国产传媒

The US Under Secretary of Education James Kvaal visited Mount Saint Mary’s University on April 17. During the visit, he toured the Chalon Campus to learn more about Mount Saint Mary’s distinctive programs and met with students, faculty and leadership.

“We were delighted to welcome Under Secretary Kvaal to our campus, and I am grateful for all the work the Department of Education is doing to build a more inclusive higher education system,” said President Ann McElaney-Johnson, PhD. “His visit shows recognition of our University and of our students’ incredible work as they prepare to become the leaders of tomorrow. We look forward to working with Mr. Kvaal and his team to ensure that women’s colleges and universities like Mount Saint Mary’s continue to thrive across our nation.”

Kvaal was confirmed as the Under Secretary of Education in September 2021 and leads the Department’s work on higher education, student financial aid, and career and adult education. Earlier in his career, Kvaal served in the White House under Presidents Clinton and Obama, including more than three years as deputy domestic policy adviser to President Obama.

The Under Secretary talked about the importance of women’s colleges, regional universities and minority-serving institutions in the higher education spectrum. “Institutions like Mount Saint Mary’s have unique potential to create equitable opportunity, promote upward mobility and help students see new perspectives. These are all things that our country critically needs,” he said . “My uncle taught at Smith College [another women’s college in Massachusetts] and I’ve always understood that there is something important about women’s colleges.”   

Kvaal and his team – including acting chief of staff and liaison for women’s universities Heather Ward and special assistant Jack Hurley – met with a diverse group of students who shared stories about their paths to college, why they chose Mount Saint Mary’s, the different programs they participate in and their future plans after graduation.

They also discussed various research, leadership and internship opportunities they have had while at the Mount. Thais Perez ’23 and Kaitlyn Zurawik ‘23, for instance, shared their experience as part of the Global Women in STEM and Policy Undergraduate Research Training Honors Program, which trains cohorts of undergraduate students to conduct applied research in both sciences and social sciences to provide them with hands-on experience in lab and qualitative research. Last summer, they traveled to Argentina to conduct field research on women’s health from a multi-disciplinary approach. This month, they had the opportunity to travel to Chicago to present their research at the Midwestern Political Science Association Conference.

“Something that was moving about our experience at the conference was to see how faculty members were excited to see our work,” said Perez, who is the president of the Student Government Association. “Some professors pointed out that many students don’t get this type of opportunity until grad school. The Mount has provided us with the funds and support to be able to conduct this field research and showcase our work at a conference, which is something that it’s hard to come by at other institutions, and I know it has given us a unique advantage.”

Students also talked about the meaning and value of attending a women’s university. “Being at a women’s university has truly given me this voice where I can speak my opinion without being afraid of being heard,” explained Erika Coreas ’24, a psychology major and an orientation leader on campus.

“As a first-generation student and daughter of immigrant parents, I have received a lot of support from the Mount every step of the way to help me navigate college. All these different communities, departments and programs on campus have really helped me to advance and become stronger and more confident to build my way up to the top.”

Kvaal appreciated hearing about the students’ experiences and the distinctive programs offered at the Mount. “After hearing your stories, I know the future is in good hands,” he said.

Following the roundtable discussion with students, James Kvall met with 国产传媒 President McElaney-Johnson,  who is also chair of the board of the Women’s College Coalition, and Emerald Archer, PhD, the WCC executive director, to discuss the triumphs and challenges facing women’s colleges. The WCC, which serves as the association and voice of women’s colleges and universities in the US and Canada, has been housed at Mount Saint Mary’s since July 2019.

“Visits like the Under Secretary’s demonstrate the Department of Education’s support of women’s colleges,” said Archer. “The WCC looks forward to future initiatives that further demonstrate the department’s commitment to bolstering women’s colleges.”