College of Saint Mary

The College of Saint Mary (CSM) is a women’s college located in Omaha, NE. I really enjoyed reviewing their Web site and hope you do as well. The college offers so many wonderful programs (over 27).  And it’s good to know that the education you receive at CSM is highly-sought after by employers. Consider this - within six months of graduation 92% of CSM’s graduates are employed or in advanced education. Now that’s impressive!

To learn more about The College of Saint Mary, consider reviewing the survey results from the National Survey on Student Engagement. CSM participated in this survey in 2012 and the results are available. The reason I encourage you to read the survey results is because you will learn what CSM students say about nature and quality of their undergraduate experience.

In addition to the videos, I thought the highlights from the “Quick Glance at CSM” page also would be helpful.

Highlights from the page include:

History: Founded in 1923 by the Sisters of Mercy as a Catholic women's college, College of Saint Mary is the only all-women's college in a five-state area, and one of 60 women's colleges in the United States. 

Location: CSM is located on 40 acres in the dynamic city of Omaha, Neb. (pop. 750,000) – providing vast cultural, recreational and professional opportunities. 

Community: Approximately 1,000 students come from all regions of the U.S. and several countries.   

Student Life: CSM offers more than 25 clubs and organizations. Students serve on college committees, participate in professional academic clubs, join community and social organizations and clubs, and get involved in community service projects.  Many rooms in the residence halls are newly renovated and remodeled.  

Recreation: The Lied Fitness Center offers a pool, gym, weight room and more for your recreation needs. CSM also lies along the Keystone Trail, a multipurpose fitness trail.  

Athletics: A member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference, CSM offers competitive sports in cross country, soccer, basketball, softball, swimming, and volleyball. Golf also is available.

Unique Programs: Academically, College of Saint Mary offers a solid foundation that is complemented by several distinctive programs:  
•    A Master’s in Leadership program dedicated to exploring and strengthening the unique leadership qualities of women
•    The region's only four-year Paralegal Studies program approved by the American Bar Association
•    Nationally-accredited nursing programs at the associate and bachelor degree levels 

I hope this information has peaked your interested to learn more about The College of Saint Mary. Please visit the CSM Web site. But the best way is to schedule a campus visit. It’s easy to see first-hand if CSM is the college for YOU! . . . To schedule a personalized campus visit please call 402-399-2355 or complete this form.

The Loving Story written by a women’s college graduate: Belle Susie Powell

Bennett College’s Belle Susie Powell '64, a screenwriter, received a Peabody Award for, "The Loving Story."

Congratulations to her and her team!

The story is about an interracial couple, Richard and Mildred Loving, who in 1967 challenged the Supreme Court so they could legally live in Virginia. 

If you like, you may purchase the movie on Amazon.

Below is a brief description of Bennett College from their Web site. To learn more visit the college online.

“Bennett College is a small, private, historically Black liberal arts college for women. The College offers women an education conducive to excellence in scholarly pursuits; preparation for leadership roles in the workplace, society, and the world; and life-long learning in a technologically advanced, complex global society. As a United Methodist Church-related institution, Bennett College promotes morally grounded maturation, intellectual honesty, purposeful public service, and responsible civic action.”

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Early Registration: 6-21-13

Quote: Women’s Colleges Create Leaders

Jessica L. from Delmar, NY writes, “Women need to be empowered and a women's college provides the atmosphere to create leaders.”

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Somewhere Over the Rainbow sung by Hollins Talmadge Singers. Interested in Music, read about the Music Program at Hollins.

Hollins University : A Small, Private Women's College in Virginia

According to The Fiske Guide to Colleges, "Academics are a top priority at Hollins …. Students leave with confidence, critical thinking skills, and intellectual depth, thanks to a solid grounding in the liberal arts."

Here’s the link to what others are saying about Hollins University  . . .

I love the traditions at Hollins . . . see if you do as well.

Learn more about Hollins by visiting the Web site, reading Hollins’ magazine, or visiting the campus.

  "Women Who Are Going Places"

President Obama appoints a women’s college alumna to his Council of Economic Advisers

A BIG Congratulations to Betsey Stevenson! 

A 1993 graduate of Wellesley College!

Read all about her appointment in this news post.

