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Campus ConnectionAn update from the president to alumni and parents
May Jazz Jam to honor veterans
With Memorial Day just around the corner, H3O Jazz Trio will match all donations collected at this month’s Island City Jazz Jam on Sunday, May 19, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. The goal is to raise funds to add one or more engraved bricks memorializing vets at the Winona Veterans Memorial Park.
Now in its second year, the Island City Jazz Jam is an open mic night for jazz. Whether you play an instrument or sing, the Jazz Jam is a chance for anyone to sit in with a professional rhythm section. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to perform some of their favorite jazz standards.
Interested jammers can choose from a wide selection of jazz tunes. Players can pick music from Hal Leonard’s Real Books, bring their own, or ask the trio if they can play their favorite. Simply sign up on the clipboard and get ready to jam.
Island City Jazz Jam is the place to be on the third Sunday of each month. The event is free and open to all ages. And if you’re not quite ready to sit in, come and enjoy a great evening of jazz.
Contact the Island City Events Coordinator at events@islandcitybrew.com for more information.
About the H3O Jazz Trio
The father and son jazz trio H3O began performing together when bassist Max Heukeshoven was only 14 years old. Along with older brother Hans on drums and vibes and dad Eric on the piano, the group was asked to play for a private pool party and haven’t stopped since!
A. Eric Heukeshoven is an assistant professor of music and director of Jazz Studies at Saint Mary’s. Hans Heukeshoven is a 2015 graduate of Saint Mary’s with degrees in Music Performance and Computer Science and works as a software engineer. Max Heukeshoven is completing a degree in Music Industry at Saint Mary’s.
H3O Jazz Trio performs a wide variety of jazz styles including original music. They have worked as the rhythm section for numerous area professionals including Minnesota Music Hall of Fame’s Les Fields and Dr. John Paulson. Recent appearances include Midwest Music Fest, Great River Shakespeare Festival, HBC25’s Artwork Winona, Free Family Concert Series, Winona County Historical Society, Minnesota Marine Art Museum, Grace Presbyterian Church, Faith Lutheran Church, and numerous other venues. The trio hosts the monthly Jazz Jam at Island City Brewing Company in Winona on the third Sunday of every month from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
More information about the H3O Jazz Trio can be found at H3OJazz.com.
Photo caption: John Carrier of Winona joins Alfred Wilson of Chicago on “All of Me” at the April Jazz Jam.
Measles is back … and our experts want people to leave the facts about vaccinations to the experts
Last week, America hit a record. Confirmed cases of measles eclipsed 700 cases. The disease that was once considered eradicated is now back and it has public health officials concerned.
Dr. Todd Reinhart is the Dean of Sciences and Health Professions at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, and he has more than two decades of experience in infectious disease research. He’s a strong proponent of vaccinations and weighed in with his thoughts and perspective.
“I’m not shocked,” says Reinhart. “I know there’s been a strong anti-vaccination movement and there’s a lot of misinformation out there.”
He believes social media has been largely responsible for this movement to not vaccinate. The publication of the “Wakefield” paper, which suggested that the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine might be linked to autism — even though retracted — got a lot of attention. However, that research that vaccinations cause autism has been debunked and even most recently there’s a study out of Denmark that covered 5,000,000 person years and there was no association with immunization and developing autism.
Reinhart wants the public to look at the bigger picture and consequences.
“It’s important to protect that child but also the broader society. Vaccines have been the strongest public health success story over the last few centuries. Measles is one of the most highly contagious viruses that we know. The odds of your getting it, if you’re exposed to it and you haven’t been immunized, is 90 percent.
Part of the concern is for infants who aren’t immunized, the elderly because their immune systems are weaker, and those who are immunocompromised.”
But there is also the matter of rights to be considered and that is playing a big part in all of this.
