Saint Mary's Newsroom
Campus ConnectionAn update from the president to alumni and parents
A new approach to nursing
Sister Agnes Mary Graves, RSM, DNP, isn’t only leading Saint Mary’s University’s new B.S. in Nursing pre-licensure program, she’s also hoping to shift the direction of healthcare — one cohort of nurses at a time.
She believes that armed with the courage and knowledge to question the status quo, those who graduate from Saint Mary’s nursing program will have something else: an understanding of the whole patient, intellectually, psychologically, physically, mentally, and spiritually.
“I want our first class of graduates to leave Saint Mary’s and go out into the world and make us known throughout the region but also change our healthcare system as leaders,” she said.
Sister Agnes Mary has been a nurse for more than 10 years, and speaking from experience, she knows it’s a meaningful profession, one that involves both the mind and the heart. “I knew this was a way for me to serve another person and to help them in their moment of greatest vulnerability,” she said. “And that it involved science to know what was going on. And it also involved my heart to care for them.”
This approach is what she’s bringing to her new position as the Jack and Mary Ann Remick Chair of Nursing, which involves overseeing the university’s first undergraduate nursing program from the Winona Campus (as well as its RN to BSN online program).
She believes the new Bachelor of Science in Nursing — offered from Saint Mary’s Winona Campus and recently approved by the Minnesota Board of Nursing — sets itself apart in several ways.
Four-year liberal arts education with students enrolled in nursing program as freshmen
Saint Mary’s undergraduate nursing students are enrolled in this program as freshman and continue in a close knit cohort through all four years, obtaining not just quality nursing skills, but a well rounded liberal arts education.
“Across those four years, our students will be formed into caring nurses; it’s not just two years at the end of their college experience,” Sister Agnes Mary said. “Although your last two years will include the majority of your nursing courses, you’ll get to know us from your very first week on campus, you’ll tour the facilities, and be invited to discussions.”
Nursing students, she said, will immediately be welcomed into a supportive community and a cohort of students who will learn and grow together all four years. “Saint Mary’s at large is known for its community connectedness,” she said. “It’s inclusive, it’s like coming into a family that’s going to help nurture you into being a great nurse. We are connected, and we’re here for you. And we want to get to know you as an individual in your nursing education.”
A holistic health view
“At Saint Mary’s, we’re not just going to teach you how to care for the health of the body of the patients, we’re going to teach you comprehensive health care, which means looking at the whole person, body, soul, mind, heart, intellect, the psychological pieces, along with all of those health pieces of the body, and illnesses that go along with that,” Sister Agnes Mary said.
“You learn how to see your patients in that full broad context,” she added. “That’s something that Saint Mary’s can provide, because we have this Lasallian Catholic heritage, we’re a liberal arts institution with that strong foundation. And that’s what sets us apart from other nursing programs.”
Personal attention and individualized focus
Sister Agnes Mary touts Saint Mary’s small faculty-to-staff ratio of 13:1. “We’re going to really keep tabs on you and see what’s going on with you,” she said. “Are you excelling? Are you struggling? How can we help you? Furthermore, when you’re in your clinical setting, what do you really like? Do you really like working with OB patients? Then I want to try to get your senior practicum, your last piece of nursing education, in an OB setting with more hours. Why? So that you can experience it more, learn more about it, but also so that potentially that could be an opening for a job when you graduate.”
Committed healthcare partners and job placement
A competitive aspect of any nursing degree is job and practicum placements. “We’ve already started developing those relationships with over 10 different health care systems in our area in Wisconsin, and Minnesota, across the region,” Sister Agnes Mary said. “ We have great communication and relationships with all of our clinical partners, which is frequently where our students will go upon graduation as places of employment. And so in communication with those chief nursing officers and the educational staff in those institutions, we’re finding out what they are looking for in graduates. The great opportunity then is that we continue to be flexible and modify and update with the times and with the needs of the current healthcare systems.”
New, state-of-the-art facilities
Saint Mary’s newly renovated Adducci Science Center’s Hoffman and Brother Charles halls, opening this fall, will include an advanced nursing suite, including a clinical simulation lab, which will provide students with a safe, yet hands-on learning experience with cutting-edge simulated technology that will give them a true taste of a variety of trauma, operating room, and in-patient settings.
Catholic nursing
Saint Mary’s University is inclusive and welcoming of all different diverse faith backgrounds and cultural backgrounds.
“We want all students to be able to feel welcomed and feel like they can really learn in our university setting,” Sister Agnes Mary said. “We are at Lasallian Catholic University. That’s who we are as our heritage. And so that’s the perspective we bring. We welcome diversity, we welcome different opinions, we want to talk and dialogue and learn from one another. It’s so important in nursing to have a diverse cohort and a diverse faculty, because that’s who we serve. We’re going to serve all, and all people are created with inherent human dignity.
