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Saint Mary’s Spotlight: Tianna Johnson
The Marketing and Communication Office will be profiling Saint Mary’s University leaders regularly in the Cardinal Update. Our goal is to showcase those overseeing and guiding key areas important to our strategic initiatives. This week, we feature Tianna Johnson, Saint Mary’s assistant vice president for information technology
Tianna Johnson, assistant vice president for information technology
Name: Tianna Johnson
Title: Assistant vice president for information technology
How long have you worked at Saint Mary’s?
I have worked at Saint Mary’s for a little over nine years, starting in 2012 as the manager of technology support services. I became the director of information technology in March 2016, and in June 2021 was promoted to assistant vice president for information technology.
How would you describe your role at Saint Mary’s?
My day-to-day activities here at Saint Mary’s constantly change, but overall, I’m here to make sure our IT department supports the needs of our university community. My team ensures that staff, faculty, and students can effectively use the technology and have access to the resources they need.
What’s your favorite part of your job?
Without a doubt, my favorite part of the job is my team here in the IT department. Some have worked here for more than 20 years, and some have joined us more recently, but every one of them supports the university’s mission and is here to help make Saint Mary’s a better place for our students.
What are your hopes for the future of Saint Mary’s?
Saint Mary’s is facing challenges just like many other universities today. I’m hopeful that we will continue to pull together as one to meet the budget deficit head-on, increase our enrollment and continue to serve our students as we have for the past 100 plus years.
What is your proudest professional accomplishment?
While I don’t know that this is my proudest accomplishment, I am very excited about the upcoming implementation of Jenzabar. I think we have a great group of people in and outside of IT that are committed to making this a successful implementation, and I am so thankful for their commitment to the project. It will take a huge amount of work from many departments, but will certainly move Saint Mary’s forward in our ability to better serve our students.
Looking at the “Declaration on the Lasallian Educational Mission,” which of the 12 declarations resonates with you the most? Why?
Declaration 11 (We believe that today’s realities demand taking risks and being creative.) Especially during these challenging times, we need to rethink what we are doing and why we are doing it. We need to evaluate and find the true value-add projects for our students and focus on those first and foremost. Students have many options to choose from when considering where to get their education, and we need to continue to focus on the student by implementing new and creative ideas that speak to them.
A commitment to community service
Service has long been a part of Saint Mary’s mission as a Lasallian Catholic University, and our faculty, staff, and students are showing their commitment to bettering their communities in a number of ways.
Student-athletes recognized by trustees for being NCAA Division III Team Works Service Challenge winner
Last Friday, the Saint Mary’s University Board of Trustees passed a resolution congratulating the university’s student-athletes, who were recently recognized by the NCAA for their commitment to community service.
In February, the NCAA office named Saint Mary’s the NCAA Division III Team Works Service Challenge winner. Competing in the challenge for the first time ever, Saint Mary’s student-athletes logged more than 2,000 hours of community service between the months of September and November. With the hours logged, the student-athletes helped make a $34,219 economic impact on their community during the challenge.
As stated in the board’s resolution, “This recognition is a testament to the hard work of all our student-athletes and their coaches, trainers, and other athletics staff as they have benefited from involvement in the Winona community, opportunities to be servant leaders, and a deep personal experience of empathy, gratitude, and social responsibility.”
NCAA Team Works, which coordinates community service efforts at the NCAA championships, and Helper Helper, a volunteer management and tracking platform, launched the community service competition to recognize student-athletes who give back to their communities. The competition, which ran from September through November, is based on the number of service hours completed and the number of participating student-athletes.
Sisson, Tadie take part in Grocery Grab event
Saint Mary’s philosophy professor Joe Tadie and athletic director Brian Sisson again represented the college during WNB Financial’s Grocery Grab event this past week.
The fun event is held every year to kick off the Minnesota FoodShare March Campaign and assist the Winona Volunteer Services Food Shelf.
During the event, Sisson and Tadie had 90 seconds to race through Midtown Foods and collect as many groceries as possible. The Saint Mary’s duo came in second, grabbing $721 worth of food, and contributing to the overall event donation of $3,999 of food to the Winona Volunteer Services Food Shelf.