Highlights include:
“Currently, Stevenson is an associate professor of public policy at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan. She has held professorships at Princeton and The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and also worked for the Federal Reserve, among other positions. Stevenson studied economics and mathematics while at Wellesley, then attended Harvard University where she received an M.A. and Ph.D. in economics.”

Wellesley College, a women’s college also is one of the most academically challenging institutions of higher education in the country. Based in Wellesley, MA, Wellesley is “committed to being a scholarly beacon of light for women around the world who want to make a difference.”

"You can see it in the caliber of our faculty. Wellesley professors are outstanding scholars whose love of teaching illuminates a classroom. Faculty members respect students for their intellect, their attention to scholarship, and what they can bring to the classroom experience.

You can see it in the breadth and depth of academic programs, research opportunities, international study, and internship experiences—where an interdisciplinary emphasis encourages broader learning and more creative insight into problems, allowing a student to deepen her understanding of the world and of herself.

You can see it visible on our campus. Look around.... You'll find state-of-the-art labs, studios, instructional technology, athletic facilities, and a nationally-known museum. The campus embodies the hopes and aspirations of generations of pioneering women scholars who built and maintained a physical space that would instruct and inspire them in their work. Its varied landscapes reflect the diversity of thought and approach that is central to the Wellesley experience.

For more than 135 years, women have come here to teach, to learn, to discover, and to grow. If you join us, you become part of our shared enterprise that extends far beyond the campus and the times in which we live."

Music Dreams Come True

Here’s a quote from Ally Einbinder of Potty Mouth as quoted in the article, “Band To Watch: Potty Mouth.”

“In the same way it was a deliberate decision for me to go to an all-women’s college, it was a deliberate desire for me to be in an all-women’s band.” - Ally Einbinder of Potty Mouth.

Ally graduated from Smith College in 2010. Smith College is a women's college located in Northampton, MA. Below is additional information about Smith College. Please note that the following information is from the Smith College Web site.

Here's what Smith's academics are all about:

"Experience a living tradition of intellectual rigor and scope. Take a risk on an untested concept. Develop the acuity to frame an argument, and the eloquence to persuade others of its merit. Take an art class even though your major is engineering. Work with a faculty of scholars who respect their students enough to expect the highest standards of academic achievement."

About Smith

"Since its founding in 1871, Smith College has provided women of high ability and promise an education of uncompromising quality. A world-class faculty of scholars are fully engaged with their students' intellectual development, and an open curriculum encourages each student to explore many fields of knowledge. Mentors for scholarship, leadership and service, across all spectrums of endeavor, allow Smith students to observe different models of achievement, then set their own course with conviction."

An Education as Unique as You Are

At Smith, your individual exploration and education come first. The focus is on making the most of who you are and what you want to become.

• Your education is one of the most personal endeavors in your life, and through it you will discover what empowers and inspires you.
• You’ll be free to pursue your intellectual passions and be supported on your own terms.
• Your learning experience will include faculty advisers and mentors and independent study opportunities, small class sizes and an open curriculum of exceptional breadth and depth.
• Your friends and classmates will be diverse individuals, and each woman’s unique experiences contribute toward creating a vibrant community.

At Smith, the world is your campus: preparing you to live, work and lead across global borders.

• You’ll delve deeply into the world of ideas and perspectives as you explore the rich offerings of Smith’s comprehensive curriculum.
• You’ll live and study with women from around the world.
• You’ll have the opportunity for far-reaching experiences off campus.
• You’ll build the skills to lead a truly international life.
• You’ll gain a network of connections—cultural, intellectual, personal and professional.

At Smith, exceptional young women like you gain the knowledge and skills to excel.

• You’ll be among a diverse group of students from many nationalities and backgrounds who together will form an extraordinary intellectual community.
• You’ll be grounded in the fundamentals of leadership skills.
• You’ll be empowered to take on the challenges of the 21st century and to become an agent of change in your community.

Wordless Wednesday

 
Wordless Wednesday

A Summer of Chemistry Fun for a Cool Chemistry Chick

Alyssa Banotai, class of 2014 at Bryn Mawr College is spending the summer on campus conducting chemistry research.

Her research entails (from her blog post)

“During the past school year, my research focused on the synthesis of starting material, arylacylsilanes with varied substituents on the silane. Although organic synthesis is interesting and offers many learning opportunities as well as occasions to exercise creativity, I am excited to put my starting material to good use. 