“The problem is that individuals’ rights intersect with medicine, public health practice, and collective rights. If my infant, who couldn’t be immunized, contracts it through a carrier who could have been immunized, who has the higher ground because of rights? The problem is that even with clear data and clear information, people have been allowed the right, for the most part, to make the decisions they want,” Reinhart reiterates.
If you are looking for answers and facts when it comes to vaccinations – it’s best to visit credible sources like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or local public health websites.
If you need to speak with an expert about this topic for your news coverage – let us help.
Dr. Todd Reinhart is Dean of Sciences and Health Professions, Professor, Biology and Health Professions at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. He has a degree in cancer biology from Harvard University’s School of Public Health and is an expert in the areas of infectious diseases. Simply click on his icon to arrange an interview.
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Todd Reinhart, Sc.D.
Dean, School of Sciences and Health Professions, Professor, Biology and Health Professions
Expertise: Infectious diseases and microbiology
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From classroom to career — the business advantage
For John Heim, Dixon Irwin, and Nathan Boice, success can be found in the acronyms. This Saturday, they will walk across the Saint Mary’s University commencement stage to receive their B.A.s, which have prepared them for their future careers with 3M and IBM.
All three are double majors in Business Intelligence and Analytics and Finance who are making it their business to help their future employers with their businesses. All three have a passion for understanding and interpreting data.
“I have always been interested in money, data, and how businesses operate,” Heim, a Lewiston, Minn., native said. “There are so many different elements of business, and you can really take your career in any direction.”
Irwin, who calls Red Wing, Minn., home, said the analytics component of business is what excites him the most. “All the insights that can be discovered using the tools we’ve learned is what has excited me most about my major and business in general,” he said.
Boice, who lives in St. Charles, Minn., hopes his knowledge in business intelligence can help companies thrive. Both he and Heim are headed to IBM to work as financial analysts, while Irwin will work as a frontline intern in business analytics for 3M’s Marketing-Sales Operations division.
And all three say that having a job lined up long before graduation took a huge weight off their shoulders, allowing them to focus on schoolwork and athletics.
Ratajczyk, who teaches Business Intelligence and Analytics courses, isn’t surprised that interest in the major is growing at a rapid pace, largely because of the growing industry need, as well as the versatility of the major.
“We recognize that data is an asset for a business,” he said. “Everyone recognizes they need the data, but it really comes down to how you are going to use it, and that’s where our students succeed.
“They understand finance and accounting and all the applications of how data can be used: marketing, sales, purchasing, and supply chain perspectives,” he added. “We work together to offer solid electives, so that if your interest is in project management, computer science or math, there are opportunities geared to those areas. There are six pillars of data science we use in the program: business acumen, mathematics, computer science, ethics, data command, and communication.”
Another useful part of the program has been the real-world experience built in throughout business courses.
“The entire Business Department at Saint Mary’s prepares you from spectrum to spectrum,” Heim said. “Professor Ratajczyk put us through real-world situations every day, like the freight project and our Celebration of Scholarship presentations. “Both of these required all of us to use everything we have learned to put together quality projects. I loved being held accountable each and every day to be the best possible student I could be.”
Irwin also believes Saint Mary’s prepared him well for his first position, especially because of the communication skills he strengthened in the program. “The real-life projects and presentations have helped me and will continue to help me as I transition into the real world,” he said.
Boice added, “My Business Intelligence classes have given me a lot of experience when it comes to explaining very technical analytics concepts and processes to those who aren’t versed in the area. What I appreciate about the finance program is that it exposes you to the whole spectrum of the finance industry and doesn’t just pigeonhole you in one area. I appreciate that the Business Department makes things challenging and forces you to think critically and especially strategically. I believe that I have an advantage over my colleagues from other universities.”
Ratajczyk said he begins preparing his students for the real world on Day 1. “It’s about using real data sets, not end-of-the-chapter problems, but using messy data that isn’t clear, a taste of what they’ll be looking at in the real world. I hold nothing back. That can be one of the most frustrating experiences for students but also the most beneficial when they graduate and enter the workforce.
