Saint Mary's Newsroom
Campus ConnectionAn update from the president to alumni and parents
Commencement 2020
Saint Mary’s University’s 2020 Virtual Commencements
On May 22, Saint Mary’s celebrated 198 graduating students during a virtual commencement ceremony. And on July 17 a virtual commencement ceremony celebrated 609 graduates from our Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs. We continue to invite students, their families, friends, and supporters to take part in celebrating our graduates and all of their academic accomplishments.
Many faculty and staff came together to help personalize our ceremonies with accolades and advice — and even to shoot confetti cannons.
To all the 2020 graduates, remember: despite the challenges of this time, your ability to adapt, persevere, and succeed despite circumstances beyond your control will continue to serve you in the weeks, months, and years ahead. Your future is bright and your strength admirable; congratulations!
Saint Mary’s announces second semester dean’s list
WINONA, Minn. — The following undergraduate students were named to the second semester 2020 Dean’s List at the Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota Winona Campus. The list includes 451 undergraduate students who earned a grade point average of 3.60 or better on a 4.0 scale.
Saint Mary’s University enrolls about 5,600 students in undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs in Winona, the Twin Cities, Rochester, greater Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Jamaica. At Saint Mary’s residential campus in Winona, the undergraduate curriculum combines traditional liberal arts and sciences with career preparation in a student-centered environment.
Shamat Abraha, Saint Paul, Minn.
Ivan Alatorre, Lake Station, Ind.
Jillian Alekna, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.
Mandukhai Alimaa, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Elise Amerongen, Lake Elmo, Minn.
Mary Arnold, Winona, Minn.
Kyle Aurin, Waldshut-Tiengen, Germany
Adrianna Baab, Wabasha, Minn.
Kendra Baca, Normal, Ill.
Allysa Barlow, Appleton, Wis.
Cassandra Barr, Eau Claire, Wis.
Virginia Barrera, Long Lake, Minn.
Warlyston Barros, Sparta, Wis.
Alexis Barth, Byron, Minn.
Abigail Bastian, Davenport, Iowa
Clare Bath, West Fargo, N.D.
Michael Bauer, Brainerd, Minn.
Christian Beamer, Two Harbors, Minn.
Rylan Bearden, Rochester, Minn.
Olivia Beauchamp, Jerseyville, Ill.
Stephany Beck, Oshkosh, Wis.
Kaitlin Beitz, Ham Lake, Minn.
Mariah Bell, Chatfield, Minn.
Jasmine Benavidez, Milwaukee, Wis.
Cassandra Berger, Fountain City, Wis.
Alice Bettag, Maple Park, Ill.
Isabel Bettag, Maple Park, Ill.
Gabriel Bickerstaff, Rollingstone, Minn.
Felicity Bieker, De Pere, Wis.
Jada Biermeier, Eau Claire, Wis.
Bernadette Bikyeombe, Big Lake, Minn.
Britney Blacker, Castle Rock, Colo.
Ellen Blackmer, Forest Lake, Minn.
Annika Blesener, Saint Paul, Minn.
Debra Blissenbach, Hastings, Minn.
Kathleen Blissenbach, Hastings, Minn.
Preston Bluhm, Farmington, Minn.
Aimee Boggs, Browning, Mont.
Ben Borash, Bowlus, Minn.
Zachary Bracken, Osseo, Minn.
Lillian Braun, Mantorville, Minn.
Jack Broaders, Chicago, Ill.
Daniel Buchal, Wilson, Wis.
Nathan Budde, De Pere, Wis.
Erin Budin, Le Center, Minn.
Thomas Budin, Le Center, Minn.
Kayla Burck, Algonquin, Ill.
Kristin Burke, Byron, Minn.
Djeneba Camara, Chicago, Ill.
Mackenzie Carey, Prescott, Wis.
Cheyenne Carlsen, Big Lake, Minn.
Samantha Carlson, Circle Pines, Minn.
Molly Cary, Minneapolis, Minn.
Samantha Chaffee, Delavan, Minn.
Grace Chalmers, Albert Lea, Minn.
Crystal Chavez, Cicero, Ill.
Jacob Chilson, Eleva, Wis.
Erin Ciconte, Melrose Park, Ill.
Jonathan Cieminski, Fountain City, Wis.
Elizabeth Ciukaj, Alsip, Ill.
Larkin Clem, Elk River, Minn.
Jacob Clements, Holmen, Wis.
Keaton Cloven, Castle Rock, Colo.
Justine Cobbett, Saint Paul, Minn.
Kaitlin Conniff, Caledonia, Minn.
Garrison Corn, Grand Junction, Colo.
Colleen Costello, Delano, Minn.
James Craiger, Des Moines, Iowa
Jimmy Cumbe Paucar, Minneapolis, Minn.
Sean Curran, Appleton, Wis.
Grace Cushman, Cologne, Minn.
Hannah Dahlstrom, La Crosse, Wis.
Anna Dale, Cottage Grove, Minn.
Axel Daood, Saint Charles, Minn.
Elizabeth Davis, Big Lake, Minn.
Natalie Degener, Rochester, Minn.
Katherine Devine, Glencoe, Ill.