“Catholic health care is so important in society today, because it’s looking at the broader picture of health. And sometimes I think in the modern trends of healthcare, we’re looking at physical health only, or we’re looking at mental health, separated from spirituality. The understanding of the human person from the Catholic perspective is that it’s body and soul. And that they’re fused together in such a way that they’re inseparable. And so whatever is affecting the body is also affecting the soul.”
First Generation Initiative student spotlight: Anthony Saucedo ’22
By Krista Joy Coleman
The sky is the limit for Anthony Saucedo, a business major and communications minor from Waukegan, Ill. “I grew up acting like a businessman,” he said. “I was always looking for new gadgets or accessories or games that were the next big thing.”
Saucedo kept a close eye on technology trends throughout his childhood, always fascinated by the changes and advancements in technology. He felt managing money carefully was crucial as he tried new, more efficient technologies. “If I wanted to try something new, I had to take care of what I owned and sell the old tech to buy the new tech,” he said. Learning early in life how to manage his resources, Saucedo’s interest in business began to grow.
The junior started his own side business fixing iPhone screens, replacing batteries, and making other technology repairs as he got older. It wasn’t long before he had a knack for fixing phones and negotiating better prices for his repair materials. “After talking to my first supplier, he gave me a good deal on the phone screens because I was able to buy a lot of product.”
Saucedo applied to 13 different colleges in high school. Though he received multiple acceptance letters and scholarship offers, he was thrilled he was accepted into his top choice, receiving the First Generation Initiative (FGI) scholarship to Saint Mary’s University. “Octavia Brown (FGI adviser) called me personally to offer the scholarship and ask if I was interested. I knew immediately I couldn’t miss out on the opportunity and accepted on the spot.”
He was stunned and excited that a private college from a different state gave him a full scholarship. Even though he completed the Countdown to College summer program at Saint Mary’s, having the FGI program choose him to be a First Generation Scholar surprised him. It felt like a recognition of his hard work and a helpful push for his future. Saucedo said he knew he had to make his time at college count. “I was so motivated to think about the future and take my future more seriously.”
Saucedo calls his professors “service driven” — always helping students get the resources they need to excel at what they are doing. “They focus so much on providing resources to help me advance and have success as a student,” he said.
“At a small school, the people are so important,” he added. His love for the Saint Mary’s community runs deep, from all his friends in athletics and on campus, to his professors and the FGI staff. “The people make it better. This community makes me feel comfortable here.”
He particularly calls out Brown for having a significant impact on his college experience. “I meet with her often,” he said. “We talk about my progress and how to end the semester strong.” According to Saucedo, Brown takes the time to make sure her students feel equipped for school and life by checking in, making sure they have everything they need, and ensuring they have an opportunity to talk if needed.
Saucedo sees himself diving into corporate internships to learn, build a strong network, and see how the business world runs. The small business sector equally interests him, as he could see himself owning his own small business in product development, repair, or half a dozen other ideas he has. As he comes closer to finishing his degree, there are multiple options for this junior. It’s only a matter of choosing what direction he wants to go.
“I would like to thank (the benefactors of the FGI program) for providing the opportunity to have a successful future and thrive and for giving me the motivation to want to build a better future for myself,” said Saucedo. “One day, I might make a big impact in the business world, and they would have started that for me … Thank you for changing my life.”
Loving gift leaves lasting legacy
The late Kendrick “Ken” Melrose left behind a lengthy legacy — and an even longer list of best friends.
As the former chairman and chief executive officer of The Toro Company, he took the company from the brink of bankruptcy to historic levels of prosperity.
As a generous philanthropist, he and The Kendrick B. Melrose Family Foundation have supported countless community interests and topics — from environmental efforts, to health-related initiatives, educational endeavors, animal care, and beyond.
And as a devout man of faith, he founded Leading by Serving, LLC. His parents instilled in him a belief that the purpose of life is to serve others, and Melrose modeled servant leadership throughout his life, writing and speaking extensively on the subject.
Robin Doyle, his long-time executive personal assistant, believes Melrose’s legacy lives on in everyone who knew him before he passed in May 2020.
“He was the most generous, thoughtful, and caring person I have ever met,” she said. “I would put him at the top of my list in all of those categories. He was just so thoughtful of everyone, and he showed that every day.”
Saint Mary’s is grateful to the Melrose Family Foundation for its generous $500,000 gift to the renovation of the Adducci Science Center’s Hoffman and Brother Charles Halls (pictured above), where business and science education will innovatively prepare tomorrow’s leaders.
