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Campus ConnectionAn update from the president to alumni and parents
Virtue in the DBA and Beyond
From a Lasallian perspective, the underpinnings of virtues permeate the Saint Mary’s culture. For example, new faculty are introduced to the concept of the 12 teaching virtues. From an organizational perspective, we ensure that the five core Lasallian virtues are imbued throughout our culture. Specifically as it pertains to our university, the mission stresses the importance of awakening, nurturing, and empowering learners to ethical lives of service and leadership. Thus, the concept of virtues are imbued throughout ethos of the university. The remaining paragraphs will provide a brief overview of virtues and introduce the idea of a meta-virtue.
Given virtues are at the substrate of the ethos of the university, it is important to provide some context as to the genesis of virtues and what exactly they are. The etymology comes from the Latin word – virtus, which translates to strength. Hence, virtues provide individuals with opportunities to strengthen their character. For example, when someone exhibits the virtue of generosity, that person is typically viewed in a positive light. On the contrary, the opposite of virtues are vices. For instance, when someone is deemed to be selfish, we normally associate such behavior negatively. This is why virtues are correlated with positive characteristics and are also called character strengths in some academic fields, particularly, in the study of education.
The field of education and positive psychology has aided our understanding of virtues. Historically, virtues were codified and examined in a moral context. For example, when we explore the virtues of compassion, fairness, and gratitude, the foundation of such conversations are normally associated with our humanity. However, the construct of virtues is currently examined and researched from a more panoptic and robust framework. This topology is separated into four sub components. The first category and the oldest is moral, as discussed above. The second category — is civic such as volunteerism or community engagement. Third are intellectual virtues such as critical thinking and curiosity. Last, but not least, are performance virtues: grit, resilience, and emotional intelligence.
The study of virtues dates back to antiquity, and, a number of Greek philosophers are credited for introducing the study to the Western Word, Aristotle, in particular. What is interesting about Aristotle is that he generally focused on the moral virtues, but he believed there is a meta-virtue and it serves to bridge all the other virtues. He called this meta-virtue phronesis, which means practical wisdom. Aristotle purported that phronesis is the glue that held all other virtues in place and provided the nutrients that afforded individuals the ability to leverage all other virtues in a meaningful way in order to flourish as a society. This is why he would espouse that individuals should be compassionate toward the right person to the correct degree at the appropriate time. Thus, exhibiting compassion in and of its self is not enough; we must wield various virtues in a more sagacious manner.
By: Antar Salim, MBA, DBA, core associate professor
Recent graduate returns to Minnesota to take part in race, recruit for Lasallian Volunteers
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story was published in January before the COVID-19 pandemic hit America — in particular New York City, where Aldontae Guess ’19 has been serving as a Lasallian Volunteer at a high school in Brooklyn since the beginning of the school year. We recently reached out to him and are happy to report that he is doing well. He is establishing virtual prayer services for the high school community through platforms such as Facebook Live and Zoom. “It’s certainly a different shift on things,” Guess said. “We’re trying to adjust the best way we can and just do what we can.” Although his neighborhood is a lot quieter than it usually is, he said there are signs of life, togetherness, and resilience like the nightly 7 p.m. ritual of making noise to honor health care workers. “Even sometimes just a small gesture can have the biggest impact on people,” Guess said, “something as simple as just telling someone ‘Thank you.’”
If you ask him, Aldontae Guess ’19 will tell you that he’s a city guy at his core, having been raised on the West Side of Chicago.
Aldontae Guess ’19 during the 2019 spring commencement at Winona.
So when it came to living and serving in New York City as part of the Lasallian Volunteers program, the transition was pretty smooth.
“I’m used to the car horns and people and everything else,” he said.
Guess has called the much smaller town of Winona home for portions of the year, beginning in 2011 — first as a recently graduated eighth-grader taking part in the Countdown to College summer college preparation program at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota and later as a Saint Mary’s First Generation Initiative (FGI) student. He is one of 137 graduates of Countdown to College and one of about 50 graduates of FGI since the programs formed in 2010.
In late October, Guess made his first trip back to Minnesota since graduating with his B.A. in Psychology in May to take part in the 14th annual “LVs Run,” in which volunteers raise money for their organization by having patrons sponsor their participation in a race. The goal this year was to raise $65,000.
The featured race for the fundraiser changes locales every year. As luck would have it, this year’s event took place around the Minneapolis Halloween Half Marathon on Oct. 26. Along with his fellow volunteers, Guess took part in the 5K portion of the event — raising more than $3,000 in pledges, placing him as the second-most sponsored runner.
“I pushed through, but I was glad to be done,” said Guess, who had members from the Saint Mary’s community cheering him on throughout the race.
Visiting old friends
Following his time in Minneapolis, Guess headed to Winona to meet up with professors, staff, students, and others he had formed relationships with through various student activities and affiliations, including the Student Activities Committee, the FGI office, and Serving Others United in Love (S.O.U.L) Council. Last spring, he was presented with the Student Service Award.
