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Winona Campus Newsletter
Thomas says MFT program is ‘great for career changers’
Working in a therapy setting always felt like a calling for Karl Thomas, but that wasn’t the direction he originally went in when considering an education and a career.
“I studied history in college when the dinosaurs roamed the earth… the 1990s,” Thomas, a student in the M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy, said.
After college, Thomas worked in the hospitality industry and eventually moved to the healthcare administration field. In 2020, like many people, he lost his job in healthcare during the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic due to the restructuring of the organization. Thomas used this life event to follow what he always thought was a calling.
“I’ve always kind of thought I should be doing some sort of therapy, but never did,” he said. “I also took a couple of psychology courses at a local university, so I’ve always kind of wanted to dabble in the mental health world. So this really gave me the way to actually do it.”
Having a number of options for different types of therapy-related degrees he could receive, Thomas said he chose marriage and family therapy because of its focus on holding a systemic view.
“There are so many things influencing a person’s behavior, and the marriage and family therapy program really teaches us to focus on that,” Thomas said. “And I really appreciate that view. I am also very committed to racial and social justice and gender equity and justice, and the program is pretty direct about how impactful that is on people’s mental health.”
Knowing marriage and family therapy was the route Thomas wanted to go, he selected Saint Mary’s because of the accelerated track that was offered by the school. Only taking courses once a week, Thomas could attend to his family’s needs while also pursuing a new career. He was also pleased with the ability to begin working with patients in a practicum setting in a short amount of time. Along with the accelerated track, Thomas found assistance from financial aid to be beneficial.
“When it comes to education, nothing is affordable,” he said. “But Saint Mary’s is affordable.”
Even with an accelerated track, Thomas appreciated how easy it was to grow close with his cohort.
“We always say that we have 19 brothers and sisters that we fight with, love dearly, and know everything about,” Thomas said. “Therapy content can be truly hard work. We know if a classmate has experienced a particular trauma, when we are learning about that, we need to show them extra support”
After finishing his program, Thomas hopes to start his own private practice. He says because his cohort has grown so close, he knows he’ll be able to lean on his classmates in the professional world when needed.
“I know in the future who I can refer to,” he said. “We have people who want to go into couples therapy, people who want to go into grief therapy, and people who will likely start private practices. And because we know each other so well, we’re not going in blind.”
Thomas encourages anyone looking to make a change in their career to find the right vocation for them to do so, no matter what point they’re at in their life.
“I would say to take that leap,” he said. “Therapy, in particular, is great for career changers as it is very flexible. I still do consulting work around my therapy appointments, and my professors and my practicum site have both worked around this. Additionally, therapy is a career where age and experience is an asset.”
Cardinal Update Live reminder
Be sure to mark your calendar for upcoming Cardinal Update Live events. The Saint Mary’s community will gather from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 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. Refreshments will be available at both locations from noon to 12:15 p.m. A Zoom link will be sent out prior to the event for those unable to attend in person. Future Cardinal Update Live events will be held on Thursday, Feb. 8, and Thursday, April 11.
Jenzabar update
A little over four months ago, Saint Mary’s was in the Go Dark period while switching between the university’s old student information system (SIS) and the new system, Jenzabar.
Since that time, significant improvements have been made. Here are a few of the major accomplishments:
- Distributed financial aid to over 2,300 students
- Registered over 3,000 students for the Spring 2024 semester
- Implemented a single portal for students and employees (The Nest)
- Integrated and automated enrollment information into Canvas
- Implemented a new Early Alert system at the college
- Improved the course search, registration, and advising processes
- Made payment plans available to students across the institution
- Moved several forms online
- Started snapshots of our data for future data analytics dashboards
- Created stronger security around our student data
Throughout the next year, more integrations, reports, and optimizations will happen in the system. Here’s a short list of what to expect in the next few months:
- Additional reports available to deans, program directors, and department chairs (December)
- Student registration data integrating back into our CRM (TargetX) from the SIS (Jenzabar) to complete a full cycle (December)
- Online SGPP Graduation application form (January)
- Improved individualized communications direct to students that are tracked within the system (March)
These additional integrations are also on our roadmap but we haven’t determined the exact ETA yet:
- ERezlife (residence life housing)
- Maxient (student affairs judicial)
- Raiser’s Edge (development)
- Handshake (career services)
- UConnect (career services)
- PyraMed (wellness center)
If you see any of our Jenzabar module managers or the IT application team, please show your support. A significant amount of time has been invested in this implementation, and without this team, it would not be possible. Module Managers include Alison Block, Kelly Boice, Tricia Dobrient, Michelle Dougherty, Colin Malay, Niki Peterson, Amanda Schock, Erika Kim, Kara Wener, and Chris Verch. Application Team members are Long Dao, Chris DuRose, Patrick Garry, Ryan Kenaga, and Jeff Wanger.
