to care for people in their toughest moments?”

“I saw the gap between healthcare and small communities, especially in the Latino community,” she said. “So, I asked myself, what else can I do to reach more people in my community, and that’s how I knew I wanted to be a PA.”

The new building in Emmitsburg includes modern lab technology to prepare students for clinical rotations. Unlike many PA programs, students begin hands-on training in bedside ultrasound, an increasingly important, safe and cost-effective diagnostic tool that many programs cannot fit into already packed curricula.

The program also houses the Center for Clinician Well-Being, which aims to address the burnout crisis among healthcare workers. The PA curriculum includes dedicated wellness classes, extracurricular courses such as yoga and meditation, and one-on-one well-being coaching throughout the program and extending for a year beyond graduation.

“From the outset, we considered how to best support the clinicians that we are training in a very proactive way so that they can develop the heart for service and care for the marginalized that we want them to have, and, at the same time, make sure that they can protect themselves [from burnout] and have long and flourishing careers,” said Christine McCauslin, Ph.D., dean of the College of Health Professions.

(Continued on page 23)

Alums in Healthcare Formed in Care: How the Mount Shaped Three Alumni in Healthcare

WHILE THE TIMOTHY E. TRAINOR College of Health Professions

is still less than a year old, the ethos that led to its creation— the Mount’s spirit of academic curiosity, faithful service, and respect for the dignity of others—has been forming dedicated professionals in all fields of healthcare for decades.

“The opportunities that you're given in the science disciplines are so incredible. Research and scientific instrumentation are so accessible, and the professors are graduates of prominent scientific research institutions,” shared Lena Petillo, C’25.

Petillo majored in biology at the Mount, and is currently pursuing a Master’s of Professional Nursing at the University of Pennsylvania, with the goal of one day becoming an advanced practice nurse. She credits the personal, hands-on education offered by the School of Science, Mathematics & Technology, alongside Core courses in theology and philosophy, for leaving her more than prepared to tackle her rigorous master’s program.

“At the Mount, we had such a big focus on like what it means to be human. And I think that that is one of the most important things that I'm taking into my nursing career, because so much of nursing is based on human dignity. I feel more prepared to face the big, ethical questions in healthcare,” she noted.

Thanks in part to the Mount, equitable, compassionate medical care is the fulcrum of the career of alumnus Matthew Schlumbrecht, MD, MPH, C’00, as well. Another biology majorturned healthcare worker, he is a medical doctor who also holds a Master of Public Health in epidemiology, and works in gynecological oncology. Some of the proudest points in his career have been receiving federal grants to bolster his research on biological and social causes for racial disparities in rates, presentation and outcomes for endometrial cancer.

“If you had asked me [after his fellowship] if I would be doing research in this space, I would have told you no, because I had no interest in it. But I came to Miami in 2016, and in a matter of several months, I started to see these patterns of cancer presentation… The reason I got into this is because I was seeing it in my patients and wanted to understand if what I was seeing was a random occurrence, or if there was actually data to suggest that what I'm seeing is real,” explained Schlumbrecht.

MATTHEW SCHLUMBRECHT, MD, MPH, C’00

LENA PETILLO, C’25

Schlumbrecht also credits the Mount’s Core Curriculum for helping develop his ability to connect with women facing a cancer diagnosis. He shared that although he didn’t take any classes related specifically to oncology, epidemiology or gynecology as an undergraduate, courses in English, theology, history and philosophy challenged him to examine things from new perspectives and understand the root of Christian teaching of the dignity of all.

“I have to be able to empathize with [patients] and see them as a human being independent of their skin color, religion, where they are from, or what their financial status is. And that world view…I feel that I was taught that at the Mount. I really think about how we were raised as Catholics, and are supposed to help the least among us.”

Advocacy for the vulnerable is at the heart of Vincent Chesney’s, C’97, work as a psychological services specialist for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and a current Ph.D. candidate in psychotherapy at Marywood University. Chesney treats clients with intellectual and developmental disabilities, in addition to mental health problems—a challenging, impactful field.

“I find it so rewarding to work with people that much of society would rather walk past,” he shared.

As a Mount student, Chesney threw himself into campus life with energy, embracing the spirit of giving back to the community. He volunteered with what’s now Vigilant Hose Company, Emmitsburg’s corps of volunteer first responders, and with the Catoctin Pregnancy Center. He became a writer for the Mountain Echo, even interviewing St. Teresa “Mother Teresa” of Calcutta during one of her two campus visits, and considered a career in journalism.

Inspired by the formation in service he received at the Mount, Chesney instead went on to complete a master’s program in human services at McDaniel College. It was during his time at McDaniel that Chesney became involved in the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD). Founded in 1876, the AAIDD is celebrating its sesquicentennial—and has chosen Chesney to be inaugurated as president for their 150th year.

How the Mount Shaped Three Alumni in Healthcare

Neither Chesney, Petillo, nor Schlumbrecht began their undergraduate studies at the Mount thinking that they’d be working in the fields they’re in now: Petillo considered medical school, Schlumbrecht thought he might be a biologist, and Chesney was interested in journalism. But for all three, the opportunities they encountered at the Mount, specifically the oneon-one mentorship of dedicated professors, the interdisciplinary nature of the Core, and the emphasis on service, lead them to embrace paths that best allow their talents to help others.

Schlumbrecht summed it up well: “It is a privilege to be able to do the things that we do. I graduated from medical school over 20 years ago and I can tell you, it’s still hard, but the contributions that you will make on both an individual- and community-level are really felt, even if you don't see them yourself.”

VINCENT CHESNEY, C’97

Operation Smile

IN 1981, William “Bill” Magee, Jr., D.D.S., M.D., C’66, and his wife, Kathleen “Kathy” Magee, B.S.N., M.S.W, M.Ed., traveled to the Philippines to assist in performing cleft lip and cleft palate surgeries on children with little to no access to surgical care. During that trip they were able to aid 40 children—but that was just scratching the surface. Hundreds of children had shown up for care that Magee and Kathy did not have the capacity to treat at that time. The thought of not being able to treat every child inspired them to begin Operation Smile the next year. Since then, the global nonprofit has bridged the gap in access to essential surgeries and healthcare for those in need.

37

6,500

Today, Operation Smile provides treatment in 37 countries. They’re over 6,500 healthcare professionals strong, and have treated more than 500,000 children and adults suffering from a cleft condition. For Bill Magee, co-founder and CEO Emeritus, the journey to starting Operation Smile was a winding and unexpected one— and it began during his time at Mount St. Mary’s University.

“When I came out of high school, my grades were not very good….I made it through high school, thank God, and I was going to become an electrician because I was working electrical construction on the side. All of a sudden, someone called me and

500,000

Children & Adults Treated Countries Healthcare Professionals

“I would have never, ever gotten there if it wasn't for Mount St. Mary's, if it wasn't for that confidence that it built in myself to think outside the box…to not be afraid to go into the unknown.”

said, you know, you ought to go to Mount St. Mary's,” shared Magee.

