St. Mary’s College of Maryland (SMCM) President Rhonda Phillips, Ph.D., FAICP, has released a report that summarizes the perspectives of the broader College community gleaned from a series of events and meetings carried out during the first 100 days of her tenure.
Dubbed the “100-Day Listening Tour” (www.smcm.edu/100report), President Phillips met with hundreds of students, alumni, staff, faculty, College trustees, elected officials and members of the community at more than 250 meetings and events. Nearly 200 responses were also provided through an online form on the College website.
Phillips, who became SMCM’s eighth president on July 1, 2025, says the listening tour was instrumental in shaping the direction of the College’s strategic planning process. “I believe strongly in the value of listening and working together to achieve our goals and look forward to collaborating with each and every one of you to actualize an even brighter future for St. Mary’s College of Maryland,” she said in an announcement to the campus. “Now we are starting the next phase of strategic planning, in alignment with the collective feedback shared these past few months. My next steps will prioritize the enhancement and building of our community’s future.”
Phillips emphasizes that a shared vision for moving forward is essential to maintaining the College’s momentum. In addition to cementing its place as the fifth-ranked public liberal arts college – behind only four military academies – in 2025, SMCM completed a record-setting, $23.3 million fundraising campaign; set participation records in attendance at Hawktoberfest, the College’s family weekend; established a new donor mark for the day of giving on Giving Tuesday; and welcomed the most diverse first-year class in the College’s history