“Graduates of our program can communicate,” he added. “They can humanize the data and the project. Our students have tenacity. If there’s a problem, they go and solve it or find the resources to solve it. Anybody can teach you to push buttons, but when you don’t know why you didn’t meet the objective and can’t explain it, that’s where our students beat the competition.”
Photo caption: Graduates John Heim, Nathan Boice, and Dixon Irwin.
Fun is Good Seminar: Have fun in the workplace
First Generation Initiatives scholar, Jakira Robinson, had a wonderful opportunity to gain last minute knowledge at the Fun is Good seminar before she takes a leap into the real world. Robinson is a current senior studying Public Relations and Leadership at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.
Saint Mary’s partnered with Maverick marketing whiz, Mike Veeck, to make this opportunity possible. The Fun is Good seminar provides students and business professionals the opportunity to gain insight on how to create a fun work environment. The seminar provides keynote speakers, training sessions, and seminars around the topic of how to create more joy and passion in the workplace.
Students and professionals had the opportunity to network with marketing whiz, Mike Veeck and a host of other professionals who support the company’s mission.
According to Robinson, “The seminar was absolutely amazing. I think more professionals and students should attend this seminar because it explains that it is ok to enjoy the work you’re doing. It is ok to have fun in a professional setting.”
Fun is Good was designed to prove that employees can have fun when they are allowed to work within their personal strengths and passions. Companies do better when their employees enjoy their work.
The phrase “Fun is Good” was created by philosopher, Dr. Seuss. The company hopes to reach out to more students and professionals to create more enjoyable workplaces across the nation.
By:Jakira Robinson
Second annual Women of Color Summit
Eleven Saint Mary’s scholars attended the second annual Women of Color Summit: Empowering Together at Gustavus Adolphus College on April 13. The Women of Color Summit is similar to the annual Kente Summit for Collegiate Black Men — both offer an environment to build community. It is designed to help women of color, trans feminine people of color, and indigenous women find affinity with one another, help them embrace their intersecting identities, and offer an environment for them to discuss current issues of race on their campuses and nationwide. In addition to Saint Mary’s, there were students from Mankato State University, Century College, and more.
One of our very own First Generation scholars, Destiny Walker, expressed that “At a PWI (Predominantly White Institution), I often feel like there are very few that I can share my experiences with and that I am constantly being overshadowed. At the Women of Color Summit, I felt like I fit in. I’m not alone.” The summit gives women the opportunity to strengthen their unity on a college campus.
DeLaura Jordan, a junior biochemistry and Spanish major, attended the event. She said, “My greatest takeaway from the WOC Summit was an improved self-image. I feel at home in a room of strangers knowing that wherever we are from, we share similar experiences: both positive and negative. I learned that I am fully supported and loved by people who have never even met me. I know now that I’m not alone.”
Jordan is vice president of the Black Students and Allies club and encourages others to attend the summit. “You have the power to make your voice heard and empower other people that are struggling just like you are. Don’t miss this blessing.”
Walker would like to tell others “That they don’t have to worry. I am very introverted and I was extremely anxious, but it turned out to be amazing. I met so many wonderful people and shared so many great experiences.”
All of the participants look forward to attending the 3rd annual summit in 2020.
By: Jakira Robinson
Cokie Roberts inspires action at 2019 Hendrickson Forum
At this year’s Saint Mary’s University Hendrickson Forum, held April 16 during Holy Week, keynote speaker Cokie Roberts appropriately recognized the Blessed Mother for her strength.
A sold out crowd of nearly 300 attended Roberts’ presentation at the annual forum on Saint Mary’s Twin Cities Campus, during which Brad Hewitt, retired CEO of Thrivent Financial, also received the 2019 Hendrickson Medal for Ethical Leadership.
In her keynote, “Weaving the Social Safety Net at Home and Around the World,” Roberts, a New York Times best-selling author and renowned journalist and political commentator, explained that “There has been a strong social responsibility fabric running throughout history, primarily exercised by women.”
