Women at the Mount: Celebrating 50 Years

Campus, 1974-1976

Honoring the Past and Igniting the Future

By Donna Klinger and Katherine Stohlman

Women in Pangborn, 1973

FOR 150 YEARS, students at the Catholic colleges founded by the Rev. John Dubois and Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, located within a few miles of each other in Emmitsburg, got to know each other by participating in social and academic activities and events at their sister institution. Countless dates and ultimately marriages resulted between Mount St. Mary’s College and St. Joseph College students, as alluded to in the poster created when St. Joseph announced its plan to close and the Mount opened its doors to St. Joe’s women as commuter students in academic year 1971-72: Going steady 150 years, finally engaged.

Bradley Hall residents, 1975

The marriage between the two institutions occurred in the fall of 1972 as the Mount opened up to 95 female residential students who moved into Pangborn Hall. Both men and women quickly settled into life on a coed campus, but there were a few minor adjustments. Some male students grumbled that they had to get fully dressed to grab a soda from a vending machine, female students adopted a buddy system in the dining hall, and faculty who were accustomed to taking attendance in an all-male classroom occasionally referred to female students with the title of “Mr."

In an interview with Mount Magazine in 2012, Andrea Novotny Foley, C’76, shared that she graduated “quite confident for a girl coming from a small town" because she never felt intimated by men in any situation after “having been surrounded by so many men, particularly in classes."

Perhaps inspired by the then-hit song “I Am Woman," women quickly sought opportunities to get involved, with at least two freshmen hosting a campus radio show and others jumping in to work on the Pridwin yearbook and Mountain Echo newspaper and joining the Glee and Sock and Buskin clubs. In the 1973 Pridwin, an anonymous male student shared his view of the Mount going coed: “…There was a discernible new mood on campus. Things seemed a little more calm, a little less rowdy." The Rev. James Delaney, C’57, S’66, who had returned to the Mount as a faculty member, wrote that the arrival of women on campus helped usher in a more relaxed, open and friendly environment.

Class, 1975

While women only represented 8% of the student body in 1972, today 51%, or 1,000, of the university’s students are female. The daughters of the Mount who began their journey to a purpose-driven life over the past 50 years often showed early signs of the impact they would have on their community, region, state and nation through their service to the university. For example, Fran Becker, C’75, who capped off a multi-faceted career by leading Northern Virginia’s largest homelessness program, made the case, along with her future husband Rich, for the Ratskeller bar to be built on campus to cut down on drunk driving and resulting accidents. Tamika Tremaglio, C’92, executive director of the National Basketball Players Association, started a dance squad and rallied for a Business Law II course. Christine Gelles, C’92, senior vice president for operations at Longenecker & Associates, founded the university’s first environmental club, LIFE. Lyndsey Saunders, C’20, program manager at Pathways to College in West Palm Beach, Florida, cofounded The V.O.I.C.E., a student organization that advocated for equity and inclusion on campus.

Daughters of the Mount are healthcare providers, educators, corporate and nonprofit leaders, scientists, attorneys and judges, authors, artists, forensic accountants, cybersecurity experts and more. On the pages that follow, we profile women representing each of the six decades in which women have been welcomed. Their paths have led them in different directions, but they still all call Mount St. Mary’s their mountain home.

Classroom, 1973

EXPLORE EACH DECADE

Fran Becker, C'75

WHY DID YOU ATTEND THE MOUNT?

Being from a Catholic family whose parents went to Marquette, I decided on the Mount because it was a small, Catholic, close-to-home (we lived in Baltimore), liberal arts college. I graduated from a small all-girls prep school in 1972, the same year that the Mount went coed.

WHAT WAS THE MOUNT LIKE FOR WOMEN IN THE 1970S?

It was very exciting. In 1972, colleges and universities were dealing with the effects of the tumultuous 60s; Title IX was passed, and the Mount went coed. St. Joseph College in Emmitsburg shuttered its doors and some women transferred to the Mount—mostly sophomores and juniors. These women provided a lot of support to the 100 freshman women. There were 100 women, versus 1200 men! We all lived in three female-only floors in Pangborn Hall. The Mount hired a woman as the associate dean so we ladies would feel more comfortable. I was one of two women who were the first women to enter as a freshman and graduate from the Mount (without transferring). The late Dr. Christine Cummerford (see page 45) and I finished our required courses in three years.

WHAT IS ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE MEMORIES OF THE MOUNT?

My good friend Kevin Robinson, Jr. likes to tell people that my husband Rich (whom I met at the Mount), and I were responsible for getting the Ratskeller built on campus— a bar that used to be in Lower McGowan. The legal drinking age was 18 at the time and several terrible accidents had occurred off campus. We lobbied the administration, convincing them that building the Rat would save lives. We even helped hire workers and chose the furniture. It was packed every night!

WHAT DID YOU DO AFTER YOU GRADUATED?

