Largest expected class in Marymount history arrives for Fall 2024

Marymount University has welcomed its largest incoming class in the institution's history, setting new records for enrollment ahead of the Fall 2024 semester. The Class of 2028's arrival on campus, accompanied by engaging Welcome Week activities, signals the start of an exciting chapter at the University.

During the admissions cycle for the 2024-25 academic year, Marymount received a staggering 23,126 inquiries - an 82 percent increase from the previous year - along with 1,409 campus visits and a record-setting 5,045 applications. Deposits also increased by 15 percent, representing what is expected to be the University's largest first-year class to date.

New students arrived on August 20 for Move-In Day and were greeted on campus by 75 enthusiastic volunteers, including current students and Marymount faculty and staff. Returning students settled into their residential spaces over the weekend, preparing for the first day of classes on August 26.

Welcome Week activities extend through Labor Day and provide new students with an immersive introduction to Marymount's community and culture. Highlights of the week included the New Student Convocation, a longstanding tradition to celebrate the new academic year and mark the transition of Saints formally becoming part of the University family.

"You're joining Marymount at just the right time," said Dr. Irma Becerra, President of Marymount University, to incoming students at Convocation. "You will pursue a professional internship experience that prepares you for life after college - whether you're interested in walking the halls of the White House or Congress, teaming up with Amazon at its second headquarters right here in Arlington or researching new medical treatments at the National Institutes of Health, we can get you there. And you'll make lifelong friends through on-campus clubs and activities, and meet mentors that will open new doors for you in whatever path you choose to pursue. You have so much to look forward to, and I'm so happy to have you all on board."

"I urge you to take ownership of your education, stay curious and set ambitious goals," added Dr. Pamela Slaven-Lee, Interim Provost at Marymount University. "Embrace every opportunity, challenge yourself and never stop learning. You have the potential to achieve great things here at Marymount."

Marymount's Class of 2028 includes students from 31 states and territories and 19 countries, including Brazil, China, Ethiopia, Mexico, Mongolia and Thailand. The average GPA for admitted students is 3.64, one of the highest on record for the University. Among these talented new students are individuals whose unique backgrounds and accomplishments already enrich a campus culture built around intellectual curiosity, service to others and a global perspective:

Lilianna Henry, Biology

A volunteer public health analyst for the CDC, Henry has scrutinized neurodegenerative disease epidemics among middle-aged adults and has published research related to Alzheimer's disease. She's also bilingual with Cuban and Anglo-Celtic roots, and was awarded the Tennessee Seal of Bilingualism. With these skill sets, she aims to earn a nursing assistant certification during her Marymount studies.

Erin Church, Nursing

With a passion for health care nurtured from an early age, Church has been a dedicated volunteer at the NICU at Saint Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx, where her father serves as Chief Nursing Officer. Her experience feeding and comforting infants sparked a desire to make a meaningful difference in the lives of vulnerable patients. Another impactful moment came when she provided companionship to a young teenager struggling with mental health challenges, as Church bridged the language gap through her years of Spanish studies. Additionally, she has shadowed her mother, an ER physician, at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, further inspiring her ambition to become a trauma nurse.

Braeden Dunham, Cybersecurity

An Eagle Scout with a deep commitment to service, Dunham has volunteered his time and leadership skills to support local communities. His Eagle Scout project focused on improving a local preschool's outdoor environment, and he has also contributed to various other efforts, such as stream cleanups and food drives. Outside of scouting, he served as a section leader in his high school's marching band.

Other students in Marymount's Class of 2028 include a Ukrainian refugee, an Afghan resettlement volunteer, a nonprofit founder, a NICU volunteer, a semi-professional soccer player from Peru, a published author and various business owners.

"You are a class that the entire admissions, athletics and financial aid teams have enjoyed getting to know, and get to know you we did," said Evan Lipp, Vice President of Enrollment Management at Marymount University. "Your interests are diverse and broad - you are athletic. You are artists, writers, musicians, technically savvy and world travelers. You are entrepreneurial. You have overcome much adversity. And, you continue to serve others less fortunate than you."

Graduate student enrollment at Marymount continues to trend positively, building upon last year's success. With sustained growth in applications, admitted students and a remarkable 25 percent increase in netted deposits, Marymount is on pace to enroll 500 new graduate students for the first time in its history. Marymount's doctoral programs in Education, Business Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Physical Therapy continue to grow, alongside master's programs like Counseling, Forensic & Legal Psychology and Medical Sciences, which tripled its enrollment from last year. The University also added a new online Ph.D. in Counselor Education this year, coinciding with the opening of Marymount's new free Clinical Mental Health Counseling Clinic.

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