“That’s what the women in the foundation of our country did,” she added. “They looked around them. They saw what was happening. They saw the needs and strove to fill them.”
As Roberts has written six New York Times best-sellers, most dealing with the roles of women in U.S. history, she ought to know. “I came to write these books because histories that leave out half of the human race aren’t accurate,” she said.
One lifelong inspiration for Roberts was her mother who served 18 years in Congress before retiring and serving as ambassador to the Vatican. “She was an enormous influence in my life and remarkable human being in so many ways,” Roberts said, listing another major influence, the nuns from the Society of the Sacred Heart. “They took girls seriously in the 1950s. That was radical,” Roberts said. “They raised us to be anything we wanted to be.”
In the continuum of religious women doing what needed to be done, Roberts mentioned the Ursulines who came to her home town of New Orleans in 1727 to open hospitals for the colonists but looked around at other needs and soon established schools for Native Americans and African Americans.
In 1810, Elizabeth Ann Seton, started what became the highly successful parochial school system in this country — a feat that often gets her one short sentence in history books.
She detailed Sister Francis Xavier Cabrini, Sister Katharine Drexel and others, women canonized for being ahead of their time “to bring those on margins into the mainstream and not take no for an answer.”
And, in examining Minnesota history, she credited the woman who founded Mayo Clinic.
The celebrated hospital, she argued, would not exist were it not for Sister Mary Alfred Moes. “I know of course all about the Mayo Brothers and their remarkable father, but had it not been for a pushy nun, who wouldn’t take no for an answer, Saint Mary’s hospital wouldn’t have been built and Mayo Clinic wouldn’t exist,” Roberts said. Sister Mary Alfred Moes refused to accept that Rochester was too small a town to support a hospital and she raised the money herself.
Cokie Roberts delivers keynote address.
But, Roberts said, strong women aren’t just Catholic religious women. She detailed the stories of Isabella Graham, Elizabeth Hamilton, and Martha Ripley, to name a few.
Amidst all of these notable women who worked, despite tremendous hardship, adversity, and often ridicule, for the betterment of society, Roberts singled out a male: Saint John Baptist de La Salle, the founder of the Brothers of the Christian Schools — of which Saint Mary’s is affiliated.
“He was a man definitely before either his time, or perhaps more accurately, a man who recognized the sign of the time,” Roberts said. “His remarkable vision about education for the poor, for delinquents, is still so incredibly relevant today … everything I’ve learned about Saint Mary’s underlines that.
“It’s clear that the Lasallian principles are still the guiding force behind this very important institution,” she furthered. “Faith and the presence of God, quality education, and respect for all persons, inclusive community, and concern for the poor and social justice. Those principles need influence in our country today.”
Roberts shared insights into other innovative humanitarian efforts and programs in both the private sector and U.S. government.
An active volunteer and advocate for Save the Children, she detailed her work with this organization, which provides relief to children in times of distress. “War is still stunting the lives of children,” she said, providing the estimation that in 2018, 60.5 million people displaced from their homes by war, half of them under age of 18. She said that one person in this world is displaced every 2 seconds.
She said there are many programs which are making great strides to help global issues. She detailed the PEPFAR program, started by George W. Bush that is the biggest program for global health, providing anti-viral medications to 14.6 million people.
Circling back to education, Roberts said it is the best way to break the cycle of poverty. “It changes not only their lives but it changes the life of a country and we have lot of data to support that,” she said. “That remarkably is what Saint John Baptist de La Salle recognized 300 years ago and is still true today. I am constantly blown away by kids’ ability and desire to learn, even in extremely difficult conditions. We must try as hard as possible to provide education.”
Roberts encouraged attendees to do what they can do, just like the women throughout history. “To say that it’s too big a problem is just a copout,” she said. “I hope the young people coming out of this great institution, no matter what their expertise, emerge awakened, nurtured, and empowered to lead ethical lives of service and leadership.”
