In this episode of Always a Raven, host Janelle Menz sits down with Carol Shomin ’71 to reflect on a lifetime of connection, leadership, and service to Benedictine College. Carol shares how the community and hospitality she first encountered as a student became the foundation for a lifelong commitment to the Mount and the mission it represents.

She opens up about the friendships, simplicity, and spirit that defined her student years, from walking everywhere on campus to learning alongside women from all over the country. From studying chemistry to beginning a career in early computer programming at AT&T, Carol’s story offers a thoughtful look at how Benedictine formed both her intellect and her sense of purpose.

As the first female chair of the Board of Directors, Carol reflects with Janelle on stepping into leadership during one of the most challenging seasons in the college’s history, the generosity and courage of those who showed up when it mattered most, and what it meant to help guide Benedictine through a time of uncertainty into renewal.

Carol also shares why giving back has always been central to her story — from honoring the help she received as a student to ensuring that future generations have the same opportunity to discover community, vocation, and belonging at Benedictine.