Hanna Dorff, Elk River, Minn.
Madeline Dosser, South Saint Paul, Minn.
Isaac Dotzler, Anoka, Minn.
Kayla Dwire, Marshall, Minn.
Justin Edwards, Marshfield, Wis.
Mackenzie Ellefson, Hopkins, Minn.
Jordan Elwood, Hannon, Canada
Jake Emeott, Chisago City, Minn.
Tyler Engel, Marathon, Wis.
Jacob Ewart, Oconomowoc, Wis.
Jae Faber, Mountain Lake, Minn.
Tabitha Fabin, Elk Grove Village, Ill.
Nicholas Falls, Plymouth, Wis.
Nolan Farnam, Rogers, Minn.
Maxwell Faust, Stillwater, Minn.
Niying Feng, Foshan, China
Kelly Ferguson, Minneapolis, Minn.
Alexander Ferrier, La Crescent, Minn.
Angelyssa Figueroa, Tucson, Ariz.
Bridget Finley, Estherville, Iowa
Michael Fischer, Kilkenny, Minn.
Grace Fitzsimmons, Lake City, Minn.
Claire Fletcher, Saint Paul, Minn.
Isabelle Fortner, Excelsior, Minn.
Sarah Fowler, Hinckley, Ill.
Zavior Franck, Aitkin, Minn.
Danielle Franke, Saint Paul, Minn.
Bailey Frattalone, Forest Lake, Minn.
David French, Winona, Minn.
Jacob French, Winona, Minn.
McKenna Gaalswyk, Rochester, Minn.
Brady Gagne, West Bend, Wis.
Laura Gagnon, New Richmond, Wis.
Nicholas Gawarecki, Stewartville, Minn.
Isabelle Gile, Peterson, Minn.
Grace Gilles, Saint Paul, Minn.
Kevin Gleason, Minneapolis, Minn.
Erin Grams, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Gabriel Graves, Littleton, Colo.
Sydney Green, Bethel, Minn.
Allison Grengs, Westchester, Ill.
Kaitlyn Gross, Spring Grove, Minn.
Paige Gudmundson, Plainview, Minn.
Madison Gueningsman, Winsted, Minn.
Cole Gunneson, Rochester, Minn.
Corinna Hafner, Saint Paul, Minn.
Cole Hagen, Shakopee, Minn.
Jacob Hagstrom, Longview, Texas
Christina Haile, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Jacob Halper, Algonquin, Ill.
Sarah Halverson, New Hope, Minn.
Elizabeth Hammond, Stoughton, Wis.
Sarah Hannan, Bangor, Wis.
Rachel Hansen, Wykoff, Minn.
Amanda Hansen, Brooklyn Park, Minn.
Samuel Hanson, Eleva, Wis.
Logan Hanus, Wittenberg, Wis.
Sarah Hardy, Hastings, Minn.
Danielle Harris, Saint Paul, Minn.
Taliya Harris, Chicago, Ill.
John Hatton, Naperville, Ill.
Ian Hebeisen, Plymouth, Minn.
Bridgette Hegarty, Chicago, Ill.
Anthony Heier, Winona, Minn.
Shaun Heier, Winona, Minn.
Nayeli Hernandez Moctezuma, Austin, Minn.
Laura Herronen, Denver, Colo.
Maggie Heuer, Chaska, Minn.
Rachel Hewitt, Pleasant Hill, Iowa
Jared Hippman, Bolingbrook, Ill.
Sarrianna Hoffer, Wausau, Wis.
James Hoffman, Saint Paul, Minn.
Nathan Hoglund, Chippewa Falls, Wis.
Marian Hollenbeck, Anoka, Minn.
Jennifer Honsa, Saint Paul, Minn.
Grace Howard, Saint Paul, Minn.
Nathan Huberty, Elkhorn, Wis.
John Nickole Huevos, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands
Ivy Hunt, St. Paul, Minn.
Vincent Hurley, Maplewood, Minn.
Jesse Husman, Winona, Minn.
Tyler Hyatt, Waseca, Minn.
Christa Ingabire, Kigali, Rwanda
Brianna Jacobson, Sycamore, Ill.
La ‘Caisha James, Hopkins, Minn.
Joshua Janssen, Green Bay, Wis.
Mackenzie Jensen, Beloit, Wis.
Joshua Johnson, Moorhead, Minn.
Spencer Johnston, Brooklyn Park, Minn.
Emilia Jury, North Branch, Minn.
Alicia Kaari, Mukwonago, Wis.
Dara Kaiser, Bozeman, Mont.
Wade Katula, Fountain City, Wis.
John Paul Keane, Dakota Dunes, S.D.
Rachel Kedl, Lamberton, Minn.
Jordan Keeley, Saint Peter, Minn.
Katelyn Keller, Green Bay, Wis.
Jack Kelly, Northfield, Minn.
Mackenzie Kelly, Brookings, S.D.
Madeline Keroff, Saint Paul, Minn.
Annabeth Kerr, Damascus, Ore.
Kodey Kiel, Medford, Minn.
Claire King, Red Wing, Minn.
Elizabeth King, Green Bay, Wis.
Isaiah King, Mora, Minn.