Tim Gossen, vice president for Student Affairs and Student Life, presents Aldontae Guess ’19 with the 2019 Student Service Award.
“Aldontae earned the nickname of ‘The Mayor’ of campus while he was a student,” said Alisa Macksey, dean of Student Success and FGI. “Aldontae was the student who always said hello to everyone and went out of his way to make everyone in the community and visitors feel welcome.”
Besides catching up with familiar faces, Guess joined with other Saint Mary’s alumni who are serving as Lasallian Volunteers in giving presentations on the Winona Campus. Their hope was to spark interest with students who may also be interested serving others by becoming a Lasallian Volunteer, a program celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.
Guess is serving as a volunteer at Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School in Brooklyn, an assignment that will last until the end of the school year. He is one of two first-year volunteers who are graduates of Saint Mary’s, the other being Jessica Bauer ’19 at the De La Salle Blackfeet School in Browning, Mont. In addition, there are four second-year volunteers who graduated from Saint Mary’s: Sheyenne Bauer ’18, San Miguel School, Chicago; Regina Bettag ’18 , De La Salle Blackfeet School, Browning, Mont.; Chris Lackey ’18 La Salle School, Albany, N.Y.; and Benjamin Peters ’18, Cristo Rey De La Salle High School, Oakland, Calif.
Guess felt a call to serve since his sophomore year when he went he co-lead a S.O.U.L. (Serving Others United in Love) immersion trip to the San Miguel School of Tulsa, Okla., during spring break of 2016, when he and his fellow volunteers helped supervise the school’s students, as well as helped with homework and provided afterschool assistance.
While in Minnesota last October, Aldontae Guess ’19 gave a presentation to Saint Mary’s undergraduate students about the Lasallian Volunteers program. The priority consideration deadline is Saturday, Feb. 15.
Guess said this trip was one of his primary reasons for applying to the program. “It was really being with the Christian Brothers and the volunteers, spending that week, and really seeing De La Salle’s mission being done right before my very eyes that inspired me to continue serving,” Guess said.
‘The sense of community’
In his role at the Brooklyn high school, Guess’ official title is a volunteer for student life. His responsibilities include assisting with Mass, prayer services, retreats, and social events that take place during school hours. In addition, Guess also assists with day-to-day operations in the school’s library, development office, and campus ministry office.
Given his experiences thus far, Guess would like to come back for a second year of volunteering at Bishop Loughlin before applying for graduate school for a to-be-determined area of study.
Of course, he welcomes fellow Saint Mary’s alumni to join him in the program, which has a priority deadline of Saturday, Feb. 15.
What does he think is the organization’s biggest selling points?
“Just the network that you’re a part of,” he said. “I think the sense of community you get from it — and the chance to be of service.”
Featured image: Aldontae Guess ’19 strikes a pose after finishing the 5K race at the Minneapolis Halloween Half Marathon in October.
Franke completes summer internship at clinic in Spain
Experience a perfect fit for biology, Spanish double major
Senior Danielle Franke was able to uniquely blend her biology and Spanish majors through an eight-week internship in Spain last summer. At the Centro Medico Estación, Franke received an invaluable clinical experience before she prepares to apply to medical school. It also allowed her to have a fully immersive experience as the only staff person who was a native English speaker.
Throughout her time at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, the Mounds View, Minn., native looked for the right study abroad opportunity to best suit her double majors in biology and Spanish. Heading into her senior year, she found it.
“It was a really good way to blend two interests together,” Franke said. “I was able to learn about the medical system in Spanish, which I don’t know how I’d be able to do any other way.”
A new level of translations
Senior Danielle Franke, center, hikes up Mount Benacantil with friends from the study abroad program she took part in last summer.
Franke fully embraced the atmosphere at the private clinic, located in the coastal town of Alicante, Spain. At times, she would translate for both doctors and patients. One of the biggest challenges was learning the words in Spanish for various types of medical terminology and equipment, which had never been covered in any Spanish classes she had taken in the U.S.
“Half of the Spanish language cannot be taught in the classroom, and you have to just learn by talking to people and making mistakes, which I did all the time,” Franke said. To help improve her conversational abilities, Franke enrolled in a class called “Spanish in the Working Environment” at the University of Alicante.
Two days each week, Franke worked in the clinic’s laboratory, where she collaborated with doctors and technicians to analyze blood and urine samples. On the other three days, she would observe and administer patient tests, such as lactose, sucrose, and fructose tolerance tests.
Approximately 30 specialists would come into the clinic during the course of the week. In addition to her regular responsibilities, Franke was also able to sit in on some of those specialist appointments. This included time with the staff gynecologist — an opportunity she appreciated, given that she hopes to focus in obstetrics in medical school. She also had the opportunity to scrub in at the nearby public hospital and observe cancerous portions of a larynx being removed from a patient.
