For eight weeks this summer, nine students participated in the annual St. Mary’s Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF), diving into research topics of their own choosing with guidance from faculty mentors representing a diverse sampling of the college’s departments.

St. Mary’s College of Maryland senior and physics major David Gerrish is the first SMCM student to undertake a summer internship at the new University of Maryland Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Test Site at the St. Mary’s Airport in California, Md.

St. Mary’s College of Maryland has been named among the Best Colleges for Economics Degree Programs by Schools.com. To determine this ranking, Schools.com gathered data profiles on more than 400 institutions across the country and ran them through a multi-point methodology. Based on the criteria, Schools.com ranked all 2-year and 4-year schools in the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) that reported data and calculated them on a 10-point scale. St.

Shanen M. Sherrer, assistant professor of biochemistry, is the lead author on a new research article with Nobel Laureate Paul Modrich in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Their work shows the impact of cadmium exposure on human DNA mismatch repair (MMR). In particular, they discovered human MMR protein MutLα is inhibited by cadmium, which can lead to increased genetic mutations and cancer.

St. Mary’s College is ranked sixth among the top 25 beach colleges by College Consensus. To be included in the ranking, colleges were ranked by a combination of reputable publisher ratings, real student reviews, and if sustainability, environmental responsibility, and respect for nature were written into the curriculum and mission. For more information, visit https://www.collegeconsensus.com/rankings/best-beach-colleges/

St. Mary’s College of Maryland has been named among the Best Colleges for Anthropology Degree Programs by Schools.com. To determine this ranking, Schools.com gathered data profiles on more than 400 institutions across the country and ran them through a multi-point methodology. Based on the criteria, Schools.com ranked all 2-year and 4-year schools in the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) that reported data and calculated them on a 10-point scale. St.

Instructor of Music Eliza Garth’s latest album, “Tour de Force” (Albany Records) featuring works by American composers Sheree Clement and Perry Goldstein, received another positive review from

Registration takes place through June 24 for the 7^th Annual Chesapeake Writers’ Conference held on St. Mary’s College of Maryland’s campus, Sunday, June 24 – Saturday, June 30. Workshop tuition is $800. There is also a course credit option for an additional fee and optional meal and housing packages available. For more information, visit www.smcm.edu/events/chesapeake-writers-conference.

Adjunct Harp Instructor Rebecca Anstine Smith performed with organist Michael Lodico, Jr.

Alumna Carolyn La Rocco ’15 (history) recently received official notice from the Wolfson Foundation of her receipt o