Julia Kirk, Jackson, Miss.
Katherine Kitchen, Metairie, La.
Sydney Klausler, Lakeville, Minn.
Marissa Kleckler, Oregon, Wis.
Alexander Kouris, Laporte, Ind.
Jacob Kramer, Austin, Minn.
Emily Krautkremer, Montgomery, Minn.
Ryan Krewer, Wheeling, Ill.
Jonathon Krull, Seymour, Wis.
Kamila Kuchta, Woodbury, Minn.
Ethan Lacey, Henry, Ill.
Hannah Lacina, Mankato, Minn.
Caily Landers, Palos Heights, Ill.
Rachel Lang, Saint James, Minn.
Emma Lay, Houston, Texas
Caitlin Ledin, Ashland, Wis.
Allyson Lenz, Owatonna, Minn.
Thomas Leonard, Anoka, Minn.
Ashley LeRoux, Stacy, Minn.
Alexander Leschisin, Eden, S.D.
Brett Lettner, Trempealeau, Wis.
Brookelyn Lewis, Holmen, Wis.
Ahnika Lexvold, South Haven, Minn.
Solomon Liebl, Fertile, Minn.
Terra Lieser, Andover, Minn.
Erin Lime, Lino Lakes, Minn.
Isabelle Lindahl, Cottage Grove, Minn.
Brady Lindauer, Cary, Ill.
Isaiah Lippert, Easton, Minn.
Colleen Lois, Green Bay, Wis.
Danielle LoMastro, Wauconda, Ill.
Dominic Lonetti, Lakeville, Minn.
Maddelyn Long, Andover, Minn.
SamMichael Long, Andover, Minn.
Graham Lorsung, Clear Lake, Minn.
Mary Loy, Burien, Wash.
Holland Lutgen, Minneapolis, Minn.
Jonathan Lutz, Fairmont, Minn.
Keegan Majerus, Pine Island, Minn.
Jordan Malikowski, Royalton, Minn.
Michael Maniak, Wisconsin Dells, Wis.
Ryan Mann, Ottawa, Ill.
Anna Marinc, Carol Stream, Ill.
Michael Marlin, Sauk Rapids, Minn.
Andrew Martin, Shell Lake, Wis.
Jordyn Matthews, Seattle, Wash.
William Matthews, Geneva, Ill.
Elizabeth McAtee, Woodbury, Minn.
Abbie McCarthy, Portland, Ore.
Madysen McCormick, Black River Falls, Wis.
James McDermott, Dubuque, Iowa
Brennan McGuire, Minneapolis, Minn.
Reid McKeown, Saint Paul, Minn.
Elliot McLarty, Sioux City, Iowa
AnneMarie McMahon, Holmen, Wis.
Edgar Medina-Ortiz, Bloomington, Minn.
Kyle Meeh, Fenton, Mo.
Barry Meinholz, Cross Plains, Wis.
Kristjan Meitz, Waukesha, Wis.
Alex Melchor, Duncanville, Texas
Danielle Mengel, Stevens Point, Wis.
Rachael Menke, Winona, Minn.
Brandon Merfeld, La Crosse, Wis.
Taylor Merrell, Inver Grove Heights, Minn.
Arielle Miagkov, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Amber Miller, Kasson, Minn.
Jordan Modjeski, South Lyon, Mich.
Mackenzie Moller, Cave Creek, Ariz.
Robert Mondo, Roselle, Ill.
Lindsey Monnet, Rochester, Minn.
Victoria Mota, Melrose Park, Ill.
Johanna Mott, La Crosse, Wis.
Anna Muccio, Saint Paul, Minn.
Andrew Mullaney, Volga, S.D.
Natalie Munich, Hayward, Wis.
Anna Muntifering, Saint Paul, Minn.
Dylan Musiedlak, Briggsville, Wis.
Hannah Nahrgang, Winona, Minn.
Nicholas Nast, Oxnard, Calif.
Lindsey Nelson, La Crescent, Minn.
Alexis Nguyen, West Covina, Calif.
Faustyna Nguyen, Rochester, Minn.
Tara Nikolich, Chicago, Ill.
Mark Nosbush, Paynesville, Minn.
Katherine Novak, Saint Paul, Minn.
Lyanna Novak, Chicago, Ill.
Shunta Nozawa, Fuchu, Japan
William O’Donnell, Crown Point, Ind.
Barbara Ogiba
Eric Ohde, Chetek, Wis.
Rachel Ohde, Chetek, Wis.
Isaiah Olsem, Dundee, Minn.
Luke Olson, Moline, Ill.
Westen Olson, Cambridge, Minn.
Jon Orvarsson, Sioux Falls, S.D.
Isabelle Ostrem, Cochrane, Wis.
Delgermaa Otgontugs, Plymouth, Minn.
Trevor Paradise, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Joseph Parenteau, Minneapolis, Minn.
Claire Patterson, Marine on St. Croix, Minn.
Jessica Patton, Lyndon Station, Wis.
Brooklyn Paulson, Holmen, Wis.
Luke Pauly, Minneapolis, Minn.
Gabriella Pederson, Chaska, Minn.
Joshua Perry, La Crosse, Wis.
