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Saint Mary's Newsroom

Campus Connection

An update from the president to alumni and parents

Vatterott applies classroom experience to real world work

Vatterott applies classroom experience to real world work

Tom Vatterott’s passion for social justice is evident in everything he does.

A case manager for Minnesota nonprofit Simpson Housing Services, Tom’s work focuses on supporting families experiencing or transitioning out of homelessness. His work is varied, ranging from helping people apply for affordable housing, to driving clients to appointments and providing referrals to other available resources for families in need.

Tom received his undergraduate degree from USC, an experience he is grateful for and acknowledges contributed substantially to his growth as a person. However, USC’s achievement-oriented culture felt like it prioritized personal ambition over social responsibility at times, which didn’t always sit well with Vatterott. He had a different feeling when looking at Saint Mary’s Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) program to continue his education.

“I got the sense that Saint Mary’s aligns with my values, so the university feels closer to home in this regard,” Tom says. “I felt drawn to Saint Mary’s by the affordable tuition and the belief in education as a tool for empowerment, the location, and its culture.”

During orientation, a discussion about the importance of caregiver health and well-being continues to resonate with Tom: an MFT’s health needs to be prioritized first because clients “borrow” the health of their clinicians. This concept has helped him focus more on self-care in his current role so that he can be fully present when supporting his clients. 

One of the reasons Tom chose the Marriage and Family Therapy program was because he hoped to make a difference in tackling issues around harmful gender stereotyping and its adverse effects on interpersonal relationships and racial equity.

“I now see MFT work as a form of social justice, but I didn’t start the program thinking that way,” he shared. “I hadn’t thought of my intentions as falling under the umbrella of social justice specifically, but I liked to think that deeper empathy, improved communication skills, self-awareness, and acceptance of discomfort were all important aspects of recognizing privilege and paying attention to underrepresented perspectives.”

Much of what he’s learned in Saint Mary’s Marriage and Family Therapy program is applicable to his current work with equitable housing. 

“I’ve started paying attention to where my clients land in the family development life cycle. I feel more attuned to the stressors clients experience during particular chapters of life,” he shares. “I’m able to recognize developmental milestones for my client’s children, and having that context helps me relate to my clients.”

Tom has also begun to notice that his work can be considered a form of activism in itself.

“Relationship systems often change in response to the growth of an individual member,” he shares. “It’s exciting to be able to encourage systemic change simply by being present to my future clients.” 

 

Advocacy continues to play a tremendous role in Tom’s life. He’s been quoted in the Star Tribune and written an op-ed pushing for systemic change for case managers on the frontlines of the housing crisis who are working to end homelessness but struggle to afford rent themselves.

Jessica Uhlig to depart as dean of academic support services; Scott Walker to serve in interim role at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota

Dear Faculty and Staff,

With mixed emotion, we share Dr. Jessica Uhlig’s difficult decision to depart from Saint Mary’s and her role as dean of academic support services. Due to family commitments, she will leave the Saint Mary’s community effective March 13. We appreciate her service and compassion for students during her time with us.  

We are extremely fortunate to appoint Mr. Scott Walker, M.A., as interim dean of academic support services. As associate vice president for strategic planning, Scott serves as the main point of support for the university’s strategic initiatives. He has a strong grasp of student success, retention, and first-generation initiatives. A lifelong educator and former high school administrator, Scott is deeply committed to providing all students with academic, social, and cultural support. He was immediately identified as the natural leader to fill this role due to his love of Saint Mary’s and sincere dedication to its mission. We are certain that the sustainability of Saint Mary’s will greatly benefit from his vision, steady hand, and depth of expertise during this time of transition. 

As we have been working on strengthening and formalizing the structure of academic support services, we have had the unique ability to assess and analyze team strengths and responsibilities. We are fortunate to have a strong understanding of our future direction, which will culminate in a formal search process in the coming weeks. While we provide this news with some disappointment, we also have an unwavering knowledge that our students will continue to be supported and celebrated with a tremendous team of committed staff and faculty. 

Brother William Mann founded the First Generation Initiative (FGI) in 2010 to ensure the academic success of first-generation college students, or those who are the first generation in their family to attend a postsecondary institution. When students – especially first-generation students – understand that they have a well-rooted support network, they have a much greater ability to form bonds and navigate their goals. This is something Dr. Uhlig helped strengthen, and the team she leaves behind is committed to continuing that effort. I want to express my gratitude to all of our faculty and staff for creating our vibrant and caring community at Saint Mary’s.  