Andy Robertson discusses climate change on Saint Mary’s Currents
In this episode of the podcast, Saint Mary’s Currents host Ben Rodgers is joined by Andy Robertson, executive director of GeoSpatial Services, to discuss the topic of climate change. Working in the field of natural resource management and digital mapping, Robertson has seen the impacts of climate change up close. During their conversation, Ben and Andy discuss a variety of topics, including what climate change affects he has seen while doing fieldwork, the topic of environmental justice and how it intersects with climate change, and why a local response to the climate crisis is needed.
If you enjoy the show and the topics discussed, subscribe to Saint Mary’s Currents wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also listen to previous episodes by visiting the Saint Mary’s Newsroom.
Saint Mary’s Chamber Singers to perform in Massachusetts
The Chamber Singers of Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota will perform in Worcester, Sutton, and Boston, Mass., as part of their 2022 concert tour.
The 20-voice select ensemble is directed by Dr. Patrick M. O’Shea, professor of music.
Tour performances will include the following liturgies and concerts:
- Cathedral of The Sacred Heart, Winona, Minn.
Saturday, Feb. 26, 5:15 p.m. Mass - Sutton High School, Sutton, Mass.
Monday, Feb. 28, 12:15 p.m. Short Performance for students and staff - King’s Chapel Recital Series, King’s Chapel, Boston
Tuesday, March 1, 12:15-12:45 p.m. Concert - Trinity Lutheran Church, Worcester, Mass.
Tuesday, March 1, 7 p.m. Concert - St. Mark’s Catholic Church, Sutton, Mass.
Wednesday, March 2, 7 p.m. Ash Wednesday Mass - St. Cecilia Catholic Church, Boston
Sunday, March 6, 11:30 a.m. Mass with Prelude and Postlude performances
All concerts are free and open to the public unless otherwise indicated above, and guests are welcome at the various liturgies. Repertoire will include acappella works by Stephen Chatman, Giovanni da Palestrina, Bob Chilton, John Tavener, and Moses Hogan. The concerts will feature the world premiere performances of Piango, Ardo e Canto, settings of three poems by the Italian Renaissance poet Gaspara Stampa, composed by Dr. O’Shea, and featuring student violinists Joel Zabel and Olivia White.
Upon their return, the Chamber Singers will present a free “Homecoming Concert” at the Chapel of Saint Mary of the Angels, 7th and Vila streets, Winona, on Thursday, March 10, at 7:30 p.m.
Cardinals’ Keeley named as HHA finalist
In the blink of an eye, Saint Mary’s University’s Jordan Keeley (St. Peter, Minn.) has just gone from a little fish in a big pond, to a big fish in a little pond.
The Hockey Humanitarian Award Committee whittled its list of 11 nominees to five finalists on Wednesday — and the spotlight has just gotten that much brighter for Keeley, one the five student-athletes from across all three divisions in the nation to be acknowledged.
“It is an honor to be nominated, and an even bigger honor to represent our community as a finalist,” said Keeley, a senior goalie on the Cardinal women’s hockey team. “I would not have been able to make an impact without all of the people who have inspired, supported, and influenced me over the years.”
“It is an exciting opportunity to learn about the large impacts the other nominees are making within their communities, as well as reflect on the power we all have as athletes to serve others.”
The Hockey Humanitarian Award is celebrating its 27th year and is presented annually to college hockey’s finest citizen — a student-athlete who makes significant contributions not only to his or her team but also to the community-at-large through leadership in volunteerism.
“It is great to see Jordan’s efforts to serve others and build meaningful connections with her community rewarded,” said Saint Mary’s women’s hockey coach Sarah Murray, who has coached an HHA finalist in each of her three years at the helm — including 2021 HHA winner Delaney Wolf (Bismarck, N.D.). “Jordan demonstrates strong leadership and sportsmanship characteristics every day and truly embraces what it means to be a servant leader.”
Joining Keeley as a finalist this year are Jake Adkins/Andrew Walker (UMass-Boston), Gabbie Hughes (Minnesota-Duluth), Josh Kosack (Union), and Hannah Price (Rensselaer).
The Hockey Humanitarian Award Foundation selection committee narrowed the list of 11 nominees, which were announced in late January. Adkins and Walker, along with Kosack, are repeat finalists from a season ago.