Serena Peterson, Stewartville, Minn.
Colby Peterson, Menomonie, Wis.
Lexy Peterson, Cochrane, Wis.
Connor Petrich, Arden Hills, Minn.
Hunter Phillips, Minong, Wis.
Sarah Phipps, Hurst, Texas
Matthew Piechowski, Hutchinson, Minn.
Tzolquin Pinedo, Saint Paul, Minn.
Jose Pizano, Waukegan, Ill.
Amanda Pohlman, Omaha, Neb.
Katlyn Pokornowski, Silver Lake, Minn.
Jeffrey Pokuta, Johnsburg, Ill.
Dalton Prenot, Winona, Minn.
Caitlin Preusser, Henderson, Minn.
Morgan Prokosch, Belle Plaine, Minn.
Luke Puffer, Duluth, Minn.
Joseph Pyka, Independence, Wis.
Denise Quizhpi, Minneapolis, Minn.
Brianna Raabolle, Andover, Minn.
Griffin Rades, Shawano, Wis.
Karson Rades, Shawano, Wis.
Juan Ramos, Chicago, Ill.
Nina Reed, Marengo, Ill.
Maya Reichenbacher, La Crosse, Wis.
Noah Reinhardt, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Michele Remer, Grand Forks, N.D.
Brandi Remold, West Concord, Minn.
Marlee Ressa, Houston, Texas
Danielle Rhodes, Pewaukee, Wis.
Akela Rimstad, Richfield, Minn.
Liddi Rinden, Rochester, Minn.
Emma Ririe, Darien, Ill.
Albert Rogers, North Haven, Conn.
Kaitlyn Rollinger, Minnesota City, Minn.
Robert Roslund, Vanersborg, Sweden
Sawyer Rosner, Phelps, Wis.
Jonathan Rothering, Kronenwetter, Wis.
Rachel Rougas, San Diego, Calif.
Hongxuan Ruan, Shanghai, China
Ryan Ruhle, Madison, Wis.
Celeste Russell, Las Vegas, Nev.
Natalie Ryan, Vlg of Lakewood, Ill.
Elliott Rysavy, Owatonna, Minn.
Gabriel Rysavy, Owatonna, Minn.
Anna Rystrom, Andover, Minn.
Angel Sacta Espinoza, Apple Valley, Minn.
Ana Paula Saldana Cisneros, Fracc. Villas Del Meson, Mexico
Crystal Salgado, Richfield, Minn.
Trae Sander, Boscobel, Wis.
Brianna Sato, Saint Paul, Minn.
William Scannell, Evergreen Park, Ill.
Emily Schaffer, Hampton, Minn.
Joseph Schauf, Deforest, Wis.
Alec Schillinger, Katy, Texas
Catherine Schiltz, Corcoran, Minn.
Hallie Schmeling, Onalaska, Wis.
Daniel Schmidt, Woodridge, Ill.
Mandy Schmidt, Mitchell, S.D.
Benjamin Schmitt, Somerset, Wis.
Randi Schofield, Hampshire, Ill.
Benjamin Schoonmaker, Moline, Ill.
Katherine Schroettner, Oconomowoc, Wis.
Justine Schultz, Minnesota City, Minn.
Marcella Schumacher, Edina, Minn.
Brendan Scott, Rochester, Minn.
Ashlyn Seifert, Austin, Texas
Catherine Seifert, Stillwater, Minn.
Kylie Seifert, Austin, Texas
Cassandra Sepp, Duluth, Minn.
William Sepsis, Elmhurst, Ill.
Benjamin Serb, Wales, Wis.
Theresa Shafranski, Stevens Point, Wis.
Deborah Shefa, Saint Paul, Minn.
Brooke Shefchik, Stevens Point, Wis.
Kristopher Shepard, Crystal Lake, Ill.
Alexandria Shibilski, Plover, Wis.
Tangang Ashley Shikei, Lillington, N.C.
Joseph Shlanta, Sioux Falls, S.D.
Gabrielle Shupe, Preston, Minn.
Rachel Simon, St. Cloud, Minn.
Kayla Sjodin, Algonquin, Ill.
Noah Skemp, La Crescent, Minn.
Hannah Skroch, Savage, Minn.
Savannah Slafter, Spring Grove, Minn.
Alyssa Sloneker, Blue Earth, Minn.
Alyssa Smith, Saint Paul, Minn.
Julia Smrecek, New Berlin, Wis.
Robert Sobczak, Cloquet, Minn.
Angela Spors, Rochester, Minn.
Thomas Stang, Mendota Heights, Minn.
Collin Stehr, Cottage Grove, Minn.
Emilie Steingraeber, La Crosse, Wis.
Danielle Stevens, Delano, Minn.
Heidi Stewart, Burnsville, Minn.
Tyler Stilp, Lindstrom, Minn.
Ryan Stoynich, Calgary, Canada
Montana Streit, Oronoco, Minn.
Zachary Streit, Circle Pines, Minn.
Ashley Streveler, Colby, Wis.
Francis Strong, Fairbury, Ill.
Jack Strotbeck, Steamboat Springs, Colo.
Lindsay Stussy, Zumbrota, Minn.