Thank you, 

Max Bonilla, SSL, STD
Provost and Dean of Faculties

Saint Mary’s launches Virtual Career Center

Today, Career Services officially launched its new Virtual Career Center with the support of uConnect, a platform specifically designed for higher education institutions that comes with automated features and additional resources to support student’s career development needs.

“On our needs assessment, students across the university indicated a desire to access career development resources, services, and support 24/7, Kerri Carlson Anderson, director of career services, shared. “The uConnect Virtual Career Center platform provides us the opportunity to maximize existing resources, like Handshake, and expand our offerings including career masterclasses, videos, labor market data, and virtual experiences to help develop and expand their skills.”

Individuals using the new Virtual Career Center will be able to:

  • Explore open jobs and find employers currently hiring through Handshake
  • Find career opportunities and advice specific to your career path
  • Job Market Insights Tool – The Job Market Insights tool provides employment data from across the country to help with exploring occupations and industries, salary expectations, skills, competencies, and education needed to identify top employers and job titles.
  • Career Masterclasses – Access to self-paced courses with lifetime access to assist with job search, resume and cover letters, LinkedIn, and more.
  • Virtual Experiences (Forage) – Explore careers and prepare for the job with job simulations that build real-life skills for real-life roles, offering a window into the company and a preview of their day-to-day. Job simulations are 100% free, open-access, and self-paced.

This week, students, faculty, and staff can expect to receive an invitation email to create an account for the new platform. The Virtual Career Center is live now, and ready to be explored at careerservices.smumn.edu.

The Virtual Career Center can be found easily on smumn.edu in the main menu by selecting “Careers and Internships” under Helpful Links, or by navigating to Career Services on the Offices and Services link in the website’s footer.

Saint Mary’s in the news

From a historic outdoor baseball game in February to faculty experts discussing artificial intelligence (AI), Saint Mary’s has been making headlines in the local press.

WCCO highlights earliest home baseball game ever played

The Twin Cities-based TV station WCCO highlighted the historic February home baseball games the Cardinals played against Bethany Lutheran College and Luther College.

“Being a Minnesota kid you are used to living in the North Pole this time of year, so it’s great,” Cardinals pitcher Eric Stomberg told WCCO about being able to play outside in February.

Ebert included in panel on AI

Jon Ebert, program director of the M.S. in Data Intelligence and Data Analytics program, was recently featured in a panel on AI in the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal.

The discussion ranged from how AI is influencing the business and technology fields and the pros and cons of AI use in higher education.

University to honor four during Founders’ Day celebration

In celebration of its heritage, Saint Mary’s University will present awards to one faculty member, one staff member, and two outstanding seniors at its annual Founders’ Day celebration Tuesday, March 19, on the Winona Campus.

Robin Wisniewski, Psy.D., program director of the M.A. in Counseling and Psychological Services program

Robin Wisniewski, Psy.D., program director of the M.A. in Counseling and Psychological Services program, will receive the Distinguished Lasallian Educator Award. Presented each year, the award recognizes a member of the faculty, staff, or administration who exemplifies the ideals of Saint John Baptist de La Salle, expressed in the Twelve Virtues of a Good Teacher. The award is given by Lasallian institutions like Saint Mary’s in the Lasallian Region of North America of the De La Salle Christian Brothers to honor contributions and commitment to the Lasallian mission of education. Robin has worked at Saint Mary’s for nearly 15 years – first as the practicum coordinator for the Rochester MA in Counseling Psychology program, then as full-time program director. As program director, she has built many strong collaborative relationships with the Rochester and southeastern MN communities to help increase the number of qualified mental health therapists serving the region. Robin’s contributions across the University include her participation on committees and initiatives. She began a new initiative to expand access to the M.A. in Counseling Psychology program by offering a remote cohort option for students in 2022, which has grown significantly since the first cohort.

Tracy Lehnertz, M.A., assistant vice president for Institutional Effectiveness

Tracy Lehnertz, M.A., assistant vice president for Institutional Effectiveness, will receive the Bishop Patrick Heffron Award. The Heffron Award — named after the founder of Saint Mary’s University — is awarded every other year to an employee who has contributed positively to the life of the university, has demonstrated a long-term commitment to the values of the university, and has been a model of the Lasallian spirit in interactions with colleagues and students. For over 30 years, Tracy has supported the Saint Mary’s community, serving in various roles, from associate dean for off-campus programs and accreditation liaison officer to interim registrar and assistant to the provost. She has demonstrated exceptional commitment to Saint Mary’s University, its Mission, our students, and staff throughout her years of service. Her attention to detail, research skills, and talent for strategic, “big picture” thinking have elevated the work of presidents, provosts, vice presidents, deans, faculty, and resident life programs throughout her time at Saint Mary’s University.

