Mount Mary University is a private Catholic women's university in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. The university was founded in 1913 by the School Sisters of Notre Dame"Higher Education ". www.ssnd.org. Retrieved August 2, 2013. and was Wisconsin's first four-year, degree-granting Catholic college for women."Ninety Years of Excellence in Educating Women." Mount Mary Magazine. Volume XIV, No. 2. Today, the university serves women at the undergraduate level and both women and men at the graduate level.
The university enrolls nearly 1,500"Fast Facts." Mtmary.edu. Retrieved January 7, 2014. students and offers bachelor's degrees in more than 30 academic majors, as well as eight master's and doctoral degree programs."Majors and Programs." Mtmary.edu. Retrieved September 9, 2013. Post-baccalaureate certificate programs also are offered. Mount Mary is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools."Mount Mary University." www.ncahlc.org. Retrieved August 2, 2013.
History Founding and name changes Mount Mary University traces its roots to 1872, when the School Sisters of Notre Dame established St. Mary's Institute in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. In 1913, the school introduced a college curriculum and was renamed St. Mary's College, chartered by the state of Wisconsin to grant degrees. It was the first four-year Catholic college for women in Wisconsin.
In 1926, the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee requested that St. Mary's College move to Milwaukee to make Catholic education available to a wider group of students. An 80-acre campus was purchased on the west side of Milwaukee."Mount Mary's History." Mtmary.edu. Retrieved September 9, 2013. On September 12, 1928, the cornerstone of the new campus was laid and the school was renamed Mount Mary College. The college opened its doors to students in 1929."Arches 1930." Mount Mary College digital yearbooks collection. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
In July 2013, the college changed its name to Mount Mary University."Mount Mary celebrates 100 years with nam e change." BizTimes.com. July 3, 2013. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
Presidents The following individuals have served as Mount Mary's president:
Mother M. Seraphia Minges, SSND (1913-1922) Mother M. Angela Schott, SSND (1922-1929) Edward Fitzpatrick (1929-1954) Sister Mary John Francis Schuh, SSND (1954-1969)"Nun Dies of Cancer, Headed Mount Mary." Milwaukee Journal. July 25, 1969. Retrieved August 2, 2013. Sister Mary Nora Barber, SSND (1969-1979)"Sister Nora Barber Mt. Mary President." Milwaukee Sentinel. June 2, 1969. Retrieved August 2, 2013. Sister Ellen Lorenz, SSND (1979-1987)"Mount Mary College Gets New President." Milwaukee Journal. November 18, 1978. Retrieved August 2, 2013. Sister Ruth Hollenbach, SSND (1987-1995) Sally Mahoney (interim president, 1995-1997)"Mount Mary's Mahoney skilled as transitional leader." Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. October 26, 1995. Retrieved August 2, 2013. Patricia O'Donoghue (1997-2006)"Mount Mary College names new president." BizJournals.com. January 11, 2006. Retrieved August 2, 2013. Linda Timm (2006-2008)"Mount Mary College President Linda Timm resigns." Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. September 4, 2008. Retrieved August 2, 2013. Eileen Schwalbach (2009–2017)"Schwalbach is Mount Mary College's new president ." BizTimes.com. February 20, 2009. Retrieved August 2, 2013. Christine Pharr (2017–2022) Isabelle Cherney (2022–present)
Academics Mount Mary has a student body of nearly 1,500. The faculty-to-student ratio is 1:15."Mount Mary College." National Center for Education Statistics’ College Navigator. Retrieved August 5, 2013. Mount Mary is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Mount Mary offers a liberal arts foundation with more than thirty undergraduate majors leading to a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree. The university also offers eight graduate programs, including: Professional Doctorate of Art Therapy, Master of Science in Art Therapy, Master of Business Administration, Master of Science in Counseling, Master of Science in Dietetics, Master of Arts in Education, Master of Arts in English, and Master of Science in Occupational Therapy. Post-baccalaureate certificate programs, as well as a post-baccalaureate Dietetic Internship program, also are offered.
Mount Mary also offers a dual degree program in partnership with the Medical College of Wisconsin. Through this program, students can earn a dual Baccalaureate and Master of Public Health degrees in five years."." BizTimes.com. July 19, 2012. Retrieved August 2, 2013.
Undergraduate programs Mount Mary's core curriculum consists of studies in philosophy/theology, communication/math, humanistics, literature/fine arts, and science. The core courses "provide breadth within the liberal arts by allowing students to construct an understanding of the perspectives that each of the disciplines offers in each person's lifelong search for meaning.""Mount Mary University Undergraduate Bulletin, 2013-14." Mtmary.edu. Retrieved September 9, 2013.
