Saint Mary's Newsroom / Campus Notes
Winona Campus Newsletter
Degree breaks down barriers to career advancements
Chris Ebert B’20 was stuck.
He was ready for a new challenge at work, but advancing without a bachelor’s degree was going to be nearly impossible.
“I was stuck against that ceiling,” he said. “I was lucky to get as far as I did without a degree. I needed that piece of paper to knock the barrier down.”
Ebert was only 12 credits short of having his bachelor’s degree. As a Saint Mary’s traditional undergraduate, he was lured away by work opportunities before earning his diploma. Eventually he knew he was going to need to go back and finish.
“That next role was never going to happen if I didn’t finish my education,” he said. “First thing you see on our job board, every position reads ‘bachelor degree preferred.’ ”
At an educational job fair, Ebert ran into an admissions counselor and Paul Christensen from Saint Mary’s Department of Business and Technology, who is the program director for several bachelor completion programs including the B.S. in Business Administration.
They formulated a plan for Ebert to complete his degree, and he took his first course in 2018. Then, again, life got in the way, and — with the help of Straighterline and some prompting from Christensen — he finished in 2020.
“Paul put together a plan that made it easy to do,” he said. “They put together a custom program to put me over the finish line. I was missing a gen ed in science and they gave me an extra business course instead, which was more valuable to the track I was on. I would have done the science course, but it was not as applicable to my job. I give Paul a lot of credit. He really hustled to make something custom fit for what would benefit me the most.”
Ebert said he found the courses directly applicable to his work in data analytics. “I didn’t know the textbook terms for things I’d learned on the job. So I could start applying the proper terms to things I already knew, which was kind of fun,” he said. “And I learned a few new things. I’ve never been the world’s greatest writer. With written communications and oral communications, my skills improved significantly.”
He also appreciated that the instructors brought their relevant work experience into the classroom. “The professor for business analytics on the Minneapolis Campus had worked his whole career as an industry professional, so he brought a lot of real-world experience which made his lectures interesting,” Ebert said. “That insight was neat for me to experience.”
The flexibility of being able to take two courses online helped him achieve his goal to push himself and finish as quickly as he could. A self-proclaimed Excel dork, Ebert made an Excel file of his assignments, their due dates, and how many points they were worth – all to keep him on track with his studies. “I love the little check marks,” he said. “It turns green when a no turns to a yes. And I’m a “going-to-get-all-the-points person if I’m going to keep score. I get really competitive.”
After quickly completing his bachelor’s at Saint Mary’s, Ebert’s career path has continued to accelerate. Currently happy as a senior business analyst with 3M, Ebert is also finishing his Master’s in Business Intelligence and Data Analytics from Saint Mary’s.
As an undergraduate student, a bachelor’s completion student, and a student in the master’s program, Ebert said he would absolutely recommend Saint Mary’s. “I take any excuse I can to come back to campus. It’s a special place. I loved my smaller class sizes, and all of my professors knew who I was. In the bachelor’s completion business program, Paul was extremely helpful and fair but also tough when he has to be. I’m a person who asks a lot of questions, and I never feel like I was annoying him.”
To adult learners looking to complete a degree or get an advanced degree, he advises them to go for it. “It’ll never be easier than it is today,” he said. “It’ll also never be cheaper than it is today. The cost was a big factor for me. I paid for it out of pocket. Same for the master’s program. The value you get is second to none.”
Major gift announcement
With philanthropy being a key focus to help advance Saint Mary’s strategic plan, the university community is pleased to announce that it has received a $4.5 million gift.
The gift comes from an anonymous donor and will be used for the renovation of Aquinas Hall. This new gift comes just weeks after the university received a $25 million gift commitment.
Read the entire news release about the university’s newest gift: https://newsroom.smumn.edu/2023/04/12/saint-marys-university-receives-4-5-million-gift/
Saint Mary’s website update
It has been six months since the launch of Saint Mary’s new website. In that time, thousands of changes and improvements have been made with continuous improvement the name of the game for the university’s top channel of communication.