After a very short stint with the FBI, I worked as a paralegal. I later started a PR company that morphed into a classical arts management firm. I then switch gears and went back to school for a master’s in public administration, with a nonprofit concentration. God was guiding me to make a difference in the lives of those with so little. For more than 12 years, I was the executive director of Carpenter’s Shelter, Northern Virginia’s largest homelessness program.

Maggie Deegan, C’81

WHY DID YOU ATTEND THE MOUNT?

I was from Boston, and one day when I was a child we were driving down to Florida. We stopped at the Mount’s campus to visit the National Shrine Grotto, and from then on, I knew I wanted to go there. My dad told me women couldn’t attend the Mount, and I even toured St. Joseph—but I only wanted to go to the Mount. When they began admitting women in 1972, I knew it’s where I would go to college. I had several older (male) relatives who were alumni as well, and two of my daughters are Mounties.

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF ATTENDING THE MOUNT?

The Mount was a big part of my childhood. It felt so right to attend the Mount. I met my husband, Bob Deegan, while a student. Every year, the school would publish a booklet with the pictures and names of incoming freshmen, so they would know who each other is. I was living with a random roommate at the time, and we were just flipping through the book. We made a bet that we’d choose random guys from it, and whoever got that guy to ask them on a date first, the other had to buy her a pitcher of beer. I just happened to choose Bob. Well, I got the date first, so I got the beer. And four years later, we got married at the Mount.

WHAT WAS THE MOUNT LIKE FOR WOMEN IN THE 1980S?

You wouldn’t think it was any different than going to a coed high school. The Mount was so small at the time, my class was smaller than my high school. They were clearly happy to have the girls there. Now, I did notice being a woman in law school—that made a difference, there.

WHAT DID YOU STUDY? WHAT DID YOU PLAN TO DO WITH YOUR DEGREE?

I majored in political science, and I was close to double majoring in history and getting a minor in philosophy. I didn’t have any real plan, so after graduation I went to law school. I ended up working as an editor for a food and drug law journal and got into publishing. I even worked from home after I had my first daughter, before that was a common option. All my paperwork had to be mailed to me, everything had to be conducted over the phone. Later in life, I worked as a photographer for Victor O’Neill Studios.

Aimie Zinzi, C’97

WHY DID YOU ATTEND THE MOUNT?

My twin sister, Sarah, and I knew that we wanted a small school that we could attend together. We were the first girls in our family to attend a four-year college, so we had little to no assistance in the college search. We lived outside of Philadelphia, and our father suggested Mount St. Mary's because it wasn't too far from home, but far enough to feel like we were “away" at school. He drove us down one day during spring break, and we took our own abbreviated tour. Nothing was open, and the campus was a ghost town, but Sarah and I just had a feeling that it was our “place."

WHAT DID YOU STUDY AND WHAT DID YOU PLAN TO DO WITH YOUR DEGREE?

By my sophomore year, I had declared my major as elementary education, and from there it was my main focus. I had never been surer of something in my life. The program itself and the courses I took were top-notch, and I felt extremely prepared to go off into the workforce after graduation. I taught for the Archdiocese of Baltimore for six years before my husband, Mike, and I had our first child. I stayed home for a full decade to raise our kids before I went back to work. I stumbled into a job teaching preschool in 2012, to “dip my toe" back into teaching, and have never looked back.

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF ATTENDING THE MOUNT?

My favorite part was growing up and learning how to “adult" with some of the most outstanding people to ever cross my path. For four years, we worked together, supported each other, got into trouble, bailed each other out of trouble, bonded, partied, and LAUGHED! Most of the people I spent my time with at the Mount are still in my life. We shared an experience that is pretty unique to other typical college experiences...it's hard to describe, but if you went to the Mount you know exactly what I'm talking about.

ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE ABOUT YOUR TIME AT THE MOUNT?

I was lucky enough to meet my husband during my time there. We were engaged on Echo Field and married in the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception 22 years ago. Our daughter, Abby, has had it in her mind since she was six years old that she would attend the Mount, and she just completed her freshman year. It's funny how life puts you in a place in what felt almost like an accident, and that place turns out to be the focal point of the most impactful and memorable experiences in your life.

Jenna Rose, C’02

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO ATTEND THE MOUNT?

My dad went to school here, and I visited several times as a kid and applied at the Mount and three other colleges… the Mount was not the top contender! But I decided to visit again, as a prospective student. I came up to campus that day and literally fell back in love with it. Now, my dad and I are happy to share the experience of attending the Mount with some other younger family members. My dad was a student during the transition from being all-male to coed, and he said it only got better when the women came. The more inclusive the Mount has gotten, the better it has gotten.

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF ATTENDING THE MOUNT?

That’s easy—the people, the friendships that I made. I knew I was getting a great education, and I loved experiencing small classes. That certainly served me well down the line. But I loved the friendships, and about 10 of my core friends and I are still in touch and close.

WHAT IS LIFE LIKE FOR YOU NOW?

