Stepping Up to Enhance the Campus Experience for Students
A group of Saint Mary’s Trustees—led by Elizabeth Phelan ’92 and other women Board members—learned about a need on campus and recognized their ability to help. Now, the already-popular Ferroggiaro Quad has become a social staple and a hive of activity.
As the Office of Strategic Partnerships and Advancement at Saint Mary's works to create a culture of philanthropy at the College, Board of Trustees member Elizabeth Phelan knows her colleagues on the Board are uniquely positioned to set an example.
Coupled with her desire to bring more attention to her fellow women on the Board—especially how they're dedicated to enriching the college experience for Gael students—a need to fund enhancements to Ferroggiaro Quad caught her eye as a tangible project to take on. Fueled by their contributions, the Quad is now a vibrant gathering spot for students and others on campus, suitable for informal and formal events alike.
"I'm always looking for ways to motivate women—particularly on the Board— to become more involved and to help out philanthropically," said Phelan, who leads the Board's Advancement committee. "In doing so, I just keep trying to bring it back to the students and how to support them and make things a little bit better for them on campus."
The idea to fund much-needed enhancements at Ferroggiaro Quad originated at a 2021 Board meeting, where several current needs involving Gael students were discussed. The improvements most needed at the Quad were a permanent sound system and better lighting.
"Whenever we had an event there, we had to have Information Technology Services come out with speakers and equipment if we wanted any music," said Jim Sciuto, Vice President for Student Life. Aside from a quality sound system, he said, the Quad just didn't feel like a "true campus center" and, instead, felt like a random area.
Phelan saw an opportunity to team with other women on the Board to contribute tangibly to the student experience at Saint Mary's.
“I'm always looking for ways to motivate women—particularly on the Board— to become more involved, and to help out philanthropically.”
Improvements for Current and Future Gaels
Over dinner the next night, Phelan and others agreed to try to move this project forward. "It was wonderful to see that everyone was on board and agreed to fund the Ferroggiaro Quad improvements, with varying amounts that each of us could contribute," she says. Joining Phelan on the giving project were current Trustee Kim Vogel '89 and former Board members Margaret French Isaac '85, Shirley Gee '80, Michelle Perry Higgins '94, and Sharon Muir.
The improvements resulted in a proper student space, with music throughout the day, nighttime lighting, and an area where Gael students now gather to socialize, study, and enjoy themselves throughout the day and evening. Sciuto characterizes the new-and-improved Ferroggiaro Quad as "an outdoor student union," complementing the nearby Intercultural Center by bringing more visibility to its work and expanding the available spaces it can use for its activities. Other events, receptions, and gatherings are also now taking place at the Quad, including the Fall Involvement Fair and Día de los Muertos activities.
Phelan says that the project has also had a side benefit vital to her and other Board of Trustees members: to demonstrate to the campus how the women on the Board are working to improve the College experience for current and future Gaels.
"It's important to me that our students and the rest of the Saint Mary's community recognize that the Board is doing things for our students," she says. "For this project, we had a great group of women who wanted the same things, and we were able to get it all together and make it happen."
Phelan also firmly believes that recognition can help motivate Board members and others at Saint Mary's to seek out other opportunities to donate. The Board has been able to cover at least half the cost of the College's recent Fall Fest expenses, for example, and Trustees have also pitched in to donate funds for food trucks. She says she's always on the lookout for new ways for the Board to contribute.
"Philanthropy is such a big part of what needs to happen at smaller schools like Saint Mary's, so the Board needs to lead by example and show the rest of the Saint Mary's community why it's so critical," Phelan says.
"We're hoping to grow the College these next few years, and we need some support from our community to do so. Leading by example can stimulate more ideas, more contributions, and more donors who want to be part of the positive change."
READ MORE: Learn about Board of Trustees member Elizabeth Phelan '92 and her other Board colleagues.
Learn about all the ways to give at Saint Mary's.