Kendrick “Ken” Melrose
The gift to support business and science makes sense, considering his dedication to those two fields. Melrose graduated with honors from Princeton University in 1962, where he majored in mathematics and electrical engineering. He furthered his education with a master’s degree from the Sloan School of Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and later earned his MBA from the University of Chicago. His 36-year career at The Toro Company exemplified business innovation.
But Doyle said the gift particularly reflects his love of his life partner Kaye O’Leary. “It was made in honor and recognition of Kaye because of all the work she does and how dedicated she is to Saint Mary’s,” Doyle said. “Ken loved her so very much and always wanted to recognize her dedication and hard work.”
Kaye O’Leary
O’Leary has had a lengthy and successful business career as well. A current Saint Mary’s trustee, she served as the CFO of Bucca de Beppo from 2005-2007, where she led a major restructuring. She then served as CFO of Caribou Coffee Company in 2008 before becoming an executive consultant focused on corporate strategy and governance.
“She’s such a mirror image of Ken,” Doyle said. “She is generous on a personal level, too, and she dedicates a lot of her time to Saint Mary’s, and I can’t say enough about how much I admire that lady. I wish I would have known her earlier in my lifetime.”
After Melrose’s passing, O’Leary and Doyle discovered yet another talent he had — the ability to make nearly everyone he spoke with feel as though they were his best friend.
“When you talked, he listened,” Doyle said. “He always wanted to know more about how you were and what was going on in your life. He would never start off talking about himself. It was always about the other person.
“He’s left quite a footmark in the sand, and I don’t think it can ever be washed away.”
The Kendrick B. Melrose Family Foundation’s gift was matched by an anonymous $5 million gift, doubling its incredible reach in supporting the renovation of the Adducci Science Center’s Hoffman and Brother Charles Halls. To take advantage of this matching gift and to support this innovative initiative, please contact Gary Klein at gklein@smumn.edu.
Reminder: Blackboard is ending and we’re moving to Canvas
By LMS Taskforce
As of June 1, Blackboard is no longer being used and Saint Mary’s has officially transferred to the use of Canvas. There are a variety of support systems available to guide you and your students through this change. As a reminder, please funnel all questions, concerns, and issues through the HelpDesk at helpdesk@smumn.edu. With their new ticketing system in place, emails and calls are quickly routed to the appropriate person or department to expedite resolution.
When I need help, who can I contact?
- Saint Mary’s HelpDesk
- Email: helpdesk@smumn.edu
- Call: 507-457-7800 or 612-728-5100
- Canvas 24/7 support (get in touch with a Canvas technician):
- Chat: Log into Canvas, click Support (red bar on the left) and choose Chat with Canvas
- Call: 877-601-4784
What if there is content needed from Blackboard after June 1?
If there is course content needed after June 1, please contact the HelpDesk. They will create a ticket to retrieve the necessary items from the archive. If there is a need for student content or grades after June 1, please also contact the HelpDesk. They will create a ticket to retrieve the necessary items from the archive.
How do I find training opportunities and support resources?
- The CELT site has a cadence of training sessions being offered for Canvas ranging from basics to advanced, as well as training on other aspects and tools. View at celt.smumn.edu/calendar.
- The Instructional Technology site contains walk-through videos and support resources on many of the instructional tools used in Canvas (Zoom, Ally, Flipgrid, etc.). View at celt.smumn.edu/intech.
- Additionally, there are public support documents available.
How do students learn the features of Canvas?
- In messaging from both Student Central and Cardinal Central, students who are enrolled in courses in Canvas have been directed to visit community.smumn.edu/canvas to guide them through their initial steps into Canvas. This page also contains a short introductory video.
- Information on how to use the features of Canvas can be found in the Canvas at SMU (Student Orientation) course. This is available when they first log into Canvas. This course and all future courses are found on the Dashboard.
- Additionally, there are public support documents available.
How do I access earlier articles sent to faculty or students?
- Prior communications listed below have been shared to further guide the transition from Blackboard and Engage to Canvas. These have been made for both students and faculty.
Beech featured on TV and cover of magazine
Christine Beech
Christine Beech, DM, executive director of the Kabara Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies, was recently featured in the news.
Beech was invited to speak about women in business and the WE forum on KAAL-TV. The WE Forum brings together women in business to share knowledge and resources in support of new business creation and growth. This forum is a partnership between the Kabara Institute, Collider, RAEDI, SCORE, and the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce. View the latest WE Forum.
Generations of Today, a local Rochester, Minn., magazine, also featured Beech on the cover of the May 2021 issue. She discusses the skills she learned while in the Army in honor of Military Appreciation Month.
