University of Mary

08/28/2026

08/27/2026

He was once a Mary student. Now he’s coming home as a priest. 💙🧡

The University of Mary is pleased to welcome Father Paul Gardner as our new university chaplain and director of the Saint John Paul II Center for University Ministry.

Father Gardner first came to Mary as a double major in math and chemistry. Two years later, he left for the seminary after discerning a call to the priesthood.

Now, four years after his ordination, he’s returning to the campus where his own faith took deeper root, this time to walk alongside a new generation of Mary students.

“I had a deep encounter with the Lord when I was going to college there,” Father Gardner says. “It transformed me from seeing the faith as something that was necessary to something attractive as well.”

Welcome home, Father Gardner. We’re so grateful you’re back. 🙏
Meet Father and read his story here: https://umary.life/3UGPG4W

08/26/2026

It’s almost time for , Nora!

08/25/2026

They came to Mary from five different states, expecting to earn their Doctor of Physical Therapy degrees.

And in 2011, nine women also found each other while navigating the challenges of a rigorous DPT program. More than a decade later, they're still cheering each other on: professionally, personally, and through all the joys and challenges life brings.

Their story is a beautiful reminder that at Mary, you're still part of the Marauders family, long after you leave campus.

Read their story from the latest issue of Momentum: https://umary.life/4wScnjX

08/20/2026

78 out of 449.

That’s how many of the nation’s 449 accredited respiratory therapy programs earned this year’s Distinguished RRT Credentialing Success Award. And the University of Mary is one of them.

The distinction recognizes programs demonstrating exceptional success in preparing graduates to earn the Registered Respiratory Therapist credential, a nationally recognized professional credential reflecting advanced knowledge and clinical competence.

For Mary students, it’s another indication that they’re receiving an education designed not simply to get them through a program, but to prepare them for meaningful work in health care.

And the opportunity is especially compelling right now: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 12% employment growth for respiratory therapists from 2024–2034, with about 8,800 openings projected annually.

Plus, qualified students pursuing respiratory therapy at Mary may be eligible for full-tuition scholarships.

National recognition. A diverse, growing profession. A career centered on caring for others.

That sounds like a pretty good place to start.

Learn more at https://umary.life/4gLvCWL

08/19/2026

See you soon for , Grace!

08/18/2026

There's a reason North Dakota feels like a place where you can build something.

The numbers are starting to say it, too.

North Dakota has jumped from No. 12 to No. 4 in the nation in the 2026 U.S. News Best States rankings.

The state also ranked:
• No. 2 in employment
• No. 3 in fiscal stability
• No. 5 in energy
• No. 7 in infrastructure
• No. 7 in opportunity

U.S. News evaluated all 50 states using 71 metrics and thousands of data points, looking at everything from education and health care to economic growth, infrastructure, public safety, and opportunity.

For us at the University of Mary, it's a reminder that our students aren't just earning an education here. They're preparing for their futures in a state that's growing, creating opportunities, and building for what's ahead.

We're proud to be part of North Dakota's story. 🧡💙

Read more from the State of North Dakota: https://umary.life/4hH4eLr

08/17/2026

The best journeys give you something to carry back home.

This weekend, University of Mary students, alumni, friends, and Monsignor Shea traveled to the Shrine of Our Lady of Champion for the fifth annual Charge to Champion pilgrimage.

Along the way came time to pray, worship, learn, laugh, reflect, and simply be together.

At the heart of it all is a story that began more than 160 years ago, when Adele Brise encountered the woman she came to know as the Queen of Heaven and was asked to do more: to teach, to serve, and to help others come to know Christ.

Five years in, that invitation continues to inspire this journey.

We're grateful to everyone who made this year's Charge to Champion possible and especially to those who made the journey with us.

And maybe next year, you should come, too. 💙

08/16/2026

Mass from the Shrine of Our Lady of Champion will be live-streamed today at 9:30 am.

While our students, alumni, friends, and Monsignor Shea are there in person, you can join us in prayer from wherever you are.

Take a moment to step away, settle in, and pray with us from Champion.

https://umary.life/4bUyYVz

08/15/2026

Tomorrow, the road leads to Champion.

For the fifth year, University of Mary students, alumni, friends, and Monsignor Shea are making the journey to the Shrine of Our Lady of Champion, a place of prayer, pilgrimage, and the story of Adele Brise, who was called to “do more” in service of Christ.

For those who can’t make the journey to Wisconsin with us, you can still join us in prayer.

Mass from the Shrine of Our Lady of Champion will be live-streamed Sunday. Follow along and experience a piece of this pilgrimage from wherever you are right here. https://umary.life/4bUyYVz

And if you find yourself wishing you were there…perhaps that’s your sign to come along next year. 💙