Your generosity sustained Mary Baldwin when it mattered most. Here’s what you made possible.
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A Message from Mary Harvey
Hello,
As Vice President for University Advancement at Mary Baldwin, I saw firsthand that through every moment of uncertainty this past year and throughout our history, our community’s willingness to come together remained constant.
Over this past year, your dedication has been remarkable. Because of your steadfast support, the Joseph Waddell Scholarship increased from an initial $15,000 gift to an endowment now worth over $1 million. The Class of 1975 made the largest gift in reunion history to name a classroom in the soon-to-be renovated Carpenter Hall, which you may know as Academic. In March, because of your generosity we raised over $667,000, the most successful Day of Giving in Mary Baldwin’s history. Throughout the entire year, we saw nearly double the participation of alumni in events and programs online and in our regional networks.
To all of those who stood with us and gave generously — thank you. Your support is more than an investment in Mary Baldwin’s future. It is a powerful reminder that collective and passionate action makes a real difference.
I am excited to share with you a new format for our annual Impact Report, one designed to better showcase the many ways your generosity and participation makes a difference. Read the report below and see how far we’ve come in our Made for all time campaign.
I hope you enjoy reading about your impact and the lives you have changed. Thank you for being a vital part of the Mary Baldwin family.
Mary Harvey
Vice President of University Advancement
Building a Stronger Foundation
The Made for all time campaign exists to strengthen Mary Baldwin for generations to come. This year, that purpose became more important than ever and donors responded with remarkable generosity. Through more than $6 million in new gifts and commitments, donors invested in students, responded to urgent needs, and helped position the university for long-term sustainability.
A $15,000 Gift Becomes a $1 Million Scholarship
The Joseph A. Waddell Scholarship, originally created by John and Ann Bowles through a gift of $15,000 in 2012, has exceeded $1,000,000 in endowment funds. This scholarship supports two students every school year. The Bowles have grown their scholarship over the years through regular Required Minimum Distributions from their IRA plan.
The scholarship is named for John Bowles’ ancestor, Dr. Joseph A. Waddell, a trustee during the 1860s. Dr. Waddell is credited in Patricia Menk’s book To Live in Time for having suggested Mary Julia Baldwin and Agnes McClung be named joint principals of the Augusta Female Seminary. Thanks to Dr. Waddell’s support, the school did not close during the Civil War.
The Bowles’ continue the family’s legacy of support through the scholarship. “We’ve enjoyed watching the fund grow and seeing what the students it has helped have done,” say John and Ann.
Two or more math and science students will receive this transformational opportunity each year in perpetuity to expand access to a Mary Baldwin education.
A New Home for Creativity and Culture
In November, Mary Baldwin received a $65,000 grant from the Rea Charitable Trust to refurbish the Creativity & Culture Neighborhood study space in Rose Terrace.
The grant funds new lighting, flooring, advanced climate control, updated furnishings, and archival storage for artwork — including works by sculptor Betty Gold, an honorary alumna and longtime supporter, which will be housed in the space. The result: a study environment designed to sharpen focus and spark the creative collaboration at the heart of the Neighborhood.
A Lasting Legacy of Leadership
During her decade-plus as Commandant of Cadets for the Virginia Women’s Institute for Leadership, Brigadier General Terry Djuric built a strong partnership with the Staunton Military Academy Foundation. Now the Foundation has established an annual scholarship in her name, honoring her longstanding dedication to Mary Baldwin, the VWIL program, and the more than 200 cadets she has led. The scholarship will extend her legacy of leadership to VWIL students for years to come.
In May, on the recommendation of the Offices of Alumni Engagement and Advancement, the Board of Trustees named Brig. Gen. Djuric an honorary alumna of the Corps.
Alumni Engagement:
Showing Up for Mary Baldwin
This past year, the Office of Alumni Engagement hosted more than 60 events for alumni and supporters. From virtual Lifelong Learning opportunities (50% of which featured alumni expertise), to the largest Staunton Network event, attending All’s Well That Ends Well in support of third-year Shakespeare & Performance students, and to our most attended Conversations & Connections program in the Richmond Network that the Mary Baldwin Signature – alumni showed up to support Mary Baldwin and connect with one another.
Help Us Reach More Squirrels
Did you know we have email addresses for only about 35% of our living alumni community? You can help us close the gap:
- Forward emails you receive to classmates and peers.
- Share news and updates in Facebook groups and across your networks.
- Encourage friends in your area to register for alumni activities, virtual and in person.
- Rally others to update their information online.
- Update your own contact information with us today.
Stay in the know: The monthly Alumni Engagement eNewsletter brings you news, announcements, and stories from across the Mary Baldwin community. Squirreling Around Town is your guide to upcoming events, ways to connect, and campus news — at Mary Baldwin and in our surrounding communities.
We’re social now, too! The Office of Alumni Engagement launched official channels this year. Follow Mary Baldwin Alumni & Supporters on Facebook and @marybaldwin_alumni on Instagram for alumni news, events, and campus updates.
Alumni Give Back
At Mary Baldwin, community has always been at the heart of the experience. This year, alumni and supporters lived out that tradition by serving others, supporting students, and building connections that reach well beyond the Hill.
Hunger in the Blue Ridge — and Beyond
Jenna Smith Dull ’97, Director of Development for the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, led a powerful discussion on food insecurity in our region and nation for an installment in MBU’s Lifelong Learning series.