I’m the senior vice president of Fulton Bank. I initially wanted to study pre-med and attend medical school, but I decided to change my major between my freshman and sophomore year. I ended up graduating with a degree in business, with concentrations in finance and international economics. Immediately after, I accepted a position at BB&T, now Truist, and have worked in commercial banking ever since. I left BB&T and began at Fulton Bank in March 2020. I’ve gotten to move around a lot with this career and experience different places, and now I’m living in Philadelphia.

HOW HAS ATTENDING THE MOUNT MADE YOU A BETTER WOMAN?

Again, the friendships. I formed so many core memories with my friends at the Mount. Additionally, it gave me an amazing career. If I had gone to a bigger school, I know I wouldn’t have had the confidence to change majors. But the setting at the Mount was great and so supportive of my decision. Also, thanks to the solid liberal arts education, I was equipped to perform such a variety of tasks in my field. I interview a lot of kids with finance degrees, but no knowhow in terms of communicating. It’s true what they say about liberal arts being so useful in the long run!

Giselle Obiakor, C’19

WHAT WAS YOUR TIME AS A STUDENT LIKE?

I chose Mount St. Mary’s because I wanted to go to a school that was close to home with smaller class sizes, and one-on-one teacher and student relationships! I originally majored in computer science, and then transitioned to cybersecurity, which is under the same umbrella as computer science. I wanted to work in information technology but ended up landing great opportunities that I didn't expect. My professors constantly gave me advice and would sit with me (sometimes for hours, thank you Dr. Heinold!) going over things I did not understand, and that made me the confident engineer I am today.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW?

I am truly blessed! I was recently promoted, and I am now a principal cyber information assurance engineer. I got to travel for work and ended up living in Florida for a year. I got to watch space launches from the beach, meet new people and explore! My family has always been so supportive and helpful with my post-college endeavors. I was also lucky to meet the love of my life and can now say that I am happily engaged! His name is Andrew, and he has taught me many new things, especially geology. I am now living in Virginia and would like to get back in to teaching at Girls Who Code, which is a program for young women to learn computer science principles and learn how to code. I am happy to be closer to family and friends in the DMV area, and I am looking forward to wedding planning. I hope to visit the Mount soon now that I am back.

HOW DID ATTENDING THE MOUNT MAKE YOU A BETTER PERSON?

Honestly before coming to the Mount, I was nervous. There were about 10 people from my high school also attending, so it was nice to have familiar faces. But what the Mount taught me was to “be who I am and be that well," as Saint Francis De Sales stated. I learned how to public speak, fall in love with theater, be confident, and be a leader. I was the only female graduating in the Cybersecurity and Computer Science Department in the Class of 2019.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO NEW MOUNT STUDENTS?

Be involved. The Mount has hidden gems all over, with special connections, and wonderful networking opportunities. You will meet some of the greatest friends. Take advantage of what the Mount has to offer! If there is something that is not offered for you, use you voice and see how some things can be implemented on campus. I will leave you with what we decided as our class quote, “Ad Maiora" which means “Toward greater things." Just know that at the Mount, if you take full advantage of what is offered, you will 100% be headed toward great things.

Jenna Lewaren, C’22

WHY DID YOU ATTEND THE MOUNT?

I chose the Mount for many reasons. One of the main reasons was for the rugby program. I wanted to be a part of a program that was building a great legacy for many years to follow, and Mount women’s rugby was in its very first year. I envisioned the Mount being a great place for my rugby career as well as my academic career. I was going back and forth on whether or not I wanted to major in German. When I found out the Mount had German, it seemed like a great fit.

WHY DID YOU CHOSE YOUR MAJOR?

I knew from a very young age that I wanted to be a teacher. I strongly believe that every kid deserves to have a superhero and I wanted to be that for my future students. I wanted to be the reason my students loved coming to school and were excited to go back to school when summer ended instead of dreading it. I often ask myself why I decided to major in both elementary education and German, however, and my answer isn’t as straightforward. I started learning German in kindergarten, and every year we had the option to either drop out of foreign language or switch to Spanish, I would always say, “I’ve already come this far, what’s one more year" and that pattern continued. I believe everything happens for a reason and there is a reason the Mount had a German major and I also followed through with “one more year.'

WHAT ACTIVITIES WERE YOU INVOLVED IN?

I played rugby all four years, I came to play with a scholarship, but I also played all four years for my friends. I couldn’t have imagined leaving them. I was also involved in SAAC, the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. We worked together as an athletic community to advocate for things such as longer dining hall hours to accommodate practice times.

WHERE IS THE MOUNT TAKING YOU?

I received a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Award to be an English teaching assistant in Germany in 2022-23. My second education internship (in which interns take over the classroom and become the teacher) prepared me for the Fulbright experience. It was there that I gained all of my confidence and tools to be the current teacher that I am. It was also here that I was able to confirm that I chose the right career path for me. I was able to come into the classroom every day and do what I love.