Magee is the first to admit that the Mount was taking a bit of a chance on him, academically. But once he arrived and began his studies in pre-med, inspired by his physician father, he discovered that he had a knack for higher education, after all.

“In college, I saw how hard everybody else was working. All of a sudden, for the first time in my life, I started studying. And it turned out that I was very successful. I completed college a year early, went to dental school and then got my dental degree. I ended up going to medical school, skipping the first year there, but still, all told, I was about 17 years out of high school before I finally went into practice. You took a kid from high school who wasn't necessarily interested in doing anything but being finished with school, but through Mount St. Mary's, he found this love of higher education and did 17 years total,” Magee explained.

After several years in plastic surgery, Magee was awarded a Hays-Fulbright Scholar Grant to study in Paris under a worldrenowned craniofacial surgeon, where he was able to perfect the skills needed to quickly and effectively operate on children with cleft conditions. Then, in 1982, Operation Smile was born.

Since their initial trip the Philippines, Magee, alongside his wife, their five children, and countless volunteers and medical professionals, have provided cleft surgery and comprehensive care all over the world, including several “world tours” involving visits to multiple countries in an L-1011 flying hospital, treating thousands of patients in a matter of weeks. He’s generated a massive, worldwide organization that serves the most vulnerable children and families. He’s attended multiple universities for graduate and postgraduate education, and been awarded an honorary degree by even more. Still, when recounting it all, he often returns to his time as a student at the Mount.

“I would have never, ever gotten there if it wasn't for Mount St. Mary's, if it wasn't for that confidence that it built in myself to think outside the box…to not be afraid to go into the unknown.”

To learn more about Operation Smile and their work, visit operationsmile.org

David Ginty, Ph.D., C’84,

Receives Prestigious Brain Prize

DAVID GINTY, PH.D., C’84, has been named a recipient of The Brain Prize, one of the most prestigious international honors in neuroscience awarded by the Lundbeck Foundation. This recognition is the capstone of a decades-long career spent uncovering how the nervous system allows us to feel the world around us, a passion that began during Ginty’s time at the Mount.

Ginty studies the sense of touch, focusing on how the nervous system detects and interprets a wide range of stimuli such as pressure, temperature, itch, and certain chemicals. His lab has identified many different types of sensory neurons and mapped how their signals travel into the spinal cord and up to the brain.

This work has revealed key organizational principles of touch and pain circuits and clarified why touch can become overwhelming or painful in conditions such as autism spectrum disorders and neuropathic pain.

The Brain Prize honors scientists who have had a transformational impact on our understanding of the brain and includes substantial research funding to push the field forward. For Ginty, who is the Edward R. and Anne G. Lefler Professor of Neurobiology at Harvard Medical School and an investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the award recognizes a body of work that has reshaped how neuroscientists think about touch, pain, and somatosensory disorders.

“I feel really fortunate to be in the position I’m in to be working with a lot of remarkably talented students, postdocs and staff, and with wonderful colleagues,” Ginty said. “To be awarded a prize on top of what's already really satisfying, it makes me even more appreciative of the great fortune I have to be able to do what I do.”

At the Mount, he chose to major in biology, learned how to study, immersed himself in science courses, and formed a close-knit circle of friends. Ginty credits professors such as organic chemist James Thomas, Ph.D., and physiology professor Pierre Gauthier, Ph.D., with awakening his curiosity and showing him what a life in science could look like.

A turning point came when Thomas asked him to serve as a teaching assistant for organic chemistry. Ginty soon found real enjoyment helping students in the lab and then began staying late to work alongside Thomas as the professor pursued his own research.

“It was enlightening and inspiring to see that somebody could really take a lot of joy in doing experiments to try to learn something new,” Ginty said. “By the time I was graduating, I thought to myself, ‘I want to be doing something like that. I want to be able to take my curiosity and explore.’”

After graduating from the Mount, Ginty earned his doctorate in physiology from East Carolina University School of Medicine in 1989, then pursued postdoctoral training in cellular and molecular neuroscience in Boston. He joined the neuroscience faculty at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in 1995, launching a lab focused on how peripheral sensory neurons develop and organize into circuits. In 2000, he was selected as an investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

I have a lot of passion about what we're doing, and the science is enormously interesting. I hope to move the needle on the science of things like autism spectrum disorder

and

neuropathic pain to improve quality of life.”

In 2012, he returned to Harvard Medical School to join, and later chair, the department of neurobiology.

Even as his career has taken him to the top of his field, Ginty has remained deeply connected to his alma mater. He has returned to campus as a keynote speaker, been honored as one of the Mount’s most distinguished alumni, and, in recent years, established an internship that brings current Mount students into his Harvard lab each summer.

“It is rare to earn this level of professional recognition, and we are thrilled to see Dr. Ginty’s accomplishments celebrated on the international stage,” said Christine McCauslin, Ph.D., dean of the Timothy E. Trainor College of Health Professions at Mount St. Mary’s.

“His body of work has made significant impacts in the field of neuroscience and offers hope for those suffering with

(Continued from page 17)

New PA Program Established as a Cornerstone of the Mount’s Long-Term Health Professions Vision

“We were all called to medicine for some reason,” Jackson added. “Let's hold on to that joy.”

The PA program is one of two anchor programs housed in the College of Health Professions, alongside the Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) master’s program and the Blue Peak Center, which uses applied behavior analysis—the “gold standard” therapy for children with autism—to help them learn adaptive skills.

These programs are part of a longstanding history of local healthcare programs starting with St. Joseph College, the Mount’s former sister college whose alumnae helped blaze the trail for women in nursing in Emmitsburg. From this foundation, the Mount plans to expand into nursing and other fields based on the industry’s greatest needs.

Now as the first year wraps up for the inaugural PA cohort, Jackson said that the Mount’s vision for the future of healthcare is already taking shape in her classroom.

“The students are curious, they’re energized, they’re passionate, they’re service-minded, they care, they’re engaged,” she said. “They’ve exceeded my expectations.”

sensory disorders. I am especially grateful for his steadfast support of the Mount and the School of Science, Mathematics & Technology. His commitment to mentoring the next generation of Mount neuroscience graduates speaks to our mission, and his investment in the lives of these individuals is transformational.”

Despite the attention that comes with a prize of this magnitude, Ginty remains most animated when talking about the science itself and the people it touches—his students, his trainees, and the next Mount undergraduate who will soon arrive in his lab in Boston.

“I'm not in this business to win prizes,” he said. “I have a lot of passion about what we're doing, and the science is enormously interesting. I hope to move the needle on the science of things like autism spectrum disorder and neuropathic pain to improve quality of life.”

A Legacy of Learning: Agnone Gift Names the School of Education

THE MOUNT ST. MARY’S University School of Education now bears a new name and a legacy that has been generations in the making. Now known as The Anthony F. and Alice G. Agnone School of Education, the name honors two lifelong educators whose quiet dedication shaped a community and inspired their son, Tony Agnone, C’75, and his wife Jaynee, to give a major gift investing in the future of Mount teachers.

