Saint Mary's Newsroom
Campus ConnectionAn update from the president to alumni and parents
Kotz presents at Marketing Management Association Conference
Paul Kotz, Ph.D., a core professor in the Ed.D. in Leadership at Saint Mary’s, presented at the Marketing Management Association Conference in San Antonio last month.
Paul Kotz, Ph.D., core professor in the Ed.D. in Leadership program
Kotz presented his recent research “Reflection on the Pandemic and COVID-19: Phenomenological Study of MBA Students and Their Experience.”
As noted in the title, the research focused on the experience of remote MBA students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Kotz’s hope is that the study can be used to make recommendations for MBA and other business-related programs to meet the needs of future online, blended, and remote students.
Kotz says, “The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is undeniable. The sociocultural changes are so profound that the virus created a ‘new normal.’ This paper underscores this and its impact on graduate students. It is not an attempt to profoundly change our structures of education delivery, but to understand what students value and where they are headed in future offerings for MBA students.”
Along with presenting at the Marketing Management Association Conference, the research was accepted for publication in the journal Proceedings.
Alumna leads Interpreter Services for Allina Health
When Ifrah Mohamed B’16 moved to the United States from Somalia 14 years ago, she barely knew English. Any time she went to the doctor, she needed help from an interpreter. Today, Mohamed is the manager of Language Services for Allina Health, where she coordinates interpreter services for thousands of patients who are in the same situation she was in back in 2008.
“As you can hear, I have an accent. I used to get interpreters and rely on that to communicate with my providers, because I couldn’t speak English,” said Mohamed, who graduated from Saint Mary’s Healthcare and Human Services Management program (now called B.S. Healthcare Management.) “It’s challenging [for patients]. It sometimes feels like you cannot hear or you’re confused. That’s why I understand if a patient does speak, they’re going to speak their language and they can ask all the questions through the interpreter. We teach our interpreters to act invisible with the provider and the patient, because we want the providers to talk directly to the patient. It’s not like they are talking about the patient to the interpreter.”
Mohamed oversees a team of 50+ employees at Allina Health which coordinates services from 40 certified interpreters. They offer seven languages: American Sign Language, Arabic, Hmong, Russian, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese. The interpreters work remotely in many cases, offering phone or video services, and they also offer in-person interpreters at the 12 hospitals and more than 90 clinics in the Allina Health system, which serves Minnesota and western Wisconsin.
Access to these interpreter services is “an American right,” Mohamed said. “Every patient has the right to have an interpreter available; it is their civil right.”
Plus, clear communication between patients and providers leads to better treatment and outcomes. “We cannot deliver care if we don’t understand or communicate better,” she said.
Mohamed had an associate’s degree and knew she wanted to work in health care, but not in a clinical role, when she found Saint Mary’s Healthcare and Human Services Management program. The program is tailored for students who already have credits and need to complete their bachelor’s degree. For Mohamed, the evening classes were convenient for her schedule, since she worked full time at a childcare center during the day.
“After I finished my two-year degree, I knew that I wanted to be in health care, but I didn’t want to be a nurse or a doctor. I wanted to be in leadership. I thought, ‘How can I help people?’” she said. “I searched a lot of schools, and Saint Mary’s was the best choice because of the timing it offers.”
Susan Jarosak, the interim dean in the School of Health and Human Services, encouraged Mohamed to apply and attend Saint Mary’s and then became a mentor to her while she was a student. Mohamed recalls frequently stopping by Jarosak’s office with questions and guidance. “So I didn’t have anyone who can help with the process of attending a university,” Mohamed said. “Susan never said, ‘I don’t have time.’ She was my mentor, and she is still somebody I always have on my mind. To this day, I recommend anyone seeking or furthering their educational endeavors to talk to Susan Jarosak at Saint Mary’s.
“I’m the first family member who ever went to college in my family. And the reason I was working and studying full time is because I wanted to bridge the language barrier and strengthen our community’s access to better health care services,” she added. Mohamed said that the management skills she learned at Saint Mary’s help her as she creates the budget and staffing plans for her department.
“How many positions do you need? What is missing? I have to assess that, and also the budget. What do we need for the year?” she said. “Do we need to add employees or offer more languages? Saint Mary’s empowered and prepared me to become the manager I am today.
“Nelson Mandela said, ‘When you speak to a man in his language … the message goes to his heart,’ and one of the barriers Allina Health is bridging is languages, so it can better serve our communities and beyond boundaries.”
By Maura Sullivan Hill
With help of students, Saint Mary’s GeoSpatial Services submits testimony used in Supreme Court case
WINONA, Minn. — With years of expertise in geographic information systems and natural resource management, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota’s GeoSpatial Services was tasked with compiling data that was used as testimony in a legal case that went before the Supreme Court in early October.
