Saint Mary's Newsroom / Campus Notes
Winona Campus NewsletterSaint Mary’s in the news
Saint Mary’s student’s research on social media addiction featured in MinnPost
The MinnPost recently featured Saint Mary’s psychology student Kyle Palmberg’s capstone research on social media addiction.
“I think from my perspective as someone who’s been really interested in psychology as an academic discipline, social media addiction is also something I’ve been aware of personally,” Palmberg told MinnPost. “I can tell within myself when things can become harmful or easy to misuse. I often see the hints of addictive behaviors in peers and coworkers.”
During his research, Palmberg surveyed 86 students about their social media habits. Palmberg found that most students’ use of social media was for entertainment, and his findings showed “connections between a reliance on social media for entertainment and addictive behaviors, like an inability to shut down apps or put a phone away for an extended period of time.”
Hall of Fame honorees recognized in Winona Post
Three Saint Mary’s alumni who were inducted into the Saint Mary’s Hall of Fame at the university’s annual Cardinal Excellence Fund Dinner.
The inductees included Marc Weisenburger B’75 (baseball), Jamie (Rattunde) Nelson B’05 (basketball), and Jenny (Folgers) Baertsch B’05 (cross country, track and field).
“It was truly a special night — celebrating Jamie, Mark, and Jenny and their accomplishments, as well as those of our student-athletes,” Brian Sisson, Saint Mary’s athletic director, told the Winona Post. “Hearing our inductees speak of their time at Saint Mary’s — and the impact athletics and their Saint Mary’s experience had on their lives — was so inspirational.”
Interest in hospitality grows for Stafford thanks to Saint Mary’s internship
When Jonah Stafford ’25 began exploring colleges to further his education, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota presented a unique mix of opportunity and the right fit.
A public relations and digital media major with a business minor, Jonah heard about Saint Mary’s through his mother, an alumna who received her master’s degree in special education through Saint Mary’s. While she pursued her Saint Mary’s degree, she continued her role as an English teacher at Faribault High School. “Her experience is what nudged me to look at Saint Mary’s,” Jonah shared, “but the biggest factor in my choice was the comparison of communication programs.”
He applied to three schools – Bethany Lutheran College and Gustavus Adolphus alongside Saint Mary’s, but after speaking with Dean Beckman, associate professor and chair of Saint Mary’s Business and Communication Department, Jonah was impressed with Beckman and the quality of Saint Mary’s public relations major, which would offer him a high-quality education and a variety of career opportunities. The major included a portfolio course designed to help with career readiness in the field, and that gave Jonah’s parents peace of mind in sending him to Saint Marys.
Upon touring the campus in Winona, Jonah liked that Saint Mary’s felt so intrinsically “Minnesotan,” nestled into the bluffs of Winona and alongside the Mississippi River. Only being a couple hours away from home would also allow him to be close to family while still enjoying the college experience and being on his own.
Last summer, Jonah decided to step out of his comfort zone with an internship in Florida through the Disney College Program, which offers paid internship opportunities, as well as company-sponsored training programs and housing for students to work at places like Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, Disney Springs, or at one of their many hotels.
“I was just like, I’m ready for a change, so I’m just gonna throw myself into something new,” Jonah said.
When he arrived, Jonah joined the showkeeping team at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, whose responsibilities involved elements of customer service while maintaining the cleanliness of the park.
“If guests had questions, we were the main people walking around,” he shared. “Most of the other workers would be stuck in one spot, like a store or restaurant. So if someone needs to find something, we were probably the first people to be able to tell you where to go.”
Many of Jonah’s experiences at Saint Mary’s helped him make the most of his internship. Anything can happen in a place where thousands of people gather together, so the detailed training he received at Disney gave him a strong foundation of what steps to take in planning for and managing potential crises. Thanks to the networking events that Jonah attended at Saint Mary’s last year through Career Services, he felt confident interacting professionally with Jackie Swisher, the vice president of Disney’s Hollywood Studios, who connected him to a colleague in communications at Disney. Because of his PR classes in news writing, his journalism experience writing for the student section of a local newspaper in high school, and writing for three newspapers in Waseca County, he had the necessary skills to communicate with others sensitively and with purpose, which helped him provide effective support to Disney guests in need of help.