Avery Sutton, Minneapolis, Minn.
Anna Swanson, Osceola, Wis.
Parker Swanson, Eden Prairie, Minn.
Theodore Sweet, River Falls, Wis.
Elijah Szymanski, La Crosse, Wis.
Makenzie Tafralian, Las Vegas, Nev.
Ryo Takayama, Sagamiharashi, Japan
Andrew Tepp, Stevens Point, Wis.
Alyssa Thiel, Berlin, Wis.
Jack Thomas, Minneapolis, Minn.
Nicole Thompson, Riverside, Calif.
Benjamin Thompson, Winona, Minn.
April Thornberg, Shakopee, Minn.
Robert Tilot, Pulaski, Wis.
Emma Toellner, Bonduel, Wis.
Maciej Tomczak, Luban, Poland
Elizabeth Trnka, Montgomery, Minn.
Jacob Tschida, Pine River, Minn.
Abrianna Utgaard, Star Prairie, Wis.
Clarissa Van Dale, New Brighton, Minn.
Cole Van Houten, Pine Island, Minn.
Celeste Van Klein, Lake City, Minn.
Alexis Van Ornum, Lindstrom, Minn.
Rolando Vazquez, Antioch, Ill.
Maxwell Vetch, Aberdeen, S.D.
Morgan Von Feldt, Chisago City, Minn.
Trevor Wagner, Minneapolis, Minn.
Destiny Walker, Winona, Minn.
Linnaea Wallis, Dresser, Wis.
Hailey Warmka, Bricelyn, Minn.
Simon Warmkagathje, Saint Charles, Minn.
Mackenzie Waters, Olathe, Kan.
Madison Weis, South Haven, Minn.
Timothy Welch, Winona, Minn.
Nicole Weninger, Woodville, Wis.
Isaiah West, Aurora, Colo.
Abbi Westhoff, Marion, Iowa
Olivia White, Montevideo, Minn.
Joseph White, Fountain City, Wis.
William White, Winona, Minn.
Nicole Wierzba, Rosholt, Wis.
Ethan Wilcox, Quinnesec, Mich.
Trevor Wilhelm, St. Louis, Mo.
Elijah Williams, Beloit, Wis.
Haley Williams, Littleton, Colo.
Briana Williquett, Roberts, Wis.
Grace Wilson, Portage, Wis.
Michelle Wing, Verona, Wis.
Abby Winter, Winona, Minn.
Lawrence Wirries, Moorhead, Minn.
Jacob Wittman, Marshfield, Wis.
Kathryn Wohlberg, Saint Paul, Minn.
Kaitlyn Wolfgram, Ham Lake, Minn.
Caroline Woodle, Knoxville, Iowa
Teresa Wroblewski, Mayer, Minn.
Zhenyu Xing, Lakeland, Minn.
Ayan Yakob, Minneapolis, Minn.
Gaojoshia Yang-Nicks, La Crosse, Wis.
Daniela Zavala, Loudon, Tenn.
Sophia Zebro, Anoka, Minn.
Jidong Zhang, Xinyi City, China
Sarah Zimmermann, Munich, Germany
Statement from Student Senate and Black Students and Allies
Dear Cardinal community,
Student Senate, in partnership with Black Students and Allies, would like to extend our condolences to the family of George Floyd in light of the injustice that occurred Monday, May 25, in Minneapolis.
While we all process Floyd’s tragic death and the resulting shock waves, Student Senate would like to reaffirm our support to our black students, faculty, and staff. Saint Mary’s does not tolerate any form of hate or discrimination, and we do not intend to remain silent in light of this tragedy. We commit ourselves to upholding sincere regard and respect for every Saint Mary’s community member, and we implore our students to offer the same support.
Although we are not currently on campus together, Student Senate encourages our students to stand together for justice, equality, and dignity for all. As a community, we must acknowledge the black lives that have been lost to police brutality, violence, and racism and individuals in black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) communities who have been negatively impacted by those who have taken advantage of the Black Lives Matter movement.
During this difficult time, we encourage our community to join Student Senate by engaging in dialogue regarding this difficult topic, signing petitions, contacting your congressional, state, and local representatives, or joining social media campaigns. Furthermore, if you are able and interested, here are some local Minnesota resources to which you can consider donating:
George Floyd Memorial Fund
Minnesota Freedom Fund
Rebuild Lake Street
Black Visions Collective
Support The Cities
We encourage anyone who is feeling unsettled by this latest injustice to reach out to their Student Senate representatives at senate@smumn.edu. If you have experienced or witnessed any form of discrimination at Saint Mary’s, please fill out a bias report. You can find more information regarding our bias reporting process. Please stand with Student Senate as we strive to make the Saint Mary’s community a welcoming and supportive environment every Cardinal can call home.
Rest in peace, George Floyd.
In solidarity,
Kendall Archer, Student Senate President
Destiny Walker, Student Senate Vice President of Multicultural Affairs
Enitan Onayiga, Black Student and Allies President
Meet Dr. Hahn, assistant professor and program director of Character and Virtue Education
Michael Hahn, Ph.D., joined Saint Mary’s University as an assistant professor and the Character and Virtue Education program director on March 30.