“The generous gift given by the Agnone family makes a positive impact on being able to make meaningful modifications to our education programs,” said Stacey Brown-Hobbs, Ph.D., dean of the School of Education. “This gift will directly support teacher and leadership development through a variety of approaches including removing financial barriers for those pursuing the education profession as well as strengthening and expanding our partnerships.”

For Tony, education has been the “family business” for generations. His mother, Alice, taught kindergarten, eventually instructing roughly a third of the children in their small town of South River, N.J., while his father, Anthony, served as superintendent of schools for over 30 years.

Growing up, Tony saw firsthand how his parents’ teaching work touched so many people, instilling in him the values of service “for God and community.” Choosing to endow education, Tony explained, is the best way he and his wife can honor his parents and extend their impact to new generations of Mount students.

you can get it done.” He now works as an agent for high-ranking NFL players and coaches like Todd Bowles, Superbowl winning coach and Hall of Famer and TV personality Michael Strahan.

He credits professors such as the late William Meredith, Ph.D., Robert “Bob” Preston, Ph.D., John L. Morrison and Fr. Paul Redmond—along with current faculty like Corinne Farneti, Ph.D., dean of the Richard J. Bolte, Sr. School of Business—for solidifying the Mount’s reputation as a place where teachers and mentors know their students by name and remain genuinely invested in their lives. Tony remembers this commitment to community from his undergrad days, and it was later passed down this to his son, Anthony, Jr., who graduated with an MBA from the Mount in 2016.

“When we decided to do this, we thought of who outside of your parents has the most influence on you? It’s teachers.”

“When we decided to do this, we thought of who outside of your parents has the most influence on you? It’s teachers,” he said.

A 1975 Mount graduate who later earned his J.D. from the University of Baltimore in 1978, Tony says the Mount gave him both confidence and the conviction that “if you put your mind to it,

Education runs throughout the extended Agnone family. Tony’s sister, an alumna of Immaculata University, built a career as a school psychologist before becoming head of pupil services, while Tony himself spent five years as assistant dean at the University of Baltimore School of Law and later taught as an adjunct professor for a decade, sharing case law and lessons from his work in NFL contract negotiations with his students.

Tony describes his parents, Anthony and Alice, as humble, “very low key” people whose lives were defined more by quiet service than by titles or attention. For him, placing their names on the School of Education is a way to honor that spirit of service at a moment when education has changed dramatically and the need for committed, well-formed educators is greater than ever.

By investing in the Mount, Tony and Jaynee ensures graduates in education are not only well trained in their disciplines, but also ready to lead with the same integrity, humility and communityminded spirit that defined his parents’ careers.

The generous gift given by the Agnone family makes a positive impact on being able to make meaningful modifications to our education programs.”

Stacey Brown-Hobbs, Ph.D., dean of the AnthonyF. andAlice G.Agnone School of Education

“The Anthony F. and Alice G. Agnone School of Education will be able to explore innovative structures, curriculum, and practices that will leave a legacy as each candidate that graduates from this school will have a direct impact on hundreds of students across his or her career,” Brown-Hobbs said.

“We look forward to working with the Agnone family to ensure that we honor the memory of Anthony and Alice, and I am grateful as this gift opens doors to explore new and original ways to prepare and retain proficient, reflective, ethical, leading and adaptive professionals in the field of education.”

Alumni News

NAA President’s Letter

DEAR MOUNT COMMUNITY,

Our mountain home is gorgeous this time of year, sunny and green and covered in flowers. I hope all of you are looking forward to vacations, rest, and extra time with family and friends.

This past year, we’ve seen remarkable strides made by Mount community members and alumni across all areas of campus life. This January, the first physician assistant (PA) cohort in the Timothy E. Trainor College of Health Professions began their classes. I’m so proud of these phenomenal young students, of the dedication of founder, alumna and Program Director Mary Lueben Jackson, DMSc, MMS, PA-C, CAQ-EM, C’05, and the countless alumni who have entered healthcare formed and inspired by the education they received at the Mount. Some of their stories are highlighted in this edition of the Magazine, as a tribute to the Mount’s past and future contributions to this vital field.

Also in January, we celebrated Homecoming Weekend. Despite a looming snowstorm, our alumni brought enthusiasm and Mount pride to Knott Arena, making for an unforgettable weekend. The following alumni were inducted into the 2026 Athletic Hall of Fame at a special banquet over the weekend: Lacey A. Johansson, C'00, MBA'01, women's lacrosse and soccer; Michael P. Matta, C'10, men's baseball; Ashley M. DeCruise-Tucker, M.Ed., C'11, women's track and field; Aly Jost, C'11, women's lacrosse; and Brett R. Schmidt, C'13, men's lacrosse.

Last September, we launched the Mount Founders Circle, a group that recognizes the contributions of extraordinary donors and alumni, at an inaugural event at the home of President Joyce in Emmitsburg. Thank you to all of our Mount Founders Circle members for your dedication to furthering the education and formation of graduates in the spirit of our founders.

This spring, several alumni partnered with admissions to host prospective students and their families. Koki Adasi, C’04; Leeann Mason, C’06, and Taylor Mason, C’07; Suzanne Hueston, C’91, and Colin Hueston, C’90; Kelly Catania, C’90, and Joe Catania, C’93; and Frank Bolte, C’87, graciously hosted socials giving prospective students a chance to meet alumni, ask questions about life after graduation, and hear success stories firsthand. These events also gave alumni the opportunity to reconnect and celebrate the Mount community.

Finally, I’d like to extend a warm welcome to the alumnae of St. Joseph College, our former sister school in Emmitsburg. After St. Joe’s closed in 1973, former students—some of whom transferred to the Mount—maintained an active, engaged alumni association for 52 years. Last summer, the women of the former St. Joseph College Alumnae Association (SJCAA) officially joined the Mount St. Mary’s Alumni Association, a fitting representation of the intertwined history and missions of our two academic institutions. It’s been a pleasure to assist in this transition.

I’ve been president of the National Alumni Association (NAA) for five years, and it has truly been a joy. President Joyce has asked me to stay on for another year as we transition into the future of the NAA. We are working on new programming, on- and offcampus events, and alumni recognition that will engage alumni of all generations. I love the Mount and look forward to continuing to help the institution thrive.

To all my fellow alumni, thank you again for sharing your stories and showing your dedication time and again to our alma mater. It’s an honor to serve the Mount’s alumni as they continue to make their mark on the world and celebrate Mount St. Mary’s.

Spes Nostra,

SUSAN JANOWIAK, C’81

National Alumni Association President

Get Connected

Reach out to alumni@msmary.edu to learn more and get involved.