The Lasallian Literati book club to meet June 16
All faculty and staff are invited to participate in The Lasallian Literati book club, which will meet next on Wednesday, June 16.
To participate, simply create an account and join the group on Goodreads. This is a free app. It is very important that you create your login with your Saint Mary’s email address because there is restricted access to the reading group. Future communication will be provided through Goodreads. If you have any questions or difficulty creating a Goodreads account, contact Molly Bigelow at mbigelow@smumn.edu.
May/June book selection
“The Devil’s Highway: A True Story” by Luis Alberto Urrea
- Meeting date: Wednesday, June 16, at noon
- Facilitated by: Paul Kotz, Ph.D., professor, Ed.D. in Leadership, and Molly Bigelow, director of Rochester partnerships and enrollment counselor
- You will receive a Zoom invitation before the meeting.
The library will have a copy or two of the chosen books. If you are not aware, many public libraries use the app LIBBY which allows library cardholders access to ebooks and audiobooks.
More about the book club
The Lasallian book club was started nine years ago at the Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs (SGPP) in an effort to engage Lasallian pedagogical thinking with contemporary texts. As a part of our Strategic Initiative one, “Live Our Lasallian Catholic Heritage,” the SGPP subcommittee of the Lasallian Catholic Mission Advisory Council decided to expand the book club to include a bi-monthly format and an open invitation to the university community. The book selection for March/April was “The New Jim Crow” by Michelle Alexander.
Chemistry students awarded academic honors
Congratulations to the following chemistry undergraduate students who were awarded academic honors.
Outstanding General Chemistry Award: Kaydi Breeser
Outstanding Organic Chemistry Award: Jordan Keeley and Kathleen Blissenbach
SGPP virtual commencement is June 5
Saint Mary’s University is proud to honor this spring’s graduates from our Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs with a virtual commencement ceremony Saturday, June 5, at 7 p.m.
We invite our adult learners, their families, friends, and supporters to take part in this celebratory program at smumn.edu/about/virtual-commencement-2021. Ceremonies will be individualized for the School of Education, School of Health and Human Services, and School of Business and Technology.
In addition to showcasing our graduates, the program will feature special faculty accolades and advice, student speakers, and academic awards.
Despite the challenges of this time, we want our graduates to remember their ability to adapt, persevere, and succeed, despite circumstances beyond their control, will continue to serve them in the weeks, months, and years ahead. We’re incredibly proud of their strength and perseverance.
Winona Campus copy center: Change in submitting service requests
As you may have been aware, this past academic year (2020-21), print, copy, lamination, binding, and scanning services previously provided by Central Services on the Winona Campus came under the management of the IT Department. After evaluating the past year’s workflow and request process, we are making a change in how service requests are submitted.
Self-service printing, copying, and scanning is always available in the common area adjoining the HelpDesk window. You will be required to enter your department budget code. (HelpDesk staff are not able to look it up for you.) And, as a reminder, the costs of copying and printing are minimal these days so if you can print the job yourself at your local printer, please do so, as it is more efficient for everyone involved!
Note: Office supply orders (except for copy paper) should continue to be directed to tlubinsk@smumn.edu. (The Central Services email is no longer in service.)
For IT Copy Center services, we are now asking that you email your requests to helpdesk@smumn.edu rather than contacting the Copy Center directly. Please be sure your email includes all the details listed at the end of this article.
A support ticket will be automatically generated for you. This will allow us to better track requests, and, in the event that usual copy center staff is not available, urgent requests can be efficiently directed to a backup individual to ensure timely processing.
All service requests are to be submitted via email to helpdesk@smumn.edu with the exception of hardcopy materials to be copied, scanned, laminated, or bound. These must be dropped off at the HelpDesk window with accompanying written instructions, or you should be prepared to fill out a request form with the details of your request, including your department budget code. Please only use the window drop-off service for delivering hardcopy materials.
Requests are processed Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Please allow for a minimum 24-hour turnaround if at all possible. Extended lead time, especially for large or complex projects, is very much appreciated to ensure sufficient time for completion.
Please wait to be notified that your completed request is available for pick up at the HelpDesk window.
The following information is required when submitting a request in order for it to be completed:
- Department budget code
- Date and time needed
- Quantity needed
- Paper size (8.5×11, 8.5×14, or 11×17)
- If other than white, indicate paper color (colors available in 8.5×11 only)
- Color or black and white printing
- Stapled or not stapled
- Back-to-back or single sided
- Special instructions:
- 3-hole punched
- Laminated
- Bound (with or without plastic cover sheet, or with cardstock front/back)
- Cut (to what size)
- Folded (half, z fold, letter fold, etc.)
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