Saint Mary's Newsroom

As most of you know, yesterday was my first official day as president of Saint Mary’s University. It was a very active day divided between both our Twin Cities and Winona campuses, but I greatly enjoyed meeting so many of you, my valued colleagues. I’m extremely grateful for the warm welcome you have shown me. I am looking forward to better understanding the needs, goals, culture, and charism of Saint Mary’s. I am also deeply humbled to continue the great momentum that is already happening at our university. I know that working here — with such dedicated faculty and staff — will be a great gift, as will the opportunity to enrich the lives of those we serve. Thank you for all your prayers and good wishes during this time of transition. I look forward to hearing your thoughts and ideas as we move forward together.

Faculty and staff are participating in education and formation opportunities this summer to deepen their understanding of the university’s mission and Lasallian charism.

From June 24–July 7 at Manhattan College in Riverdale, N.Y., 11 Saint Mary’s faculty and staff attended the Buttimer Institute of Lasallian Studies, a three-year residential course of study that meets for two weeks each summer. This intensive formation and education program studies the life, work, and spirituality of Saint John Baptist de La Salle and the origins of the Lasallian educational mission. Participants included Molly Bigelow, Rochester Center – enrollment counselor; Colleen Dunne, director of Campus Ministry; Crystal Carlson, assistant professor, Psychology; Dave Miliotis, director of Human Resources; Brother Guillaume Yame, student, M.A. in Teaching and M.A. in Lasallian Leadership; Cheryl Cox, Apple Valley Center – coordinator and transfer counselor; Susan Jarosak, assistant dean, Public Health; Michael Ostman, director of Student Activities; Cindy Kronebusch, GSOE – assistant program director, M.A. in Literacy; Audrey Kintzi, vice president, Development and Alumni Relations; and Shannon Cisewski associate director and assistant professor – Ed.D. in Leadership. Brother William Mann, president emeritus, was a Buttimer instructor, and Brother Francis Carr, director for mission at Saint Mary’s Press, was the Buttimer program director.  

From July 9–13 at Lewis University in Romeoville, Ill., two Saint Mary’s faculty and staff are participating in the Brother John Johnston Institute of Contemporary Lasallian Practice, a formation program that focuses on our heritage in light of contemporary realities. The two-year regional formation program deepens participants’ understanding of De La Salle’s story and vision, Lasallian pedagogy, the Lasallian promotion of justice, and Lasallian spirituality while utilizing contemporary texts to inform and influence current and future Lasallian practice. The institute is named for Brother John Johnston, a Saint Mary’s undergraduate and graduate alumnus and former Superior General of the De La Salle Christian Brothers. Attending from Saint Mary’s are Megan Sadowski, director of donor relations, Development and Alumni Relations, and Christopher Jordan, assistant professor, Chemistry.

We’ve seen great progress in our Priority 1 – Advance online learning and growth efforts this year and are happy to announce many new partners who we’ve recently added or renewed under Saint Mary’s Corporate Partnership Program:

• U.S. Bank (renewed in 2018)
• City of Minneapolis (renewed in 2018)
• HealthPartners (added March 8)
• Allina Health (added April 11)
• Noridian Healthcare Solutions (added April 25)
• Marshfield Clinic (added May 22)
• Best Buy (added June 1)
• C.H. Robinson Worldwide (added June 1)
• Cigna (renewed June 14)
• UnitedHealth Group (added June 21)
• Delta Air Lines (added July 9)
• Nystrom & Associates, Ltd. (added July 9)

Under the partnership agreements, employees at these organizations will get a 10 percent tuition discount and a waived application fee. In exchange, these organizations encourage their employees to advance their careers by continuing their education with Saint Mary’s, and we have a presence at their educational fairs/expo events to promote our programs. This ongoing work is supported by our partnership with Wiley Education Services and led by Kyle Goodwin, our new collegiate partnership manager. Priority 1 work will continue in an effort to deepen relationships, help drive enrollment, and identify other partnership opportunities.

As part of our Lasallian Catholic heritage and identity, the university is committed to making higher education accessible. Now in its ninth year, the Countdown to College (C2C) program on the Winona Campus is a testament to that commitment. C2C will begin its summer session this week that will provide promising students from Catholic, Lasallian, and Jesuit partner schools in under-resourced communities with the skills they need to be successful. C2C provides high school students with four consecutive summers of intensive two-week academic and social preparation for college. Students sharpen academic skills, learn what it’s like to be a college student, live in residence halls, eat in the cafeteria, schedule their homework, and more. Out-of-class activities also introduce students to many campus and area resources.

