Saint Mary’s College has received a “landmark” gift from alumna Lorraine Sheehan Wilson ’85 and her husband, Notre Dame graduate Chris Wilson ’85, to establish the Wilson Sheehan Scholarship Fund. The announcement was made to the Saint Mary’s community Wednesday afternoon by College President Katie Conboy.
According to Conboy, their $7.5 million investment, the largest cash scholarship gift in the College’s history, “will play a central role” in Saint Mary’s capital campaign Ring Out Ring True. The campaign will publicly launch June 6.
Sheehan Wilson is the vice chair Saint Mary’s Board of Trustees.
The Wilson Sheehan Scholarship Fund will provide need-based scholarships to Saint Mary’s students beginning in the 2027-2028 academic year. Conboy said many recipients would receive support for all four years of their College tenure.
“This leadership gift directly advances our commitment to access, belonging, and student success. Lorraine and Chris have already demonstrated a deep dedication to Saint Mary’s students,” Conboy wrote. “This transformative investment ensures that many more young women will benefit from the life-changing power of a Saint Mary’s education.”
Sheehan Wilson and Wilson have made significant donations to the College in the past, including an endowment for the Office of Student Empowerment and an endowed scholarship that supports students graduated from Cristo Rey Network high schools.