As was noted upon the launch of the site, the focus of the site is reaching prospective students and providing them with a top-notch experience during their visits – and hopefully repeat visits.
The site is functioning well and more data is being captured, which helps marketing and communication prioritize fixes and enhancements with the goal of driving engagement and ease of navigation.
Improvement Highlights
Compelling and targeted content is being added to the site along with navigation enhancements for adult learners. Thanks to increased data collection capabilities, the web team learned more is needed to attract and engage adult prospective students.
Data-informed decision-making is evident in a more effective content strategy being implemented to engage users on academic program pages. At this time, work is ongoing to revise the layout of each program page to create a better user experience.
With better data syncing, we can now track visitors further in their journeys on the web and can follow them through the point where they request information.This was not possible before due to lack of integration with data systems, which had stymied our capabilities. Another tracking win is knowing customer journey behavior through the stage of applying from our advertising campaigns.
Tracking shows that visitors are spending more time on the website and viewing more pages each visit. The site has had more than 40,000 returning visitors since launch and these users have revisited the site three or more times, which is a direct measure of increased engagement. Also, someone coming to the site is able to quickly get information with a “load” time of one second, while the industry standard is 4.7 seconds. This high-speed entry option supports our efforts to move visitors through the site to ask for information or apply.
Marketing and Communication also created a new tagging strategy for the website’s calendar, as well as stories in the newsroom. This tagging strategy will allow calendar events, news, and stories to be automatically populated throughout the website on well over 100 pages.
Saint Mary’s University receives $4.5 million gift
WINONA/MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Just weeks after announcing a record $25 million gift commitment, Saint Mary’s University has received a new gift of $4.5 million.
“Two gifts of this importance in such a short amount of time is extraordinary,” said the Very Rev. James P. Burns, IVD, Ph.D., Saint Mary’s president. “At a time when the value of a higher education is increasingly questioned and enrollment declines are impacting most schools across the nation, I can’t think of a clearer affirmation about the importance of our renewed vision for a Lasallian Catholic educational approach that is preparing students for career success and ethical leadership throughout their lives; an education grounded in a faith-based environment of service to God and humanity. This latest gift validates the work we are doing to stabilize and grow the university while continuing to provide an excellent education and a strong character building experience. We could not be more grateful to this benefactor.”
This new $4.5 million gift, which will be made in 2023 and 2024, will complete fundraising efforts for the renovation of Aquinas Hall, the Winona Campus’ newly transformed state-of-the-art facility for business, science, psychology, and its new nursing program. The $16 million project was completed in 2021.
The most recent benefactors, who wish to remain anonymous, acknowledged the work that Saint Mary’s has undertaken in the last year to reduce spending, right size academic offerings, and set the path for long-term stability. They appreciate that their gift will allow the university to grow in areas most sought after by students and employers while retaining our commitment to a liberal education core for each student.
About Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
Grounded in Lasallian Catholic values, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota awakens, nurtures, and empowers learners to ethical lives of service and leadership. Whether in person or online, adult or undergraduate, students are treated with respect, taught with humanity, and supported by faculty and staff committed to their success in programs designed to prepare graduates for today’s and tomorrow’s careers. Founded in 1912 and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota enrolls nearly 4,100 students at its undergraduate and graduate programs on campuses in Minneapolis, Rochester, Winona, and online. Saint Mary’s offers a highly personal, real-world-ready educational experience that fully prepares students to work, lead, and serve with character and purpose. Learn more at smumn.edu.
University progress made, momentum continues
As the academic year winds down in Winona, with commencement slated for Saturday, April 29, and with adult learners continuing their Saint Mary’s education wherever they are along their path, it is a good time to celebrate the progress made and reflect on the many months of good work completed. The year-long effort to advance the strategic plan, create financial stability, and establish a runway for future growth remains grounded in our mission and focused on how we can best serve our current and future students.