At this event, Saint Mary’s also announces its Outstanding Male and Female Seniors. Outstanding Seniors have demonstrated the ideals of scholarship, character, leadership, service to colleagues and the university community, as well as genuine concern for the needs of others. Nominees include: males Patrick Derleth, Nicholas Kiemel, Noah Kiemel, Mitchell Klatt, and Owen Ziegler; females, Ryann Aschenbrener, Riley Hall, Kirsten Neistadt, Jacinta Nguyễn, and Madeline Patterson.

Introducing Fernando Bucaro, Saint Mary’s chief financial officer

Introducing Fernando Bucaro, Saint Mary’s chief financial officer

The Saint Mary’s community is pleased to welcome Fernando Bucaro as the new chief financial officer. Bucaro has been serving in the role since Feb. 19. Below is a Q&A meant to introduce Bucaro to the Saint Mary’s community:

Q: What was your professional history prior to arriving at Saint Mary’s?

Bucaro: I have 30 years of experience in the finance field. I started my career at what I like to call “small local companies,” which include Cargill, General Mills, and Carlson. Some of my first positions were in IT, believe it or not. However, I slowly started moving towards numbers because I had a passion for finance and accounting. I spent the first six years or so in internal audits at Cargill, General Mills, and Carlson. After that, I moved more towards what I would call “hardcore finance” and did merger and acquisitions work with Carlson. After spending 20 years in corporate America, I decided to shift over to higher education and began working at the University of Minnesota as the finance director for their research function there. They’re responsible for what’s turning out to be a nearly $1 billion research arm of the university, not only managing their operational budget but also having responsibility for some of their grants, as well as the management of the sponsor projects at a high level.

Q: What made you interested in working in finance and accounting?

Bucaro: I like to utilize numbers to tell stories and set the direction of an organization so it can move forward into the future.

Q: What made you interested in the position at Saint Mary’s?

Bucaro: I have two daughters, and I saw their development through a Lasallian Catholic education at the high school level. I deeply believe it’s an opportunity to help out a younger generation. I do see a gap in our world today, and I believe we can help develop young leaders who are well-rounded and really want to help out their communities, as well as have personal success.

Q: As you settle in at Saint Mary’s, what part of your experience are you most excited to bring to the table?

Bucaro: For me, it’s strategic thinking and long-range planning. This is something I always go back to and bring up in conversations I have with people: there is a difference between finance and accounting. Accounting tells us a story of what’s happened, and sometimes organizations are too focused on that. We need to focus also on what we can do going forward. And to do that, we have to set a strategy to have a financially sound future.

Q: How do you envision integrating the values and mission of our Lasallian Catholic identity into your work?

Bucaro: Every company, and while Saint Mary’s isn’t a company, has a mission and vision to put the customer first, and at Saint Mary’s, our customers are our students. We want to make sure we’re making the right decisions for them strategically and financially, but more importantly, our goal should be to provide them with a sound education that builds their careers going forward. So it’s bringing that into my work and realizing it’s not about a stock price, it’s about our students.

Q: What are some of your initial thoughts of Saint Mary’s?

Bucaro: I’ve seen a significant amount of commitment from staff, faculty, administrators, and trustees. There is a commitment and friendship among most people that makes working and doing your job a lot more comfortable. And their commitment is all for our students.

Q: Higher education is always evolving, are there any strategies you have in mind to keep us ahead of the curve?

Bucaro: I think the challenge we face is how we continue to develop things that set us apart from our competitors. How do we create new programs, new initiatives, and things of that nature? One thing that made Saint Mary’s great was launching our professional programs. I look forward to finding that next initiative that makes us say, ‘Wow, we can lay our foundation on this for the next 20 years,’ which is what we did with our professional programs.

Q: Can you tell us a bit about who Fernando Bucaro is outside of your professional setting?

Bucaro: Well, I have two daughters who are 21 and 18. My oldest is at the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown and my youngest is a senior at Benilde-Saint Margaret’s High School. My wife, Pamela, is an ophthalmologist here in the Twin Cities area. I’m originally from Guatemala and began learning English at the age of four and subsequently moved to the U.S. when I was 10. I received most of my education here in Minnesota, receiving my undergrad at Saint Cloud State and an MBA from Saint Thomas. I also ventured out a bit and did a Master’s at Oxford University, which is a completely different educational process and environment. I speak several languages, including Spanish and Portuguese. My wife Pamela and I are passionate about world travel and have visited over 80 countries in the world.