Meet the Mount's New Director of Alumni Engagement

CASEY SMIAL, C’20, MBA’25

About Casey

A lifelong Marylander, I’m originally from Baltimore County, and graduated from The John Carroll School in 2016. When I arrived on the Mount’s campus as a freshman later that year, I quickly noticed the people-centered culture and genuine investment that faculty and staff make in each student’s success. Those formative four years sparked my desire to work at the Mount after graduation.

I spent five years in the Office of Admissions, recruiting prospective students and enhancing the on-campus visit

St. Joseph College Alumnae Association Scholarship

Each spring since 2013, the women of the St. Joseph College Alumnae Association (SJCAA) have awarded scholarships to rising or transfer juniors or seniors at Mount St. Mary’s University in honor of the women who graduated from St. Joseph College. The scholarship is awarded on the basis of financial need, volunteer work, and academic merit.

The scholarship is funded by generous gifts made by alumnae of St. Joseph College and their family and friends. To date, hundreds of thousands have been contributed to the endowment, and the individual awards have increased from $2,200 to $7,000.

Last year’s recipients were Elijah Jumper, C’26, and Michelle Nkansah-Okyere, C’26.

Elijah Jumper was selected as a SJCAA scholar as a rising junior. He majored in business, with a concentration in finance, and plans to begin a career as a financial advisor or analyst. An impressive student, Elijah’s GPA was 3.95 by the time he was awarded the SJCAA scholarship. He was named to the Dean’s List each semester, invited to join the Honors Program, and was also the recipient of a Maguire Scholarship and President’s Scholarship during his time at the Mount.

Elijah worked hard during his four years to put himself through school, holding down a variety of jobs while succeeding academically. He thanked the SJCAA, sharing that “because of [their] generosity, I was able to focus more of my time on academics, athletics, and preparing for life after graduation… I am very blessed and can’t express my gratitude enough!”

experience, and earned my MBA from the Mount in 2025. Last October, I began working as the Mount’s Director of Alumni Engagement. Since then, I’ve been energized and heartened by hearing alums’ transformative stories and witnessing the lasting connections many have formed with the university. I look forward to continuing to honor Mount traditions, while exploring new and meaningful ways to keep alumni involved in the campus community that shaped them.

Michelle Nkansah-Okyere, C’26, was also chosen to be a SJCAA scholar as a rising junior. Originally from Ghana, she doublemajored in cybersecurity and business, with plans to work for a hospital or school system to keep their online networks safe and free from security breaches. Michelle is dedicated to giving back to her community; she’s volunteered her time and talents in a variety of settings, including founding an organization to aid orphaned children alongside friends in Ghana, helping with the weekly children’s ministry at BridgeWay Church, and working as an advisor for the Student Youth and Travel Organization, a group that provides school supplies to children in need.

Michelle told the SJCAA how much it meant to her to be recognized and supported by the dedicated alumnae through the scholarship: “I admire how [the SJCAA] continue to lift young students like me, even years after St. Joseph’s closed. That shows the strength of your sisterhood and the power of your legacy. More than financial support, what touches me most is the feeling of connection.”

To learn more about the SJCAA scholarship program or to contribute to the fund, reach out to the Mount St. Mary’s Office of Alumni Engagement at alumni@msmary.edu or (301) 447-5362.

ELIJAH JUMPER, C’26 MICHELLE NKANSAH-OKYERE, C’26

ONE MOUNT ONE DAY: A Celebration of Community and Generosity

ON APRIL 16, 2026, the Mount community came together for One Mount One Day, our annual day of giving that demonstrates the incredible impact we can make when we unite with purpose. This 24-hour event is more than a fundraiser: it’s a celebration of Mount pride, gratitude, and the spirit of giving that defines our university.

WHY IT MATTERS

Every gift, large or small, helps sustain the Mount experience beyond what tuition covers. From scholarships and academic programs to athletics and sacred spaces, your generosity ensures that the Mount continues to thrive for generations to come.

A DAY FULL OF CONNECTION AND GRATITUDE

This year’s One Mount One Day featured exciting opportunities for students, faculty, staff, and alumni to engage with the mission and celebrate the power of philanthropy:

» Coffee & Gratitude Break: Faculty and staff joined us in saying "thank you" to donors who help make the Mount experience possible.

» Campus Scavenger Hunt: Students explored named spaces across campus, discovering the history and generosity that shaped them.

» Walking Tacos, with a Side of Philanthropy: At our Walking Tacos, Rising Hope event, students built more than a snack: they built awareness. Each topping represented enhancements donors make possible beyond tuition, from vibrant campus

programs to updated student spaces. With every delicious bite, students had a fun reminder of how the Mount community’s generosity enriches their everyday experience.

» Senior Class of 2026 - Crafting the Class Legacy: Seniors celebrated by gathering in the Makers House, the Mount's open-studio art lab, for a hands-on creative project, making their senior class gift and enjoying fellowship. One Mount. One Class. One Legacy.

YOUR GIFT: Visit msmary.edu/give to make a gift online. WANT TO BE AN AMBASSADOR NEXT YEAR? Email Michelle Pickett-Valentine, Director of Operations and Annual Giving, at m.l.pickettvalentine@msmary.edu to learn more!

One Mount One Day is a testament to the strength of our community and the enduring spirit of generosity that defines the Mount. Together, we rise in hope, and together, we make an extraordinary impact.

Wherever Summer Takes You, Let the Mount Flag Fly High!

JOIN US IN CELEBRATING MOUNT FLAG DAY ON JULY 29

This summer, we’re inviting members of the Mount community to bring their Mount pride from the mountains to the shore.

Introducing Mount Flag Day, a new initiative celebrating the places our Mount community goes and the pride we carry with us.

Whether you’re spending a week at the beach, a long weekend by the lake, or embarking on a summer adventure, we invite you to display a Mount flag. Show your Mountaineer pride on July 29 by sharing your photos on social media using #MountFlagDay. Follow Mount St. Mary’s University on social media to view flag day posts.

Order your flag, mark your calendar, and join us for Mount Flag Day!

Mount flags are available for purchase and through select campus and community events. Quantities are limited.

Need a Mount Flag?

Scan the code to get yours today!

A Memorable Reunion!

A SPECIAL THANK YOU to everyone who made the 2025 Reunion Weekend so memorable. The celebration was especially meaningful for the Class of 1975 as it marked its 50th anniversary. During the weekend, Eugene M. Waldron, Jr., C’64, and Fran and Rich Becker, C’75, were honored with the Bruté Award, and Jacob Halbert, Psy.D., C'15, and Jennifer Smith, C’15, received the Distinguished Young Alumni Award.

Class of 1975

2025 Award Recipients

DISTINGUISHED YOUNG ALUMNI AWARD

JACOB HALBERT, PSY.D., C'15

JENNIFER SMITH, C’15

BRUTÉ MEDAL

EUGENE M. WALDRON, JR., C’64

FRAN AND RICH BECKER, C’75

Check Out Photos from Reunion 2026!

RW 25

CLASS OF 2020

Winter Homecoming

ON JANUARY 24, alumni and their families gathered again on Mary’s Mountain to celebrate Winter Homecoming 2026.