The case, Sackett vs. the EPA, focuses on a portion of the Clean Water Act that defines “waters of the United States,” and whether wetlands apply to that definition.
For the testimony that was submitted to the court, GeoSpatial Services engaged in modeling work that demonstrated what it would mean for wetland environments if the definition of “waters of the United States” were to be modified. According to Andy Robertson, director of GeoSpatial Services, the testimony is a culmination of five years of work mapping and modeling wetlands across the country.
“No other organization nationwide has access to data like this,” Robertson said.
Because GeoSpatial Services hires undergraduate and graduate students, many Saint Mary’s students were involved over the years collecting this data. Students were also involved in quickly compiling data after GeoSpatial Services was approached to assist in the case, which Robertson says was a quick turnaround.
“It is incredibly rewarding to see the efforts of our students and professional staff contributing to national policy,” Robertson said. “This is a critical case before the Supreme Court and has the potential for nationwide impacts on clean water management.”
While the exact timing is not known, a decision on the case is expected during the court’s current session.
Saint Mary’s honors former presidents, Brother Louis DeThomasis and Brother William Mann with Heritage Award for Transformational Philanthropy
WINONA, Minn. — On a night dedicated to recognizing the generosity of benefactors and supporters of Saint Mary’s University, Brother Louis DeThomasis, FSC, Ph.D., and Brother William Mann, FSC, D.Min., both former university presidents, received the Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota Heritage Award for Transformational Philanthropy.
The Heritage Award, given annually at the university’s Benefactor Recognition Dinner, held this year on Oct.14, recognizes special individuals whose exceptional philanthropy has significantly transformed the university and positioned Saint Mary’s for the second century of excellence in education.
Brother Louis served as president of Saint Mary’s from 1984 to 2005 and chancellor from 2006-2011. Brother Louis DeThomas guided Saint Mary’s through an exciting period of change and growth in enrollment and programming. The college became a university, with successful new graduate and special programs at the Twin Cities and Winona campuses and Rochester Center, as well as classes in Apple Valley and more than 50 off-campus sites throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin. Brother Louis has continued to be a dedicated philanthropic supporter of the university.
Brother William served as president of Saint Mary’s from 2008 to 2018. During his tenure as president, Brother William oversaw a decade of significant building projects and acquisitions including the Science and Learning Center (now Aquinas Hall), a baseball clubhouse, and Brother William Hall in Winona; Cascade Meadow in Rochester and its subsequent expansion into what is now the Rochester Campus; and the mansion and Saint Mary’s Event Center in the Twin Cities. Under his leadership and vision, the university also saw significant growth in its online programs, initiated a collaboration with Mayo Clinic for a Physician Assistant program, and founded the First Generation Initiative.
The Saint Mary’s community is grateful to be able to recognize these two individuals who are responsible for the growth of the university and have been committed to the institution’s mission and vision.
Photo caption: Brother William Mann, FSC, D.Min., (left) and Brother Louis DeThomasis, FSC, Ph.D.
Get set to scream at new Saint Mary’s Haunted Walk
Winona, Minn. — The Criminal Justice Club is bringing back Saint Mary’s University’s Haunted Walk (originally hosted by the fastpitch softball team). For its inaugural relaunch, the club is offering a scaled-back version of the walk — which will be entirely indoors. The Criminal Justice Club hopes to provide protection for the weather but not from the ghosts and ghouls.
The Haunted Walk will take place from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 28 and 29, and 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 30, beginning in the entryway of the Hendrickson Center and proceeding through a haunted hall. Guests can park in the Purple Lots just outside of Saint Mary’s University’s Aquinas Hall.
The cost is $4 for adults, $2 for students and children. It is recommended all participants be 10 years of age and older. Tickets will be available at the time of the event in the entryway of the Hendrickson Center.
Saint Mary’s Criminal Justice Club hopes this event will be fun for all. The scare level is toned down for younger children and turned up for the older and braver participants.
Proceeds from this fundraising event will be used to sponsor Criminal Justice Club’s educational trips, speakers, and events which will help Saint Mary’s students gain knowledge about the criminal justice system and propel their future careers.
For more information, contact Ryann Aschenbrener at rrasch19@smumn.edu or the Office of Recreation, Involvement and Student Engagement: (RISE@smumn.edu or 507-457-1686).
*Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota is not liable for any health issues that may occur during our event. The event uses strobe lights, fog machines, and dimmed and dark areas on the walk. Additionally, the hallways are narrow.
Saint Mary’s redesigned website is live (again)!
The website relaunch is today. As stated in the State of the Union update, we did a soft launch in August, which we needed to do to identify significant development issues and address them with our external partner. While they corrected back-end errors, our web team — Scott VanderVeer along with Lindsey Theis, who joined us just last month — made more than 600 bug fixes and improvements across the site in the last four weeks. This was a heavy lift and we thank them for their diligence and commitment. We will continue to find and fix things and please let us know at smumn.edu/webfix if you find something that needs to be addressed.