At convocation in August 2022, Father Burns noted three areas of concentration key to advancing our strategic plan and financial operating goals:
- Academics
- Enrollment
- Philanthropy
“We would not be able to look ahead with confidence to a hopeful future if not for the herculean effort of so many across the university,” said Father Burns. “In light of the continuing and harsh realities facing all sectors of higher education, particularly private education, we have forged ahead and created our path. We are well aware of the need to change and evolve or risk failure. We knew we needed to take quick and thoughtful action; we did just that this past year, and now we are well-positioned to meet our targeted growth goals and ensure financial stability.”
The president soberly noted several recent headlines that are cause for our communal reflection while being an affirmation of the difficult decisions Saint Mary’s made last year at this time. Those headlines include:
- “Plunging enrollment, financial woes, trustee exodus. Whittier College confronts crisis” (3-31-2023 L.A. Times)
- “Iowa Wesleyan University to close at end of academic year” (3-28-2023 KCRG-TV)
- “Catholic colleges cut humanities programs, citing student interest in other fields” (3-24-2023 National Catholic Reporter)
- “U seeks $97.5M more from lawmakers.” SUBHEAD: “Half the money would help cover decreasing enrollment and resulting tuition shortfalls” (3-11-2023 Minneapolis Star Tribune)
- “College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University to phase out 8 majors, 9 minors” (Minneapolis Star Tribune, 3-10-23)
- “Marymount University cuts English, several other majors.” SUBHEAD: “The Catholic university in Northern Virginia says it is restructuring to expand fields that draw more student interest.” (The Washington Post, 2-24-2023)
- Presentation College Will Close (Inside Higher Ed, 1-18-23)
Our accomplishments to date and future success rely on how well we continue to advance work in academics, enrollment, and philanthropy. The work will require coordination, priority setting, metrics, and clarity around the needs and wants of our students and employers seeking their many skills, gifts, and talents. High-level next steps in these focus areas include:
- Academics — Implement the new general education curriculum; continue to provide students needing teach-out support; imbue all programs with character education and virtue formation; organize optimally to serve student needs through technology, resources, and process improvements; refine and clearly articulate the value differentiators of our programs.
- Enrollment — Track progress diligently now that we have solid goals and metrics in place; increase data access to improve understanding of prospective students’ behaviors and needs; optimize targeted efforts to reach those students most likely to seek what we offer; work closely with marketing and communication to coordinate brand messaging, which drives awareness and interest in the university and its offerings; develop, execute, and optimize an enrollment plan for each school leveraging the gifts of academics, marketing/communications, and enrollment leaders; reach more adult students including those seeking online-only educational options; work consistently to reach our 900 undergraduate student goal and re-establish our place in the adult and graduate education space.
- Philanthropy – Build on the momentum of our largest-ever $25 million gift commitment; generate the $100 million challenge match set as a condition of the anonymous historic gift benefactor; maximize all benefactor giving with an eye of meeting mutually-beneficial goals for benefactors and the university.
Saint Mary’s Board of Trustees supports the priority work in the three areas noted by Father Burns and applauds the significant progress made that is advancing the university’s goals. It also recognizes that implementation and continued efforts are needed to maintain the great momentum underway.
“Strides have been made in all three priority areas as set by Father Burns and endorsed by the board toward the goal of achieving financial stability and serving students, as Saint Mary’s has always done extremely well,” said Terry Russell, Chair, Board of Trustees. “Congratulations to the entire faculty and staff of Saint Mary’s. In light of the challenges the university is facing, Father Burns will continue spending significant time and attention on philanthropy and thought leadership to positively impact the reputation of Saint Mary’s. Strong leadership in academics and enrollment management with the recent hires of Dr. Max Bonilla and Dr. Michael McMahon brings confidence that all three key priorities will continue to advance as they have this year.”
“While there remains much to do, I am also mindful of the many activities, events, and celebrations to be planned or that are being worked on to celebrate where we have come from and where we are headed. I continue to be mindful as well of the need of each one in this community for well-deserved rest, rejuvenation, and enjoyment especially with your families and friends.” said Father Burns. “The work accomplished to date, over the past year, has truly been momentous. We are ahead of the curve in terms of securing the bright future we share. None of this would be possible had we not been living Jesus at the center of our hearts and of our university, which remains a clarion call and the reason for our hope.”
