A welcome to students from Dr. Pharr
We're eager for the year ahead
It is with great pleasure that I extend a warm welcome to each of you today as we begin the fall 2017 semester. It is only fitting that I offer such sentiments, as the welcome that I have received from the Mount Mary community since arriving here in July has been nothing short of remarkable. Whether it has been a University event, a meeting, or even a simple hallway conversation, I have been greeted by countless enthusiastic hearts and minds, ready to begin work with me. What an impression this university community has made on me. My husband, Steve, and I are thrilled to be here, and I only hope that each of you feels equally welcome and eager about the year ahead.
Our students -- past and present -- form Mount Mary's core identity and define the history of this institution. As a University, we have more than 100 years with countless examples of lives touched and dreams realized through the hard work of our students and alumnae. It is gratifying to know that our current students and graduates come from across the state and the nation, making it abundantly clear that we continue to live out our mission of educating women to transform the world.
I am especially proud of the rich diversity found within our student body. Mount Mary consistently ranks as one of the most diverse universities in the Midwest region. Young women from a myriad of ethnicities, cultures, socioeconomic backgrounds, and religious affiliations can be found on campus. In the spirit of our foundress, Mother Caroline, our community embraces the unity that is found in diversity, and we are committed to continually witness that unity in a divided world.
So once again, I offer a humble "thank you" for choosing Mount Mary to pursue your educational goals. I celebrate our partnership in your academic journey, and I look forward to seeing you around campus! Please do stop me and introduce yourself when our paths cross.
Warmest regards,
Christine Pharr, Ph.D.
President
Campus buzzes with back-to-school excitement
Your guide to Mount Mary activities
The fall semester is ramping up around themes of transformation and creativity.
Faculty members will start the week with learning sessions dedicated to assessing creativity within academic subjects - a cornerstone of the University's Creative Campus Initiative.
A few days later, new students arrive on campus for an orientation program centered on the idea of transformation.
Back-to-school activities have been taking place on campus since mid-August; the athletic seasons for cross-country, golf, soccer and volleyball athletes began last weekend. International students have been arriving since mid-August.
Here is a full list of upcoming highlights.
Monday, August 21: Faculty will return to campus Monday for an all-university workshop that includes discussion sessions and in-services related to the Creative Campus Initiative.
This in-service also includes an all-faculty eclipse viewing party and ends at 3:30 p.m. with an outdoor ice cream social welcoming new president Dr. Christine Pharr to campus. It will feature Mount Mary's signature flavor, Mount Mary Berry, donated by Purple Door Ice Cream.
Tuesday, August 22: Mount Mary welcomes the very first group of Jewel Scholars to the community for a two-day orientation retreat.
Wednesday, August 23: Move-in day for residents of Mount Mary's student housing. It will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. This is followed by a cookout dinner for new residents and their families.
Thursday, August 24: New Student Orientation will jump-start students' journey at Mount Mary through a series of presentations, activities and outings to help them settle in. Some topic areas include:
Orientation is full of fun activities. Escape rooms are popular destinations across Milwaukee, so our orientation staff put their creativity into action, devising Mount Mary's very own escape room adventure for students.
Friday, August 25: After all of the orientation and registration events have taken place, Mount Mary officially welcomes new students and their families to the University at the Investiture ceremony at 3:30 p.m. Friday, August 25. New President Dr. Christine Pharr will address students and their families at this time.
At this event, the Teaching Excellence Awards for the previous school year are announced. This award is given to one full-time and one part-time faculty member. The most recent awardees from the 2016-17 school year were Jane Olson, director of the graduate and doctoral programs in occupational therapy, and Tanya Keenan of the English department.