We heard from many of you that you were unable to locate familiar links on the new site. As we have stated, the site has been redesigned to support enrollment goals so it primarily meets the needs of prospective students. That said, all of your favorite links and resources still exist, and we are creating a short video that will help you find your desired resources and information. We will be sending out the video via Saint Mary’s Today early next week.
Former professional football player, alumnus Michael Lehan speaks at Saint Mary’s
On Oct. 6, Saint Mary’s welcomed alumnus Michael Lehan to speak on “Athletics, Relationships, and Character.” Lehan spoke to student athletes, coaches, and staff about overcoming challenges, playing collegiate and professional football, and becoming an educational leader.
Lehan began by asking students to reflect on who they are. “There is an important difference between what we do and who we are,” said Lehan. “We are not only what we have achieved. And we can really come to understand who we are when we face adversity.”
Lehan described athletics as a “transactional good.” After a standout football career at Hopkins High School in Minnetonka, Minn., Lehan continued to play four years at the University of Minnesota, where he was named team captain during his senior year. “Athletics provided me with great opportunities, but it was never just about athletics,” said Lehan.
He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round in 2003 and went on to enjoy a six-year career with the Browns (2003-05), Miami Dolphins (2006-2008), and New Orleans Saints (2008).
“Athletics and sport are powerful metaphors for understanding character development,” said Michael Hahn, Ph.D., assistant dean of the school of education. “Whether it is sport or character, we become what we practice.”
Desiring to give back after his professional career, Lehan studied education at Saint Mary’s. He earned his Master of Arts in Educational Leadership, Educational Specialist Degree, K-12 principal licensure, and superintendent licensure. Lehan graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Family Social Sciences in 2002 from the University of Minnesota. He also earned a Doctor of Education from the University of St. Thomas.
Lehan is currently the head of school at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. He previously served as dean of students, assistant principal, and principal in the Osseo School District, the fifth-largest school system in Minnesota, serving 20,000 students. As principal, Lehan was named “Hennepin Division Principal of Year” in 2019 and “Principal of the Year” in 2020 by the Minnesota Association of Secondary School Principals. During his tenure, he guided the school to its first-ever ranking as one of “The Best High Schools” in the nation by US News & World Report, an honor the school held for three straight years.
Lehan was promoted to assistant superintendent for Equity and Achievement for Osseo Area Schools in July 2020 and was recently honored as a Distinguished Alumni of the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Minnesota. The title of Lehan’s dissertation is At What Cost: The Exploration of Critical Vulnerability of Black Men Principals in Predominantly White Educational Spaces.
Saint Mary’s students asked Lehan questions about what helps him persevere, how he decided to go back to school after his time in the NFL, and what advice he would give them. Lehan encouraged cultivating deep character friends, describing a friend as “a person who can sing the song of your heart when you have forgotten the words.”
Lehan is actively engaged in community service and various mentorship programs including
serving on the boards for The Bridge for Youth homeless shelter, the University of Minnesota
Foundation, and the Ed.S. Advisory Board at Saint Mary’s, as well as partnering with Hope & Home, a foster care located in Colorado Springs.
Provost announcement: Student Success Center, Access Services
STUDENT SUCCESS CENTER
I am pleased to announce several changes related to the Student Success Center (SSC) on our Winona Campus, serving the academic needs of our undergraduate college students. The Student Success Center will now be located organizationally under College operations, rather than standing as a separate unit and will be guided by a senior director who will now report to the dean of the College. The First Generation Initiative (FGI) will continue to be a crucial part of SSC and is expected to increase the number of its FGI students substantially over the next few years; the new director of FGI will report to the senior director of SSC.
The role of the Student Success Center is crucial. As we emphasize the need for holistic support and retention efforts across the university, the Student Success Center stands to be a support system for students at every stage of the journey; first year to senior year and beyond. As the Student Success Center rebuilds its team, emphasis will be placed on offering excellent advising and services for first generation students, new student transition, and learning support, while researching best practices and staying up to date with current student needs.
To better support the student, this restructuring of SSC will mean four of its current staff are moving into different roles of service and leadership in the Student Success Center at Saint Mary’s:
- Tricia Dobrient, M.Ed., who most recently served as director of Advising & New Student Experience, has assumed overall leadership of the Student Success Center as the senior director of Student Success, which replaces a dean-level position in this restructured model. Tricia reports to the dean of the College, Dr. Darren Row.
