Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College students, faculty and staff came together Thursday in Harvey Auditorium to reflect on the mission and spirit of the institution.
“This meaningful day marks the founding of the College on Oct. 22, 1840, and celebrates the enduring legacy of Saint Mother Theodore Guerin—a visionary whose courage, faith, and dedication continue to inspire generations,” said Brooke Hickey, human resources manager at SMWC.
Janet Clark, Ph.D., Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, shared readings from Saint Mother Theodore Guerin’s journal about her journey to and arrival at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.
“We hope you start to love that story,” she said. “We do not tire of hearing about the six Sisters of Providence who came to the wilderness of Indiana. We are surrounded daily by the visuals of her legacy. It’s a story of courage, hardship, faith and determination. She had quite an adventure to build what we know today.”
That story continues today, 185 years after the Sisters of Providence arrived at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.
“Since the beginning, this has been a people-focused institution, focused on servant leaders and developing your servant leader qualities. Take this in and reflect on yourself. You are blessed,” SMWC President Brennan Randolph told the students. “The adventure awaits, folks, and I encourage you to take this day in.”
Classes for the day were canceled so students could attend the program, which included an opening prayer from Tim Tesmer, campus minister, and sophomore Criminology major Gabbi Fisko, of Phoenix, Ariz., singing the National Anthem.
Students also shared their experiences collaborating with others for a common cause.
“(Saint Mother Theodore Guerin’s) journey reminds us that every journey begins with one brave yes,” said senior Nursing major and Presidential Corps. President Molly Coomer, of Fredericksburg. “Let’s celebrate the same adventurous spirit that brought our foundress here.”
“SMWC is blessed with a vibrant student community,” said Confidence Nwachukwu, a sophomore Nursing student from Nigeria and member of the Black Student Alliance. “We want to build on the legacy of conclusion and be an example for those who come after us by our example.”
Kevin Garcia, a Digital Marketing major from Houston, Texas, and a member of the Student Senate, reminded his fellow students about the work being done behind the scenes to create an inclusive campus for all.
“When we meet with administrators. We talk about people, advocate for better communication and make sure every student is heard and valued,” he said. “We want every student to know their voice matters and they have a place at the table.”
Dr. Kenneth Chew, Jr., Psy.D., HSPP, served as the keynote speaker for the program. He has been a clinical psychologist at Point Beyond Mental Health Collective in Terre Haute since 2024.
Earlier in his career, Chew worked at the Indiana State University Student Counseling Center, where he was later appointed Director. He also coordinated substance programming, served as Director of Clinical Training and managed the Performance Excellence Program.
Between 2009 and 2016, Chew managed most medical and wellness services for ISU, led the Student Affairs Behavior Assessment Team and served as the campus’ HIPPA compliance officer.
In 2005, Chew was among the first group of psychologists brought together by the NCAA to discuss the mental health issues of student-athletes. He was part of the 2013 NCAA Mental Health Task Force and the 2017 Mental Health Task Force 2.0. In 2020, he was both a participant and a member of the planning committee for the NCAA’s Diverse Student-Athlete Mental Health Summit.
In his talk, entitled ‘The Journey is the Blessing’, Chew spoke about how people navigate through the world, and more importantly, find a way to be true to themselves while embracing the process.
“To be honest, I hope that each person takes a little something different from the presentation,” he said. “Everyone has a different journey and path or life adventure to navigate.”
That means students should use their individual journeys to inform who they are and how they fit into the world.
“I hope they learn to develop connections and communication skills because they may like who they meet along the way. They may even learn to like themselves,” he said. “Create their own sense of pride, persistence, resilience, identity, direction and exceptionalism. Find a sense of enjoyment or fun in their life journey. But, most of all, I hope they learn to embrace the process.”
Following the program, attendees were invited to a Belonging Cookout and students participated in service projects in the afternoon.