Saint Mary's Newsroom / Campus Notes
Winona Campus Newsletter
Technology brings students closer to nature
Ray Faber, Ph.D., will freely admit that understanding technology doesn’t always come naturally.
But, in this pandemic, Dr. Faber is using technology to make nature more understandable.
With the use of a GoPro and other videos, he’s transporting his ecology lab students virtually to multiple locations.
“We would normally transport students to sites in the field,” he said. “The labs are well thought out and have been successful in the past, and I wanted to do the same thing this year, but it’s impossible under the current guidelines. It involves travel and, in a couple of cases, boats, and we really can’t do either. So the plan is to use videos to visit those sites and create videos of features we want to experience.”
So far, with the help of assistant professor Tom Rodegen, Dr. Faber has used GoPro footage for one lab. It wasn’t without its share of difficulties, including a one-minute recording limit, a lengthy upload time, and some overheating. Undaunted, the two are trying a different format for their next outing. Rodengen said the use of video is beneficial because students learn in a variety of ways. “It provides a sort of ‘textbook’ if it ever needs to be referenced,” he said.
Rodengen and Dr. Faber say they are learning as they go and plan to expand using video for other critical curriculum units like the nearby lock and dam system.
“People come in with the opinion that the Mississippi River is merely a great natural resource when, in fact, it’s a river of commerce, always has been, and it has been dramatically manipulated over the years to accommodate that commerce and other usages,” Dr. Faber said. “Those changes really modify the environment. So I like to have students become aware of what has resulted from the changes that have been made, changes we didn’t always anticipate would happen. There are a lot of ecological lessons.”
Later on this semester, he plans to record a visit to the Trempealeau National Wildlife refuge, a prairie restoration project that has had its own difficulties throughout the years, according to Dr. Faber.
For example, he details how the refuge went from being a farm to being overrun by weeds. The property’s new manager chose to use a standard burning practice to restore the land to its original prairie state. Although he had some success, one invasive species, the black locust, actually thrived. “Fire removed all the other trees but the black locust has vegetative reproduction so its growth was stimulated by the burning,” Dr. Faber said. “Then, in the 1960s, they used a chemical to get rid of the black locus and ended up contaminating the wildlife refuge trying to address this problem.”
Dr. Faber said the basis of ecology is understanding all the factors that affect an organism at any point in its life cycle. ”What we do has multiple impacts,” he said. If we want to conserve and protect our world, we need to know the consequences of our actions. It’s an important lesson that Dr. Faber hopes to make more understandable and relatable to his students any way he can.
Upcoming SAC events, Oct. 8-11
Student Activities Committee (SAC), invites the Cardinal community to the following events happening this week:
FREE Stress Kits
Thursday, Oct. 8, at 5 p.m. in the plaza
Stop by the plaza for a free stress kit from SAC to help you get through midterms! While supplies last.
Outdoor Movie Night: ‘Ghostbusters’
Friday, Oct. 9, at 7 p.m. in the plaza
Free screening of “Ghostbusters.” Bring your mask and a blanket to watch this classic Halloween movie! Free chips and finger gloves will be available to all in attendance. Some blankets will also be available on a limited basis.
SAC Retreat
Saturday, Oct. 10, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. in Salvi
Attend the SAC retreat to learn what SAC does on campus and how you can join this incredible student organization. All who attend will receive a free SAC T-shirt.
Virtual Bingo
Saturday, Oct.10, at 7 p.m.
All are invited to join SAC for virtual bingo this Saturday. Hundreds of dollars worth of prizes, all sent to your doorstep if you win!
Interested in joining SAC? Contact Sarah Fowler, SAC president, at safowl17@smumn.edu.
Come see us write now!
Meet with a Writing Center tutor via Zoom or email for support at any stage of your writing process. We’re here to help you get started, organize your draft, and improve your sentence structure and grammar. Visit the Writing Center website today to make an appointment!