- The new director of First Generation Initiative, Jennifer Hanifl, Ed.D., leads two programs geared toward first-generation students and underrepresented college and high school students within the Student Success Center: First Generation Initiative Scholars (FGI) at the College and Countdown to College (C2C) for high school students. Previously, Jennifer served in Student Success as the assistant director of First Generation Initiative and Learning Services under the leadership of Alisa Macksey. The currently posted vacant Countdown to College coordinator position, once filled, will report to the director of FGI and support FGI as well as C2C. Jennifer’s position reports to the senior director of SSC.
- The new director of Advising, Samantha Borawski B’15, M’17 leads specialized academic advising and retention-related activities and supervises two open positions, academic support adviser and New Student Experience adviser. Sam’s position reports to the senior director of SSC.
- In addition to the above leadership changes, Joe Justman, M.A., will promote a broader range of academic skills programming and coordinate tutoring activities and resources as the coordinator of Learning Services. Joe’s position reports to the senior director of SSC.
The Student Success Center will continue to offer academic advising support, learning services (such as tutoring), early alert case management, new student experience programming, and first generation study support. Earlier this year, Student Success renovated the center in Griffin Hall 70 to include new furniture and updated study spaces which are getting a lot of use so far this fall.
For a quick guide to the various services of the Student Success Center and contact information, please see this one page guide. Student Success Center staff will continue to work together very much as a tight-knit team who wants to collaborate with and serve our college faculty and students. We would like to thank them for their zeal to serve our students and faculty at the College.
ACCESS SERVICES
Another important announcement relates to the university’s Access Services office, led by Billy Brooks, M.Ed. Because of the importance of this universitywide academic support function and the unique focus on learning accommodations, Access Services has now become part of Academic Affairs under the leadership of vice provost for Faculties and Academic Affairs, Dr. Matthew Nowakowski. Formerly Access Services was located under the Winona Campus’ Student Success Center. The Office of Access Services will continue to utilize the Student Success Center for testing and student intake meetings at the undergraduate campus. As the Access Services team, Billy, director of Access Services, and his two Access Services specialists, Kaitlyn Taylor (serving the College) and Katherine Markquart (serving SGPP), work very hard to maintain an inclusive and accessible academic environment across all learning platforms to best meet the needs of everyone at the university.
Congratulations and much gratitude to these teams for all their hard work in supporting the success of our students!
Saint John Baptist de La Salle Teaching Award presented at Fall Faculty Conference
On Oct. 1, 45 faculty and staff gathered for the annual Fall Faculty Conference for the Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs (SGPP). The theme of this year’s conference was “Drawing from our Collective Wisdom” and featured an opening address by Brother Robert Smith, FSC, Ph.D., senior vice president for university initiatives, who shared his reflections about teaching being more than just a job and how becoming an educator is more of a vocation, something many of us were called to do. He also framed the 12 Virtues of a Good Educator that prompted participants to set their intention for the day. A series of fascinating round table discussions followed, facilitated by our own SGPP faculty. These breakout roundtable discussions provided SGPP faculty opportunities to share best practices, connect, engage in dialog, build professional networks, and start discussions concerning the development of on-going faculty learning communities at the SGPP. The breakout roundtable sessions included discussions concerning:
- What might be some grading practices that focus on learning vs. achievement?
- How might we foster curiosity in our courses?
- How might we avoid burning out and build our compassion resilience?
- How might we balance the different needs of our adult learners today?
- How might we infuse cultural fluency, social justice, and human dignity in our courses?
- What is the intersection between politics and our education institution?
- How might we support the mental health of today’s adult learners?
At the conclusion of the day, attendees were asked to share one word to describe their experience; answers included “connected,” “inspired,” “hopeful,” “motivated,” “enlightened,” and “re-energized.” Dr. Lindsey Teigland, associate program director for the M.A. in Counseling and Psychology program suggested, “I found the format and the conversation really engaging and inspiring and focused on topics with which I was most wrestling in recent semesters. It was also a great way to get to know faculty and staff outside our school.”
Each year at this conference, The Saint John Baptist De LaSalle Teaching Award is presented to a course contracted faculty member in the SGPP who has sustained excellence in teaching and contributed to Saint Mary’s y by serving as a model of the Lasallian spirit in the classroom. Among other criteria, this award recognizes faculty for demonstrating excellence, effectiveness, and integrity. This year’s award went to Shawn Neel, a faculty member in the M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy.
A dedicated faculty member, Neel has taught every semester at SGPP since 2013. He is always interested in new teaching challenges, taking on new classes whenever asked, and contributing to curriculum and program redesign. He is very student focused, having served on dozens of Comprehensive Oral Exam committees as adviser, reader, and school representative.
Dr. Sam Zaid, program director of the marriage and family therapy program said “I have never worked with such a dedicated, self-less, and generous faculty member. Shawn Neel is beyond deserving of recognition for his contributions.”
The Rev. James P. Burns, IVD, Ph.D.
President
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
© Copyright 2016. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy | Site Feedback/Changes | Accreditation