Prior to joining Saint Mary’s, he was an instructor at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University for four years. He also taught at Cathedral High School in Saint Cloud, Minn., and Saint Benedict’s Preparatory School in Newark, N.J.
Dr. Hahn has given numerous academic presentations and his writing has appeared in the Journal of Catholic Higher Education, The American Benedictine Review, America, and Commonweal. His teaching and research interests include the reception of Vatican II, practical ecclesiology, synodality as it has emerged in the teaching of Pope Francis, and the future of American Catholic higher education in the United States.
“One of my academic interests is to discover points of convergence. My research and teaching focus on the intersection of theology and education,” said Dr. Hahn. “I am eager to work alongside other faculty members from various academic disciplines to think creatively about character education.”
Recipient of the Theadore M. Hesburgh Research Grant from the University of Notre Dame, Dr. Hahn completed his doctoral fellowship at Boston College. His professional experience also includes serving as a research assistant for The Boston College Roundtable and Integritas Journal.
Dr. Hahn holds a Ph.D. in Theology and Education from Boston College, Th.M. in Systematic Theology from Saint John’s University, M.A. in Systematic Theology from Seton Hall University, and a B.A. in Political Science from Saint John’s University. He attended high school at Benilde-St. Margaret’s.
“Having benefited from a Lasallian education in high school, I know the potential of the Lasallian core principles to shape a life’s direction. And I am eager to practice the principles in my teaching, service, and scholarship at Saint Mary’s.”
Join us in welcoming Dr. Hahn!
Ed.D. student starts new journey as president/CEO of Minneapolis senior living community
Long before COVID-19 popped into the world’s collective consciousness, Annette Greely has felt a vocation to serve elderly members of her community.
“They teach me every day through stories about their lives or how they view the world,” Greely said.
As the situation regarding the invasion of the virus changes day-by-day in her field, Greely finds herself less than two months into the role of president and CEO of Jones-Harrison Residence, a senior living center that sits south of Cedar Lake in Minneapolis.
“We are much more aware because our population is very at risk with this virus,” said Greely, who started her new position on Feb. 3. “We are following everything that comes out from the CDC and the Minnesota Department of Health to stay on top of it.”
Under these circumstances, Greely has begun the next chapter of her career while completing her Doctorate of Education in Leadership at Saint Mary’s University.
“I have had a goal to always reach this level of leadership,” said Greely, who most recently was a campus administrator at the Martin Luther Campus of Ebenezer in Bloomington, Minn. “I have a better capacity to serve in this role and to be a part of larger policy development making Minnesota a better place for our seniors and for our staff who work in senior services.”
Greely grew up on a dairy farm near Kimball, Minn, south of St. Cloud. After graduating from high school, she earned her certified nursing assistant (CNA) license and began working as a nursing assistant in Annandale, Minn. She has since worked at several senior living centers across Minnesota in different capacities.
Jones-Harrison was founded in 1888 by a group of women, a fact in which Greely takes pride. As an independently run facility, it currently has a staff of approximately 350 employees to attend to residents who occupy its 157 nursing home beds and 44 assisted living apartments.
Recognizing how markets are changing and growing as baby boomers near the time for assisted and long term care, Greely said her vision for Jones-Harrison is for it to be a progressive leader in best practices while empowering staff development and personal growth.
“We want to be a part of the changing senior care platform,” Greely said. “We have to be aware of how senior services are going to look in the future. They may not necessarily be all brick and mortar, and that’s where we have to rely on the innovation of home and community-based services and creative partnerships.”
The right time for a doctorate
Annette Greely poses with her family.
Greely began the program at Saint Mary’s in 2017 after going through a national leadership fellowship program run by LeadingAge, an organization that represents a network of assisted living, transitional care, long term care, and related partnerships all over the U.S. With both of her daughters taking college classes, the time was right for her to fulfill a longtime educational goal.
Even though her day jobs have also been extremely busy, she has always been able to find the time to attend one class in person each semester on the Twin Cities Campus.
“Saint Mary’s understands the working person,” said Greely, who plans on finishing her Ed.D. degree in 2021. “I loved the course selection and how Saint Mary’s embodies leadership as a service to others.”
Greely credits her professors and cohort for helping her grow as a person alongside her career, while also making her “start to critically think about leadership and societal constructs, helping to question the ‘why’ of what and how we make decisions.”
Rustin Wolfe, Ph.D., a core professor in the Ed.D. program, had Greely in three of his classes. Most recently, she took his creativity and innovation course in which for her final project she employed scientifically-grounded creative thinking techniques to create a cookbook with recipes geared for specific dietary needs.
“As a student, Annette leads with a down-home humility, but that belies how bright she is,” Dr. Wolfe said. “She is self-deprecatingly funny, hard-working, reflective, and considerate. Like most of our students, she is juggling many responsibilities outside of her coursework — and like all strong ones, she takes responsibility for her success.”
Support the Cities Facebook page
Are you looking for ways to help in the Twin Cities during this time of unrest? This public Support the Cities Facebook page offers volunteering opportunities and places to donate items to help those affected in the Twin Cities. Like the page to get notifications for events near you that are in need of assistance.