Jonah enjoyed his time in the Disney College Program so much that it motivated him to gain more hospitality experience as a student worker for Saint Mary’s Event Services Department. He is interested in exploring career opportunities in events and hospitality after graduation, but for now, he’s focused on gaining new experiences and living in the moment.
“I want to be a little more self-directed right now,” Jonah said. “Instead of just writing other people’s stories, I’m living my own story.”
Small town to small school leads to big internship
Saint Mary’s senior Ella Boomgaarden grew up in the small Minnesota town of Saint Peter, Minn. A member of a smaller graduating high school class, she knew when it was time to pick a college that she wanted to keep the small-town experience with her, which is what led her to Saint Mary’s.
The advantage of a smaller school and personal attention from staff and faculty at Saint Mary’s opened the door for a big opportunity: an internship with the Minnesota-based Cargill corporation.
When Boomgaarden arrived at Saint Mary’s, she knew she wanted to study in one of the STEM fields but was unsure of exactly which one. After landing in the math department, Boomgaarden explored the various educational tracks she could take with the major, and eventually picked up statistics and analytics minors.
“I declared as a math major and decided to dip my foot into the education path with it,” Boomgaarden said. “I liked the math major but realized I didn’t care for education. After talking with my advisor, we looked up what sort of jobs someone could take with a math major, and I kind of got stuck on the idea of doing data analytics.”
During her junior year, Boomgaarden saw a posting for a business analyst internship at Cargill that required IT experience. Having taken some computer science courses for her major, she felt the need to apply.
During the application and interview process, Boomgaarden immediately turned to Saint Mary’s Career Services for assistance.
“The staff in Career Services helped me so much in this process, from writing my resume, setting up mock interviews, and even setting up a room for my virtual interview with a nice background,” she said. “Every step of the way, they would say, ‘Here is what you need, and here is how we can help you.’”
With the help she received, Boomgaarden secured the internship and set up shop at Cargill’s headquarters in the Twin Cities for the summer. During her internship, Boomgaarden worked with different corn processing plants acquired by Cargill, helping them move over to the company’s software.
“My day-to-day through those three months was testing data, and then creating test data for other people to test to make sure all the programs ran correctly,” she said.
While she was only there for three months, Boomgaarden said Cargill did a wonderful job bringing the interns up to speed and making sure they understood the work in front of them. She also appreciated the professional development opportunities provided by the company.
“One thing my boss stressed was networking,” she said. “I’m really glad I had that opportunity and glad Cargill values that. I was able to network with other data analysts, business intelligence analysts, and people in human resources. And at the end of the day, that really set me up to succeed.”
And while Cargill set her up for success, Boomgaarden said her experiences at Saint Mary’s set her up to go above and beyond.
“Whenever I was in a room with bosses and superiors, I knew how to talk to them because I speak with my professors, my advisors, and the staff at Career Services regularly,” she said. “I went into the summer with competence because I was able to talk to my bosses like they were regular people, where other interns were saying, ‘Oh, they’re a boss or an executive and we can’t speak with them. To me, talking to these people was no different than going to a professor during office hours.”
With the internship experience behind her, Boomgaarden hopes to return to Cargill but says she is open to other opportunities that cross her path.
“This internship has made my resume a million times better,” she said. “Moving forward, I’m going to look at business analyst positions because, after the summer, I know I’m capable of doing the work.”
Higher education in the headlines
Higher education is a field that is constantly changing. With this roundup, we hope to keep you informed about what is going on at universities and colleges around the country:
- Minnesota State names next Winona State University president – Star Tribune
- Marquette University announces impending cuts after budget shortfall – Wisconsin Public Radio
- High schools say they’re falling short on college prep – Inside Higher Ed
Visitor from Joseph Ratzinger/Benedict XVI Vatican Foundation to present lectures at Saint Mary’s
Members of the Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota community are invited to lectures from Dr. Pierluca Azzaro that will occur on both the Minneapolis and Winona campuses on April 10 and 11.
