College of Saint Mary

Catherine McAuley, founder of the Sisters of Mercy and an early 18th-century Irishwoman, had a bold vision. She believed that nothing was more productive of good to society than the careful education of women.

Mother Mary Leo Gallagher, another Sister of Mercy, carried on the tradition and opened the doors of College of Saint Mary in 1923. In the old Continental Hotel at 15th and Castelar Streets, the work began. The church schools needed teachers. To be effective in these positions, Mother Gallagher believed women needed a strong liberal arts education. Mother Gallagher accomplished this feat when women had won the vote just three years prior.

In November 1950, the sisters purchased 80 acres (320,000 m²) of land for $150,000 next to a dirt road named 72nd Street and what would become Mercy Road. A $3 million construction project began in March 1953 and by May 1955, College of Saint Mary was a reality. That year, 255 students enrolled and by 1958 College of Saint Mary had become a four-year fully accredited college.

CSM teams, nicknamed athletically as the Flames, are part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the Great Plains Athletic Conference. Before July 2015, the college competed in the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference (MCAC). Women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis and volleyball.

• Christine Hill '07, President at AOI Corporation[1]
• Sue Kopfle '87, Chief Human Resource Officer at University of Missouri Health Care[2]
• Sharon "Alex" Kava '82, novelist

• Official website
• College of Saint Mary Athletics website