Alumna looks to politics, teaching to bring positive change to society
GiGi Centeno B’22 decided that the best way she could bring about positive change in society is by pairing a career in politics with gathering international teaching experience. A job with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s office and a plan to teach in Korea this spring has solidified that she is on the right path.
When Centeno arrived at Saint Mary’s, she began pursuing an education degree; it was a natural choice for her to follow in the footsteps of many of her family members who are also educators. But after contemplation during a semester at home during the pandemic, she began to consider other options.
“I knew at some point in my life I wanted to enter politics so I could help my community and country better itself,” she said.
After conversations with staff and faculty at Saint Mary’s, Centeno switched career paths and decided to double major in Spanish and History.
When her senior year rolled around, like most students nearing graduation, she began networking with Saint Mary’s staff, faculty, and alumni from different professional backgrounds to help glean an idea of what positions might be out there.
She found herself talking to one staff member about the ins and outs of working in politics. And it was through those conversations that Centeno came to work on Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s reelection campaign finance team.
After spending months assisting with the governor’s re election, Centeno says there was nothing more gratifying than the announcement that Walz had won on election night.
“Working on an election campaign was such a unique experience, so it was fun to attend (the celebration) and hear Gov. Walz and Lt. Gov. (Peggy) Flanagan speak in a way that was so emotional and real about what they can do for the future of Minnesota,” she said.
Centeno says the soft skills she learned at Saint Mary’s helped her as she stepped into this experience.
“Stepping into the finance team I had to work with people I had never met before and be exposed to an environment that was new to me; it was exciting to know that those skills I developed in college would help me,” she said.
With the election cycle behind her, Centeno will be taking a break from politics to reenter the classroom. This spring, Centeno will teach English as a Second Language in Korea after undergoing a four-week intensive course with Oxford Seminars.
“I want to experience an education system that is different from the U.S. so when I come back and enter the field of politics I can take my experience and use that to create a better system for our students,” she said.
Graduate program gave educator ‘more tools in my toolbox’ to use in the classroom
When Rebecca Beaufeaux first stepped in the door at Saint Mary’s, a master’s degree was not her end goal.
Like most educators, Beaufeaux, an music and arts education teacher in Chippewa Falls, Wis., was required to accrue professional development hours. Because of a partnership between her school and the university, she was able to fulfill those requirements through Saint Mary’s. Shortly after she started her professional development, her school launched a program that allowed her to pursue a master’s degree in small increments.
But after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and the move to online learning, Beaufeaux decided to pursue a master’s degree full time, which brought her to the M.A. in Education program.
“When we went virtual, I really realized what I do in the classroom affects so much more than just a grade, it affects the child in a whole way. Specifically, being in the fine arts, it really showed me how much behavioral formations were communicated through my specialties, and how that — really all of a sudden — was just cut out of the child’s life. And when we started to come back to school, we saw that in droves, that kids were unable to label and regulate those big emotions.
“So, by going to Saint Mary’s, I was able to learn more and have more tools in my toolbox to help those children restart that learning that had just been upset,” she said.
She was excited to apply and implement her newly acquired and applicable knowledge into her teaching immediately. From classroom interruptions to legal compliances, Beaufeaux says she was easily able to address the issue or need with skills she had attained at Saint Mary’s.
“Having those tools, like literally within hours, and being able to apply them to my current situation was mind-boggling to me, because in other disciplines, it gets kind of filed away for next time,” she said. “So to be able to do that, to know that my education was aimed at current educators, it was amazing.”
Along with applicable coursework, Beaufeaux was impressed with how involved her professors were in her educational experience, especially since her program was online.
“My professors were so present in my educational journey, and I don’t know that I’ve had that at other colleges or universities that I’ve attended,” she said. “ To know that that kind of care could be communicated through an online program, I wasn’t expecting it. And it was there, and it was high quality too.”
