About
For Ann Marie Byrd, Carroll College was never just a school—it was family. The daughter of Dr. LeRoy and Irene Ann (Jones) Byrd, both Carroll alumni who married after graduating in 1960, Ann Marie grew up immersed in the spirit and traditions of the College. With deep family roots and a legacy that included more than 30 relatives attending Carroll before her, her path felt both natural and deeply meaningful. Inspired by her parents’ enduring love for Carroll, there was simply no question where she would pursue her education.
During her time on campus, Ann Marie was profoundly shaped by faculty who embodied Carroll’s commitment to faith, scholarship, and community. Professors John Downs and Fr. Jeremiah Sullivan left lasting impressions through their passion for teaching, deep care for students, and unforgettable classroom presence. Their influence fostered in Ann Marie an appreciation for compassion, discipline, and intellectual curiosity—values that would guide her throughout her life.
After graduating in 1989, Ann Marie began her career in education, teaching at Catholic schools in Spokane and Missoula while also earning her master’s degree from the University of Montana. Her professional journey later evolved in unexpected and rewarding ways, including entrepreneurship as a business owner and, ultimately, a calling to philanthropy. She spent more than a decade with Catholic Charities Eastern Washington, serving as Development Director and later as Executive Director of the Catholic Charities Foundation, supporting programs that serve the most vulnerable members of the community.
Ann Marie credits Carroll’s motto, Non scholae sed vitae—Not for School, but for Life.—as a guiding principle that prepared her not only for a career, but for a life rooted in service, faith, and compassion. Her continued involvement with Carroll, including her participation in the campaign to build the new campus chapel, reflects her enduring commitment to the College’s mission and values.
While her professional accomplishments are many, Ann Marie considers her greatest personal achievement to be raising her two daughters, Hannah and Delaney. She describes them as compassionate, kind, and wonderful young women, and says they have been an incredible blessing in her life.
Above all, Carroll remains, for Ann Marie, exactly what it has always been: a place defined by faith, family, and community.
Go Saints! 💜