Azzaro teaches history of political thought and Eastern European history at the Faculty of Political and Social Sciences of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Milan, Italy. He also serves as the executive secretary of the Joseph Ratzinger/Benedict XVI Vatican Foundation. Since 2010, he has edited and translated the Italian edition of the Collected Works of Joseph Ratzinger/Benedict XVI for the Libreria Editrice Vaticana (Vatican Publishing House). Azzaro is a member of a group of scholars dedicated to advancing the intellectual legacy of Joseph Ratzinger/Benedict XVI.
The April 10 lecture will be at 4 p.m. at the University Center in Minneapolis, and will include appetizers and beverages. His April 11 lecture in Winona will be at 7 p.m. in Dr. Philip Cochran Hall (Aquinas 200), and will include light refreshments.
The events will also include a question-and-answer session facilitated by Max Bonilla, SSL, STD, provost and dean of faculties for Saint Mary’s.
Cardinal Update Live reminder
The Saint Mary’s community will gather from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. on Thursday, April 11 for Cardinal Update Live. Staff and faculty are encouraged to gather in the University Center Ballroom East on the Minneapolis Campus and Aquinas 200 in Aquinas Hall on the Winona Campus.
SMU welcomes 3 into Sports Hall of Fame
The Saint Mary’s University athletic department welcomed three new members into its Sports Hall of Fame on March 23 as part of the third annual Cardinal Excellence Fund Dinner, held at Visions Event Center in Winona.
More than 150 people were in attendance to celebrate this year’s Hall of Fame inductees Marc Weisenburger B’75 (baseball), Jamie (Rattunde) Nelson B’05 (basketball), and Jenny (Folgers) Baertsch B’05 (cross country/track & field).
“It was truly a special night — celebrating Jamie, Marc, and Jenny and their accomplishments, as well as those of our student-athletes,” said athletic director Brian Sisson. “Hearing our inductees speak of their time at Saint Mary’s — and the impact athletics and their Saint Mary’s experience had on their lives — was so inspirational.
“We are grateful for the support of so many who helped make this signature event an unforgettable evening for all.”
Weisenburger was a standout catcher for the Saint Mary’s baseball team, while Nelson was a dominant force on the hardwood for the SMU women’s basketball team, and Baertsch excelled in both cross country and track and field during her four years as a Cardinal.
“Saint Mary’s baseball has a storied past, full of great players,” Weisenburger said. “To add my name to that list is beyond imagination for me.”
Those remarks were echoed by both Nelson and Baertsch.
“Being inducted into the Saint Mary’s Sports Hall of Fame is a testament to years of dedication, hard work, and passion for athletics,” Nelson said. “I am humbled and proud to be part of such a distinguished group.”
“I feel incredibly proud and honored to be selected,” said Baertsch. “To be among so many legends is an incredible feeling.”
While Weisenburger, Nelson, and Baertsch spoke fondly of their time at Saint Mary’s — both on and off the fields of competition – SMU senior Owen Ziegler, a member of the Cardinal men’s basketball team, spoke for all the current Saint Mary’s student-athletes, who aspire to someday perhaps join the trio in this illustrious group.
“Saint Mary’s isn’t just a place where we play sports and go to school, it’s a home where a unique bond unites us all as a family,” said Ziegler, who was flanked by representatives from all 17 varsity athletic programs. “We may have worn different jerseys and represented different eras, but our shared experiences at Saint Mary’s bring us together in a meaningful way.”
Nelson discusses special education teacher shortage on Currents
The rise of special education students along with a shortage of special education teachers is a concern for schools in Minnesota and across the nation. This month Ben Rodgers speaks with Kate Nelson, program director for the M.A. in Special Education program at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, to understand what has led to this current situation and what can be done to combat it.