The event kicked off with the Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony and celebratory brunch. After brunch, attendees had the chance to attend home games for men’s and women’s basketball, with an alumni social in between.

Thank you to all the members of our Mount community who came out to show their support for Mount athletics and our newest inductees to the Hall of Fame!

Athletic Hall of Fame

AT THIS YEAR’S WINTER HOMECOMING, we honored our newest inductees to the Athletic Hall of Fame at a dedicated brunch.

After welcome remarks from Director of Athletics Bradley Davis, President of Mount St. Mary’s University Gerard “Jerry” Joyce, Ph.D., and Chair of the Hall of Fame Committee Robert Herb, C’78, a toast from Vice President for Advancement Patricia Hill-Callahan, C’87, and an opening invocation led by University Chaplain Father Justin Gough, the inductees spoke and shared a bit of their own stories.

Read on to learn more about the five newest members of the Mount’s Athletic Hall of Fame!

LACEY JOHANSSON, C’00, MBA’01

Johansson was a member of the women’s soccer and women’s lacrosse teams. She captained the soccer team from 1999-2000, and the lacrosse team the following year, all while earning her bachelor’s in business, with a marketing concentration, graduating in 2000 with honors and going on to earn her MBA from the Mount the following year.

During her Mount career, Johansson was named Northeast Conference Soccer Rookie of the Week and Lacrosse MVP, also receiving First Team All-Conference honors for lacrosse. She was an All-Academic for the Northeast Conference for both soccer and lacrosse. In 2015, Johansson earned another master’s degree, in real estate, from Johns Hopkins University. She currently serves as the Vice President of Leasing for St. John’s Properties.

MICHAEL MATTA, C’10

Matta was a record-breaking member of the Mount baseball team. He holds multiple school records, including the record for career saves (24), appearances as top relief pitcher (96), second-ever for number of career wins (19), and second-best single season ERA in Mount history, with 2.37. He also holds the record for third-most single season saves at eight saves, and second place for number of appearances over the course of a single season, with 26 his senior year.

Matta graduated in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in sport management. He is currently a special education teacher for Prince William County Schools. His passion for baseball remains a vital part of his life—he coaches varsity high school baseball, Stars Showcase baseball, and Little League.

ASHLEY DECRUISE-TUCKER, ED.D., C’11

DeCruise-Tucker was a member of the Mount’s track and field team, and she broke records for multiple track events, including the 100 meter, 200 meter, and 400 meter runs, and relays. As a senior at the Mount, she was named the 2011 NEC Champion & Record Holder, the NEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year for Outdoor Track and earned First Team All-Academic Honors.

After graduating in 2011 with her degree in elementary education, she earned a master’s degree in special education from Seton Hill University. She obtained a doctorate of education in leadership and administration from Nova Southeastern University in 2017, and is Head of Schools at Monument Academy Public Charter Schools.

ALY JOST, C’11

Jost was a dedicated member of the Mount’s women’s lacrosse team. She served as team captain in 2010 and 2011, and was a starter in all 71 games of her Mount career. The recipient of several honors and awards, she was named Defensive Player of the Year in 2009 and 2011 (the first in Northeast Conference history) and was the first athlete in Mount history to be in the All-NEC First Team for all four years of her career. She was also named NEC Women’s Lacrosse Athlete of the Year and to the NEC Academic Honor Roll.

After double-majoring in business and sociology at the Mount, she went on to obtain a master’s degree in supply chain management from Towson University. Jost is the production control manager for Under Armour.

BRETT SCHMIDT, C’13

Schmidt was a member of the men’s lacrosse team, and honored during each of his four years at the Mount. Named to the NEC All-Rookie Team as a freshman, he would go on to make the All-NEC team every year from sophomore year onward, with a First Team honor as a junior and Second Team honors his sophomore and senior years. Schmidt was also named to the NEC AllTournament Team in both his sophomore and junior years. With 114 goals and 82 assists across his college career, he is in the top ten of the Mount’s all-time scoring list.

Schmidt graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business and serves as a mechanical estimator for IPT Corps, as well as a lacrosse and flag football coach in his free time.

Hall of Fame

Will Provide Meaningful, Lasting Support for Our Students, Faculty, and Programs New Funds

AS WE CONTINUE TO RISE IN HOPE and strengthen the future of the Mount, we are proud to introduce several newly created funds that reflect the generosity and vision of our community. These funds, established by alumni, families, and friends who believe deeply in the Mount’s mission, will provide meaningful, lasting support for our students, faculty, and programs. We are profoundly grateful for the donors whose commitment makes this growth possible, and we look forward to the many ways these investments will enrich the Mount for years to come.

Check out the newest funds established:

THE MARY ELIZABETH O'TOOLE MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND

DONOR: THOMAS F. MUSSO

The fund supports a student pursuing elementary education with unmet need and a minimum of a 2.75 grade point average. It is the intention of the donor for this fund to be a renewable enhancement scholarship.

THE

GEORGE GELLES MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND

DONORS: CHRISTINE, C’92, AND MARY T. GELLES

Created to support a rising junior or senior in good academic standing, this fund is rewarded to students active in the Mount community who are members of either student government, campus ministries or other student life activities that support the campus community.

THE RIDENOUR FAMILY FUND

DONOR: JAMES R. RIDENOUR, JR., C’75

This fund supports the mission and greatest needs of Mount St. Mary's University.

THE

PROFESSOR CARMEN B. SCHMERSAHL FOREIGN STUDIES FUND

DONORS: JAMES AND CARMEN SCHMERSAHL

Supporting expenses associated with travel abroad experiences, this fund serves to cover costs including, but not limited to transportation, lodging, meals, program fees and travel insurance that facilitate international educational and cultural enrichment opportunities.

THE TRAN FAMILY FUND FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AT THE NATIONAL SHRINE GROTTO

DONORS: DUONG TRAN AND ANN NGA-TRAN

The fund supports capital improvements, maintenance and beautification of the National Shrine Grotto with a first preference for the Our Lady of the LaVang Shrine.

THE THOMAS G. O'HARA ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP FUND

DONOR: SEAN O'HARA

Created as an enhancement scholarship, this fund supports students working as the athletic student manager or basketball manager. The university agrees to provide an additional scholarship of equal or greater value to the student awarded.

THE FRANK THEIS FAMILY ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP FUND

DONORS: MARY C. POWERS AND MARGARET OWSTON

The fund supports unrestricted scholarships.

THE

CASTEEL JOHNSON ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP FUND

DONOR: CASTEEL JOHNSON, C’16

The purpose of the fund is to provide annual scholarships to students, as determined by the Director of the Palmeri Center for Entrepreneurship.

THE

RANDOLPH JOHNSON SCHOLARSHIP FOR ENTREPRENEURS

FUND

DONOR: CASTEEL JOHNSON, C’16

This fund provides annual scholarships of $2,500 each to four students who have written a white paper based on an entrepreneurial idea. Students will be eligible for scholarship renewal, provided they continue to actively work on the project.

