Saint Mary's Newsroom

Saint Mary’s University is proud to honor this spring’s 609 graduates from our Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs with a virtual commencement ceremony Friday, July 17, at 7 p.m.

We invite our adult learners, their families, friends, and supporters to take part in this celebratory program at smumn.edu/commencement2020.

In addition to showcasing our graduates, the program will feature special faculty accolades and advice, student speakers, and academic awards.

Despite the challenges of this time, we want our graduates to remember their ability to adapt, persevere, and succeed, despite circumstances beyond their control, will continue to serve them in the weeks, months, and years ahead. Your future is bright and your strength admirable. You are our heroes and heroines of 2020, and we cannot wait to celebrate all that you have accomplished.

The university is pleased to announce it has received an initial gift of $600,000 from the Anglican Parish of St. Paul to support new initiatives and additional staffing in our Advancement Office. They have also pledged additional funds in the coming years.

“We are extremely grateful to the Parish of St. Paul, their Rector, and their benefactors for the generous support of our university advancement efforts,” said Father James P. Burns, IVD, Ph.D., president of Saint Mary’s University. “They have specifically called out our faith-based approach to education and virtue formation as reasons for their pledge. At a time when we will need to be more creative and better resourced than ever, this initial gift will allow us to create ever greater capacity in our development area, and thus we will be able to realize the key initiatives of our strategic plan.”

This important contribution will bolster the development team’s capacity as the university explores the feasibility of a proposed $100 million capital campaign intended to fund many of the initiatives in the strategic plan, Building a Future Full of Hope 2025. The gift is a result of collaborative efforts on behalf of the university’s development team, as well as members of the president’s cabinet, and colleagues across the university.

If you have been on the Winona Campus in the past few days, you would have noticed the large signs at the front entrance are being removed. The signs are being removed in preparation for the construction of new signage at the front entrance, which are part of a more extensive remodel and upgrading of several key components as you enter the campus.

The four components to the front entrance remodel includes:

• The wall surrounding the garbage dumpsters on the west end of the Toner Center. The dumpsters are being hidden behind a new stonewall.
• The signage at the main entrance. The six pillars will be replaced with two 45-foot stonewalls, one on each side of the main entrance road.
• Upgrading the reception booth (guardhouse). It will be closer to the highway and increase in size.
• Work in the plaza. The plan calls for removing concrete and increasing the amount of grass area.

All of these changes are part of the upgrades that started with the removal of Saint Edward’s Hall and the construction of Brother William Hall. All of the work is being financed through private philanthropy from an anonymous donor.

Despite a challenging spring, Cardinal student-athletes have not only persevered, they have excelled. For starters, all of our athletic programs achieved a 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA this past semester.

Other accolades include:

• Michele Remer ’20 (women’s basketball) was named co-valedictorian of her graduating class. Additionally, she and Ben Borash ’20 (cross country and track and field) were named Outstanding Senior Female and Male.
• James Green ’21 (baseball) was CoSIDA Second-Team Academic All-American.

Congratulations to all our Cardinal athletes for continuing to work hard, academically and physically, for the upcoming fall season.

Saint Mary’s has received a number of requests from students, faculty, staff, and their families inquiring about how they can assist the many and diverse communities surrounding the Twin Cities Campus in the aftermath of the recent violence and destruction.

With so much information on social media, as well as from news outlets documenting the outpouring of support, it may be difficult to determine where the most critical needs are yet to be met. Members of the Twin Cities Campus community have been in contact with our neighborhood partners, including Lutheran Social Services, Phillips West Neighborhood Association, Ebenezer Tower Apartments, and Messiah Lutheran at the Center for Changing Lives to determine their levels and kinds of need. Some are at capacity in many respects and have directed us to lists of other organizations and entities that are in need.

Additionally, several organizations that may be at or near capacity have suggested donations be directed to organizations which are owned and operated by black people or people of color and have existing channels for timely distribution to those most in immediate need.

If you have a desire to give and don’t know where to start, think about what you are most concerned or passionate about. Ideas to consider before giving might include supporting:

• The rebuild of Lake Street and other critical infrastructure
• Families or children
• Cultural centers, libraries, day care or child care centers
• People of color or black owned and operated organizations
• Specific neighborhoods
• Religions organizations
• And more

If you are interested in making a monetary contribution to those affected, consider connecting with one of the following nonprofits that are providing direct service in the community:

• The Lake Street Council
• Lutheran Social Services
• Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis

Here are two other resources that may be useful as you consider ways to volunteer or donate:

• Support The Cities
• List of resources from the StarTribune

If you plan to give food, please purchase from well-stocked stores in the suburbs rather than inner city neighborhood grocery stores.

Susan Cosby Ronnenberg, Ph.D., will be the next dean of the College, beginning Monday, July 6. Dr. Cosby Ronnenberg comes to us after 12 years at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis., where she rose to become a tenured professor and currently serves as chair of Ethics, Culture, and Society Studies. Prior to that, she was assistant dean for the College of Arts & Letters, chair of the English Department, and co-director of the Honors Program, all at Viterbo. Dr. Cosby Ronnenberg holds a Ph.D. in English Renaissance Literature from the University of Oklahoma.

In her role at Saint Mary’s University, she will serve as dean of Arts and Humanities, and oversee all undergraduate matters at the College not otherwise overseen by the other deans.

Her hire is the result of a national search which attracted scores of candidates. Presentations from finalists were shared with the community, whose feedback greatly informed the process. Finally, many thanks to the search committee: Todd Reinhart, Sc.D., dean of Science and Health Professions (chair), Brooke Lenz, Ph.D., department chair of English and World Languages, Joe Tadie, Ph.D., associate professor of Philosophy, Marisa Quinn, Ed.D., assistant vice president for Student Life, Jimmy Bickerstaff, Ph.D., associate professor of Fine and Performing Arts, and Janet Heukeshoven, DMA, professor of Fine and Performing Arts.