Three recent faculty publications
Farhiya Farah, Ph.D., MPH, director of public health programs, co-published an article titled “Prevalence of Cardiovascular Disease and Risk Factors Among Somali Immigrants and Refugees” in the Journal of Immigrant Minority Health. Read the article.
The Fall issue of Update: The Newsletter of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities features an article by Michael Hahn, Ph.D., program director, Character and Virtue Education, titled “Reckoning and Redemption: Confronting the Visible Legacy of Racism on Campus.” Article available online.
Ben Pauli, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Biology Department, recently co-published an article on the illegal killing of wildlife in protected areas in Idaho. Read the article or review a related press release.
Meet Dr. Rosenthal, assistant professor of Psy.D. in Counseling Psychology
Dr. Rosenthal
Marina Rosenthal, Ph.D., joined Saint Mary’s University as an assistant professor in the Psy.D. in Counseling Psychology program on Aug. 1.
Outside of Saint Mary’s, Dr. Rosenthal is a licensed psychologist at Leaderwise Counseling, a role she’s held since 2019. Prior to this, she served as a postdoctoral counseling fellow at Hamline University, a psychology intern at Dayton VA Medical Center, and a therapist in numerous capacities. Her clinical and teaching experiences are extensive.
“As a clinical psychologist, my practice focuses on couples therapy and trauma treatment,” said Dr. Rosenthal. “My teaching interests include trauma psychology, evidence-based therapies, and multiculturalism. I enjoy supporting students in developing research projects to explore the topics about which they are passionate.”
Dr. Rosenthal holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in clinical psychology from the University of Oregon and a B.A. in psychology from Occidental College. As an instructor, she was previously awarded the Distinguished Teaching Award and the Peer Mentor Award.
Touting an impressive list of co-published peer-reviewed journal articles and other publications, Dr. Rosenthal is an expert on topics such as sex-based harassment, sexual violence on campus, family betrayal and childhood trauma, and more.
“I am particularly excited to join Saint Mary’s community given the strong focus on social justice, service, and inclusivity,” Dr. Rosenthal said. “I am grateful for the opportunity to provide support to students on their journey to becoming psychologists who can ethically and compassionately serve communities in need.”
Join us in welcoming Dr. Rosenthal!
Saint Mary’s in the news
Local publications featured Saint Mary’s in recent news about COVID-19:
- “Winona County breaks 1,000 COVID-19 case mark; local higher education institutes react” (Winona Daily News)
- “Winona State University sees slow down in COVID-19 cases” (Winona Daily News)
- “College students adapt to new normal” (Winona Post)
Saint Mary’s was mentioned in an update about efforts to add a second daily Amtrak train between the Twin Cities and Chicago:
- “Second daily round-trip train between Twin Cities, Chicago edges closer to reality” (The Star Tribune)
It’s Mental Health Awareness Week
October is Disabilities Awareness Month, and Oct. 5-9 is Mental Health Awareness Week.
The Green Bandana Project is excited to offer a virtual training for all those interested on Wednesday, Oct. 7, from 6 to 8 p.m.!
The Green Bandana Project is designed to help people who are experiencing mental illness become more aware of resources available. Roughly 200 individuals have undergone this training on campus and are better equipped to serve others and make Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota a better place.
Students who have completed a mental health training session will be given a green banana to attach to their backpacks — along with small tags containing resources such as on-campus services or off-campus organizations.
The bandana indicates that the student with it:
- Is a trained and safe individual to approach with mental health-related issues.
- Knows how to access resources.
- Can help connect others to various outlets to provide help and support in times of crisis.
Sign up for the training to receive a Zoom link for the training. Spots are filling up quickly, so sign up today!
If you have any questions contact senior Justine Schultz at jxschu16@smumn.edu or Student-Athlete Advisory Committee advisor, Sam Borawski at sborawsk@smumn.edu.
Upcoming Campus Ministry events
New this week
Lasallian Day of Service
Saturday, Oct. 10, from 1 to 3 p.m.