The 27th recipient of the Hockey Humanitarian Award will be honored in a ceremony on Friday, April 8 as part of the NCAA Men’s Frozen Four weekend in Boston, Mass. Additionally, the Hockey Humanitarian Award Foundation will make a donation to the charity most important to each of the five finalists. These donations are made possible with the generous support of the award’s partners and donors.
Here’s a look at this year’s five finalists:
Jacob Adkins/Andrew Walker, Junior Forwards, UMass Boston
The duo that dubbed themselves the “Men in Blades,” are repeat finalists for the Hockey Humanitarian Award after continuing in their efforts to raise money for the American Cancer Society (ACS). The “Men in Blades” began their fundraising efforts in the summer of 2020 when they rollerbladed 875 miles from Boston to Mason, Michigan to raise money for the ACS. The duo’s grueling 9.5 day journey in the midst of a heat wave, raised awareness for the need for continued donations for cancer research and brought in over $31,000 for the ACS. While they decided they never wanted to roller blade 875 miles again, that hasn’t stopped the “Men in Blades” from continuing to find new ways to raise money and awareness for the ACS. This summer, the “Men In Blades” organized a “Back-to-School Blade-A-Thon” for late August. The goal was to host a more inclusive 10K event where members of the UMass Boston and hockey community could all participate, while also continuing to raise money for cancer research. Despite the event being cancelled at the last moment due to a rise in COVID-19 cases, the duo raised over $4,000 for the ACS. They teamed up to plan and organize the first-ever UMass Boston men’s hockey “Hockey Fights Cancer” game in December. As part of the contest, the Beacons held a Toy Drive for kids with cancer and carried out a raffle and sold items for ACS. They also designed custom pink jerseys for the game. In total, the “Men in Blades” raised over $5,000 for the ACS in 2021.
Gabbie Hughes, Senior, Forward, Minnesota Duluth
Hughes has spent most of the season leading the nation in points per game and going back and forth as the NCAA’s top scorer. Currently, Hughes has a 1.77 points per game average and has recorded 16 goals and a career-high 32 assists for 48 points through 27 games. The HCA National Player of the Month and WCHA Forward of the Month for December, she is also a two-time WCHA Forward of the Week so far this season. But Hughes has been just as busy off the ice. She was directly involved in UMD’s hosting of the first-ever collegiate Hockey Hits Back Sophie’s Squad game for mental health at AMSOIL Arena on Jan. 15 between the Bulldogs and Bemidji State. Until then, Hughes and the rest of the board members from Sophie’s Squad had only hosted Sophie’s Squad high school games around the state of Minnesota. That event raised $8,000 for Sophie’s Squad to provide resources to mental health organizations such as the SAVE organization, M3 initiative in Moorhead, MN, and 7 Cups. In all, more than 650 student athletes and managers have participated in more than 12 Hockey Hits Back and Honor games this winter, with Hughes either participating in the games on site or covering all corners of the organization’s social media when her hockey schedule doesn’t allow it.
Jordan Keeley, Senior, Goaltender, Saint Mary’s University
Keeley, a four-year member of the women’s hockey team, has been extremely active in the community. Her most recent volunteering activities included being the leader of the Saint Mary’s campus Green Bandana Project, which included organizing the Run2ForSMU Green Bandana fundraising event and hosting the We Are Not Really Broken Summit to develop next step in Green Bandana curriculum about where mental health meets leadership. Keeley also rank 250 miles in 100 days in the summer of 2021 to help raise funds for the Taylor Richmond Benefit Dance (raised $1,100 for this year’s recipient). She served as volunteer coach for the Winona Youth Hockey Association summer program and for Winona’s “Try Hockey for Free” event. Keeley Logged over 70 hours serving as a dog walker at the Winona Humane Society, and was a member of the fundraising and foster board for Alma Tails of Hope. Fostered bottle-baby kittens for Tails of Hope when COVID forced students home to quarantine in 2020. Keeley also volunteered at the hospital Information desk at Winona Health.