Beaufeux encourages anyone looking to advance their education and career to make the next step and enroll in a graduate program. Outside of the new skills she’s been able to put to use in her classroom, Beaufeaux says the program connected with other educators who helped her grow both personally and professionally.
“I really made some long-lasting relationships within my cohort and within my teaching team. I would be a lesser person if I didn’t know them. They have made me a better educator, and I am a better human after going through this program.”
Saint Mary’s music alumni reunite for Heukeshoven farewell
After enjoying over 30 years of making music with Saint Mary’s University students, Dr. Janet and Eric Heukeshoven have chosen to close this chapter of their teaching careers. To celebrate the impact music has made in their lives and the lives of their students, a special Music Alumni Reunion Weekend is planned with alumni from many decades returning to sing and play.
The choir performance will take place in the sumptuous Chapel of Saint Mary of the Angels on Saturday, April 15, at 7:30 p.m. From choral classics like Shenendoah to rousing spirituals such as Witness, the Concert Choir and Madrigal Singers will be joined by alumni and former director of choral studies, Dr. Patrick O’Shea.
On Sunday, April 16, the Jazz Ensemble and Concert Band will present All Good Things … on the Page Theatre stage at 3 p.m. The performance will open with Jazz at Saint Mary’s performing favorite tunes selected by current and former musicians. Highlights will include Sing Sing Sing featuring multiple drummers, 25 or 6 to 4 with numerous guitar soloists, Hey Jude featuring several vocal jazz alumni, and Tenor Madness giving current and former tenor sax players a chance to shine.
Following a brief intermission, the Concert Band will premiere “Towards the Stars” – a brand new work commissioned for the band with generous assistance from the Kaplan Foundation. Composer Benjamin Dean Taylor will introduce his vibrant new composition to the audience. Music education alum, Dr. Lynn Albee, will guest conduct The Elephant and the Flea – a duet for piccolo and euphonium performed by the Heukeshovens. Band alumni will join current students to perform Gustav Holst’s classic First Suite in Eb. The concert will conclude with the Alma Mater performed by all players, singers, and audience members. A reception in the Toner Student Center will follow.
Both performances are free and open to the public. For more information, contact Dr. Janet Heukeshoven – jheukesh@smumn.edu.
Q&A with M.A. in Counseling and Psychological Services graduate
Name
LJ (John) Taugher
Program
Counseling and Psychological Services M.A. Program
Completion date
June 2020
Why did you choose Saint Mary’s?
They were supportive of people restarting their careers and returning to school to do so.
What can you do with a M.A. in Counseling and Psychological Services?
Primarily work as a therapist in a range in populations and types of settings – in clinics, with children or adults. Work as a therapist.
What made you decide to go back to school? Why was the timing right?
I’m looking at a needlepoint of my family’s motto: Taugher’s rule. If life’s not cool, it’s back to school. I’ll be the ninth person in my family to be called “doctor” in medicine, dentistry, sociology, linguistics, and now psychology. The timing was right after being recently through rehab. Life was upended, and I was ready for change. It was easy to commit to what was needed for a degree when everything has been disrupted.
What has your experience been like?/What did you enjoy the most?
At Saint Mary’s there’s a passion for growth, an environment that encourages development. You’re not supposed to know this yet. That’s why you’re here. How do we help you learn? I enjoyed that I was able to engage with the faculty more as a future peer, rather than, “We’re the faculty, you’re the student.”
What do you think makes our program stand apart?
The focus is on people who have had other careers and want a change, and the school’s desire to have education be affordable.
What do you do for a career?
Currently I’m in the doctoral program and working as a program manager in virtual reality therapy at Ellie Mental Health, a practicum therapist and researcher.
Did you find it applicable to your career?
Yes. It set the foundation.
Will this degree help you further your career or help you in your career?
It already has allowed me to work as a therapist and foundation to set groundwork to get a doctorate.
Was it “doable” for a busy adult?
Yes. Saint Mary’s program is designed for someone working in mind.
Would you recommend the program? And why?