This summer, my research will be focused on the cross-coupling via palladium catalysis of arylacylsilanes (my starting material) with bromobenzene to form benzophenones (Rxn 1). In fewer scientific terms, a small amount of palladium will be used, in the presence of water, to bring two compounds together and make new carbon-carbon bonds. An interesting complication arises with the presence of water: water is necessary for the palladium catalysis, but it also aids in an unwanted competitive reaction where the arylacylsilane is converted back to benzaldehyde (Rxn 2). 

It is my goal to monitor the desired and competitive reactions using kinetic studies to determine which arylacylsilane affords the greatest conversion to product with the least conversion to benzaldehyde.”

If you are thinking about a career in chemistry, do yourself a favor and investigate the women's college with chemistry programs, like Bryn Mawr College. 

Below is information about the Bryn Mawr College Chemistry Department.(from the BMC Web site)

“Bryn Mawr’s Chemistry Department has a more than century-long tradition of combining high quality, visible research programs with excellent teaching – a tradition the department is committed to continuing this century. The chemistry department seeks to provide a supportive and rigorous curriculum at the undergraduate and graduate level to students having diverse preparation and diverse goals.

The chemistry major program of study includes introductory and advanced courses in the core areas of biological, inorganic, organic and physical chemistry. Advanced courses are informed by the research areas of bioinorganic, nanomaterials, medicinal, computational, organic materials and nucleic acid and protein chemistry.”

Additional STEM Majors offered at Bryn Mawr College include: Astronomy, Biology, Ecology, Environmental Studies, Geology, Mathematics, Neuroscience, Physics, and Psychology.

Known for their academic programs, Bryn Mawr College is a women’s college and is located in Bryn Mawr, PA.

About Bryn Mawr College (from the BMC Web site)

"Bryn Mawr is one of the world's most distinctive, distinguished colleges. Every year 1,300 undergraduate women and 400 graduate students from around the world gather on the College's historic campus to study with leading scholars, conduct advanced research, and expand the boundaries of what's possible.

A Bryn Mawr woman is defined by a rare combination of personal characteristics:

•     An intense intellectual commitment
•     A purposeful vision of her life
•     A desire to make a meaningful contribution to the world.

These attributes create a spirit that is palpable on campus. It is visible, too, in the lives of Bryn Mawr alumnae, women who have become leaders in a wide range of fields, including those in which women are traditionally underrepresented.

We hope that this energy is tangible in these Web pages, and we encourage you to come to campus and experience it for yourself. It is what makes us proud to be Bryn Mawr."

The Benefits of Women’s Colleges

Evette Dionne is the daily editor of Clutch magazine and managing editor of Full Figured Magazine – she also is a Bennett College alumna. Her article, “The Benefits of Women’s Colleges,” was published on June 14, 2013. Below are the article highlights.

Article Highlights:

“I am often asked why I chose to attend and graduate from Bennett College, a historical black institution for women of color. The answer is complex and involves a mixture of CNN, Dr. Julianne Malveaux and scholarships, but the freedom and doubt from which the question is posed is the issue. The real question should be: Why not?

Women’s colleges are rooted in traditions that promote empowerment, sisterhood, and the intelligence of women. Some might question the relevance of women’s colleges in a society where women are making strides toward gender parity, but statistics show that women’s colleges such as Bennett and Spelman College are responsible for sending over 50 percent of Black women to graduate programs in the sciences.

Women’s colleges encourage students to thrive and excel in leadership positions often reserved for men on co-ed campuses.”

Bennett College is a private four-year historically black liberal arts college for women. Located in Greensboro, NC, the college offers various majors and minors, organized in three divisions: Humanities, Social Sciences and Education, and Natural and Behavioral Sciences/Mathematics. Bennett College also offers a Dual Degree in Engineering (Chemical, Electrical, and Mechanical) by participating in the Bennett College/NC A&T State University Dual Degree Engineering Program.

The Women’s College Advantage

Aside from the academics, the greatest gift women’s colleges give to young women is a supportive environment where she is free to grow and feel empowered. Where leadership skills are developed and encouraged. Where she can be herself without worrying what others think. As a fellow classmate of mine wrote, “There is virtually no time in a young woman's life that she can just be -- be herself without having to look pleasing to someone else, be interested in something without worrying whether a boy will think she's weird or too smart, be adventurous without worrying that she's not feminine enough, be a leader without worrying about being called some pretty awful names.”