Meet in front of the Saint Thomas More Chapel
Serve our Lasallian community by volunteering. While we cannot leave campus to be on mission this year, there are lots of ways to volunteer on our own campus. Sign up with Sister Mary Elizabeth Anne at campusminsitry@smumn.edu or by filling out the volunteer form.
REJOICE!: A Musical Evening of Praise
Saturday, Oct. 10, at 7 p.m. in Page Theatre
All are invited to a special night of music, following the success of our inaugural Jesus Jam in the plaza. A variety of artists will perform a mix of songs from rock to traditional, both covers and originals. The seminary band, Sons of Thunder, will close with a 30-minute set. You don’t want to miss it!
Sign up by emailing campusministry@smumn.edu.
Beirut Lebanon explosion
On Aug. 4 a large amount of ammonium nitrate stored at the port of the city of Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, exploded causing at least 200 deaths, 6,500 injuries, $10 to $15 billion in property damage, and leaving an estimated 300,000 people homeless. The people are in desperate need of help.
Please pray for everyone affected by this bombing, and, if you are able, take advantage of the opportunity to donate: Saint Maron’s Church, Minneapolis
Your generosity will help millions of people recover from the devastation. Thank you.
JOIN THE KNIGHTS
The Knights of Columbus are accepting members. This is a Catholic fraternity on campus that promotes faith and charitable works. Contact Isaiah Lippert at ijlipp17@smumn.edu to learn more.
The election is coming! The USCCB offers a resource to prepare your conscience.
Every week
QUO VADIS
Mondays at 7 p.m. in Saint Mary’s 102
Life’s big question’s, Catholic answers. All faith traditions are welcome, Catholic or not. Contact Brian Kusek at bkusek@smumn.edu to sign up (or come play games in the plaza before at 6:30 p.m.).
APOLOGETICS
Wednesdays at 4 p.m. in Saint Mary’s 102
Want to learn how to explain your faith? Join the conversation.
BIBLE STUDY
FOCUS Missionaries, peer ministers, staff, and seminarians all host bible studies for different groups with varying interests. Sign up by emailing campusministry@smumn.edu.
Tutoring and peer learning assistance
Sign up for a tutor or a peer learning assistant at smumn.joinknack.com.
If you need help with writing papers contact the Saint Mary’s Writing Centers.
The Academic Success Workshop site has a variety of resources from time management to online learning.
Meet the Brothers on Oct. 8
Did you graduate from any of these high schools in the Midwest?
- Benilde-St. Margaret’s School
- Bishop Kelley High School
- Christian Brothers College High School (St. Louis)
- Christian Brothers High School (Memphis)
- Cretin-Derham Hall
- De La Salle Blackfeet School
- DeLaSalle High School
- De La Salle Institute
- Holy Family Catholic High School
- La Salle High School (Cincinnati)
- Montini Catholic High School
- Resurrection College Prep High School
- Saint Joseph High School (Westchester)
- Saint Patrick High School
- San Miguel Chicago
- San Miguel Tulsa
- San Miguel High School (Tucson)
- Totino-Grace High School
If you did, then, as you probably know, you came from a Lasallian school. You may or may not have met Brothers at your school, but here’s an opportunity to get to know some of the Brothers on our Saint Mary’s Winona Campus. Brothers come in all shapes and sizes, but all of them want to be present and available for you.
So, with that in mind, the Brothers on campus are inviting you to an organizational meeting to learn more about Lasallian Collegians. (You may have been involved in Lasallian Youth in high school.)
Come and meet a few of the Brothers, enjoy some cupcakes, and help us plan our next steps.
We’ll be meeting at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 8, in the Toner Student Center Lounge.
For more information, contact Brother Larry Schatz, FSC, at lschatz@smumn.edu.
Student Senate meeting agenda for Oct. 6
The next Student Senate meeting will be Tuesday, Oct. 6, at 7 p.m. Attire for this meeting is business casual, as Father James P. Burns, IVD, Ph.D., president of Saint Mary’s University, will be in attendance.