Josh Kosack, Senior, Forward, Union College
Kosack raised $45,000 for C.O.C.O.A. House in the second annual Kozi’s Kids fundraiser, bringing his two-year total to over $50,000. Money from the fundraiser went towards buying Christmas presents for local children, the development of a Kozi’s Kids Lounge in C.O.C.O.A. House’s second location, and funding other projects for the non-profit. In December, Kosack helped purchase $10,000 worth of toys for Capital Region children and assisted in giving out the gifts over two days during the holidays. Starting as a way to get local youth to attend Union hockey games, Kosack’s involvement with C.O.C.O.A. House now includes spending one afternoon a week at the facility, helping with homework and playing games. Kosack took his teammates to C.O.C.O.A. House in September to set up the house for the 2021-22 school year and hopes to pass his leadership role onto younger members of the team to continue his work.
Hannah Price, Junior, Defenseman, Rensselaer
Price has been a leader on and off the ice for the Engineers since stepping on campus in 2019. A member of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), she has helped expand the group’s efforts to improve the RPI community and surrounding area, including a co-sponsored blood drive with the American Red Cross and making National Girls & Women in Sports Day a resounding success, teaching basic hockey skills to area youth, who may not otherwise have the opportunity. She also participates in a reading and mentoring program with Troy School 14. During her time n Troy, she has worked with the Food Recovery Network, collecting leftover food from dining facilities and delivering it to homeless shelters. Working closely with Troy Street Soldiers II, she hands out water, food and basic necessities to the less fortunate in the city. In her hometown of Pittsburgh, she spearheaded the city’s participation in Natural Resource Defense Council’s Food Matters program. Through her efforts, the city was able to increase the size, diversity, and participation of Food Matters Working Group. She was key in the campaign for Food Matters Month (December 2021) including social media outreach and a panel discussion with local leaders in the field.
Featured image by Chris Ebert.
Saint Mary’s Department of Fine and Performing Arts to present SPLaSH
Saint Mary’s Department of Fine and Performing Arts is proud to present SPLaSH (a Short Play Showcase)! SPLaSH will run Thursday through Saturday, Feb. 17-19, in the Page Theatre. All shows in the 2021-2022 academic year are free and open to the public.
SPLaSH are student-directed plays, and this year four shows will be performed: The Falling Man by Will Scheffer, directed by Laura Herronen; Overtones by Alice Gerstenberg, directed by Emma Paquette; Porkchop by Tess Jones, directed by Chelsea Boesiger; and Replay by Nicola Wren, directed by Mackenzie Moller.
Saint Mary’s University is welcoming audiences back in person (with safety protocols in place). Unlike last year, there will be no live-streamed performances.
The audience will be restricted to no more than 125 attendees to ensure that social distancing guidelines are followed. Additionally, masks are to be worn by audience members throughout the performance. Those who plan to attend must register online via our Google form. Evening performances Thursday through Saturday will start at 7:30 p.m., with doors opening at 7 p.m. On Saturday, we are including a matinee that will start at 2 p.m., with doors opening at 1:30 p.m.
To reserve seating and for more information about the production, go to: https://sites.google.com/smumn.edu/splash
Father Burns agrees to five-year contract extension
The Very Rev. James P. Burns, IVD, Ph.D., has agreed to a contract extension as president of Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota for an additional five-year term. The announcement comes from board chair Mr. Terry K. Russell B’76, on behalf of the Board of Trustees of Saint Mary’s.
According to Mr. Russell, “Saint Mary’s is on the move, thanks to the hard work of the entire faculty and staff under the thoughtful leadership of Father Burns. Managing through the ongoing pandemic has taken focus and an unwavering commitment to the common good. In this, Father Burns is truly a visionary who gets things done as he drives the university’s strategic plan, ‘Building a Future Full of Hope 2025.’ ” Mr. Russell and the board recognize Father Burns’ transformational approach and how it is reinvigorating all three campuses. “In Winona, Aquinas Hall has quickly become a renewed centerpiece on campus, creating a wonderful and welcoming environment for study, collaboration, and connection, enabling the university to offer new curricula, degrees, and programs,” said Mr. Russell. “Next is his work in re-envisioning the future of the Minneapolis Campus, which serves thousands of students from the Twin Cities and surrounding communities. The Rochester Campus will also be reinvigorated to serve the state’s third largest, and growing, city according to Mr. Russell.