The environment that a women’s colleges provides instills confident so you are less likely to be afraid.  And this environment is found at women’s colleges and that’s why I’m so passionate about colleges for women.

I hope you enjoy this video: Sheryl Sandberg to Women College Grads: What Would You Do if You Weren't Afraid?

Women’s Colleges and Economic Diversity

The other day Carol T. Christ, President of Smith College wrote an opinion piece for The New York Times entitled, “Women’s Colleges and Economic Diversity.”

Highlights include:

“Women’s colleges like Smith succeed at enrolling an economically diverse student body to a greater extent than many of their peers. At Smith, 25 percent of students come from families eligible for federal Pell grants. 

Smith and other women’s colleges excel in recruiting and retaining an economically diverse student body, motivating a significant proportion of those students to pursue study in critical fields like science and engineering, and preparing them for advanced and professional study.”

For any high school girl who feels college is unaffordable, I’m here to let you know that if you have the grades, you can go to college. And yet another reason to consider attending a women’s college.

Smith College is a liberal arts women’s college located in Northampton, MA.  Total enrollment in 2011 was 3,162 students and is considered to be the largest college of The Seven Sisters colleges. Notable alumnae of Smith College include Catharine MacKinnon, Jane Bannister, Nancy Reagan, Betty Friedan, Gloria Steinem, Julia Child, Madeleine L'Engle, Sylvia Plath, Sherry Rehman, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Rochelle Lazarus, Laura D'Andrea Tyson and Yolanda King.

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Grads of Women’s Colleges Tell It Like It Is!

Julia West wrote an article, "All the studious ladies: pros and cons of women’s colleges" that was published on June 9, 2013.

Article Highlights:

"Though the idea of a women’s college may sound outdated to some, the truth is that can still be beneficial. Colleges that offer single sex education are providing a space where women can witness other women achieving, teaching and advancing. We spoke with several graduates who attended women’s colleges and learned the pros and occasional cons of an all-girls school. . . .  

Confidence is a topic that came up frequently when speaking with women’s college alumni and it’s clear that there is no lack of it. Some might ask if single sex environment can lead to timidity in the workplace. The answer, not surprisingly, is a resounding no. Word on the street is that women’s colleges produce headstrong, often fearless leaders who don’t let gender stand in the way."

More Young Women Are Choosing to Attend a Women's College

Congratulations to Converse College –  This fall semester will be the largest class in more than a quarter century for Converse College!

                            Converse College | Make Things Happen

Converse College is a liberal arts women's college in Spartanburg, South Carolina, USA.

Intern at Victoria’s Secret Corporate Headquarters

Meet Terra Carlson a senior at Stephens College. She’s a Fashion Marketing and Management student and just started a really cool summer internship. This “simple yet complex Midwestern girl” as she referrers to herself is interning this summer in NYC at the corporate headquarters of Victoria's Secret.

Terra is blogging about her dream summer internship and if you would like to learn how she became an intern with this chic women's clothing company, check out her blog, Finding Her Wings.

Stephens College is a women's college located in Columbia, Missouri. Below is the welcome message (as it appears on the Stephens College Web site) from Dianne Lynch, Ph.D., President of Stephens College.

Welcome to Stephens

"Stephens College was established in 1833. For more than 175 years, we have been educating women to become leaders as well as valuable contributors toward the betterment of our society. I am delighted to be a part of this fine institution, to celebrate her history and to work to create a future of unlimited possibilities.

Stephens offers a variety of programs at the undergraduate level for women, as well as distance-learning and on-campus programs in our Graduate and Continuing Studies division for both men and women. We take pride in the strong bonds we've developed within our local community of Columbia, Missouri, and within the vast network of Stephens graduates we have across the country.

Our commitment to the performing arts, pre-professional programs and the liberal arts is evident in our mission statement. So is our commitment to each student's success at Stephens. Our campus culture offers a values-driven living and learning environment (check out the Ten Ideals); close interaction with faculty and student peers; hands-on experience in the major beginning the student's first year at Stephens; and resources inside and outside the classroom that build students' skills, knowledge and confidence. Our extensive network of alumnae assists students in finding internships and employment after graduation. You can even bring your pet to campus to live with you in a residence hall.