Agenda:
- Call to order
- Reflection/prayer
- Roll call
- Presentation by Father Burns
- Knights of Columbus introduction
- MPCC and Thank You Note Campaign discussion
- Capital improvement and committee creation discussion
- E-board reports with year goals from each vice presidential position
- Senator concerns
- Adjournment
October Counselor Newsletter
Featured Event: Explore the Nest
We are offering a few different options for students this MEA break (Oct. 15 – 17). Whether you are able to visit in-person or would prefer to learn more virtually, we have an option for you! You can go to our visit website and schedule an individual campus tour or register for information sessions and student panels that will be held virtually. Make the most of your MEA break by signing up to learn more about Saint Mary’s today!
Virtual Events for Fall Semester
Explore the Nest
Thursday – Saturday
Oct. 15 – 17
Outdoor Recreation Webinar
Friday, Oct. 23
3+2 PA Focus Day
Friday, Nov. 6
Student Webinar Wednesdays
Scholarships
Generous merit scholarships are awarded to first-year students along with Saint Mary’s offering first-year students a number of scholarships to nurture creativity and artistic talent. Merit scholarships range from $20k-$25k. Students are awarded scholarships for merit, alumni legacy, Catholic high school, and distance. Students who major in Art, Theater, Music and Dance may apply for competitive awards. Music scholarships are awarded to non-majors in addition to music majors. Auditions and portfolio reviews will be done virtually. In addition to all of the above, students will qualify for a Cardinal Visit Scholarship, a renewable, $1,000 per year, scholarship, awarded to incoming first-year students who make an official campus visit or schedule a virtual visit during their senior year of high school and are admitted to Saint Mary’s. www.smumn.edu/visit All scholarships are renewable for 4 years.
3+2 Physician Assistant
In collaboration with Mayo Clinic, Saint Mary’s offers a 5-year Physician Assistant Program. This fast track program will allow students the opportunity for a meaningful career in the medical field and to ultimately work within the Midwest for the world-renowned Mayo Clinic Health System. Students will spend three years studying at Saint Mary’s new state of the art Science and Learning Center on our Winona Campus.
The following two years, they will learn from Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences faculty at Saint Mary’s Rochester Campus and have clinical learning experiences at Mayo Clinic in Rochester and throughout Mayo Clinic Health System. At the conclusion of the fourth year, students will earn a Bachelor of Arts in Biology – Health Science from Saint Mary’s University, and at the end of their fifth year, they will earn a Master of Health Sciences in PA Studies Degree from Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences.
Requirements
- Online application with three essay questions
- Transcripts
- A letter of recommendation and an evaluation from one science teacher
- A minimum GPA of 3.5 or higher
- Saint Mary’s is test optional but candidates must show they are calculus ready by demonstrating a 26 in math on the ACT or passing the Saint Mary’s math placement exam
- Personal interview
- The ideal candidate will understand the roles and responsibilities associated with a career as a PA.
- Preference will be given to candidates who can demonstrate leadership, commitment to practice locally, maturity, resilience, compassion, service, and military service.
- Preparations in mathematics are required with courses that prepare students for college calculus.
- Applicants should speak with an admission counselor for more information
Have Questions?
Brenda Jones
Associate Regional Director of Admission
bjones@smumn.edu
Save the date for civil discourse events
In a universitywide initiative, the Office of the Provost and the Office of Student Affairs will be hosting debate watch events and panel discussions on civil discourse one hour prior to the presidential debate. These moderated events will take place over Zoom.
These are non-advocacy events, with a chance to hear from panelists and engage in discussions about civil discourse informed by the USCCB document, Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility from the Catholic Bishops of the United States.
Each panelist will speak for 5-10 minutes from their own context about civil discourse in this democratic republic. The floor will then be opened up for dialogue with the event concluding by 7:50 p.m., giving everyone time to watch the debate on their own.
Save the date for the final event. Panelist details will be shared soon.
- Thursday, Oct. 22, at 7 p.m. prior to the presidential debate (join the event)
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