Onyx Spring-Summer 2019

“The Woods can reach its potential through active engagement, giving back more than we have taken and taking actions today to ensure abundance tomorrow.” — Dottie L. King, Ph.D.

opportunities to share our story and the love of the Sisters of Providence for years and years to come. The Woods can reach its potential through active engagement, giving back more than we have taken and taking actions today to ensure abundance tomorrow. And in challenging times, you cling to your core beliefs. You cling to your faith and the Providence of God. It proves who you are because what you do next is everything. Dottie L. King, Ph.D., is a distinguished scholar and an influential leader and serves as the 16th president of Saint Mary-of-the- Woods College. She holds a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mathematics and a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction/educational leadership from Indiana State University. King often speaks on the topics of leadership, strategic visioning and transformation, and empowering women through education. Sister Dawn Tomaszewski, has been serving as the General Superior of the Sisters of Providence since 2016. She graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College in 1974 with a bachelor’s degree in communications, and also earned a master’s degree in journalism from the University of North Carolina. In addition, she has a master’s degree in theology from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. Sister Dawn dedicates her life to love, mercy and justice to create a more just and hope-filled world through prayer, education, service and advocacy.

the Saint Mary-of-the-Woods Historic District, which is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The district consists of buildings and structures owned by each individual entity. Together, SPs and SMWC are planning events to share the history of the district. • Woods Core 100, a required course, focuses on the concept of communities, and how they have influenced societies and education. It introduces the concept of the SMWC community and its mission and values. This course integrates SPs by sharing spirituality and wisdom. Sister Dawn Both entities are being intentional about inviting the other into each other’s space and lives. For example, I love that the SMWC drama and music productions are available to SPs as if we were faculty or students. And I love that the Sisters ask students to attend Taizé [a prayer service offered every second Tuesday of each month]. We just have to keep talking to one another. When we’re making decisions, we need to ask ourselves how will this impact the other. We cannot act in isolation; we must be attentive to all communities connected to this campus. For us that includes Sisters, Providence Associates, Providence Health Care and, of course, the College. Soon, we hope to add those who will join us at St. Mary’s Senior Housing.

President King We deliberately put ourselves in meetings with each other and to make sure opportunities to work together happens. It is indeed worth the effort. Many interactions happen with a lot of planning on our part and some occur naturally and we are excited by it. We have a healthy respect for the fact that we can’t do everything together. There are different needs in an educational facility than in a religious community. We communicate those needs and offer help in different ways. I know we are all operating out of a deep trust in Providence. One of the ways we trust in Providence is in our willingness to dream, innovate and take risks - that is trust in Providence. We are trusting what we heard in the dark can be seen in the light and will come to a good fruitful end. God isn’t sending us the plan. God is sending us the strength to be co-creators. And we need to use the gifts we have been given by this Provident God and get it done. We hold fast to our mission and values. Who we are also includes how we treat one another and the value of community. As the College continues to respond to the needs of the society around it, we are evolving and moving through challenges. I believe it is a difference maker in how we deliver education. Together, we continue to put The Woods on an upward trajectory. Making it a place of distinction and greater consequence is vital. We have such

Left: President Dottie L. King, Ph.D., and Sisters of Providence General Superior Dawn Tomaszewski ’74, at the press conference announcing SMWC's purchase of land from the Sisters of Providence.

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