After 49 transformative years, Mary Lou Bates retires from Skidmore
Nearly a half-century ago, when Mary Lou Bates joined Skidmore’s admissions office, the College accepted roughly 95% of its 1,700 applicants – a time when she says, "a student with a solid record could show up in August and join the first-year class." In 2023, Skidmore received more than 12,000 applicants, and the acceptance rate was just 23%.
Retiring as vice president and dean of admissions and financial aid after 49 years at Skidmore, Bates has led as Skidmore has joined the nation’s most selective liberal arts colleges. At a time when many schools have struggled, Skidmore has reached and exceeded admissions targets year after year. Equally important, Bates has worked tirelessly to make sure that as many deserving students as possible have the opportunity to study here and go on to lead lives of consequence.
Scores of colleagues, friends, family, and community leaders gathered to celebrate Bates’ unwavering commitment to Skidmore and the transformations that she helped to usher in at a June 22 gathering in her honor near Eissner Admissions Center. At the event, President Marc C. Conner honored Bates with the Denis B. Kemball-Cook Award, the highest award bestowed to a member of the Skidmore community.
Skidmore community celebrate Mary Lou Bates for her outstanding contributions to the College.
The retirement celebration on a beautiful summer evening included remarks from College leaders, past and present; friends from far and near; and admissions colleagues from across the country, who reminded those gathered that Bates’ legacy extends far beyond North Broadway.
“I was back on campus two weeks ago for Reunion and the 50th anniversary celebration of the Opportunity Program. It was amazing to see all these doctors, lawyers, CEOs, financial analysts, professors, and more — all of whom had their Skidmore letter of acceptance signed by Mary Lou Bates. Mary Lou, this is your legacy,” said Angel Perez ’98. “You’ve changed my life because I stand here as the CEO of the National Association for College Admission Counseling. You’ve impacted thousands and thousands of lives, not only students but admissions professionals that you’ve mentored and supported.”
According to Kent Jones, Skidmore’s former dean of enrollment and college relations, Mary Lou Bates has represented for decades “the face, the voice, and the soul of Skidmore for countless prospective students and admissions professionals.”
Judith Pick Eissner ’64, a former chair of Skidmore’s Board of Trustees for whom the Eissner Admissions Center is named, spoke of Mary Lou’s central role in helping Skidmore to overcome major challenges in the 1970s and 1980s.
“Mary Lou, you came to Skidmore at a time of great change — the need to increase enrollment and student quality and the move to co-education,” Eissner said. “You have ridden a comet and have been tireless in your dedication to the school’s upward trajectory.”
President Emeritus Philip A. Glotzbach credited Bates with helping to improve access and diversity among Skidmore students.
“In 2005, we set some very, very ambitious long-term goals, and we started with admissions,” said Glotzbach, who retired in 2020. “You and your talented team rolled up your sleeves and worked tirelessly to help Skidmore make enormous changes in the makeup of the student body. You were instrumental in making it happen.”
Skidmore’s 2,700 students now hail from 44 states and 65 countries, 26% are domestic students of color, 13% are first generation, and 9% are international students. Only two decades ago, 13% of the student body was comprised of domestic students of color and 1% were international students.
Financial aid has also grown during Bates' tenure. Skidmore now gives more than $70 million annually: 55% of Skidmore students receive some form of financial aid, and 98% is awarded on the basis of demonstrated financial need. Two decades ago, Skidmore awarded $36 million in financial aid to 44% of the student body.
President Conner presents Mary Lou Bates with the Denis B. Kemball-Cook Award.
Among those also paying tribute to Bates were Larry Lichtenstein ’79, associate vice president at University at Albany; Michael Casey, vice president for advancement at Trinity College; Lisa Bianchi Merritt, co-director of college counseling, at The Calhoun School; Cathy DeLorenzo, Skidmore’s director of admissions; and Beth Post, Skidmore’s director of financial aid. All served with Bates at Skidmore. Bates’ sons, Jeffrey Bates ’00, Benjamin Bates ’03, and Alexander Bates ’10, also spoke, offering heartfelt reflections and admiration.
President Marc C. Conner hailed Bates as “a pioneer and leader among women in higher education” and made the surprise presentation of the Denis B. Kemball-Cook Award.
“But what I most want to emphasize most is about Mary Lou as a friend and colleague,” said Conner, who became president at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. “She has been a rock to me and to this cabinet in these three tumultuous years. She befriended and counseled every one of us. I will miss her greatly, and will always be so grateful for what she has done and how she is leaving Skidmore in such a strong position for the future.”
Following a national search for Bates’ successor, Jessica Ricker assumed office as vice president for enrollment and dean of admissions and financial aid in June.