Entrepreneurial students design product to connect hospital patients and loved ones
Caily Landers ’21 knows the loneliness hospital patients can feel as they are undergoing worrisome procedures, disconnected from family, and often missing home.
Last summer, Landers’ twin sister, Shannon, was diagnosed with a rare type of bone cancer. Her chemo treatments often required hospital stays for weeks at a time, and “All she wanted was to be at home,” Landers said.
As Landers and Isabel Bettag ’21 were brainstorming ideas for a business pitch, they formed a solution to comfort hospital patients that they call CalmConnect. They describe it as an app and projector which allows family and friends to connect with patients.
And they know their product is especially needed during this pandemic.
“This could be very beneficial to the hospital patients who are alone because of COVID-19. It would connect the patient with their family and friends,” Landers said. “For safety, guests often aren’t allowed into the hospital with them. CalmConnect would help with the loneliness of this situation. We see a need for this product, especially at this time.”
The two won the people’s choice award (and $500 in prize money) in the recent E1 Ignite Cup competition and will pitch tomorrow (Tuesday, June 2) in the final round of the Assistive Tech Challenge Virtual Pitch Competition in Rochester, Minn.
“Each pitch competition has taught us so much,” Bettag said. “We have learned through watching other pitches how to edit our pitch, and we have learned the next steps to take from companies that are later in the startup stage. Each competition gives us more confidence in our product and makes us excited to continue it!”
The two hope to develop a marketable prototype, continue to raise capital, and eventually file for a patent. Their goal is to get it into hospital rooms as soon as possible.
Caily Landers ’21 and Isabel Bettag ’21, interning at the X Games.
Landers and Bettag, who are Cardinal basketball players, best friends, roommates, and even interned together last year at the X Games, admit they had never previously thought of themselves as entrepreneurs until they began working with the Kabara Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies at Saint Mary’s.
Landers is a management and sports management major, and Bettag is majoring in finance and sports management. They are grateful for Christine Beech, D.M., Matt Klosky, and other members of the Business Department for their mentorship in helping them develop their product, their business knowledge, and their entrepreneurial spirit.
“Both of us now find ourselves thinking of new products every day, but we have to remind ourselves that we need to focus on developing CalmConnect,” Bettag said.
The DMC Assistive Tech Challenge
Tomorrow, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. they will compete at the Assistive Tech Challenge, a pitch competition presented by Destination Medical Center (DMC) to facilitate greater independence for people with disabilities and the daily challenges they face.
The competition will be held in a virtual format and is open to the public.
In its second year, this first-of-its-kind competition in Minnesota will feature teams in two divisions: Open Division (for community-based teams and students) and Professional Division (for companies formed with annual revenues not exceeding $200,000). Six teams from the Open Division and four from the Professional Division will pitch their ideas to an expert panel of judges.
Teams in this year’s competition represent locations throughout the United States and Canada, including Minnesota, Florida, and Toronto, and universities including Bethel University (Saint Paul), Saint Mary’s University (Winona), University of Iowa, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Western University of Ontario.
First place in each category will receive $5,000. Second place in each category will receive $2,500. A people’s choice award in each division will receive $500.
The event will also feature a live interview with winners of the inaugural Assistive Tech Challenge about their success since the 2018 competition.
The DMC Assistive Tech Challenge is free to attend, but registration is required. Register here to attend and cast your vote: https://dmc.mn/assistive-tech-challenge/
Message from the president
Dear Members of the Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota Community:
It is with deep sadness that I write to you today in light of the killing of Mr. George Floyd just one week ago. His death is shocking and appalling. And so I write this realizing that I don’t have the words to adequately express what this has meant to and for our community, nor do I have the words to describe what has impacted so many individuals and families and neighborhoods over the past several days. No amount of speaking or writing can begin to articulate the very grave situation we find ourselves in nor the tragic state of mind, body, and soul that we have been left with as a result of the brutal death of Mr. Floyd. No one can claim ignorance of the many other lives lost within our communities of color due to injustice, unfair practices, and violence. Those human lives were taken from our country, our state, and our cities because of racist attitudes and bigoted behaviors. Saying “Sorry” simply does not connect to the lived experience of so many people of color with whom I have spoken. Yet, I am sorry; sorry for all that has been perpetrated against persons of color anywhere. I have also heard from some of our graduates who have related past experiences at Saint Mary’s which included what they described as a shared pain and anguish at being the objects of racist acts and bigotry, both overtly and subtly. It is especially sad to learn of this at a school like Saint Mary’s, where we are called to live our Lasallian heritage and the Catholic faith. This does not represent what Saint Mary’s is about, the values we hold, or the great work of the generations of Christian Brothers who have always sought to be on the side of the marginalized. We want Saint Mary’s to be a place to learn and to live together so that we can all promote the virtues that are critical to living, now more than ever; virtues such as justice, prudence, understanding, courage, and temperance especially when we continue to live in a society racked by the pain and viciousness of injustice, rash judgment, and extremism.