Several steps
Franke initially learned of the internship opportunity from her Spanish adviser John Reed, Ph.D., associate professor of English and World Languages. Dr. Reed knew that several Saint Mary’s students had had successful study abroad experiences in Spain and Latin America over the years through Spanish Studies Abroad.
Senior Danielle Franke, right, poses with a friend on the top of Alicante’s famed Castillo de Santa Barbara.
Given the rare opportunity to work in a medical clinic as a study abroad student, the application process to the program involved completing several materials, including a cover letter, résumé, and interview in Spanish. In addition to gaining approval by the organization running the program, she also had to get the green light directly from the clinic.
To allow for some tourism time, Franke arrived in Madrid six days before her internship began. She also tacked on more time after its conclusion to visit other Spanish cities. Out of all the places she traveled to, the cobblestone-street charm of Granada was her favorite. Still, she very much enjoyed her time in Alicante. Her most memorable activities included taking in the views from the top of the Santa Barbara Castle, which towers above the city on Mount Benacantil, and dining on the potato omelet concoctions that her host would make (known in Spain as “tortilla de patatas”).
“It’s a very Mediterranean beach town in lots of ways, but it has few of the traditional aspects of Spain. It’s different than the rest of Spain I traveled to,” Franke said. “Alicante has a specific vibe because it’s close to the beach and more laid back.”
Franke, who is also a member of Saint Mary’s cross country and track and field teams, is currently preparing to take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) in January as she prepares to apply to medical schools in June.
As her career progresses, she hopes to continue to use her Spanish skills when working with bilingual patients in the U.S. to make the medical system more accessible.
Featured image: Senior Danielle Franke with co-workers in the laboratory at Centro Medico Estación in Alicante, Spain. Franke became the clinic’s third intern in its history.
Saint Mary’s announces first semester dean’s list
WINONA, Minn. — The following undergraduate students were named to the first semester, 2019 Dean’s List at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota’s Winona Campus. The list includes 355 undergraduate students who earned a grade point average of 3.60 or better on a 4.0 scale.
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota has about 5,600 students enrolled 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.
Mandukhai Alimaa, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Juan Altamirano Herrera, Appleton, Wis.
Elise Amerongen, Saint Paul, Minn.
Kendall Archer, Draper, Utah
Adrianna Baab, Wabasha, Minn.
Allysa Barlow, Appleton, Wis.
Cassandra Barr, Eau Claire, Wis.
Abigail Bastian, Davenport, Iowa
Clare Bath, West Fargo, N.D.
Michael Bauer, Brainerd, Minn.
Rylan Bearden, Rochester, Minn.
Riley Becher, Rochester, Minn.
Alice Bettag, Maple Park, Ill.
Gabriel Bickerstaff, Rollingstone, Minn.
Felicity Bieker, De Pere, Wis.
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.
Madalyn Bollig, St. Croix Falls, Wis.
Ben Borash, Bowlus, Minn.
Josephine Borchert, Saint Paul, Minn.
Zachary Bracken, Osseo, Minn.
Jack Broaders, Chicago, Ill.
Daniel Buchal, Wilson, Wis.
Nathan Budde, De Pere, Wis.
Erin Budin, Le Center, Minn.
Thomas Budin, Le Center, Minn.
Konrad Bueckers, Pine River, Minn.
Kayla Burck, Algonquin, Ill.
Kristin Burke, Byron, Minn.
Djeneba Camara, Chicago, Ill.
Mackenzie Carey, Prescott, Wis.
Cheyenne Carlsen, Big Lake, Minn.
Molly Cary, Minneapolis, Minn.
Samantha Chaffee, Delavan, Minn.
Grace Chalmers, Albert Lea, Minn.
Augusta Chirbas, Kenosha, Wis.
Erin Ciconte, Melrose Park, Ill.
Elizabeth Ciukaj, Alsip, Ill.
Larkin Clem, Elk River, Minn.
Jacob Clements, Holmen, Wis.
Daniel Collette, Stillwater, Minn.
Kaitlin Conniff, Caledonia, Minn.
Colleen Costello, Delano, Minn.
James Craiger, Des Moines, Iowa
Emily Crandall, Stillwater, Minn.
Carley Cronen, Kandiyohi, Minn.
Jimmy Cumbe Paucar, Minneapolis, Minn.
Sean Curran, Appleton, Wis.
Ian Currie, Franklin, Tenn.
Grace Cushman, Cologne, Minn.
Anna Dale, Cottage Grove, Minn.
Jordan Danielson, Dover, Minn.
Katrina Danzinger, Alma, Wis.
Axel Daood, Saint Charles, Minn.
Elizabeth Davis, Big Lake, Minn.
Natalie Degener, Rochester, Minn.