Save the Date for Hendrickson Institute Forum, featuring Jon Clifton
Save the date for Wednesday, April 10, when Jon Clifton, CEO of the Gallup Organization, the global analytics and advisory firm, will serve as the keynote speaker for the Hendrickson Forum on Saint Mary’s Minneapolis Campus. The event will begin at 11 a.m. with the lunch and keynote from noon to 1:30 p.m.
The keynote presentation is titled, “Eliminating our Blind Spots: Finding the Road to Happiness,” in which Clifton will discuss his Wall Street Journal Best Seller, “Blind Spot: The Global Rise of Unhappiness and How Leaders Missed It.”
He explains that while leaders pay close attention to measures like GDP or unemployment, almost none of them track their citizens’ wellbeing and that the implications of this blind spot are significant and far-reaching.
Grounded in Gallup’s global research, “Blind Spot” makes the urgent case that leaders should measure and quantify wellbeing and happiness — how citizens’ lives are going — and shows them how. Learn the five key elements of a great life and where the world needs to improve in each of them to better the lives of people everywhere.
Clifton’s mission is to connect 1 billion individuals with their unique strengths, assist organizations in fostering thriving workplaces, and help 8 billion of the world’s citizens be heard on their most pressing issues through the Gallup World Poll, a century-long project spanning over 150 countries. After joining Gallup in 2008, Clifton rose to the position of global managing partner in the firm’s consulting division, leveraging behavioral economics to advise leaders.
Clifton has also contributed to notable platforms like The Economist, BBC, and the Harvard Business Review. He holds a board position at Gallup and has formerly been a board member for entities such as Meridian International, Young Professionals in Foreign Policy, Streetwise Partners, and the University of Nebraska’s International Business Advisory Board.
He has a Juris Doctor, specializing in international law, from the University of Nebraska, as well as bachelor’s degrees in political science and history from the University of Michigan. He holds a senior fellowship at Baylor University Institute for the Studies of Religion and has been recognized with honorary doctorates in humane letters by Midland University and Western New England University.
For more information and to register, information will soon be available at smumn.edu/hendricksonforum.
Letter from Father Burns regarding Financial Accountability and Strategic Thinking Task Force
Dear Saint Mary’s Faculty and Staff:
Recently, our dear friends and benefactors – the Slaggie Family – gifted Saint Mary’s with a transformative $10 million gift for innovative, faith-based education. As I expressed during our State of the University, it is important that we continue to share in moments of genuine celebration, recognizing how blessed we have been with renewed growth in our undergraduate program and incredibly generous donors who believe in our direction. While we celebrate these accomplishments, we also must continue to navigate the challenge of declining credit hours in our graduate and bachelor completion programs.
To further our academic, enrollment, and philanthropic growth, earlier this month, I formed a special committee – the Financial Accountability and Strategic Thinking (FAST) Task Force – to focus on enrollment strategies and to conduct an intensive review of the current and future state of our graduate and bachelor completion programs. The committee’s leadership team consists of Dr. Max Bonilla, provost and dean of faculties; Mr. Andy Dirksen, chief of staff; Dr. Michael McMahon, vice president for enrollment management; and Ms. Michelle Rovang, vice president for marketing and communication. The task force will be chaired by Dr. McMahon. I am confident that we will make very good progress in the months ahead as we collaboratively create positive solutions for our current graduate enrollment and operational challenges.