Following Cokie’s remarks, Mary Lahammar, anchor, reporter and producer of Almanac, joined her on stage to moderate the question-and-answer portion of the program before Roberts met with 20 students for a private and inspiring Q&A.
Hendrickson Medal recipient Brad Hewitt
Brad Hewitt (center) receives the 2019 Hendrickson Medal for Ethical Leadership.
Also during the forum, Saint Mary’s honored Brad Hewitt, retired CEO of Thrivent Financial, with the 2019 Hendrickson Medal for Ethical Leadership.
Hewitt joined Thrivent Financial in 2003, was named COO in 2008 and CEO in 2010 and retired in 2018. In retirement, Hewitt has found numerous ways to give back to his community. He currently serves as vice chair of the board for Habitat for Humanity International and volunteers as chair of the Itasca Project, an employer-led, cross-sector collaborative group that works to improve the quality of life for all in the Twin Cities. Hewitt also gives his time to Christian nonprofit UpWorks, volunteering as a Life Advocate and helping men who are coming out of addiction or prison get back into society using their God-given talents.
“The logic most important in my life and the one that I’ve seen truly inspire and transform is the ethic as modeled by people like Gandhi and Rev. Martin Luther King and Mother Teresa and Nelson Mandela, the example of love expressed in sacrifice,” he said. “It’s such a clear connection to the greatest example of love expressed in sacrifice in Jesus.
“At Thrivent we help people express their faith through wise stewardship and generosity. This ethic was part of our culture way before I started,” he added. “I only helped spur it on.
“This ethic produces the most important cultural attributes as a leader: generosity, gratitude, growth and above all grace.”
Recipients of the Hendrickson Medal for Ethical Leadership have made significant contributions to the Twin Cities community and exhibit ethical leadership that is globally oriented and innovative or creative; citizenship that significantly improves the lives of others’ appreciation for diverse ideas and perspectives; and a commitment to inspiring emerging leaders. Past medal recipients include Rhoda Olsen of Great Clips, Inge Thulin of 3M, Mary Brainerd of HealthPartners, and more.
“Cokie Roberts and Brad Hewitt inspired all of us to want to do more, to leave this world a better place than we found it,” said Audrey Kintzi, vice president for Advancement and Communication at Saint Mary’s who heads the forum. “I can’t imagine better role models for our students than two individuals who have accomplished so many things in their professional lives, but have also made helping others a priority. With this very successful event now over, we begin to plan next year’s event as we continue to address important issues and topics that focus on ethics.”
See more photos at smumn.edu/photos.
Cokie Roberts poses with Saint Mary’s students.
Photos from Celebration of Scholarship
Our annual Celebration of Scholarship was held last Friday. The campuswide celebration highlighted the achievements and accomplishments of about 170 of our talented students. Congratulations to our students on all their hard work. Find more photos at smumn.edu/photos.
Photos from Employee Service Awards
Congrats to all our retirees! Tony Piscitiello (Advancement and Communication), Nancy Wiltgen (Advancement and Communication), Ruth Mathews (Wellness Center), John Schollmeier (Maintenance), Sally Dotterwick (Campus Safety and switchboard), Diane Rinn (Mailroom), Clarence Hemmelman (Maintenance), and Brother Stephen Rusyn (English professor). See photos at smumn.edu/photos.
Seniors participate in 6th annual Minnesota Undergraduate History Symposium
On April 27, five Saint Mary’s seniors participated in the 6th annual Minnesota Undergraduate History Symposium at Bethel University in St. Paul, Minn. Sam Price (History), Robbie Sobczak (Social Studies Education), Bailey Melz (Spanish and History), Sam Hyberger (Social Studies Education), and Brady Weber (Social Studies Education) were among 46 students from 12 regional colleges and universities who presented their research projects on a broad variety of topics and attended a keynote address/live podcast on the future of public history.
The Rev. James P. Burns, IVD, Ph.D.
President
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
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