Alumnae Spotlight

Maryann Touitou '70

Maryann Touitou is a proud member of the class of 1970 at College of Saint Mary. Their class graduated during the midst of a social and economic upheaval in American society, and they were asked to weather this storm as they transitioned to professional life upon graduation.

Maryann reflected that even though the road was often fraught with obstacles, she believes that her college education provided her with the tools she would need to navigate the new terrain of working life and motherhood. Even though her support system was informal, it proved strong and resilient throughout the years as she and her dearest CSM friends weathered the storms of life together.  “Thanks to our college experience, we are proud professionals, mothers and grandmothers,” she said.

Her nearly 56-year career was marked by three major shifts. For the first quarter of her professional life, Maryann worked in the telecommunications industry. Desiring a fulfilling and purpose-driven career, she earned her master’s degree in Human Relations from the University of Oklahoma and left corporate America for the nonprofit sector. She spent the next quarter of her career as training director of HeadStart. When her mother’s declining health led her back to Colorado, Maryann found her third and most fulfilling career: work in higher education.  She is still actively involved in this arena where she teaches sociology and works with individuals involved in the criminal justice system in a special Gateway program.

It was due to the resiliency of her personal support network, as well as three career shifts, that helped her understand how valuable the role of mentorship is to young women. Thus, she broached the idea of a mentoring program to Terri Campbell and Katty Petak during her 50th year Zoom class reunion in the fall of 2020.  The RISE program is in its first year and there are 24 CSM alumnae who are mentoring young women in their senior/junior years at the university. “I’m so proud of the alumnae who have volunteered for this experience and am eagerly anticipating that the program will grow and flourish throughout the coming years,” Maryann said.

“My journey at the College of Saint Mary was life-changing; I became a Walking Woman,” Maryann concluded. “My goal is to continue to assist young women in their first steps on this journey and to continue to collaborate with my CSM colleagues to make this dream possible.  It’s the newest chapter in my life!”