Oran Dornelly, Micoud,
Isaac Dotzler, Anoka, Minn.
Kayla Dwire, Marshall, Minn.
Samuel Eggebrecht, Rochester, Minn.
Jordan Elwood, Hannon, Ontario
Jake Emeott, Chisago City, Minn.
Lillyann Engstler, Fountain City, Wis.
Jae Faber, Mountain Lake, Minn.
Tabitha Fabin, Elk Grove Village, Ill.
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
Olivia Fleming, Hugo, Minn.
Claire Fletcher, Saint Paul, Minn.
Zavior Franck, Aitkin, Minn.
Danielle Franke, Saint Paul, Minn.
Bailey Frattalone, Forest Lake, Minn.
McKenna Gaalswyk, Rochester, Minn.
Brady Gagne, West Bend, Wis.
Laura Gagnon, New Richmond, Wis.
Isaac Galle, Ellsworth, Wis.
Nicholas Gawarecki, Stewartville, Minn.
Isabelle Gile, Peterson, Minn.
Grace Gilles, Saint Paul, Minn.
Kevin Gleason, Minneapolis, Minn.
Haley Graham, Maiden Rock, Wis.
Erin Grams, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Peyton Grant, Albertville, Minn.
James Green, Bethel, Minn.
Paige Gudmundson, Plainview, Minn.
Madison Gueningsman, Winsted, Minn.
Cole Gunneson, Rochester, Minn.
Corinna Hafner, Saint Paul, Minn.
Cole Hagen, Shakopee, Minn.
Christina Haile, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Jacob Halper, Algonquin, Ill.
Sarah Halverson, New Hope, Minn.
Elizabeth Hammond, Stoughton, Wis.
Sarah Hannan, Bangor, Wis.
Amanda Hansen, Brooklyn Park, Minn.
Rachel Hansen, Wykoff, Minn.
Samuel Hanson, Eleva, Wis.
Sarah Hardy, Hastings, Minn.
Taliya Harris, Chicago, Ill.
John Hatton, Naperville, Ill.
Ian Hebeisen, Plymouth, Minn.
Bridgette Hegarty, Chicago, Ill.
Anthony Heier, Winona, Minn.
Megan Hendrickson, Harmony, Minn.
Samantha Henning, Lake City, Minn.
Erin Hettinger, Lake Villa, Ill.
Maggie Heuer, Chaska, Minn.
Rachel Hewitt, Pleasant Hill, Iowa
Jared Hippman, Bolingbrook, Ill.
Nathan Hoglund, Chippewa Falls, Wis.
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.
Tyler Hyatt, Waseca, Minn.
Christa Ingabire, City Of Kigali, Rwanda
Brianna Jacobson, Sycamore, Ill.
La ‘Caisha James, Hopkins, Minn.
Trenton Jancze, Woodbury, Minn.
Joshua Johnson, Moorhead, Minn.
Kailee Johnson, Rochester, Minn.
Spencer Johnston, Brooklyn Park, Minn.
Daynalyn Jostock, Millville, Minn.
Dara Kaiser, Bozeman, Mont.
Wade Katula, Fountain City, Wis.
John Paul Keane, Dakota Dunes, S.D.
Jordan Keeley, Saint Peter, Minn.
Katelyn Keller, Green Bay, Wis.
Mackenzie Kelly, Brookings, S.D.
Breanna Kenney, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Madeline Keroff, Saint Paul, Minn.
Annabeth Kerr, Damascus, Ore.
Aaron Kibirige, Lino Lakes, 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.
Jack Knoblauch, Coon Rapids, Minn.
Mackayla Knutson, Ellendale, Minn.
Philip Kostecka, Pequot Lakes, Minn.
Megan Kowalis, Castle Rock, Colo.
Emily Krautkremer, Montgomery, Minn.
Ryan Krewer, Wheeling, Ill.
Kamila Kuchta, Woodbury, Minn.
Ethan Lacey, Henry, Ill.
Rachel Lang, Saint James, Minn.
Allyson Lenz, Owatonna, Minn.
Ashley LeRoux, Stacy, Minn.
Alexander Leschisin, Eden, S.D.
Joshua Lester, Cottage Grove, Minn.
Jacob Lewis, Rochester, Minn.
Ahnika Lexvold, South Haven, Minn.
Solomon Liebl, Fertile, Minn.
Terra Lieser, Andover, Minn.
Isabelle Lindahl, Cottage Grove, Minn.
Brady Lindauer, Cary, Ill.
Isaiah Lippert, Easton, Minn.
Colleen Lois, Green Bay, Wis.
Danielle LoMastro, Wauconda, Ill.
Maddelyn Long, Andover, Minn.
Graham Lorsung, Clear Lake, Minn.
Jonathan Lutz, Fairmont, Minn.
Qi Kai Ma, Baotou, Mongolia
Jordan Malikowski, Royalton, Minn.
