Inscape Summer 2026
For 70 years, Mother McAuley has stood proudly on 99th Street – a constant presence on Chicago’s southwest side and a place where generations of young women have discovered who they are and what they are capable of becoming.
But our story began long before 99th Street.
For 180 years, the Sisters of Mercy have helped shape the history of Chicago through their bold vision for educating and empowering young women. Long before many of the city’s most recognizable landmarks and institutions existed, the Sisters of Mercy were creating opportunities for women to learn, lead and thrive.
Community. Sisterhood. Empowerment. Leadership. Service. Legacy. Tradition. Mercy. Compassion. Faith.
We use these words as we talk about Mother McAuley, and for good reason. These are the words that come up over and over as our alumnae reflect on their experiences at McAuley. We offer a robust, rigorous, liberal arts education that prepares students to think critically and solve problems through creativity and perseverance, and we offer an environment that fosters community and sisterhood. An environment that empowers young women and proves to them that they are worthy, just as they are.
This environment has nurtured McAuley girls for 180 years, 70 of which have been in our building on 99th Street on Chicago’s South Side. Things have undeniably changed since 1846, but the essence of McAuley - the magic that draws people together, and the mission of educating young women in a space designed for them to rise - has only grown stronger through the years.
Take a walk down memory lane
From memorable events to decades of student programs and opportunities to the people who have shaped us - there is so much to love about Mother McAuley.
A Preview of What's Ahead at Mother McAuley
FOR NEARLY 180 YEARS, Mother McAuley has created an educational environment Built for Her – built for young women to learn, lead and thrive.
That mission remains as strong today as ever. Every day, Mighty Macs are empowered to discover their strengths, find their voice and grow into confident leaders grounded in Mercy values.
As we look toward the future, Mother McAuley is preparing to invest in important campus and facilities improvements that will strengthen the student experience for generations to come. These efforts will modernize critical infrastructure, enhance learning environments and ensure our campus continues to reflect the excellence of a McAuley education.
This work is about more than buildings. It is about sustaining a mission that has shaped generations of women across Chicago and beyond.
Today, more than 29,000 alumnae carry their Mercy education into the world as leaders, advocates, professionals and changemakers. Their impact is the legacy of McAuley—and the inspiration for what comes next, ensuring the school that nurtured their development can continue giving young women all they need to grow into capable, compassionate leaders.
In the months ahead, we look forward to sharing more about this vision for the future of Mother McAuley.
If you would like to learn more or explore ways to help advance this important work, please reach out to Carey Temple Harrington ‘86, President of Mother McAuley, at president@mothermcauley.org.
The Spark
You’ll start to notice a new icon infused in our graphics and marketing - The Spark. This symbol is the first sign of becoming – the inner drive, passion and determination that lives within every McAuley Girl. It symbolizes the moment she discovers her voice, recognizes her strength and begins to shape the world with confidence and compassion.
Rooted in the values of Mercy, The Spark represents possibility in motion. It is a reflection of the ambition, resilience and heart that connect generations of alumnae and continue long after graduation. The Spark stands as a symbol of purpose awakened and potential set into action.
LED BY MERCY
A Mother McAuley education is infused with the charism and Mercy values of Catherine McAuley and the Sisters of Mercy. Students don’t just learn about justice, faith, and service, they learn how to embody them. As they are encouraged to speak up, show up, experiment, and lead, they develop into young women who are called to be compassionate and courageous leaders.
We are proud to carry on this tradition, and celebrate our alumnae, students, and members of our community who live their lives devoted to these Mercy values.
A Voice for Others with the Veterans MS Alliance
Mary Youpel ‘08 is a policy advisor for the American Petroleum Institute (API) and the founder and executive director of the Veterans MS Alliance. She holds a bachelor’s degree in natural resources and environmental science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a master of science in oceanography and coastal science and a master of public administration in public policy analysis from Louisiana State University, and a master of business administration from The Wharton School. She served as a member of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), completing six months in the US Coast Guard Academy officer candidate school (OCS).
Caring for the Community through Social Impact
Marissa Warren recently served as Director of Corporate Partnerships with Feeding America. Its network consists of 250 partner food banks and affiliate partners, as well as 60,000 agency members. Marissa holds a bachelor of arts in journalism from DePaul University and a Baumhart Scholars MBA from Loyola University Chicago Quinlan School of Business. She’s the mother of current McAuley student, Noah Warren ‘28.
Mercy in Action
Every summer, McAuley offers service immersion trips for rising seniors, providing an opportunity to act in the spirit of Mercy for communities in need throughout our country. Students return with a greater understanding of the issues people face and the ways in which they can serve and support those in need.
Hear from students who participated in our 2025 Service Immersion Trips
We had a great year welcoming nearly 1,000 alumnae back to McAuley for 12 events celebrating connection, community and the enduring spirit of our Mighty Macs. From reunions and networking gatherings to celebrations honoring leadership, legacy and service, each event created opportunities for alumnae across generations to reconnect, share memories and strengthen the McAuley sisterhood. Full of great conversation and meaningful connections, our attendees had a MIGHTY time all year long.
JOIN US AT MCAULEY!
Ridge Country Club 10522 S California Ave, Chicago, IL 60655
Honoring the Danny Did Foundation with the 2026 Caring Heart Award
Mother McAuley Turf Field
Mother McAuley will host Loyola Academy in Friday Night Lights: The Crosstown Classic, a special outdoor varsity volleyball match on the school's state-of-the-art turf field. Set beneath the lights and surrounded by students, families, alumnae and neighbors, the event will transform the McAuley campus into a celebration of competition, school spirit and community.
Learn more about the Crosstown Classicall day
GET INVOLVED AT MCAULEY!
Join us as we expand our Women in Law network, and as we build a Young Professionals group that would focus on networking, social opportunities, mentorship, and ways to stay engaged with McAuley. More details to come!
School Year 2025-2026 Highlights
Ways to Give
Join us in EMPOWERING the next generation of MIGHTY LEADERS: mighty smart, mighty ambitious, and mighty compassionate.
From Chicago to the Vatican City Mother McAuley is a world-class institution, ready to empower generations of compassionate, confident women leaders for another 70 YEARS AND BEYOND.