Class Notes

Find Out What Your Fellow Alumni Are Doing!

Stories are listed by class year, in ascending order to most recent and alphabetically by last name.

Career and Life Accomplishments

ABBY ZINZI, C’25

Abby Zinzi, C’25, celebrated graduating from the Mount with family and friends, many fellow Mounties, at her graduation party. Pictured below are Mike Zinzi, C’94, Kathleen Burke, C’94, Pat Kirby, C’94, Jen Kirby, C’94, Tom Glancy, C’96, John Burke, C’94, Todd Cunningham, C’96, Kevin Ortuglio, ’94, Colin Ward, C’94, Chris Rogers, C’96, Dana Ward, C’97, Abby Zinzi, C’25, Jack Straub, C‘22, Aimie Thompson Zinzi, C’97, Sarah Cunningham, C’97, Meg Leubecker Lewis, C’02, Katie Harmer Leubecker, C’02, John Leubecker, C’04 and Josh Carson.

BREANNA RORRER, C’21

Breanna Rorrer, C’21, was promoted to a supervisor position at SEK, CPAs & Advisors. Bre provides tax and compilation services to individual and business clients. She also assists with new hire training as a personal transition coach and is currently pursuing her Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license. Bre is a member of the firm’s SEK University Tax Committee and Emerging Professionals Committee. She graduated summa cum laude from the Mount with a B.S. in accounting and forensic accounting. Outside of work, Bre enjoys golfing, sprint car racing, supporting local businesses and restaurants with friends and family, and spending time with her husband and two kitties.

Breanna Rorrer, C’21

ALEXIS SALERNO, M.D., C'11

Alexis Salerno, M.D., C'11, was promoted to associate professor of emergency medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. She also serves as the director of the Emergency Ultrasound Division and director of the Advanced Emergency Medicine Ultrasonography Fellowship. She also received the Mercy Medical Center Teaching Award for the 2024-2025 academic year.

Share Your Lives with Us!

We'd love to hear what you've been up to since you graduated—email your photos and accomplishments to themagazine@msmary.edu for a chance to be featured!

Births

AMANDA (HANSON) MATHENY, C'11, and husband WES MATHENY, C'11, welcomed a beautiful baby girl, Addison Blair Matheny, on Jan. 6, 2025. Amanda and Wes’ son, Landon, was over the moon to welcome his new baby sister and enjoys being a big brother.

WILLIAM F. FRITTS, II, MA’ 91

Brethren Mutual Insurance Company appointed William F. Fritts, II, MA’ 91, to the Brethren Mutual Board of Directors, effective October 10, 2025

PAM L. WALSH, C’91

In October 2024, Pam L. Walsh, C’91, was promoted to executive director of the Special Agents Mutual Benefit Association, a Federal Employee Benefit Association in Rockville, Md.

Dr. Alexis Salerno, C'11

William F. Fritts, II, MA’ 91

Weddings & Engagements

OLIVIA (EBY) MCCARRON, C'22, MBA'23, AND KYLE MCCARRON, C'22, MBA'23

Kyle McCarron and Olivia Eby were married on April 5, 2025, with a ceremony at the National Shrine Grotto and a reception held at Antrim 1844 in Taneytown, Md. They both graduated from the Mount in 2022 and met during their first week at freshman orientation. The ceremony was officiated by Rev. Msgr. Thomas Mullelly, C'74, who is also a proud Mount graduate and former professor. “It’s been such a special journey, and having our wedding tied to the Mount made it all the more meaningful.”

VERONICA (PLATE) LAVENBERG, C'21, AND NICK LAVENBERG, C'21

ASHLYNN (COOK) PORTILLO, C'20, MBA'21, AND SAM PORTILLO, C'20, MBA'21

Sam Portillo and Ashlynn Cook were married on July 12, 2025, in New Hill, N.C. They were blessed to celebrate with friends, family, Mount alumni and, most importantly, their now two-year-old son, Dean. Sam was a mid-fielder on the Mount men’s lacrosse team and Ashlynn was a multi-event athlete on the track and field team. The wedding was officiated by James Noel, C‘20.

Nick and Veronica Lavenburg were married on July 27, 2024, at the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception at Mount St. Mary’s University. They welcomed their son, Levi, on November 28, 2025.

RACHEL (DONOHUE) FIERRO, C'21, AND ERIC FIERRO, C'22

Eric Fierro and Rachel Donohue were married on November 1, 2025, at Springfield Manor in Thurmont, Md. They met during social media class at the Mount during Rachel's junior year. Several members of the bridal party were Mount classmates.

"YOU HAD TO BE THERE” REUNION CELEBRATES 40 YEARS

In August 2025, a group of alumni and others traveled to Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks to celebrate 40 years of taking annual trips together, which they like to call “You Had to be There” because “if you don’t come, we won’t tell you about it.”

Pictured are Margaret Cashen, C'85, her husband Kevin Cashen, C'83; Jody Sevy, C’82, and his wife Kathy; Marlena Hetherington, C'83, and her husband Robert Hetherington, C'82; and Dave Vidmar, C’83, and his wife Lynn.

AN IMPROMPTU REUNION CONVERGES IN CHARLOTTESVILLE

When Kaitlyn Hines, C'17, and friends visited King Family Vineyards in Charlottesville, Va., they came across other Mount alumni there from classes ranging from C’75 to C’17. What a coincidence!

Alumni Gatherings

MOUNTIES VACATION IN THE OUTER BANKS

In August 2025, these Mounties carried on a yearslong tradition of vacationing at Kill Devil Hills, NC, for a week of fun in the sun. Pictured are Ray Sloan, C’72, Anne Costigan Wassmann, C’06, and her husband, Andy Wassman, C'05, Bob Wassmann, C’72, and Jen Wassmann, C’00. Ray and Bob were members of the last all-male class at the Mount, Jen was a member of the last class at Mount St. Mary’s College, and Andy and Anne were senior class presidents. Following in family tradition, Bob’s great niece, Summer Stroop, C’29, is a rising sophomore at the Mount and is on the women’s golf team.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace, Amen. May their souls and all the souls of the faithfully departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

In Memoriam

Notice Received February 2025 - January 2026

Deceased listed in order by class year.

