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Mary Bruemmer in 1956
Mary Bruemmer in 1960
Mary Bruemmer in 1977
Mary Bruemmer in 2006
Mary Bruemmer in 2014

Mary Bruemmer

Celebrating Mary at 100

Mary Bruemmer in 1920

1920

Mary is born on Feb. 26 in Madison, Illinois, to Ignatius G. and Adele Bruemmer.

Mary Bruemmer in 1939

1938

Mary, a recent graduate of St. Mary's Catholic School and Madison High School in Madison, Illinois, enrolls at Â鶹´«Ã½ as a freshman in the School of Education and Social Sciences, because at that time women were not permitted to register in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Mary Bruemmer in 1940

1940

While at SLU, Mary was on the staff of both The University News (the student newspaper) and the Fleur-de-Lis (a student-run literary magazine). At the time she joined the paper and magazine, there were no other female staff members.

Mary Bruemmer in 1942

1942

Mary graduates from Â鶹´«Ã½ with with an A. B. degree in education with a double major in history and English. She takes a job with the Red Cross and later moves to Springfield, Illinois, to help set up Catholic Youth Organizations.

Mary Bruemmer in 1943

1943

Mary moves to Springfield, Illinois. Over the 13 years she lives there, she works in roles for the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO), Community Chest (United Way), WCVS-FM (96.7 FM), the Lincoln Library and Springfield Junior College.

Mary Bruemmer in 1948

1948

Mary begins the first of several jobs in media and communications, including publicity gigs for the Springfield Public Library and the Springfield Symphony Orchestra.

Mary Bruemmer in 1956

1956

Mary moves back home and becomes the director of Marguerite Hall, SLU's first official residence hall for women.

Mary Bruemmer in 1960

1960

Mary graduates SLU a second time, with a Master of Education, and becomes director of women's housing at Â鶹´«Ã½.

Mary Bruemmer in 1967

1967

Mary becomes Â鶹´«Ã½'s dean of women.

Mary Bruemmer in 1972

1972

Mary becomes dean of students, a new position that combines her former role as dean of women with the positions of dean of men and dean of student affairs.

Mary Bruemmer in 1973

1973

Mary helps to found the Â鶹´«Ã½ Women's Commission, then known as the President's Advisory Commission on the Status of Women.

Mary Bruemmer in 1977

1977

Mary is named Â鶹´«Ã½â€™s first Woman of the Year

Mary Bruemmer in 1980

1980

The Student Government Association creates the Mary A. Bruemmer Award to recognize a member of the SLU community who made a lasting impact and exemplified dedication to advancing the student experience.

Mary Bruemmer in 1985

1985

Mary's work moves from the Division of Student Development to the Division of Advancement. "She's one of the finest Jesuits we have." remarks then Â鶹´«Ã½ President, Father Thomas Fitzgerald, S.J.

The Women's Council Mary Bruemmer Endowed Scholarship is established.

Mary Bruemmer in 1990

1990

Mary officially retires but continues coming to SLU daily as a full-time volunteer for the Women's Commission, Women's Council and Alpha Sigma Nu, the Jesuit honor society, for more than two decades to come.

Mary receives SLU's inaugural Fleur de Lis Award.

Mary Bruemmer in 1995

1995

Mary is initiated as an alumna into Phi Beta Kappa.

Mary Bruemmer in 1999

2000

Mary receives an honorary doctor of humanities from Â鶹´«Ã½.

The statue of St. Ignatius of Loyola that stands in the Â鶹´«Ã½ quad between the library and DuBourg Hall is commissioned and dedicated in Mary's honor. "Our Lady of the Way" near Fusz Hall is also dedicated in her honor.

Mary Bruemmer in 2006

2006

Mary receives Alpha Sigma Nu's Peg Fennig Award.

Mary Bruemmer in 2009

2009

DuBourg Hall's Mary Bruemmer Conference room is named in her honor.

Mary Bruemmer in 2012

2012

Mary receives the Ageless Remarkable St. Louisan Award from the St. Andrews Charitable Foundation.

Mary Bruemmer in 2013

2013

Mary, a Billiken basketball season ticket holder for more than 50 years, is honored by the Department of Athletics during a celebration of the 40th anniversary of Title IX legislation.

Mary Bruemmer in 2014

2014

University President Fred P. Pestello, Ph.D., recognizes Mary during his inaugural address, calling her "one remarkable woman who is an inspiring example of what it means to be a Billiken."

Mary receives the Champion of Change Award from Women's Place.

Mary Bruemmer in 2016

2016

Mary is awarded a papal knighthood, becoming Dame Commander of the Order of Saint Sylvester, Pope and Martyr

Mary receives the Community Support Award from the Center for Women in Transition.

Mary Bruemmer Plaza is dedicated at SLU's Spring Hall.

Mary receives SLU's Alumni Merit Award.