Download the Form, Please Visit
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Spring 2007 WomEn + Scie ce = GreAt ChemisTry n Your gift to the Annual Fund transforms. Imagine that your gift… Helped a young woman attend Saint Mary’s… Where she will learn scientific theories… And conduct experiments… That encourage her to explore new ideas... That lead to an alternative fuel source… And gives her the power… To change the world… One drop at a time. Your gift is the catalyst. The Annual Fund G Educating Women, Transforming Lives Gifts to the Annual Fund help provide financial aid and scholarships to Saint Mary’s students. Nine out of ten Saint Mary’s students receive some kind of financial assistance. Please support the Annual Fund by making a gift online at www.saintmarys.edu/give or by calling (800) SMC-8871. Volume 82, Number 1 Contents Spring 2007 Features Courier (USPS 135-340) is published four times a year by Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, IN 46556-5001. 12 Saint Mary’s Students Periodicals postage paid at the Post Office at Notre Dame, IN 46556 See the World and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes Winning entries from the 2006 Study Abroad to Alumnae Relations, Saint Mary’s College, 110 Le Mans Hall, Notre Photo Contest include pictures from Italy, Dame, IN 46556-5001. India, and China. Copyright 2007 Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, IN 46556. Reproduction in whole or part is 37 Elemental Success prohibited without written permission. by Scot Erin Briggs The opinions expressed are those of the authors or their subjects and are Catching up with the chemistry class of 2001. not necessarily shared by the College or the editor. Page 12 Shari Rodriguez 40 Good Chemistry Vice President for College Relations by Elizabeth Station [email protected] The third in a six-part series on the College’s Courier Staff: nationally accredited programs. Scot Erin Briggs Editor [email protected] 42 The Science Behind Creating Elizabeth Station Women Scientists Senior Writer Joya Helmuth by Scot Erin Briggs Graphic Designer Saint Mary’s science students thrive — here’s Photos by a look at why. Kay Ball Sarah Barnes ’08 Jack Benesch Matt Cashore 44 All in a Day’s Work Eileen Dimino ’02 by Elizabeth Station Elizabeth Station Kirsten Kensinger ’07 Biology major Christin Molnar ’07 spends Departments Letters: a day with Courier. Send letters to the editor to: Courier Editor 2 Inside Saint Mary’s Saint Mary’s College 46 A Villa in Tuscany 303 Haggar College Center 3 Letters to the editor Notre Dame, IN 46556 by Jessica Zigmond ’97 or e-mail [email protected] 4 Avenue news Over 90 alumnae and friends of Saint Mary’s Class News: traveled to Tuscany together last fall. 7 Belles athletics Send alumnae class news to: Alumnae News Editor 110 Le Mans Hall 8 Published and presented Saint Mary’s College Notre Dame, IN 46556-5001 11 Development news or e-mail [email protected] 14 For the record Alumnae Association Staff: Barbara Butler Henry ’85 16 Club news Director of Alumnae Relations [email protected] 18 Class news Michelle Poeppe Egan ’93 Assistant Director of Alumnae Relations 19 Excelsior [email protected] The Mission 36 Page turners Saint Mary’s College is a Catholic, residential, women’s college in the liberal arts tradition. A pioneer in the education of women, the College is an academic community where women On the cover: develop their talents and prepare to make a difference in the world. Sarah Smith ’07 works in a chemistry laboratory. Sarah graduated in May with a BS in nursing. She Founded by the Sisters of the Holy is one of many students who prove the chemistry and physics department’s tenet that chemistry Cross in 1844, Saint Mary’s promotes a life of intellectual vigor, aesthetic prepares you to do almost anything you desire. appreciation, religious sensibility, and social responsibility. All members of Photo by Matt Cashore the College remain faithful to this mission and continually assess their response to the complex needs and challenges of the contemporary world. InsideSaint Mary’s Chemistry Prepares You To Do What You Desire by Deborah McCarthy Chemistry has fields. They often attribute their success to the research a long tradition at opportunities at Saint Mary’s. The reputation of the College Saint Mary’s College. and the high quality of our courses across the curriculum I presented a paper “A contribute to the individual success of every student. Our Century of Science at alumnae consistently report that they are the best writers Saint Mary’s College” for and speakers in their cohort of entering graduate students. a National Meeting of They also claim that their success in graduate programs, the American Chemical graduating at the top of their postgraduate classes, is because Society in 2000. The of the Saint Mary’s experience overall. In many cases they archives of the College write back and thank us for the advanced writing and for Saint Mary’s Academy comprehensive requirements that they now see made the fifth Catalog and difference in preparing them to succeed in the competitive Commencement, June 26, environment of graduate and professional programs. 