John W. Burkhard, C’49

July 25, 2025

William E. O'Neill, C’49

May 10, 2025

Edward Joseph Velky, C’51

September 15, 2022

Robert E. Russo, C’51

August 8, 2020

Leo J. Kennedy, C’51

May 21, 2024

Joseph V. Carter, C’51

June 26, 2025

Eugene A. Bogatko, C’51

December 6, 2025

Marie Kleber, SJCA’51

August 15, 2025

Thomas F. Kern, C’54

November 7, 2025

Dr. William J. Geppert, Jr., C’56

May 24, 2025

Robert J. Mulry, C’57

April 16, 2020

Richard G. Toomy, C’58

April 18, 2025

John M. Gilligan, C’58

June 20, 2025

Louis F. Lombard, C’58

May 20, 2020

Donald J. Catanese, C’60

March 19, 2025

Richard A. Moye, C’60

February 1, 2026

Martha Kasnic, SJC’61

July 25, 2025

Joseph T. Healy, C’61

July 19, 2025

Philip T. Powderly, C’62

June 9, 2025

James J. Kelly, C’62

November 5, 2023

Richard L. Adelsberger, C’62

July 30, 2025

Thomas C. Gates, C’62

November 18, 2022

Richard J. Redding, C’62

October 20, 2025

Robert J. Fagan, C’62

October 26, 2025

Thomas F. Williams, C’63

August 11, 2025

Stephen P. Bourexis, C’63

December 27, 2023

Joseph R. Farrell, C’63

February 4, 2022

Mary Louise Spurrier, SJC’63

August 29, 2025

Robert K. Startt, C’64

October 12, 2024

Terrence P. Burns, C’64

October 8, 2024

Richard E. Swomley, C’64

June 14, 2025

Robert J. McQuade, C’64

March 17, 2025

Denise Ann Panepinto, SJC’64

October 4, 2025

John Moroney, C’65

December 3, 2025

Barbara Hummell, SJC’65

July 21, 2025

Rev. Charles Muzzey, C’65

October 6, 2025

Col. John M. Kaheny, C’66

July 2, 2025

James Saunders, C’66

September 28, 2025

Stephen R. Smith, C’66

September 18, 2025

Bruce C. Ellis, C’66

October 15, 2025

Rev. Ronald Moratelli, C’69

October 3, 2025

Donald F. Boden, C’68

January 7, 2026

Richard D. Buettner, C’68

June 6, 2025

Rupert C. Hartmann, II, D.O., C’68

June 17, 2025

John E. Lutz, C’68

July 17, 2025

Harry J. Dingle, C’68

May 26, 2025

Frank P. Keenan, C’68

November 10, 2025

Ronald E. Wells, C’70

May 14, 2025

James L. McAneny, C’70

June 16, 2025

Deacon John T. Kirk, C’70

August 14, 2025

Peter J. Goodwin, Jr., C’72

May 15, 2025

Mary Kenney, SJC’72

June 9, 2025

Richard A. Koslow, C’72

November 4, 2025

Kevin M. Horan, C’73

December 12, 2025

Jane A. McDonough Milne, SJC’73

July 2, 2025

Theodore H. Mack, C’75 February 21, 2025

Rev. Nicholas Mancini, C’75

January 14, 2026

Col. Allison P. Clark III, C’76

July 26, 2025

Rev. Carl Kaltreider, C’78

June 11, 2025

Rev. Msgr. Nevin Klinger, C’82 December 4, 2025

Rev. Thomas Galvin, C’82

October 10, 2025

Christopher McCormack, C’86

September 28, 2025

David Santora, C’86

August 30, 2025

Kelly A. Simmermon, C’86

November 17, 2020

Thomas J. Lorber, C’87

March 13, 2025

Rev. John Moineau, C’87

October 25, 2025

Kerri J. Cunningham, C’88

December 4, 2025

Patrick B. O'Meara, C’95

June 4, 2025

Rebecca M. Horton, C’95

July 10, 2025

Richard S. Durham, C’96

March 2, 2022

John C. Brennan, C’97

July 2, 2025

Rev. James Mercer, C’97 November 15, 2025

Dr. William Meredith, C’98 Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters

July 19, 2025

Peter J. McGaughran, C’09

March 27, 2025

From left to right: Edward J. O’Neill, MD, C’59; John O’Neill, MD, C’52; the late Honorable William E. O’Neill, Esq., C’49; James. M. O’Neill, C’56

“Freshman”

Robert M. "Bob" Preston, Ph.D. November 27, 2025

I imagine Bob Preston in a heavenly conversation with the playwright Tom Stoppard. They died within days of each other. Perhaps, they are in an afterlife freshman orientation together.

From our intro freshwoman history class using Howard Zinn's historiography textbook, to a senior J-term seminar, an examination of history in film starting with D.W. Griffith's "Birth of a Nation", Dr. Preston guided us history majors with an insistence that while studying the "story" in history, we must pay attention to the storyteller.

Occasionally, Bob and Ginny Preston invited me to babysit. I glimpsed five warm, curious blossoming children who were showered by love. Somewhere in their Emmitsburg home, there was a framed quote which has stayed with me to this day when I reach for memory trinkets of wisdom, especially about the mystery of a successful marriage:

“Don't walk behind me, I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.”

Bob Preston was a friend. One chilly spring Saturday morning, a 2nd Brute neighbor arrived in our dorm room. She picked up a lonely half-filled glass on my desk, tossed it down the sink and washed it. My contact lenses had been in it. I panicked. The replacement cost would be high. I called Dr. Preston. He arrived with a canvas tool bag, took the sink apart and pronounced the contacts gone.

When I phoned home that evening to confess to my mother, I shaped the story in dramatic detail, hoping to cushion the blow of the expense by telling the lengths to which I had gone to save the lenses. My mother, however, saw a bigger picture. She responded with the dreaded pause followed by one of her many refreshing slaps in my face.

"Are you kidding? Dr. Preston stopped his Saturday, drove to your dorm and dismantled pipes. Do you see the high caliber people surrounding you at the Mount? The kindness? You need stronger lenses now. Don't worry about the money. Count Dr. Preston among your many blessings."

Bob Preston was an inspiration. He wrestled with ideas, their context, and their interpretations. He laughed during his lectures, as if he was editing his prepared notes one more time during delivery. He listened with his face. He questioned our responses. I saved most of the essays I wrote for him. His comments were specific, pithy colors.

His teaching figured prominently in late — and sometimes all-night — study sessions with my roommate and dear friend, Barbara Spartana. While we scrutinized our notes on his lectures, we enjoyed meandering conversations trying to understand Watergate, or the America described by William Manchester in "The Glory and the Dream", or feminism. He taught me to learn how a bright friend's mind works. Barbara and I interpreted history differently, yet we found common ground. We were not competitors. We were explorers. We learned about each other while charting distinct points of view. Dr. Preston led us to the realization that spoken discourse deepens connection among searchers who look to history for life lessons.

I marvel as I reflect on the extraordinary light in Dr. Preston. So will Tom Stoppard. His play, "The Real Thing," was my first foray into the next adventure in my life after graduation from the Mount. I became aware of a link between history and theater. It has to do with words and the heart.

Tom Stoppard wrote:

"I don't think writers are sacred, but words are. They deserve respect. If you get

the right ones in the

right order, you might nudge the world a little or make a poem that children will speak for you when you are dead."

Bob Preston taught what Tom Stoppard wrote. Imagine a conversation between them. Tom Stoppard is going to love him, as so many of us love him. He was, and is, the real thing.

Thank you,

Kathleen Scullion, Class of 1978.