All people must be afforded equal dignity while all forms of racism and injustice against humanity must be condemned, especially when they are perpetrated against those who have been historically marginalized and silenced, as has been the experience in African American communities. As a Catholic community, and joining with other members of Christian faiths, as well as our Jewish and Muslim sisters and brothers, we believe that all people are created in God’s image; knowing that Christ’s redemption is for everyone. The Catechism of the Catholic Church spells this out: “The equality of men rests essentially on their dignity as persons and the rights that flow from it: [thus] every form of social or cultural discrimination in fundamental personal rights on the grounds of sex, race, color, social conditions, language, or religion must be curbed and eradicated as incompatible with God’s design.”1 Further, we must call out the moral dimension of this terrible issue and insist that “any theory or form whatsoever of racism and racial discrimination is morally unacceptable;”2 acknowledging that “racism is not merely one sin among many, it is a radical evil dividing the human family … ”3
I would argue —and I would profoundly hope — that the answer to the tragic death of Mr. Floyd cannot be violence and hate. While the feelings of frustration, anger, and helplessness are understandable, we will not come out of this through more violence or deeper hate. That is why the voice of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., acts as a clarion call for all of us, as relevant today as it was in 1957: “Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.”4 These words echo what Mr. Floyd’s girlfriend, Ms. Courtney Ross said of him. “He [George Floyd] cannot die in vain … He can’t. [He was] an angel sent to us on earth. Him dying…it’s like he gave something to all of us … I hope and I know that Floyd hoped that his death is going to cause some sort of change within people’s hearts … He loved God and he would not be hateful right now, he would be prayerful, he would be loving … ”5
Therefore, in order to bring some ray of light and love to a very painful and hurting community, of which Saint Mary’s University is a part, I am proposing the following initial actions steps for us at Saint Mary’s, both from an internal perspective as well as from an outward-facing perspective. These have been proposed and vetted by two working groups that have begun to discern how we can listen, learn, and be of help to one another and our richly diverse communities. It is not our place to propose or impose ready-made solutions upon the various communities of color we serve and by which we are enriched. These might not be what is most urgent or most helpful, but we must begin somewhere.
Internally:
- The provost will work with all academic areas inviting us to give over some of our academic time for moderated discussions about what has been happening in the Twin Cities as well as throughout the country using key reflection materials.
- In particular, given where our Minneapolis Campus is located, we will look to create virtual “Community Conversations.”
- We will plan a Mass for Healing, Wisdom, and Moral Courage as well as additional ecumenical and interreligious prayer experience.
- We will work with Dr. Ramon Pastrano, who helped facilitate student discussions with the Office of the President last spring, to create an interactive experience for us to make sure we know what we need to know, provide some steps forward, as well as assure our care and love for the community.
- We will invite students, staff, and faculty into a space for creating prayerful, thoughtful, and peacefully-motivated reflections and activities.
- We will create an opportunity to contribute financial assistance to our local South Minneapolis community.
Externally:
- We will provide, and continue to update, information about how we can help contribute to and be part of healing in the communities in which we are located.
- Finally, my office has been engaged in outreach to local faith groups, especially within the African American community, social service agencies, and civic organizations to learn what is needed, how we might respond, and what we can offer.
I invite your prayers for all those so profoundly affected by the events of the past week. May all we do be for the uplifting of the human person, the good of the human family, and the salvation of all.
May this lead us to a future full of hope.
God bless you all!
Rev. James P. Burns, IVD, Ph.D.
1 Catechism of the Catholic Church (United States Catholic Conference, Inc., 1994), No. 1935, quoting Vatican II, Gaudium et Spes, No. 29.
2 Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2007), No. 433.
3 United States Catholic Bishops, Brothers and Sisters to Us, 1979, No. 39.
4 Martin Luther King, Jr., Strength to Love, Fortress Press.
5 https://www.dailymail.co.uk/video/news/video-2180818/Video-George-Floyds-girlfriend-speaks-death.html and https://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2020/05/28/george-floyd-death-reactions-girlfriend-mayor-marquez-pkg-tsr-vpx.cnn
A message to the Saint Mary’s community
Recent events surrounding the sad and tragic death of George Floyd have called to mind the ongoing need for efforts to promote peace, justice, and the sanctity of all human life, especially those who are most vulnerable. We join together as a community of education and faith in the Lasallian Catholic tradition to mourn the loss of Floyd and pray for the consolation of his family and friends, as well as for all affected in our community and beyond.
We currently live in an anxious and uncertain time brought on by the current pandemic and this recent death. The violent protests surrounding Floyd’s death highlight the fragility of our communities along with the need for accountability, honesty, and just resolution to conflict. During this time, we call to mind the words of Martin Luther King, Jr.: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
As many of you may know, sadly, south Minneapolis witnessed significant rioting which resulted in looted and burned buildings on the Lake Street corridor last night. Our Twin Cities Campus in Minneapolis was not directly impacted, but there are concerns that the Minneapolis police and fire departments are currently overwhelmed and will not be able to respond to all of the issues that may arise.
Under advice from the security agency that monitors our properties, Saint Mary’s has made the decision to close the Twin Cities Campus to all employees through Monday, June 1, to ensure the safety of all. Maintenance and security personnel will remain on-site to monitor the campus. We will keep our community updated regarding this decision and related events.
The Rev. James P. Burns, IVD, Ph.D.
President
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
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