Anna Marinc, Carol Stream, Ill.
Michael Marlin, Sauk Rapids, Minn.
Andreq Martin, Shell Lake, Wis.
Jacob Mayer, Mokena, Ill.
Elizabeth McAtee, Woodbury, Minn.
Abbie McCarthy, Portland, Ore.
Brennen McClay, Shakopee, Minn.
Madysen McCormick, Black River Falls, Wis.
James McDermott, Dubuque, Iowa
Reid McKeown, Saint Paul, Minn.
Elliot McLarty, Sioux City, Iowa
Jonathan Meaden, Rosemount, Minn.
Edgar Medina-Ortiz, Bloomington, Minn.
Kristjan Meitz, Waukesha, Wis.
Rachael Menke, Winona, Minn.
Brandon Merfeld, La Crosse, Wis.
Arielle Miagkov, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Trevor Miklya, Eagan, Minn.
Jordan Modjeski, South Lyon, Mich.
Mackenzie Moller, Cave Creek, Ariz.
Mary Moritz, Saint Michael, Minn.
Victoria Mota, Melrose Park, Ill.
Johanna Mott, LaCrosse, Wis.
Anna Muccio, Saint Paul, Minn.
Andrew Mullaney, Volga, S.D.
Natalie Munich, Hayward, Wis.
Anna Muntifering, Saint Paul, Minn.
Lindsey Nelson, La Crescent, Minn.
Mark Nosbush, Paynesville, Minn.
Katherine Novak, Saint Paul, Minn.
Mara Novakovic, Mokena, Ill.
Shunta Nozawa, Fuchu, Tokyo
Barbara Marcelina Ogiba, Poznan, Poland
Isaiah Olsem, Dundee, Minn.
Luke Olson, Moline, Ill.
Westen Olson, Cambridge, Minn.
Isabelle Ostrem, Cochrane, Wis.
Delgermaa Otgontugs, Plymouth, Minn.
Emma Paquette, Faribault, Minn.
Trevor Paradise, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Joseph Parenteau, Minneapolis, Minn.
Claire Patterson, Marine on St. Croix, Minn.
Brooklyn Paulson, Holmen, Wis.
Gabriella Pederson, Chaska, Minn.
Joshua Perry, La Crosse, Wis.
Colby Peterson, Menomonie, Wis.
Sarah Phipps, Hurst, Texas
Catherine Pierpont, Holt, Mich.
Corey Piper, Winona, Minn.
Alexis Pogatchnik, Rice, Minn.
Amanda Pohlman, Omaha, Neb.
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.
Hannah Queen, Spokane Valley, Wash.
Haylee Queen, Spokane Valley, Wash.
Denise Quizhpi, Minneapolis, Minn.
Brianna Raabolle, Andover, Minn.
Griffin Rades, Shawano, Wis.
Karson Rades, Shawano, Wis.
Olivia Rawlyk, Duluth, Minn.
John Regnier, Prescott, Wis.
Noah Reinhardt, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Michele Remer, Grand Forks, N.D.
Brandi Remold, West Concord, Minn.
Luis Reyes, Madison, Wis.
Danielle Rhodes, Pewaukee, Wis.
Akela Rimstad, Richfield, Minn.
Liddi Rinden, Rochester, Minn.
Emma Ririe, Darien, Ill.
Noah Roe, Superior, Wis.
Lauren Rogers, Barrington, Ill.
Kaitlyn Rollinger, Minnesota City, Minn.
Robert Roslund, Vanersborg, Sweden
Sawyer Rosner, Phelps, Wis.
Jonathan Rothering, Kronenwetter, Wis.
Natalie Ruegsegger, Billings, Mont.
Ryan Ruhle, Madison, Wis.
Paul Rupert, Peoria, Ill.
Celeste Russell, Las Vegas, Nev.
Gabriel Rysavy, Owatonna, Minn.
Ana Paula Saldana Cisneros, Fracc. Villas Del Meson, Mexico
Crystal Salgado, Richfield, Minn.
Trae Sander, Boscobel, Wis.
Andrew Sandoz, Menasha, Wis.
Emily Schaffer, Hampton, Minn.
Joseph Schauf, Deforest, Wis.
Hallie Schmeling, Onalaska, Wis.
Mandy Schmidt, Mitchell, S.D.
Benjamin Schmitt, Somerset, Wis.
Benjamin Schoonmaker, Moline, Ill.
Justine Schultz, Minnesota City, Minn.
Marcella Schumacher, Edina, Minn.
Brendan Scott, Rochester, Minn.
Ashlyn Seifert, Austin, Texas
Catherine Seifert, Stillwater, Minn.
Cassandra Sepp, Duluth, Minn.
William Sepsis, Elmhurst, Ill.
Benjamin Serb, Wales, Wis.
Emily Seykora, Eaton Rapids, Mich.