Introducing the Honoring Our Past. Leading Our Future.

MOUNT ST. MARY’S UNIVERSITY has always been shaped by visionaries, people whose generosity, leadership, and faith called them to do more for the Mount and for the Church. This year, we celebrate that spirit by launching the Mount Founders Circle, an annual giving society that invites alumni, parents, and friends to invest boldly in the Mount’s mission and the students who carry it forward.

2025-2026 marks the inaugural year of the Mount Founders Circle. Members who join by June 30, 2026, with an unrestricted gift of $2,000 or more will be welcomed into the society and receive a commemorative inaugural medallion, a keepsake symbolizing both continuity with our founders and the momentum we build together for the future.

Inaugural Year 2025-2026

Join by June 30, 2026, with an unrestricted gift of $2,000+ to receive the commemorative inaugural medallion.

From left to right: Reverend Michael M. Romano, Rector/Vice President, Mount St. Mary's Seminary, Dawn Walsh, Executive Director, National Shrine Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, Marty Brunk, C'80, Board of Trustees.

A HISTORIC LAUNCH AT THE PRESIDENT’S HOME

The Mount Founders Circle was unveiled in September during an intimate launch event at the home of President Gerard “Jerry” Joyce, Ph.D., setting the tone for this new era of leadership giving. Guests were welcomed into a space that reflects the Mount’s heritage and mission, and they heard from a distinguished panel of presenters:

Jerry Joyce, Ph.D., President, Mount St. Mary’s University

Patty Hill-Callahan, C’87, Vice President for Advancement

Layton Field, Ph.D., Vice President of Mission and Ministry

Father Michael Romano, Rector/Vice President, Mount St. Mary’s Seminary

Dawn Walsh, Executive Director, National Shrine Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes

Together, they shared powerful insights on the connections between the Mount’s sacred spaces, the seminary, the National Shrine Grotto, and the campus itself, as well as the history that has brought us to this moment. They reflected on the vision of our founders, Father John Dubois, St. Elizabeth Ann “Mother” Seton, and Father Simon Bruté, whose faith and courage laid the foundation for a community that continues to thrive more than two centuries later.

This event was more than a celebration: it was a reminder that leadership giving is not only about dollars, but about continuing the legacy of faith, service, and education that began with those extraordinary founders.

BUILT ON FIVE PILLARS OF IMPACT

The Mount Founders Circle aligns with the priorities of our three-year strategic plan and recognizes leadership philanthropy that strengthens the Mount across five mission-centered pillars:

Community

Supporting the Mount Annual Fund

Leadership

Supporting Mount Athletics

Legacy

Supporting the Mount Annual Unrestricted Scholarship Fund

Faith

Supporting the Seminary Annual Fund

Service

Supporting the National Shrine Grotto Annual Fund

Each pillar reflects a vital dimension of the Mount experience and a clear path for donor impact.

Honoring Our Past. Leading Our Future.

RECOGNITION & MEMBER EXPERIENCE

Members of the Mount Founders Circle will be recognized throughout the year and invited to exclusive opportunities that deepen community and celebrate impact:

Commemorative Inaugural Medallion (FY26) for members who join by June 30

Exclusive invitations to leadership briefings and campus experiences

Opportunities to share your Mount story, building a living library of impact

HOW TO JOIN

Make an unrestricted gift of $2,000 or more by June 30, 2026, to be welcomed as a Mount Founders Circle member and receive the inaugural medallion. Prefer monthly giving? Consider a sustaining plan that reaches the $2,000 threshold by fiscal yearend. Join today by visiting msmary.edu/joinmountfounders.

YOUR LEADERSHIP SHAPES TOMORROW

When you join the Mount Founders Circle, you affirm what makes the Mount distinct and indispensable. You invest in the whole student, the shared life of our campus, the formation of athletes and ministers, the opening of doors through scholarship, and the sacred spaces that renew our faith.

Our founders believed the Mount could change lives and serve the Church. Through your philanthropy you continue that legacy.

Join by June 30, 2026, to be part of the inaugural members of the Mount Founders Circle and receive your commemorative medallion.

Together, we honor our past, lead our future, and Rise in Hope.

Learn More about the Mount Founders Circle

1808 Society

Honoring a Lifelong Legacy

BRIAN SMITH, C’70, AND HIS WIFE, SUZANNE, SJC’71, have been inducted into Mount St. Mary’s University’s 1808 Society in recognition of their longtime service and spirit of giving. For the Smiths, joining this distinguished circle of benefactors reflects their enduring connection to the Mount and a pledge to ensure its mission thrives for future generations.

“Our giving has always been about paying it forward,” Brian said. “The Mount gave us so much—it shaped who we are.”

Brian’s Mount journey began after spending his first two years of college in a seminary in West Hartford, Conn. Quiet and introspective, he sought a place where he could explore new possibilities while remaining anchored in faith. At the Mount, he found a welcoming community that built his confidence and fostered lifelong relationships.

During a joint event with the nearby St. Joseph’s College, Brian met Suzanne, a nursing student whose compassion and faith mirrored his own. Their first date was Valentine’s Day 1969, and two years later they married. Now, after 55 years together, their partnership remains grounded in shared values of service, learning, and gratitude.

“Brian and I feel very fortunate to have found each other and to remain connected to the Mount and to St. Joe’s,” Suzanne said. “It’s a relationship that continues to bless us.”

PAYING IT FORWARD

After graduating with a B.S. in psychology, Brian went on to get his MBA in finance at NYU and had a successful career in the insurance industry. Meanwhile, Brian served faithfully on the University’s President’s Council and the Board of Trustees over the course of three decades.

Through that service, he witnessed firsthand the Mount’s continuing mission to form ethical, resilient leaders.

“The Mount takes students and turns them into leaders,” Brian said. “The transformation we achieve with these kids coming in at 18 years old is absolutely amazing.”

This transformation motivates the Smiths to pay it forward in honor of Brian’s own transformation he experienced while he was a student at the Mount.

The Smiths have consistently given from the heart, directing their support wherever the Mount has needed it most, including scholarships, the School of Health Professions, the National Shrine Grotto, and general funds that sustain the university’s

Our giving has always been about paying it forward; The Mount gave us so much—it shaped who we are.”

mission. Their generosity can be seen throughout campus in many meaningful ways, including a named classroom in the Fine Arts Center and their ongoing contributions to the Class of 1970 Scholarship. They have also played a key role in bringing new spaces to life, such as the Cottages, Powell Hall, the Miller Family Visitors Center, and the Fine Arts Center. Each of these gifts reflects their deep love for the Mount and their desire to help future students grow in faith, community, and purpose.

For the Smiths, joining the 1808 Society represents both recognition and continuation of their lifelong dedication—a legacy of service, leadership, and love sustained by faith. Their story exemplifies the Mount’s enduring power to change lives through education rooted in service to God and others.

Contact the Advancement team at at advancement@msmary.edu or visit msmary.giftlegacy.com