Marygrove Alumni & Friends

No truer words were ever spoken!!! 💚💛

ANNOUNCEMENT:

The Marygrove College All-Alumni Reunion is postponed until 2027.

There will not be a Marygrove Reunion in Fall 2026. Please plan on a September 2027 All-Alumni Reunion with details to follow. All classes are welcome, and those milestone years ending in 1 and 6, or in 2 and 7, will be honored at that time. If you have suggestions for speakers, reach out to the Alumni Association by emailing Alumni Association President Rahjinah Johnson at [email protected].

Send a message to learn more

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Frances L. Simmons (BS, 1985). She was a longtime active member of the Marygrove Alumni Board, faithfully serving as Program Committee Chair and Board Secretary. She participated in many alumni activities, including attending the All-Alumni Reunion just this past Fall 2025 season, one of many reunions in which she participated. We send our deepest condolences and prayers to her family, friends, and classmates. Her service and dedication, as well as her kind and gentle demeanor will be greatly missed.

A well-deserved salute to Dr. Price!! From the Marygrove College website:

In 1998 the Marygrove College Board of Trustees appointed Dr. Glenda D. Price, former provost of Spelman College, Atlanta, as Marygrove's seventh president. Dr. Price was the first African-American woman to hold the Marygrove presidency.

Dr. Price immediately implemented the Griots program, an initiative to increase the number of African-American male teachers in metro Detroit school systems, an idea that had been proposed in Dr. Shay's administration. With significant increased funding from major local and regional foundations, she also initiated, in rapid order, study abroad, honors, and research assistant programs; Onstage!, an arts education outreach effort directed to Detroit children and youth; "Defining Detroit," an acclaimed series of multidisciplinary presentations in honor of Detroit's 300th anniversary, which evolved into the Institute for Detroit Studies; an annual Academic Colloquium; affiliation with the Faculty Resource Network at NYU and the National Science Foundation's Project Kaleidoscope; and two additional institutes: the Institute of Music and Dance and the Women's Leadership Institute. Because of President Price's deep involvement in the Detroit civic and corporate communities, the College was able to establish new programmatic partnerships with the Detroit Public Schools, The Skillman Foundation, University of Detroit Mercy, and Lawrence Technological University. Men's and women's basketball teams took to the courts, and new strategies to strengthen Marygrove's relationship with alumni won national foundation support.

During her administration, Marygrove set new strategic goals, developed a campus master plan, and began implementing an ambitious information technology plan. The College won support for the $3 million renovation and full upgrade of the Marygrove Theatre, which re-opened on Founders Day, November 10, 2002, the 75th anniversary of Marygrove College in the City of Detroit. A large federal grant allowed the mathematics and science division to begin the complete modernization of its facilities, including new faculty-student research labs, state-of-the-art smart classrooms, and first-rate teaching laboratories. Renewal of the campus infrastructure, particularly in the area of technology, was matched by an equally strong record of faculty research and publications, each positioning Marygrove for growth in the 21st century.

A distinguished educator and academic leader, Dr. Glenda Price became president of Marygrove College in 1998, making history as the first African American woman to lead the institution. During her eight-year tenure, she guided the college through a period of growth while strengthening its commitment to academic excellence and service. Today, she continues to support the legacy of the institution as a member of the Marygrove Conservancy Board.

A wonderful Marygrove legacy in perpetuity!

Did you know Marygrove College's entire library is free online? Over 70,000 books and journals — including a collection with a uniquely African American Detroit perspective — saved and accessible to anyone, forever. Watch the short doc on how it happened📚 https://archive.org/details/marygrove

How inspiring to see!

Looking for a cause to contribute to on this Giving Tuesday (or any day)? Consider supporting the Contemporary American Authors Lecture Series - CAALS ! Started at Marygrove 37 years ago, this series has brought some of America's most prominent Authors to the campus for insightful dialogue.

Marlon James will be our featured author at the 37th Contemporary American Authors Lecture Series. We appreciate your support!

If you're looking for an event space, consider our beloved Marygrove!

"Historic Charm, Architectural Beauty, and it's a great place to host your next event." -Kristin- It truly is the perfect event space. Comment "Marygrove" if you'd like more information or to schedule a tour.