I recognize this will take our collective efforts and I thank you in advance for your willingness to work with the team if asked to participate more directly. Be assured I have asked the task force to provide regular communication updates to the community as work progresses. As we navigate through this next stage of engaging our mission, know that I greatly appreciate your commitment and dedication to Saint Mary’s and our students. As we face strong headwinds in higher education, I know that by continuing to join together in these ways we will create not only a sustainable university but one that will thrive for decades to come.
Live Jesus in our hearts, forever!
Father Burns
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 governor drops college-degree requirement for most state jobs (MPR)
- Nearly two-thirds of Minnesota undergrads take out student loans (Minnesota Reformer)
- Hundreds of colleges now offer automatic admission to students (Forbes)
- Weighing perceptions against realities of going to college (Inside Higher Ed)
Faculty, staff receive additional courtesy half-day off to celebrate Thanksgiving
All faculty and staff will receive an additional courtesy half-day off to celebrate Thanksgiving in recognition of and in gratitude for everyone’s hard work and dedication throughout this past year. Providing the whole day off the day before Thanksgiving will provide staff and faculty an opportunity for extra time with family and friends for respite and relaxation. Please note that this full-day replaces the previously scheduled half-courtesy day on Wednesday, Nov. 22.
Saint Mary’s announces $10 million gift from Slaggie Family Foundation; impactful gift tied to innovation and university’s future
MINNEAPOLIS/WINONA, Minn. — The Steve and Barb Slaggie family has long believed in the value of Catholic education and the importance of Saint Mary’s University within the Winona community. Their recent $10 million gift commitment is testimony to this belief and will provide Saint Mary’s with a remarkable transformational gift for generations.
The Slaggie Family Foundation – which is overseen by Stephen and Barbara Slaggie – announced a planned $10 million gift to Saint Mary’s, which will be directed toward the future of Saint Mary’s and innovation. In addition to their parents, the four Slaggie children supported this commitment, including son Michael B’93, a Saint Mary’s alumnus.
The Slaggie family is well-known in southeast Minnesota. Steve was one of the founders of Fastenal, a global industrial supply company, headquartered in Winona.
Ever committed to their community and region, they are active champions for Catholic education, the arts, and humanitarian causes. They have deep and long relationships with Cotter Schools, Mayo Clinic, Saint John’s University, and Saint Mary’s. The family’s deep ties with Saint Mary’s date back to the 1950s, including three generations that have served on boards for the institution. With previous financial support of Saint Mary’s students given through Countdown to College and the First Generation Initiative (FGI), they also helped to establish the Jul Gernes (B ’61) Pool, in memory of Barb and Steve’s brother-in-law.
“As well-established members of this community, it is incredibly encouraging to me and so many at the university that the Slaggie’s have chosen to assist us in this way. Their support demonstrates that they view Saint Mary’s as a pillar in the Winona area and beyond. They want us to stay and thrive, and they understand how critical we are to the local community. Barb and Steve believe that Saint Mary’s has what it takes to deliver on an excellent faith-based education. It is even more heartening to be recipients of their generosity since they knew we had to make difficult decisions over the last few years. Their gift is an affirmation of the direction we have moved in,” said the Very Rev. James P. Burns, IVD, Ph.D., president of Saint Mary’s. “I view the Slaggies as dear friends and humble servant leaders who continue to see the importance of the mission and vision of Saint Mary’s. Simply put, their generous philanthropic gift is a blessing, as are they.”
“Knowing many, including our son and my siblings, who have attended Saint Mary’s, we know the knowledge and strong leadership they foster in their students. We are galvanized by the change Saint Mary’s students and alumni are able to make, and want to see that continue through our gift,” said Steve Slaggie.
Along with a son who graduated from the university, Steve Slaggie’s two brothers, Tom and Michael Slaggie B’60, attended Saint Mary’s. Tom Slaggie was expected to be a member of the Class of ’58, but received an appointment to the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York.