Staunton Network Holiday Party
Attendees supported students directly with donations to the Campus Cupboard, our on-campus food bank.
The Cupid Project
Paired alumni and students to hand-make more than 60 Valentine’s cards for local seniors in assisted living facilities.
Campus Beautification
Staunton locals Dana Flanders ’82 and Brenda Hagg ’81 adopted the twin flower beds at the North Coalter Street entrance, by the big hill and practice field.
Homecoming 2025: Records, Reunions, and Milestones
Big numbers, milestone anniversaries, and beautiful weather: nearly 200 alumni returned to Staunton for Homecoming 2025. From glass blowing and campus tours to breakfast in Hunt and the closing celebration, alumni connected across generations — and shared ideas for the future of alumni engagement at a new send-off breakfast with the Alumni Advisory Council.
The weekend was full of milestones. The Program for the Exceptionally Gifted marked its 40th anniversary with an era-spanning panel, virtual engagement opportunities, and the dedication of a memorial bench honoring the late Christy Baker, MEd. The Virginia Women’s Institute for Leadership celebrated 30 years with a commemorative parade, the dedication of the VWIL Business Center, and the Military Ball. And the Athletics Hall of Fame welcomed back the 1995 volleyball and 2000 field hockey championship teams.
What You Missed at Homecoming 2025:
The Largest Class Gift in Mary Baldwin History
The 50th Reunion Class set a new record for reunion giving. The Class of 1975 marked its 50th Reunion with a record-breaking class gift of nearly $255,000 — the largest class gift in university history. The gift plays a key role in the ongoing renovation of Carpenter (Academic) Hall, creating enhanced learning and study spaces for generations of students to come. In recognition, a “BIG” classroom in Carpenter Hall will be named in honor of the Class of 1975.
The 1975 Planning Committee, Lee (Johnston) Foster, Suzie Maxson, J.J. (Fulton) Mink, and Kathy Smallwood, worked tirelessly to plan class events, drive attendance, and contribute lead gifts.
Day of Giving: Meeting the Moment
Led by alumni and strengthened by supporters across the Mary Baldwin community, Day of Giving on March 12 became the most successful in university history — raising $667,709, 35% above the $500,000 goal and 7% more than the previous year.
One notable challenge came from Dr. James D. Lott, Sr., beloved Professor and Dean Emeritus, who committed $20 for every donor to kick off the day.
Mary Baldwin has faced and overcome many challenges in the past. This year is no exception, but we must act now. Current students — and future generations — depend on us.
Dr. Jim Lott, Professor and Dean Emeritus
Alumni leaders played a pivotal role in driving participation by rallying classmates and inspiring support, while friendly competition through the All Class Challenge sparked a wave of class pride that amplified engagement and awareness throughout the day.
These successes aren’t only limited to day-of, though — Mary Baldwin alumni and donors raised significantly more than the original goal, providing further funding to support the Legacy Fund, the Signature, and more. The Legacy Fund, our unrestricted fund, supports our operational needs, allowing us to continue to provide the Mary Baldwin signature education to more students for years to come. Read on to learn more about the Mary Baldwin Signature and what it means for the students of today and tomorrow.
Thank you to all who Met the Moment for Mary Baldwin.
The Mary Baldwin Signature
What Is the Signature?
The Mary Baldwin Signature is our career-ready living-and-learning experience — a reimagining of the undergraduate journey that weaves academics, professional planning, and co-curricular experiences into one intentional path. It builds on what has always defined Mary Baldwin — close-knit friendships, dedicated faculty mentors, and a strong liberal arts foundation — and adds intentional support for academic achievement, career readiness, and lifelong success. From day one, every student is connected with peers, mentors, and advisors who have their back at every step.
The Academic Neighborhoods
At the heart of the Signature are our four Neighborhoods — vibrant communities built around clusters of career-ready majors: Business & Technology, Creativity & Culture, Education & Society, and Health & Science. Students live alongside their Neighborhood classmates in their first year, take classes together, and share lectures, field trips, and experiences that bring learning to life — forging the connections that research tells us are the keys to success in college and beyond.
The Commons
No student is ever on their own at MBU. The Commons at Grafton Library brings our “one size fits one” philosophy to life: advising coaches, career coaches, tutors, and the McCree Center for Life Success, all integrated in one welcoming space. It’s where students sharpen skills, chart their paths, and prepare for whatever comes next — a career, service, or graduate school.
Your Support Makes It Possible
Alumni have embraced this evolution, recognizing how it prepares today’s students to thrive — many have said they wish the Signature had existed when they were in school. That enthusiasm translated into meaningful action this spring: more than $3.4 million in unrestricted support for Mary Baldwin, which in turn powers the Signature — the personalized guidance, experiential learning, and resources that define the program. With support like that, the future looks bright for Mary Baldwin.
The supportive environment here has helped me step outside my comfort zone and prepare for my future. I have become more confident in both myself and my goals.
Promyse DentClass of ’29
Come Home this October
Every year, Homecoming brings generations of Mary Baldwin alumni — across programs and degree levels — back to campus to celebrate the people, places, and traditions that make this community unique.
Join us October 23–25, 2026, for a weekend of connection, memories, and Squirrel Nation pride. Together we’ll honor our past, celebrate our present, and look ahead to the future of Mary Baldwin.