Whether you are interested in forming ties with Stephens — perhaps as a new student — or whether you seek ways to simply keep in touch with the goings-on at Stephens — perhaps as an alumna — we invite you to explore our web site. Please let us know if we can help!"

Sincerely,


Dianne Lynch, Ph.D.

Thinking About a Career in Computer Science?

Tessa Taylor, Founder of Co, a former software engineer at Affinity Labs (acquired by Monster.com), and a 2007 graduate of Smith College is referenced in a recent article,  “5 women busting through the tech industry's glass ceiling.”

From the article:

“Tessa Taylor, who is 28 and lives in New York City, had a different educational experience than many other female coders. She attended Smith College, a women's liberal arts college with a small, supportive computer science program. Coming into the tech industry, she found that her gender was "called to my attention on a pretty regular basis." Being a woman programmer (she knows languages like PHP and Node.js) is like "walking into a dog park and having all the dogs sniff you to make sure you fit in." But she says she's had a plenty of great male mentors, and she has no problem being called a brogrammer. "Sure, I'll drink a beer with you," she says.”

Prior to graduating from Smith College, Tessa attended an all girls' high school for two years (Annie Wright School in Tacoma, WA).  It was here that Tessa really learned the value of empowering girls and women in the classroom by having them be the only ones in the classroom; seeing first-hand the type of women that Annie Wright produced lead Tessa to continue her single-sex education at Smith College.

Tessa writes, “Naysayers of single sex education argue that a women-only classroom does not represent the real world, and that women will be disadvantaged upon graduating because they will have no experience with "real life". I wholeheartedly disagree. Spending time in a women-only environment produces a woman who has a different standard for how she should be treated and how she will take her place in the world. Rather than being disadvantaged by a lack of men, women in single-sex schools are empowered to pursue their interests, step into leadership roles, and to support and encourage each other. With this expectation, graduates go on to break through barriers in every industry and corner of society, because they have learned that they can.

This is of course not to say that co-ed schools don't produce some phenomenal people as well, but that's not what we're here to discuss at the moment.”

Smith College is located in Northampton, MA.
Follow Tessa on her blog or via Twitter.

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Arianna Huffington Congratulates Smith College’s Class of 2013

With graduation abound, here’s Arianna Huffington, editor-in-chief of the Pulitzer Prize-winning online news website, The Huffington Post sharing her insights at Smith College's 135th commencement ceremony.

Ms. Huffington talks about life after Smith College as she asks each graduate to redefine success. This begins with adding "well being" to the definition and includes regularly disconnecting from technology to reconnect within.

Smith College is a women’s college located in Northampton, MA.

Read Ms. Huffington's commencement address.

Visit a Women's College

Summer is finally here and this is a great time to visit the campuses of women’s colleges.

Bay Path College, located in Longmeadow, MA is having a Summer Visit Day! On June 26, 2013, from 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM.

With a wide range of majors and minor, Bay Path could be perfect for you and this is the best way to decide.

Bay Path is known for its exceptional faculty, practical education, and a supportive community. I snagged the following off of their Web site.

Faculty that make a difference 

"Time and again, our students and alumni point out the remarkable role and influence our faculty members have had on their careers. Our low faculty-student ratio gives you the opportunity to work closely, often one-on-one, with professors who are knowledge leaders in their disciplines, and also active practioners in their fields. More important, they are there for you from career advice to networking…guiding and encouraging you to reach beyond your potential. Their commitment and dedication help you reap the rewards of your educational investment."

Education that matters

"Internships, practicums,  live case studies, special on-site projects, study abroad —at Bay Path we believe opportunities like these are what provide you with practical and relevant experiences that add value to classroom learning while building your resume or credentials. Ultimately, our goal is to make your academic experience as meaningful as possible because we know that education will matter in your career and life choices."

Be a part of our community 

"Community is very important at Bay Path. It starts with that first connection you make with one of our admissions counselors and continues after you graduate, as you join our 12,000 plus alumni community. Once at Bay Path, you’ll find that community is also a feeling that is strengthened by our traditions; community is valued by showing a mutual respect for others; and community is encouraged through volunteer projects and service to the greater community. At Bay Path, the power of community is truly a spirit that opens the doors of possibilities."