Deborah Shefa, Saint Paul, Minn.
Kristopher Shepard, Crystal Lake, Ill.
Alexandria Shibilski, Plover, Wis.
Tangang Ashley Shikei, Lillington, N.C.
Gabrielle Shupe, Preston, Minn.
Savannah Slafter, Spring Grove, Minn.
Robert Sobczak, Cloquet, Minn.
Angela Spors, Rochester, Minn.
Emilie Steingraeber, La Crosse, Wis.
Lillian Sterling, Minneapolis, Minn.
Heidi Stewart, Burnsville, Minn.
Signey Stoesz, Mountain Lake, Minn.
Ryan Stoynich, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Montana Streit, Oronoco, Minn.
Ashley Streveler, Colby, Wis.
Emily Strezishar, East Grand Forks, Minn.
Francis Strong, Fairbury, Ill.
Jac, Strotbeck, Steamboat Springs, Colo.
Coleton Strupp, Holmen, Wis.
Avery Sutton, Minneapolis, Minn.
Jonathan Swoik, Pekin, Ill.
Elijah Szymanski, La Crosse, Wis.
Makenzie Tafralian, Las Vegas, Nev.
Alyssa Thiel, Berlin, Wis.
Jack Thomas, Minneapolis, Minn.
Nicole Thompson, Riverside, Calif.
April Thornberg, Shakopee, Minn.
Anthony Thorsell, Fountain City, Wis.
Joseph Tobias, Cross Plains, Wis.
Emma Toellner, Bonduel, Wis.
Maciej Tomczak, Luban, Minn.
Abrianna Utgaard, Star Prairie, Wis.
Lillian Vagasky, Red Wing, Minn.
Clarissa Van Dale, New Brighton, Minn.
Cole Van Houten, Pine Island, Minn.
Celeste Van Klein, Lake City, Minn.
Alexis Van Ornum, Lindstrom, Minn.
Collin van Waardenburg, San Pierre, Ind.
Jose Velarde, Tucson, Ariz.
Maxwell Vetch, Aberdeen, S.D.
Akyra Virgous, Romeoville, Ill.
Morgan Von Feldt, Chisago City, Minn.
Caitlin Wallerus, Osseo, Minn.
Linnaea Wallis, Dresser, Wis.
Emily Wallrich, Saint Paul, Minn.
Hailey Warmka, Bricelyn, Minn.
Simon Warmkagathje, Saint Charles, Minn.
Mackenzie Waters, Olathe, Kan.
Madison Weis, South Haven, Minn.
Jackson Wells, Glenview, Ill.
Joseph White, Fountain City, Wis.
Olivia White, Montevideo, Minn.
Ethan Wilcox, Quinnesec, Mich.
Trevor Wilhelm, St. Louis, Mo.
Abigail Williams, Westchester, Ill.
Elijah Williams, Beloit, Wis.
Haley Williams, Littleton, Colo.
Briana Williquett, Roberts, Wis.
Gina Wilson, Anoka, Minn.
Grace Wilson, Portage, Wis.
Michelle Wing, Verona, Wis.
Lawrence Wirries, Moorhead, Minn.
Jacob Wittman, Marshfield, Wis.
Kathryn Wohlberg, Saint Paul, Minn.
Delaney Wolf, Bismarck, N.D.
Caroline Woodle, Knoxville, Iowa
Teresa Wroblewski, Mayer, Minn.
Zhenyu Xing, Saint Paul, Minn.
Gaojoshia Yang-Nicks, La Crosse, Wis.
Daniela Zavala, Loudon, Tenn.
Sophia Zebro, Anoka, Minn.
Jidong Zhang, Xinyi City, China
Tianbo Zhang, Beijing, China
Sarah Zimmermann, Munich, Germany
Quinncy Zupko, Wyoming, Minn.
MCA displays paintings by Minnesota artist Heidi Bacon throughout January
WINONA, Minn. — Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts (MCA) is featuring “The Beauty Around Us,” an exhibit by artist Heidi Bacon, throughout January at the Valéncia Arts Center, 1164 W. Howard St. Community members are invited to the show’s opening reception with the artist on Saturday, Jan. 18, from 12:30 to 2 p.m.
Visitors can enjoy paintings of the Mississippi River, the falls in Mantorville, Minn., a swan family, a coyote pouncing in the snow, and a scene from Frontenac State Park.
Guests can visit at no cost during regular business hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m. to noon.
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support Grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
About the artist
Heidi Bacon has been a freelance artist from an early age. She is self-taught and works with oils, acrylics, watercolor, pen and ink, and clay to create portraits, landscapes, murals, furniture, fiber arts, jewelry, and illustrations. She was featured in the 2014 edition of the Artist’s Catalog and has illustrated for Country Living Magazine. Recent illustrations can also be found in the children’s books My Grandma Makes Lefse and How to Make Grandma Skarstad’s Lefse. Bacon’s work is also on display at the Red Wing Art Association at the train station and at Hobgoblin Music. Recently, Bacon founded The Artist Sanctuary in Red Wing, a nonprofit to help artists. For more information, visit heidibacon.com or email heidibacon1@gmail.com.