“There is no question of my fond memories, and how I was shaped during my time at Saint Mary’s,” said son, Michael, B’93. “Our family deeply believes in the importance of the Lasallian Catholic experience at this university, and we are inspired by the students we continue to meet – really, the future leaders of our country that will need strong character and virtue for the challenges they will encounter. It has been reassuring to get to know Father Burns during challenging times to help clarify the critical academic changes that were made at the university.”
This generous gift will be allocated toward a $100 million challenge set earlier this year by an anonymous benefactor. The benefactor and his family made a $25 million commitment, the largest in Saint Mary’s history, to inspire others to step forward to support the university and to position it for a strong and successful future. With this most recent gift, the university has raised approximately $34 million on the $100 million goal.
“We continue to be humbled and inspired by the generosity of benefactors who have given to our university. Each person who gives demonstrates his or her commitment to who we are as a university and who we are becoming. These gifts continue to impact our graduates as they enter the workforce with the valuable blend of character education, real-world preparation, hands-on learning, and ethical leadership skills,” said the Very Rev. James P. Burns, IVD, Ph.D. “This remarkable gift by the Slaggie’s, our friends and unwavering supporters, is yet another indication of their devotion to their Catholic faith and ours. It stands as a tribute to Saint Mary’s and a challenge for others to do likewise, according to their ability. It reaffirms the Christ-like vision we share in and is the direction we have set for our hope filled future.”
Merchlewitz awarded Distinguished Lasallian Educator, Robertson nominated
The Saint Mary’s Community is pleased to announce that Ann Merchlewitz, senior vice president and general counsel, has been honored by the De La Salle Christian Brothers—Midwest District with the Distinguished Lasallian Educator award. Andy Robertson, director of Saint Mary’s GeoSpatial Services, was also nominated for the prestigious honor.
The award is bestowed every year to educators who best exemplify the ideals of John Baptist de La Salle.
Merchlewitz received the award alongside Michael Blanchette, a theology teacher and department chair at Montini Catholic High School in Lombard, Ill.
Read more about the award and the nominees here.
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.
- Enrollment pressures bear down on Iowa’s private colleges (Cedar Rapids Gazette)
- Growing Enrollment, Shrinking Future (Inside Higher Ed)
- Career Support Boosts Alumni Perception of College’s Value (Inside Higher Ed)
Saint Mary’s collaborates with Bloomington Police Department on Brain Health Services program
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota is excited to partner with the new Bloomington Community Brain Health Services program. This innovative mental health pilot program will provide in-home, telehealth, and in-office mental health services to individuals and families in need following a mental health crisis and police intervention with the Bloomington Police Department (BPD). Booker Hodges, Bloomington police chief and 2007 Saint Mary’s alumnus, has envisioned improving access to mental health resources for those in crisis for many years. He reached out to Saint Mary’s because of the quality education he and his wife received as students and the fact that our Lasallian mission of respect for all persons, inclusive community, and concern for social justice rings true in the service of our students.
Lindsey Teigland, Ph.D., counseling psychology program director, and Sara Heinzen, marriage and family therapy associate and clinical director, have been working with Chief Hodges and his team this year to consult on best practices and create a unique practicum experience for students from both programs. Two members of the Saint Mary’s community, former Marriage and Family Therapy faculty member, Janet Yeats, and a 2021 graduate of the program, Luke Campbell, were referred to and selected as the licensed and administrative supervisors who will lead the students in this program.
Up to eight students from both programs will work as mental health counselors in the pilot program, which launches in December. Following a referral from the BPD after a mental health crisis call, our students and their supervisors will provide free mental health care and treatment to individuals and families for up to 10 weeks – something that has been unheard of until now.
Luke Campbell shared, “I am incredibly excited and thankful to be a part of the new mental health pilot program with Bloomington City Police Department. Since graduating from the Marriage and Family Therapy program at Saint Mary’s in 2021, I have realized that we are at a critical point in terms of mental health and well-being as a result of what we all have endured in the last couple of years with a limited number of providers. Our hope with the Bloomington Community Brain Health Services program is to alleviate some of the burden and increase accessibility for those needing mental health services and support.”
