Benefits of Attending All-Women’s College

On behalf of Mt. St. Mary’s College, one of the three women’s colleges in the Western United States, I would like to thank Mary Laine Yarber for citing some of the benefits of attending an all-women’s college (Education Column, Dec. 17).

Since 1925, Mt. St. Mary’s College has been dedicated to the education of women. We experienced a significant increase in our freshman enrollment this fall, an indication that an educational environment which both challenges and supports women is attractive to today’s students. Our women’s leadership program prepares young women to succeed--and succeed they do. Our graduates are making profound contributions in business, education and health care--more than 40% of our students are majoring in the sciences and 75% of our 1991 science grads are enrolled in graduate school.

Our students closely reflect the cultural and ethnic diversity of Southern California, and the college is committed to opening its two unique campuses, the Chalon in Brentwood and the Doheny in downtown Los Angeles, to women historically underrepresented in higher education. These women receive the nurturing, support and understanding from faculty, staff and their own peers here that may not be offered in co-ed college classrooms.

SISTER KAREN KENNELLY, Los Angeles. Kennelly is president of Mt. St. Mary’s College