President's Report 2025

THE WOODS TODAY

To be completely honest, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College was never on my map for potential colleges. I had no idea it even existed, but little did I know that much of my future would be spent here. When I found Art Therapy at The Woods, I found a passion I wasn’t aware of having, and so I participated in two campus tours, each time experiencing my “Avenue Moment,” and found a community before I knew what to expect. I enrolled in 2021 for the Pre-Art Therapy program and soon decided to add a major in Studio Arts and minor in French. During my undergrad years, I developed a deep appreciation for the small class sizes, one-on-one time with professors and the connections made within the dorms and around campus. SMWC has introduced me to powerlifting, helped to strengthen my Catholic faith and given me many leadership opportunities through organizations and job opportunities. When I graduated in May of 2025, I planned to enter the Master of Arts in Art Therapy, but was quite worried about financials. What college student isn’t? Fortunately, I was offered an assistant hall director position within Campus Life that would help with my tuition, giving me the opportunity to further my studies in Art Therapy. I am currently in my second semester of the program, and though the formatting may be different, I have found the same familiarity of closeness within my cohort and appreciation of the professors. While I have no idea what the

future may hold, I know that continuing my education at SMWC was the right stepping stone and I will always cherish the memories and relationships developed along the way.

Lucia

— Lucia Fruchtenicht ’25 MAAT Student and Graduate Student Assistant 11