Hall of Fame Profile: Marc Weisenburger B’75
WINONA, Minn. — Marc Weisenburger B’75 does not like to be the center of attention — he is much more comfortable going about his business behind the scenes.
This time around, however, the former Saint Mary’s standout catcher can’t dodge the limelight. That’s what happens when your play on the field warrants induction into the Saint Mary’s Sports Hall of Fame.
Weisenburger, along with Jenny (Folgers) Baertsch B’05 and Jamie (Rattunde) Nelson B’05, will be recognized and honored as part of the third annual Cardinal Excellence Fund Dinner, which will be held at Visions Event Center in Winona on Saturday.
“I was not expecting anything like this and really didn’t know how to react,” Weisenburger said. “I am not one who likes to be in the limelight or who likes to be front and center.
“I am honored and blessed,” Weisenburger added. “Baseball has been a huge part of my life, and to be considered worthy to be one of the best players in SMU history is quite humbling.”
Under the tutelage of Hall of Fame baseball coach Max Molock, Weisenburger was awarded First-Team All-Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honors three years in a row. Weisenburger closed out an illustrious four-year career hitting .275 overall — including .342 as a junior and .329 as a senior. Voted as the MIAC’s top catcher each of his last three seasons, Weisenburger was tabbed the conference’s Most Valuable Player in 1975, while also being named as a member of the Outstanding College Athletes of America the same year. Weisenburger was also the starting catcher for Saint Mary’s 1972 MIAC championship team.
“I am so grateful for the recognition and want to recognize my classmates and teammates for being part of my success,” said Weisenburger. “Saint Mary’s baseball has a storied past, full of great players. To add my name to that list is beyond imagination for me.”
Higher education in the headlines
Higher education is a field that is constantly changing. With this roundup, we hope to keep you informed about what is going on at universities and colleges around the country:
- Fontbonne University to Close in 2025 due to enrollment and budget challenges – Inside Higher Ed
- South Dakota ends college tuition reciprocity with Minnesota, what that means for students – Star Tribune
- Minnesota offers free public college tuition, now private schools want help for their students – Star Tribune
Saint Mary’s partnership spotlight
New Smith Schafer partnership fuels intern, scholarship program
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota and CPA firm Smith Schafer are pleased to announce that a student from the university’s B.S. in Accounting program is the first official recipient of the scholarship and internship program fostered between the two organizations.
The student will receive a $1,000 scholarship, as well as an opportunity to intern at Smith Schafer’s Rochester office.
Smith Schafer is an award-winning CPA firm. They have been featured on Forbes America’s BestTax Firms list, awarded Best of Accounting Client Satisfaction by ClearlyRated, and named a Top 175 Workplace in Minnesota by the Star Tribune.
New partnership launched with Washburn Center for Children
Saint Mary’s has launched a new partnership with Washburn Center For Children, a mental health center that serves Minnesota children from birth to age 18.
The partnership will include internship and job placement opportunities, as well as a scholarship for current Washburn employees and their spouses.
Largest school district in the state joins Trusted Partner Program
The Anoka-Hennepin School District, the state’s largest school district, has joined Saint Mary’s Trusted Partner Program.
Through the Trusted Partner Program, Saint Mary’s assists partner districts with the attraction, retention, and professional development of staff, while also creating an affordable option for their staff to enroll in programs at the university.
The Saint Mary’s Partnership Collaborative is a new initiative populated with key partners from the Schools of Business and Technology, Health and Human Services, and Education that provide students, faculty, and alumni with opportunities for professional development, research, internships, externships, employee pipelines, targeted accelerator certificates and degree completion. This partnership spotlight is meant to highlight the exciting partnerships Saint Mary’s has entered.
Doctoral research spotlight: Lelna Desta
Lelna Desta has spent the last seven years working in the health insurance world with UnitedHealthcare.
Desta, a student in the Saint Mary’s Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program, has a background in biomedical engineering, and an MBA with a focus on business analytics.