Eliminating barriers to mental health services can be the first step in creating systemic change for families in our community and beyond. This is a fantastic opportunity for our students to be on the front line of doing community support work and offering resources to those in need.
Learn more about this exciting new program from KARE 11 news:
Saint Mary’s community announcements
Thompson presented with Saint John Baptist de LaSalle Teacher award
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota has awarded Renee Thompson the Saint John Baptist de LaSalle Teacher Award. Thompson is a longtime course-contracted faculty member in the M.S. in Accounting and MBA program. She received the award at the annual Fall Faculty Conference on Sept. 23.
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.
Ratajczyk discusses AI at international Lasallian conference
Michael Ratajczyk, associate professor and director for the Business Intelligence and Data Analytics program, recently took center stage at an international Lasallian education conference to discuss artificial intelligence. He addressed a diverse gathering of over 200 attendees from Central and South American Lasallian schools and universities, shedding light on the current and future implications of artificial intelligence (AI) on society, international trade, culture, and sustainability.
Kabara Institute announces Innovation Scholars team
Four Saint Mary’s students have been selected to take part in the Minnesota Private College Council’s Innovation Scholars program. The four students include Francis Perroud, Nicholas Kiemel, Noah Haidar, and Seth Peterson.
Through Innovation Scholars, Saint Mary’s students from across academic disciplines have an opportunity to research and make recommendations on innovative medical technology that is in development at Mayo Clinic.
Saint Mary’s has been participating in this program for well over a decade, and previous participants have been very successful at merging the fields of business and science to address an external challenge.
Benefactors, philanthropic trust awarded Heritage Award for Transformational Philanthropy
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota recognized the generosity of a benefactor family and a philanthropic trust that have been longtime supporters of the university with the Heritage Award for Transformational Philanthropy on Oct. 12.
The two recipients of the award included the Riebenack Family – Walter, his late wife Mary Ann, and two daughters Kristen and Angela – and the Otto Bremer Trust.
The Riebenack Family
When Kristen began attending Saint Mary’s in the mid-90s to pursue a master’s degree in Philanthropy and Development, Walter and Mary Ann Riebenack began making contributions to the university. As a passionately inspired student and professional in the field of philanthropy, it was Kristen who encouraged them to take things a step further. As such, their first scholarship, The F. Walter and Mary Ann Riebenack Scholarship, was formed in 2003 to benefit students in the M.A. in Philanthropy and Development program.
Sadly, Kristen lost a battle with cancer in 2013. To honor her work, Walter and Mary Ann established a second scholarship, in 2015, the Kristen A. Riebenack Memorial Scholarship.
These scholarships have impacted the lives of every single recipient in deep and meaningful ways, supporting their dreams to pursue an advanced degree at Saint Mary’s.
The Riebenacks also funded the 10 Commandments monument on the Winona campus, lifting the Lasallian Catholic Heritage of the university.
Otto Bremer Trust
The Otto Bremer Trust is a private charitable trust based in Saint Paul. Created in 1944 by Otto Bremer, a dedicated community leader involved in civic, financial, and corporate life, the Otto Bremer Trust invests in people, places, and opportunities in our region.
The philanthropic relationship with Saint Mary’s University (then College) originated in 1981. The Otto Bremer Trust has since generously given over $1 million to support Saint Mary’s students, faculty, programming in ethical leadership, and its Lasallian mission.
The Otto Bremer Trust established two endowed funds in honor of inaugural trustee Lawrence A. Carr and his son-in-law and trustee Robert J. Reardon. The Robert J. Reardon Memorial Scholarship supports full-time undergraduate students of color on the Winona Campus with demonstrated financial need. The current Otto Bremer Trustees include Charlotte S. Johnson, Daniel C. Reardon, and Francis M. Miley. The daughter of Robert J. Reardon is Saint Mary’s alumnae, Catherine Reardon B’83.
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