A program of our First Generation Initiative (FGI) and funded by multiple benefactors, C2C has demonstrated success: 103 students have completed the C2C program; 100 percent have graduated from high school; 80 percent are enrolled in college; and 43 have become FGI Scholars at Saint Mary’s, while many others have received full scholarships to other universities. And this year, the very first group of C2C students graduated from Saint Mary’s as FGI Scholars.

Saint Mary’s faculty, staff, students, and alumni work alongside faculty from Christian Brothers University and teachers from our partner schools. The C2C session will run July 7-20 with 76 students entering grades nine through 12. On their final day, the rising seniors will present research projects followed by a ceremony for this sixth graduating class and their families.

The Study Abroad Office collaborated with the Business and English departments to facilitate two short-term study abroad trips in May, helping prepare students to be global citizens and immersing them in dynamic and transformational learning experiences.

As part of BU460: Business and Culture in Europe, 18 students traveled to Austria, Czech Republic, and Germany with Lawrence Price, associate professor of Business, and Andrew Scott, assistant professor of Business. Students developed their knowledge of international business concepts and culture through traditional classroom studies and a 17-day tour to various European sites. Tour highlights included visits to the U.S. Embassy in Prague, Czech Republic; the BMW plant in Munich, Germany; the Watlow plant in Kuchl, Austria; and the Fastenal plant near Brno, Czech Republic.

As part of E360: Literature on Location, 13 students traveled to England with Dr. John Kerr, associate professor of English, and Dr. Carolyn Ayers, professor of English. Students explored English culture and history through an examination of literature and a subsequent 18-day literary tour of England focusing on sites related to course readings. During their travels, students stayed at St. Cassian’s Centre, a Lasallian retreat facility on beautiful grounds near Kintbury, England. Visit highlights included trips to Shakespeare’s home and Anne Hathaway’s cottage and attending a Royal Shakespeare Theatre production in Stratford-upon-Avon, England.

On June 28, several Saint Mary’s representatives attended the annual program celebration for the Eddie Phillips Scholarship, a dinner hosted by the Minnesota Private College Council. Saint Mary’s students Desmond Steward, Bradley Hill, and Stanley Wright are currently participating in the Eddie Phillips Scholarship program.

Created and coordinated by the Minnesota Private College Fund, the Eddie Phillips Scholarship for African-American Men is funded by The Jay & Rose Phillips Family Foundation of Minnesota. Students are named in the spring of their sophomore year and participate in their junior and senior years. Program participants receive significant scholarships along with valuable experiences, including advising, mentoring, and leadership development opportunities. They participate in internships, attend a national conference, and network with local African-American leaders. Saint Mary’s is proud of the work these young men have done in the program.

WINONA, Minn. — The following students received bachelor of arts degrees in May 2018 from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota in Winona.

Molly Abraham, Sterling Heights, Mich.

Kali Aldrich, Rochester, Minn.

Kate Alley, Rapid City, S.D.

Michael Amelio, Venetia, Pa.

Brenden Amiotte, Rapid City, S.D.

Oscar Aragon-Aguilar, Minneapolis, Minn.

William Arvinius, Stockholm, Sweden

Elizabeth Atneosen, Woodbury, Minn.

Besufekad Azage, Adis Abeba, Ethiopia

Paula Avila, Weslaco, Texas

Brian Bansley, Chicago, Ill.

Jacob Barry, Tinley Park, Ill.

Sheyenne Bauer, Cannon Falls, Minn.

Andrew Becker, Littleton, Colo.

Alicia Berkenes, Buffalo, Minn.

Carter Bernier, Downers Grove, Ill.

Regina Bettag, Sheboygan, Wis.

Liam Bickerstaff, Rollingstone, Minn.

Brittney Birkhauser, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.

Owen Blakely, Elmhurst, Ill.

Allison Borawski, Stickney, Ill.

Ronald Brown, Broadview, Ill.

Ryan Buchmeier, St. Paul, Minn.

Sean Butcher, Cave Creek, Ariz.

Maximillian Bzdula, Elmwood Park, Ill.

Chad Cagle, Washington, Ill.

Darren John Cajipo, Chalan Kanoa, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands

Meagan Campbell, Mayer, Minn.

Karel Capek, Berwyn, Ill.

Marissa Carlyle, Scottsdale, Ariz.

Oscar Castro, Tucson, Ariz.

Caren Cazares, Milwaukee, Wis.

Chad Cesarz, Jackson, Mich.

Kathleen Chamberland, Roseville, Minn.

Wanzhi Chen, Xi’an, China

Michael Cimba, Chicago, Ill.

Kathryn Clark, Pleasant Prairie, Wis.

McKayla Collins, Cottage Grove, Minn.

Haley Colton, Spring Valley, Minn.