In addition to the core curriculum, undergraduate students select a major in which to specialize. Mount Mary launched the first four-year fashion design and merchandising degree program in the nation in 1965."Mount Mary struts its fashion stuff." Catholic Herald. June 6, 2013. Retrieved August 5, 2013. The most popular majors currently at Mount Mary are dietetics, fashion design, fashion merchandise management, interior design, occupational therapy, and social work."Mount Mary College Programs/Majors." National Center for Education Statistics' College Navigator. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
Several Mount Mary undergraduate programs are accredited by their fields' accreditation body. The social work undergraduate degree program was the first private college in Wisconsin to have its baccalaureate program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, and continues to be accredited today."Accreditation: Mount Mary College ." Council on Social Work Education. Retrieved August 2, 2013. The interior design program has been accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation since 1986."Accredited Programs." Council for Interior Design Accreditation. Retrieved August 2, 2013. Mount Mary's undergraduate dietetics program is accredited by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics."Coordinated Programs in Dietetics ." Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Retrieved August 2, 2013. The occupational therapy program has been accredited by the American Occupational Therapy Association's Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education since 1943."Mount Mary College: Accreditation." National Center for Education Statistics' College Navigator. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
Graduate programs Mount Mary offers seven master's degree programs and one doctoral degree program. In 1982, Mount Mary launched its first graduate program, the Master of Science in Dietetics program."Mount Mary University Graduate Bulletin, 2013-15." Mtmary.edu. Retrieved August 5, 2013."Mount Mary marks 2 firsts." Milwaukee Journal. June 26, 1983. Retrieved August 5, 2013. In 1990, Mount Mary launched its Master of Science in Art Therapy"." BizTimes.com. May 27, 2011. Retrieved August 5, 2013. and Master of Arts in Education: Professional Development degree programs. The Master of Science in Art Therapy program has been accredited by the American Art Therapy Association since 1995."Art Therapy Educational Standards & American Art Therapy Association Approved Art Therapy Master's Programs." American Art Therapy Association. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
The Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program is accredited by the American Occupational Therapy Association's Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education."OT Master's Level Programs - Accredited." American Occupational Therapy Association. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
The Master of Arts in English program began in 2006. Mount Mary launched its Master of Business Administration program in 2008."." BizTimes.com. August 20, 2007. Retrieved August 5, 2013. The Professional Doctorate of Art Therapy program was launched in 2011, and was the first program of its kind in the United States."Mount Mary College to offer nation's first doctorate in art therapy." Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. May 8, 2011. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
Campus Mount Mary University is located on an campus on the west side of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Notre Dame Hall and Caroline Hall The first two buildings on the Mount Mary campus, Notre Dame Hall and Caroline Hall, opened in 1929. Notre Dame Hall housed classrooms and administrative offices. Caroline Hall served as the student residence hall. Both buildings have had many updates throughout the years, but continue to house classrooms, administrative offices, and student residences.
Fidelis Hall and Kostka Hall In May 1953, ground was broken for Fidelis Hall, a residence for the School Sisters of Notre Dame, and Kostka Hall, a building housing an auditorium."Dear Alumna." Mount Mary Alumnae News. September 1953."The Auditorium and the Convent." Mount Mary Alumnae News. December 1953. The buildings were completed in 1954, and 198 freshmen were welcomed in the fall at the academic investiture held in Kostka Hall."The 1950s." Mount Mary Magazine. Winter 1988.
Bergstrom Hall Bergstrom Hall, which houses the college's dining rooms, bookstore, and post office, opened in 1964.
Haggerty Library The Patrick and Beatrice Haggerty Library opened in 1981. It was renovated in 2011 and now houses a computer lab, group study rooms, and quiet study spaces."Mount Mary to undertake $2 million expansion project." BusinessJournal.com. April 22, 2011. Retrieved August 2, 2013.
Gerhardinger Center Ground was broken for the Gerhardinger Center in 2002."Building for the Future--A Science, Technology, and Campus Center." Mount Mary Magazine. Spring 2002. The building was opened in 2004 and is named to honor Blessed Theresa Gerhardinger of Jesus, foundress of the School Sisters of Notre Dame order. The building houses the college's electronic lecture hall, Cyber Cafe, and science and occupational therapy classrooms and labs."Science, Technology, and Campus Center Nears Completion". Mount Mary President's Newsletter. 2004.
Bloechl Recreation Center The Bloechl Recreation Center opened in 2006. The building houses basketball and volleyball courts, a fitness center, training rooms, locker rooms, offices, a concession area, and a classroom for aerobics, dance, and yoga."Bloechl Recreation Center Dedicated." Mount Mary Magazine. Fall 2006.
Student life Mount Mary University students can participate in several student clubs and organizations, campus ministry activities, honor societies, and athletics teams. In congruence with the university's mission, Mount Mary also encourages students to participate in social justice and service learning activities on and off campus, as well as study abroad experiences.
The student-run newspaper, Arches, won awards for general web excellence, sports reporting, graphics, and general reporting at the Wisconsin Newspaper Association's Collegiate Better Newspaper Contest in 2012."Mount Mary newspaper wins national, state awards." Wauwatosa Patch. February 10, 2012. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
Events and collections The university is host to sports teams, musical performances, lectures, and other events throughout the year, including exhibits of regional artists' works in the Marian Art Gallery.
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