He added, “We are so very blessed to have a priest as our president whose leadership approach focuses on our Catholic faith heritage with our Lasallian charism. Father Burns has been at the forefront of creating a transformational educational experience that serves all of our students as they prepare to serve and lead in an increasingly complex and ever-changing world.
“Saint Mary’s focus on character education, which is becoming the signature initiative at the university, is a strong example of the everyday transformation taking place. This effort, brought to Saint Mary’s by Father Burns, has garnered national attention and significant philanthropic support.”
In agreeing to the extension. Father Burns said, “It is good to be able to work collectively with the board, faculty, and staff to advance our strategic plan and solidify our future — a future I very much believe is full of hope. Our commitment to Lasallian Catholic education remains our north star. Our mission is compelling, and our vision guides us in all we do. Employees, community leaders, students, and their families are seeking the very thing we deliver — a holistic and transformative human and Christian education, one that is student-centered because it is Christ-centered. We seek to prepare students for work, service, and leadership by guiding them in the discovery of truth, beauty, and goodness; helping them find their purpose.”
Father Burns became the 14th president of Saint Mary’s in July 2018. Because of his ability to navigate challenges with agility, the progress made to date on the strategic plan, his bold and creative leadership, his unwavering commitment to excellence, and his clear, targeted focus on our Catholic tradition, as well as the desire for continuity in leadership at this critical juncture in Saint Mary’s history, the board of trustees expedited the decision to extend the president’s contract for an additional term. The new contract runs through 2028. The board unanimously and enthusiastically agreed to the contract extension.
Saint Mary’s faculty, staff continue to find ways to tell the university’s story
In the last few editions of the Cardinal Update, we’ve shared stories where Saint Mary’s University is in the spotlight. That trend continues. It’s vital we look for new ways to tell the school’s story as we focus on our mission to be a “nationally prominent, regionally dominant” university.
Father Burns appears on Real Presence Radio
During Catholic School Week, Father James P. Burns, IVD, Ph.D., appeared on Real Presence Radio to discuss the value of Catholic higher education.
During the interview with Father Randal Kasel, Father Burns spoke about the university’s work to continually develop its Lasallian Catholic mission, as well as its focus on the formation of the whole student.
“When we talk about Catholic education, it really should be a transformational education. It shouldn’t be just transactional. It’s not about preparing them for a job, but for how they’re going to live their life. At Saint Mary’s, we are focusing on the mind, body, and soul of each student. They will flourish, we believe, if all those three things are in sync,” Father Burns said in the interview.
Nowakowski and Brew present for General Mills Veterans Network
Earlier this month, Matt Nowakowski, vice provost for faculties and academic affairs at Saint Mary’s, and DBA candidate Ret. Col. Mitchell Brew took part in a speaking series on mental wellness hosted by the General Mills Veterans Network. With “resilience” being the first topic in the series, the two presented “Resilience is a Response to Challenge and Opportunity.”
The two spoke about the theory of resilience from the behavioral, trait, and virtuous approach and presented current research on the resilience utilized to transition from a career in the military to the civilian sector.
Carroll-Glover featured in Twin Cities Business
Andrea Carroll-Glover, vice provost of online strategy and programs at Saint Mary’s, was highlighted in an article from Twin Cities Business about how universities are changing and adapting their course deliveries amid the pandemic.
In the article titled “Education Beyond Zoom,” Carroll-Glover spoke about how the university is continuing to explore new online options for its bachelor’s completion and graduate programs.
Carroll-Glover also spoke about Saint Mary’s recent switch to Canvas and integration of Panopto and Ally, all of which help elevate student experience.
America Magazine article highlights challenges Catholic universities face
America Magazine’s article “Will Catholic universities survive the upheaval in higher education? The next 10 years will tell” highlights what Saint Mary’s is facing in today’s Catholic higher education climate. Faculty and staff are invited to read the article about how small to mid-size schools need to clearly, concisely, and consistently demonstrate their Catholic identity or they either won’t exist or won’t exist as Catholic in the future.
The Rev. James P. Burns, IVD, Ph.D.
President
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
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