Emily Composto, Eden Prairie, Minn.

Hannah Croonquist, Saint Paul, Minn.

James Cullen, Western Springs, Ill.

Alexis Cummins, Chicago, Ill.

Jessica Cwik, Chicago, Ill.

Aaron Davis, Mound, Minn.

Drew DePalma, Armada, Mich.

Drew Derouin, Rochester, Minn.

Sara Dethloff, Rolling Meadows, Ill.

Omar Diongue, New York, N.Y.

Michael Doheny, Round Lake, Ill.

John Donovan, Chicago, Ill.

Bria Eder-Zdechlik, Stillwater, Minn.

Sarah Egbert, Colorado Springs, Colo.

Madaline Eichers, Independence, Minn.

Adam Estrada, Belvidere, Ill.

Landon Farrell, Rochester, Minn.

Jared Ferk, Winona, Minn.

Tyler Fiebig, Baraboo, Wis.

Stephen Fishbune, Rochester, Minn.

Jose Flores-Ugalde, Madison, Wis.

Rowan Flynn, Wausau, Wis.

Carina Friend, Colorado Springs, Colo.

Kathryn Frye, Minneapolis, Minn.

Shannon Genereau, Cromwell, Minn.

Brett Giesen, Cato, Wis.

Shawn Gilbert, Rice Lake, Wis.

Griffin Giles, Arlington, Texas

Lupita Gonzalez, Chicago, Ill.

Yisset Gonzalez, Sunnyvale, Calif.

Conor Gorman, Orland Park, Ill.

Liam Gorman, Orland Park, Ill.

Courtney Govan, San Diego, Calif.

Alexander Gowan-Nuehring, Rochester, Minn.

Anthony Grazian, Elmwood Park, Ill.

Cecilia Greenheck, Wabasha, Minn.

William Grillo, Hermantown, Minn.

Garrett Grunke, Verona, Wis.

Daniel Hammer, Baxter, Minn.

Brittney Hanson, Janesville, Iowa

Tabitha Hanson, Grand Rapids, Minn.

Sarah Hanus, Wittenberg, Wis.

Kassidy Hauschild, Hayfield, Minn.

Zachary Hefel, Winona, Minn.

Jeremy Heinle, York, Pa.

Jamie Henderson, Madison, Wis.

Jordan Hill, Rosemount, Minn.

Chelsea Hiltner, Coon Rapids, Minn.

Ryan Hippman, Bolingbrook, Ill.

Alexander Holm, Red Wing, Minn.

Spencer Holtorf, Austin, Minn.

Kathryn Homan, Mankato, Minn.

Grace Homer, Litchfield, Minn.

Molly Homeyer, Arlington, Texas

Alexa Huisman, Adrian, Minn.

Samantha Janssen, Zimmerman, Minn.

Mukamurakoze Jerardine, Sioux Falls, S.D.

Alyssa Johnson, McKinney, Texas

Jared Johnson, Hartland, Wis.

Victoria Johnston, Shakopee, Minn.

Kale Johnstone, Lombard, Ill.

Rosy Kanyamaw, Austin, Minn.

Jake Kelcher, Hudson, Wis.

Ruba Kenyi, Rochester, Minn.

Jordyn Keprios, Farmington, Minn.

Abigail Killian, Fountain City, Wis.

Robert Kinyon, Rapid City, S.D.

Brian Klein, Wells, Minn.

Alexander Kleve, Roseville, Minn.

Joseph Kleve, Roseville, Minn.

Kaitlin Kling, Le Roy, Minn.

Alexander Kocher, Champlin, Minn.

Joshua Koenigs, Wauwatosa, Wis.

Ciara Kowalczyk, Royalton, Minn.

Brandon Krogman, Owatonna, Minn.

Cole Kruger, Hayfield, Minn.

Cecelia Kuka, Delano, Minn.

Christopher Lackey, Union Grove, Wis.

Abby Lafko, Gilbert, Ariz.

Emily Lais, Osseo, Minn.

Isaac Landsteiner, Fairmont, Minn.

Jenna Lange, Rollingstone, Minn.

Ramontica Langfeldt, Faribault, Minn.

Summer Lardy, Richmond, Minn.

Zachary Lee, Bloomington, Minn.

Binglin Li, Shanghai, China

Sara Lind, Peterson, Minn.

Daniel Lodwich, Chicago, Ill.

Tara Longseth, Cloquet, Minn.

Emily Loof, Colorado Springs, Colo.

Xiao Lyu, Xi’an, China

Victoria Madigan, Sioux Falls, S.D.

Javier Madrid, Tucson, Ariz.

Marisol Martinez, Racine, Wis.

Victor Martinez, Chicago, Ill.