About MCA
The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts (MCA), an affiliate program of Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, is a nonprofit community arts school offering programming in dance, music, visual art, and theatre. Classes, lessons, workshops, and camps are offered for students age 3 and older through older adults at the Valéncia Arts Center. For more information about MCA or Galleria Valéncia, visit mca.smumn.edu, email mca@smumn.edu, or call 507-453-5500.
Photo caption: Family of swans painting by Heidi Bacon
There’s no Tour de France for women; it’s time to address the inequity in professional cycling
Since the Passing of Title IX, there have been many improvements in accessibility for girls and women in sports. This trend has not been as strong for some sports, like competitive cycling.
“We know that when we look at numbers for licensed riders in the U.S., 15% are women, and that means 85% of competitive cyclists are men,” said Erin Ayala, Ph.D. “Because races are generally run by private organizations, they don’t fall under the Title IX umbrella. It looks very different. They can say that because only 15% of women are in the field, they think they don’t need to add more races so women can participate. This then creates concerns regarding skill development and safety while racing.”
As a cyclist who races nationally, Dr. Ayala can attest that women cyclists are treated very differently than men.
“I did a large national investigation on the experiences to find out what the factors are that affect participation for women in competitive cycling. A lot of women spoke of importance of creating an encouraging and supportive atmosphere. They’d say, ‘If I have people on sidelines cheering me on, that means the world to me.’
“Another piece was that race promoters and directors sometimes combine women with master’s men, 50-60-year-old men, to help with field sizes, but that can create a toxic environment because women are racing with older men who may not want them to be there. Women are also paired with younger junior cyclists, which can feel condescending and patronizing because it results in shorter or easier races.
“In a lot of races, women race shorter distances or durations than the men, which can feel insulting. There’s no Tour de France for Women. It’s a tough atmosphere. Then there are the podium girls, women in high heels and makeup whose job it is to stand next to the male racers to give them their prizes and a kiss on the cheek. The underlying assumption is those women are there to accessorize the male racers. It speaks to the gender dynamics in those sports.
“Things that decrease participation are unsupportive environments where women feel they do not belong, inequitable fields, and unequal prize pools; sometimes men are paid more money to win the same race as women. We have good hard data to talk about it. We need to do better, and one of biggest themes that came out of it was ‘Build it and we will come. Invest in us, and we will start to show up more often.’ We are hoping to create some change in communities and nationally to make more room for women in a sport that does not have many women.
Are you a journalist covering this topic and looking to book an interview? That’s where we can help.
Dr. Erin Ayala is a licensed psychologist and core faculty member in the counseling psychology doctoral program at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. To book an interview with Dr. Ayala, simply click on her icon to arrange a time.
Read more on Dr. Ayala’s research.
Connect with:
Erin Ayala, Ph.D.
Core Faculty, Doctor of Psychology Program
Expertise: Women’s health and sports psychology
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Self-care a necessity for graduate students; what are programs doing to help?
Life doesn’t stop when you’re in a doctoral program.
Erin Ayala, Ph.D., has done extensive research into self-care, stress, and quality of life of students, particularly those in human service doctoral programs (like medical students and those in nurse anesthesiology, psychology, and counseling).
She knows the recipe for stress and burnout:
- These stressful programs tend to attract high achievers. It’s already in their nature to balance several commitments and responsibilities.
- These programs and professions have a high level of responsibility.
- Students in these programs are frequently at an age where they are also going through significant developmental milestones (marriage, children, purchasing homes).
“When you bring all of that together, it can be really difficult to prioritize time for self-care,” she said. “Prevention and health promotion are really important, and it’s not just about mental health. It’s not just about being reactive and addressing distress or burnout when it hits. The question is what can we do on the front end to help prevent negative consequences down the road.”
What is self-care?
Often, Dr. Ayala said, media romanticizes and glamorizes self-care with advertisements for fizzy bath bombs and manicures.
“What we have found is that it is completely personalized,” Dr. Ayala said. “For women, social support is really important. Ultimately, there needs to be time to disconnect, whether it’s doing nothing, or just taking a break from your dissertation. You’ve got to give yourself permission to do that.
“Nutrition, exercise, hydration, spiritual life, different people have a different recipe for what their self-care looks like. It ebbs and flows just like any exercise or meditation or spiritual practice. Some weeks we’re doing great and other times we’re not, and that’s part of the process.”
Dr. Ayala’s most recent research involves analyzing qualitative data, coming from over 200 students throughout the U.S. in clinical counseling and school psychology, all high achievers in the middle of doctoral programs.