Saint Mary’s University holds annual Spring Concert March 17

The Saint Mary’s University Concert Band, Concert Choir, and IHM Schola will present this year’s Spring Concert, titled “This is the Day,” on Sunday, March 17, at 4 p.m. at the Chapel of Saint Mary of the Angels, 1155 W. Wabasha Street, Winona.

Directed by Nathan Herr, interim director of music programming, this year’s concert features Irish music, such as Red is the Rose and County Derry, as well as Sacred Music honoring the Catholic tradition of Saint Mary’s, such as Ave Maria (Angelus Domini) and Nearer, My God, To Thee.

Admission is free and open to the public. For more information, please contact Saint Mary’s University Event Services at eventservices@smumn.edu.

Reindorf advocates for racial equality and inclusion

Reindorf advocates for racial equality and inclusion

When faced with adversity, Roberta Reindorf B’14, M’23 finds strength in the quotes she hangs on her office walls — quotes from African American role models like Michelle Obama, who once said, “You can’t make decisions based on fear and the possibility of what might happen.”

Or Michael Jordan, who said, “I failed over and over and over again, which is why I succeeded.”

As an immigrant, Reindorf has overcome numerous obstacles in her educational journey, and along the way, she’s suffered great personal loss, but — inspired by her faith, her family, a desire to help others, and the help she received from Saint Mary’s University, she persevered.

In June 2023, she earned her latest degree from Saint Mary’s, a master’s in Counseling and Psychological Services. She also has a bachelor’s in Human Resource Management. Now, she says, she’s considering a doctorate.

A native of West Africa, her family moved to London when she was a teenager, and then as a young adult she immigrated to the United States to further pursue her education … in vascular surgery.

Looking back, she said, she didn’t understand all the steps that would need to occur before she could even begin her studies in a new country, one with a very different educational system. And, she needed to uncover her true calling in life.

She also focused on family. She met her husband, a U.S. citizen, and they raised two children.

It was her father-in-law, who was a clergyman in downtown Minneapolis, who persuaded her to investigate Saint Mary’s, knowing she had been looking for a place where she would feel like she belonged. After learning how many immigrants were successfully studying at Saint Mary’s — and learning more about its affordability in comparison to other schools — she applied. “It became a second home for me,” she said.

In her June commencement speech, she said, “After many difficulties in transferring my previous educational background … Saint Mary’s worked with me to find a pathway forward.”

She also detailed the pain of losing her mother and her sister while enrolled and described how then program director Mary Louise Wise advised her to take time off to grieve and focus on her mental health.

But, just as she was returning to her courses, COVID-19 struck, throwing obstacles in the path of education around the globe. And, with one final blow, in 2021, just after returning to her studies again, her husband died.

“I decided to advocate for myself, so I persevered,” Reindorf told the June Saint Mary’s Minneapolis commencement audience. “I began to see the big picture of what got me on this journey in the first place. (Program director) Dr. Lindsey Tiegland … in her warm, beautiful voice said to me, ‘You can do it. You are capable of completing it. Yes, you can do this.’ ”

Reindorf is now using her education, her skills, and her background to make a difference in the world. She is currently a children’s mental health practitioner for Ramsey County, serves on the Race Equality Advisory Council of Hennepin County, and runs a television interview show — all of which have provided her an opportunity to advocate for racial equality and inclusion in Minneapolis.

“I see lots of immigrants struggling to transition and navigate the American system, trying to get an education,” she said. “I see a gap, where I am able to use my background and skills, and I’m just getting started on advocating for policies that continue to improve services in our communities.

“I go in with a lens of inclusivity,” she added, “making sure we understand that demographics are changing.”

In her work with the Race Equality Advisory Council, she conducts research, which may find its way into policy change. “I want to make sure children have access to mental health services but also equitable mental health services,” she said. “There are so many educational and mental health inequities. I present my findings to the commission and to the board, which is then presented to the Hennepin County Commissioners,” she said.

Guests on her show, “The Roberta Reindorf Show,” featured on Northwest Community Television Channel 12 (now CCXMedia), are frequently those in political office. “It’s also a platform to shape policies,” she said. “I have interviewed lawmakers, senators, representatives, from both parties, including the minority speaker of the House, whom I interviewed on mental health policies and gun violence,” she said.

Where she sees problems, Reindorf wants to be a conduit of change.

“I have not yet accomplished what I want to do,” she said. If given the opportunity, I’m going to make a big impact on the lives of Blacks, immigrants, or others who have come to the United States and wonder, ‘Where do I go from here?’ ”

Father James P. Burns

The Rev. James P. Burns, IVD, Ph.D.
President
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

Comments?

Email: chahn@smumn.edu

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