Innocenzo Martino, Elmwood Park, Ill.

Danielle Mascorro, Oak Lawn, Ill.

Nathan Mathwig, Woodbury, Minn.

Kalleigh May, Hugo, Minn.

Bailey McKnight, Pewaukee, Wis.

Jacob Mencacci, Terrell, Texas

Angela Messer, Saint Paul, Minn.

Kody Michaels, Stoddard, Wis.

Danielle Miller, Tinley Park, Ill.

Mark Miller, Roseau, Minn.

Maria Missurelli, Franklin, Wis.

Brian Mockler, Dubuque, Iowa

Stevie Moman, Inver Grove Heights, Minn.

John Morales, Torrance, Calif.

Maria Antonieta Morales-Lozano, Tucson, Ariz.

Conner Morgan, Zimmerman, Minn.

Natalie Mrozek, Albany, Minn.

Geraldina Mulville, Peoria, Ill.

Sarah Munns, White Bear Lake, Minn.

Joseph Musco, Chicago, Ill.

Tara Nagy, Oak Lawn, Ill.

Cody Nelson, Wells, Minn.

David Nelson, Colorado Springs, Colo.

Nicholas Nelson, Lakeville, Minn.

Vianney Nguyen, Rochester, Minn.

Connor Nicholas, Las Vegas, Nev.

Taylor Novak, West Salem, Wis.

Alex Nuy, Eagle Lake, Minn.

Celeste Nygren, Seattle, Wash.

Michael O’Brien-Britton, Chicago, Ill.

Kirby O’Connor, Preston, Minn.

Austin O’Hare, Rushford, Minn.

Daniel Olajonlu, Rogers, Minn.

John Olsen, St James, Minn.

Olivia Osterbauer, Minneapolis, Minn.

Benjamin Owen, Allen, Texas

Molly Palecek, Chippewa Falls, Wis.

Monikaben Patel, Lacrosse, Wis.

Gordon Paulman, De Forest, Wis.

Benjamin Peters, Kasson, Minn.

Doyle Peterson, Villa Park, Ill.

Jenna Phelps, South Saint Paul, Minn.

Hanna Potter, Winona, Minn.

Rachel Prince, Chippewa Falls, Wis.

Kaleb Quast, Garrison, Minn.

Luke Range, Houston, Minn.

Hunter Rau, Plainview, Minn.

Elizabeth Rayne, Paola, Kan.

Alina Reding, Stillwater, Minn.

Nicholas Reding, St. Paul, Minn.

Gabrielle Reinartz, Rosemount, Minn.

Brandon Retzlaff, Elroy, Wis.

Ian Robertson, Winona, Minn.

Sofia Rowan-Martin, Saint Paul, Minn.

Christian Ruf, Chippewa Falls, Wis.

Anna Rustman, St. Peter, Minn.

John Sabella, Elmwood Park, Ill.

Mandy Sailor, Ramsey, Minn.

Robert Scanlon, Plainview, Minn.

Analiese Schadler, Ankeny, Iowa

Gabrielle Schauer, Champlin, Minn.

Stephanie Schmidt, Plainview, Minn.

Joseph Seegers, Oconomowoc, Wis.

Diana Servin, Chicago, Ill.

Mitchell Shuster, St. Cloud, Minn.

Sarah Sieracki, Schererville, Ind.

Zachary Slowiak, Chippewa Falls, Wis.

Quashingm Smith-Pugh, Saint Paul, Minn.

Jack Strusz, Red Wing, Minn.

Ashley Syed, Lewisville, Texas

Clarice Tack, Saint Charles, Ill.

Melic Thomas, St. Peter, Minn.

Tiarra Thompson, Jonesboro, Ga.

Tyler Tuneberg, Woodbury, Minn.

Nicholas Turner, Villa Rica, Ga.

Nathaniel Vandegrift, Lakeville, Minn.

Christopher Virruso, Chicago, Ill.

Kelvin Walz, Woodbury, Minn.

Kellen Wasell, Edmonds, Wash.

Michelle Wegrzyn, Chicago Heights, Ill.

Abram Whitebird, White Bear Lake, Minn.

Zachary Wiechman, Freeport, Minn.

Chris Wilhite, Colorado Springs, Colo.

Bailey Windsperger, Delano, Minn.

Heven Woledi, Oakdale, Minn.

Paige Wolniakowski, Winona, Minn.

Jared Wolt, Farmington, Minn.

Adam Worm, Cologne, Minn.

Ying Xing, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China

Cuauhtemoc Zarate, Milwaukee, Wis.

Katherine Zinke, Saint Paul, Minn.

Alexander Zuzek, Hastings, Minn.