It was a four-day stretch Randy Bennett will never forget. “The best of my life, I can say that without a doubt,” Bennett said. The 18-year head coach of the Saint Mary’s men’s basketball team and dedicated father of two high school boys had just witnessed his sons Chase and Cade win a high school state championship for Campolindo on Saturday night in Sacramento.
After a short flight to Las Vegas and a Gaels semifinal win against San Diego in the West Coast Conference Tournament, Bennett then led the Gaels to the program’s first win over the No. 1 team in the nation. Saint Mary’s had upset rival Gonzaga in the WCC Championship to earn an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament in front of over one million viewers on ESPN Tuesday night. Three wins in four days for both his family and his Gael family. “Looking back in my coaching career, that probably ranks at the top of the list. I can’t think of a better win,” Bennett said.
Math Professor Ellen Veomett’s research could not be timelier. She is studying how math can be used to prevent gerrymandering, the drawing of congressional and state voting district boundaries to favor one party, incumbent, or group over another.
In 1993, Saint Mary’s students got their first opportunity to take classes toward a minor in Women’s Studies, which grew into the Women’s and Gender Studies (WaGS) Program in 2005—now proudly celebrating its 25th anniversary.
Introduced as a pilot initiative by Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Margaret Kasimatis, the Academic Growth and Innovation Fund was established as a way to support innovation among Saint Mary’s faculty and staff.
Defining the Future: The Campaign for Saint Mary’s has raised $14 million, bringing the Campaign total to more than $120 million toward its $125 million goal.
Recently elected State Senator María Elena Durazo ’75 reflects on how her SMC experience helped prepare her for the journey to the California statehouse.
How Do You Reflect the Lasallian Mission in Your Work?
Saint Mary’s Lasallian heritage greatly influences research conducted across campus. In this issue’s Roundtable, SMC researchers, staff leaders, and Lasallian partners discuss how their work endeavors to address inequities in social justice by promoting courageous actions that show respect for all people.
About the Award-Winning Saint Mary's College Magazine
The Saint Mary’s magazine explores the character, vitality, mission, and news of the College with its readers, who include alumni, friends, faculty, and staff, current students and their parents. The publication’s primary visual language is photography, while also employing art to vividly tell the Saint Mary’s story. To learn more or reach the editors, email us at magazine@stmarys-ca.edu or give us a call at (925) 631-4278.