When Desta arrived at UnitedHealthcare, she began working on a tech project where she was placed on an agile team. Agile project management is a methodology used in project management that emphasizes flexibility, collaboration, and iterative development. Working on the agile project at UnitedHealthcare, Desta was on a team that was based half in the U.S. and half in India.
“I was just fascinated by how the teams blended together, worked together, and leveraged their expertise to work on an innovative product” she said. “It was a very different type of team and different type of collaboration.”
Because of her experience at UnitedHealthcare, when it came time to pick a research topic for her dissertation, Desta chose to study the lived experiences of dispersed agile software developers working for international companies.
Desta is still halfway through her research but says she has uncovered interesting findings, especially when it comes to how people view dispersed work.
“Usually when researchers and practitioners consider dispersed agile teams, they think about various parts of the world.” she said. “However, a lot of the people I’ve talked to who live in India have said, ‘I’ve never seen my colleagues because they’re in other parts of India.’ So it’s still very much a virtual experience that they have, which I think adds a whole different layer to how you consider dispersed agile teams.”
Desta says between her program cohort and her professors in the DBA program, Saint Mary’s did a wonderful job of preparing her for her doctoral research.
“I learned an immense amount from my professors thanks to their experience and unique approach to teaching,” she said.
Four honored during Saint Mary’s Founders’ Day celebration
In celebration of its heritage, Saint Mary’s University presented awards to one faculty member, one staff member, and two outstanding seniors at its annual Founders’ Day celebration Tuesday, March 19, on the Winona Campus.
Robin Wisniewski, Psy.D., program director of the M.A. in Counseling and Psychological Services program, received the Distinguished Lasallian Educator Award. Presented each year, the award recognizes a member of the faculty, staff, or administration who exemplifies the ideals of Saint John Baptist de La Salle, expressed in the Twelve Virtues of a Good Teacher. The award is given by Lasallian institutions like Saint Mary’s in the Lasallian Region of North America of the De La Salle Christian Brothers to honor contributions and commitment to the Lasallian mission of education. Robin has worked at Saint Mary’s for nearly 15 years – first as the practicum coordinator for the Rochester MA in Counseling Psychology program, then as full-time program director. As program director, she has built many strong collaborative relationships with the Rochester and southeastern MN communities to help increase the number of qualified mental health therapists serving the region. Robin’s contributions across the University include her participation on committees and initiatives. She began a new initiative to expand access to the M.A. in Counseling Psychology program by offering a remote cohort option for students in 2022, which has grown significantly since the first cohort.
Tracy Lehnertz, M.A., assistant vice president for Institutional Effectiveness, received the Bishop Patrick Heffron Award. The Heffron Award — named after the founder of Saint Mary’s University — is awarded every other year to an employee who has contributed positively to the life of the university, has demonstrated a long-term commitment to the values of the university, and has been a model of the Lasallian spirit in interactions with colleagues and students. For over 30 years, Tracy has supported the Saint Mary’s community, serving in various roles, from associate dean for off-campus programs and accreditation liaison officer to interim registrar and assistant to the provost. She has demonstrated exceptional commitment to Saint Mary’s University, its Mission, our students, and staff throughout her years of service. Her attention to detail, research skills, and talent for strategic, “big picture” thinking have elevated the work of presidents, provosts, vice presidents, deans, faculty, and resident life programs throughout her time at Saint Mary’s University.
The university also announced its Outstanding Male and Female Seniors during the Founders’ Day celebration. Outstanding Seniors have demonstrated the ideals of scholarship, character, leadership, service to colleagues and the university community, as well as genuine concern for the needs of others.
This year, the honor went to Patrick Derleth, of Berlin, Wis., and Riley Hall, of Dallas Center, Iowa. The eight other students nominated for Outstanding Senior included Nicholas Kiemel, Noah Kiemel, Mitchell Klatt, and Owen Ziegler, Ryann Aschenbrener, Kirsten Neistadt, Jacinta Nguyễn, and Madeline Patterson.
© Copyright 2016. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy | Site Feedback/Changes | Accreditation