She’s investigating what faculty are doing to model or not model the importance of physical and psychological wellness.
“Students might know that self-care is important, but it can be hard to act on it if they’re in an environment that doesn’t support it,” she said. “The biggest supportive theme that came up was faculty simply encouraging them to do it, asking their students, ‘What did you do this weekend for self-care?’ They take the time to check in with their students and give them permission to take time for themselves. That takes zero effort.”
“What can we do to make sure faculty are also able to model self-care for their students? The behaviors students are picking up now pave the foundation for the rest of their career. If faculty are working themselves to the bone, it sets an expectation for their students that they are supposed to do the same. If faculty model self-care and talk about its importance, students may be more likely to do it themselves.”
Dr. Ayala said when her team asked students what programs can do to support self-care, answers ranged from formal programming and talking about it in the classroom, to referrals for therapists, discounts for gym memberships, or places to meditate on campus — ways to make self-care easier to access.
When students are asked what the biggest barrier to self-care is, the answer wasn’t surprising. The majority of students responded that time was an issue. “That’s a tough one because there’s only so much programs can do to minimize the amount of work required,” Dr. Ayala said. “Students have to balance all these professional responsibilities and don’t know what to give up.”
Are you looking to know more about self-care and other similar topics when it comes to high education? Or, are you a journalist covering this topic and looking to book an interview? That’s where we can help.
Dr. Erin Ayala is a licensed psychologist and core faculty member in the counseling psychology doctoral program at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. To book an interview with Dr. Ayala, simply click on her icon to arrange a time.
Connect with:
Erin Ayala, Ph.D.
Core Faculty, Doctor of Psychology Program
Expertise: Women’s health and sports psychology
View profile
Attend the Doctoral Research Symposium
Each year, Saint Mary’s University hosts the Doctoral Research Symposium bringing together all three doctoral programs to showcase research, facilitate career development, and provide a complete view of doctoral education from start to finish.
This year’s Doctoral Research Symposium will be held Saturday, March 7, 2020. The all-day event features valuable opportunities for faculty, staff, alumni, and students in all stages of their education.
The symposium is shaped by the doctoral community offering various opportunities to present research. Students and alumni are highly encouraged to present their work. Doctoral students, depending on their progression within their program, can present posters of research proposals. Alumni (or students who have completed their proposal, or have an approved research project in process) can host a 45-minute breakout session.
The symposium is a low-pressure, high interaction environment where individuals can present their work to a supportive community of peers. It’s also an ideal opportunity to practice presenting for those who wish to gain more experience, and to provide and receive feedback.
In addition to research presentations, this year’s symposium will feature a keynote address and a panel discussing academic jobs post-doctorate. Dr. Karen Shields Wright – Ignatian spiritual director, wellness expert, patient advocate, chaplain, doctor of chiropractic medicine, and health consultant – will deliver the keynote address. Drs. Schultz and Nowakowski will be among those presenting on the panel.
The day will conclude with dissertation defenses from the Ed.D. and Psy.D. programs. The defenses are open to all and a way for current and prospective students to see the culminating project of their educational experience in action.
Please consider attending this event to learn about doctoral programs, gain new knowledge, engage or reconnect with members of the Saint Mary’s community, and perhaps present original work.
If you’d like to actively participate, please consider volunteering. We’re particularly looking for volunteers to help with set-up the day before the event on March 6. Please contact Kayla Collins (mcollins@smumn.edu) if interested.
We hope you’ll join us for this robust day of research, learning, sharing, and community.
By: McKayla Collins, program coordinator
MCA to hold dance auditions
WINONA, Minn. — Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts (MCA) will hold open auditions for Dance Repertory Company’s 47th annual spring dance concert, “Change in Color.” Auditions for this pre-professional dance company are free and open to all intermediate and advanced dancers ages 13 and up and will be held at the Valéncia Arts Center, 1164 W. Howard St., on Saturday, Jan. 18, at 3 p.m.
This year’s concert will include “With Flying Colors,” a contemporary ballet piece set to Benjamin Britten’s Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra. Other hip-hop, contemporary, and modern pieces will be performed utilizing the work of MCA faculty members Tammy Schmidt, Jessica Dienger, and Raina Racki.
Rehearsal dates will be determined by the schedules of the dancers who are selected. Performances will take place Friday through Sunday, April 17-19, in Saint Mary’s University’s Page Theatre. For more information about the Dance Repertory Company, visit mca.smumn.edu.
About MCA
The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts (MCA), an affiliate program of Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, is a nonprofit community arts school offering programming in dance, music, visual art, and theatre. Classes, lessons, workshops, and camps are offered for students of all ages from birth through older adults at the Valéncia Arts Center. For more information about MCA or Galleria Valéncia, visit mca.smumn.edu, email mca@smumn.edu, or call 507-453-5500.
The Rev. James P. Burns, IVD, Ph.D.
President
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
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