1860, has entries for three The hands-on experiences our students get in the young women named as classroom and in research labs prepare them for jobs in the earning a 1st, 2nd, and field. They are physicians and dentists, top researchers in 3rd “premium degree” major chemical and pharmaceutical companies, and lawyers in Chemistry. It also in patent and other areas of the legal profession. And many contains the description are succeeding in fields unrelated to chemistry. All of which, of “The institution possessing a fine laboratory and we think supports our claim that “chemistry will prepare you philosophical apparatus, choice and extensive Herbarium to do almost anything you desire.” of foreign and native plants.” An award in Botany was added in 1863 and the Catalog notes, “The scientific Deborah McCarthy is Associate Dean of Academic Strategies departments receive most careful attention.” and Professor of Chemistry at Saint Mary’s. The current Department of Chemistry and Physics emerged in the 1950s with the hiring of Professor Lee Benton from the University of Notre Dame. Two of the n current chemistry faculty members were hired by Professor Benton, including his “replacement,” Professor Phil Bays “The reputation of and prior to Dr. Bays, Professor Dorothy Feigl. Professor Benton is credited the College and the with beginning a strong emphasis on undergraduate research as a method of high quality of our engaging and developing student skills, long before the current emphasis on courses across the undergraduate research emerged in the field. curriculum contribute Graduating seniors find that their research experience qualifies them for to the individual lucrative entry-level positions that require a degree in chemistry. Those attending success of graduate school are getting into the best graduate programs in competitive every student.” n 2 COURIER | Spring 2007 Lettersto the editor Dear Editor, Dear Editor, I was so moved by the Winter I received my Courier in the mail yesterday and was happy issue of the Courier that I needed Winter 2006 to see news on the music and arts programs. I was one of to finally reach out to you to let the few at that time who majored in theatre at Saint Mary’s you know I read it cover to cover and took many music classes over my years there. It wasn’t and was so proud of the past, my first choice; I wanted to go to Carnegie Mellon, but in present, and future for Saint retrospect, I probably got a better education. Mary’s College. As a student Joan Curto ’80 worker in O’Laughlin and now Naperville, Illinois as a resident of New York City, G\i]\?Xidfe) I am so grateful for the impact Music at Saint Mary’s of the arts in my life and for Dear Editor, all students and South Bend You are doing a wonderful job with Courier. Continue the residents as well, thanks to the good things. wonderful programming of O’Laughlin. Sincerely, Sincerely, Virginia Gabriel Hinders ’48 Mary Beth Anderson Fisher ’91 Celena, Ohio New York, New York Dear Editor, Peace and all good. Thank you for sharing the goodness of Saint Mary’s College and continuing the exceptional work of Cynthia Machamer. The arrival of the Courier is always a highlight. The articles are enlightening and refreshing and the photos bring to mind wonder-filled memories. All in all the Courier is excellent and holds me united to my days of study and life on campus and especially living in Le Mans Hall. God Bless you and all you do. Gratefully, Sister Maureen Dorr, OSF, ’67 Tampa, Florida Dear Editor, I was so sorry to hear the news that Dr. Patrick White has left Saint Mary’s College. While I want to congratulate Dr. White on his new position as president of Wabash College, I think this change is a huge loss for Saint Mary’s. During my years at Saint Mary’s, I first met him when I worked for the Multicultural Affairs Office, and later participated in the Play of the Mind Conferences he organized. Although I was not lucky enough to have him as a professor, I was fortunate enough to have him as a friend. He was always interested in my experience at Saint Mary’s, especially interested in my point of view as an international student. Reading the articles in the Courier about him was like being back in Le Mans ten years ago and seeing him walk around with a big smile and an open heart.