I do, and I have, many times. It’s a solid education, allows someone working to get the degree, and it’s one of the most affordable in the Twin Cities.
Q&A with M.A. in Counseling and Psychological Services graduate
Name
Roberta Reindorf
Program
Counseling and Psychological Services Master of Arts Program
Completion date
June 2023
Why did you choose Saint Mary’s?
I was researching courses to enhance my background, and I saw Saint Mary’s has a lot of diversity, people like me and a variety of people with different backgrounds and cultures. You see Germans and Italians, and people speak from different perspectives in class.
What can you do with a M.A. in Counseling and Psychological Services?
A lot of things, it’s very broad: work in H.R., be an instructor, go to the doctoral level, do research, work in mental health and government, which is what I’m doing. There’s a lot you can do with counseling and psychological services.
What made you decide to go back to school? Why was the timing right?
My purpose in coming to this country was to go to school. I’m focused on why I came here: To go to school. Along the way there was COVID-19 and the death of my husband, but I kept my focus on my education. I started something, I had to finish it. COVID has passed, social distancing ended, life continues.
What has your experience been like?/What did you enjoy the most?
I enjoy advocating for others, those people struggling with mental illness. I enjoy reaching a goal, helping others, being part of the solution. When I speak at the Race, Equity Advisory Council for Hennepin County, I seem like a scholar. I enjoy helping people with struggles. I’ve been going nonstop. If not for the deaths in my family and COVID, I would have accomplished more. I started when I was 15 and never stopped. I’m considering the Ph.D. program.
What do you think makes our program stand apart?
Diversity. When George Floyd hit, the whole world was protesting for equality and against discrimination. I had Somalian instructors, scholars teaching me. I see Black and white instructors connecting and working together. A lot of immigrants are there. We share the experience. Instructors are helpful; very, very helpful. The biggest was diversity and inclusivity in the heart of people. Equitable services for all. Every company today has diversity and inclusion managers. I wish Saint Mary’s had a curriculum for diversity and inclusivity. I want them to call me so I can be part of the groundbreaking.
What do you do for a career?
I’ve worked at Ramsey County Children’s Mental Health as a mental health practitioner for five years.
Did you find it applicable to your career?
As a mental health practitioner the requirement is a Master’s in Counseling Psychology; a Master’s in Clinical Social Work; or a Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy. I’ve completed the entire program, and the county gave me space and time to gain licensure. I’ll be a mental health professional when I finish.
Will this degree help you further your career or help you in your career?
Yes.
Was it “doable” for a busy adult?
You have to be determined. You have to be focused. The course is doable, then 700 hours of clinicals. Yes, if you know what you’re looking for. I look at the end results and the master’s pay scale.
Would you recommend the program? And why?
Absolutely. There are proliferating changes. What do you want or need for mental health in life? We saw a lot of kids experiencing mental health problems during the pandemic. Gun violence is on the rise. If you look at the war in Ukraine, people will be coming here with devastation. Families are gone, mentally devastated. They’re coming, and the world will be tied down with mental issues. There’ll be plenty of jobs across the globe. Plenty of jobs. Good money helping people who are struggling. Plenty of work.
Saint Mary’s ‘second chance’ helps graduate student excel
It’s not often that a misunderstanding helps a student in their career path. But while the incorrect narrative LJ (John) Taugher M’20 heard as an undergrad delayed his entry to clinical therapy, it ultimately helped him succeed brilliantly.
After a two-week volunteer experience in high school set him on the path to pursue a psychology degree, Taugher received his bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in women’s studies. But believing he couldn’t pursue therapy, he instead worked for nonprofit organizations.
“The narrative I got was if you didn’t have a doctorate, you can’t do therapy, which was incorrect. So, at age 23 I went into nonprofit management and managed nonprofit organizations for 10 years,” said Taugher. “I developed an acute case of alcohol use disorder, left the profession and worked in mortgage banking for six years.”
Upon entering a rehabilitation program for the second time, he met a licensed alcohol and drug counselor (LADC) who changed his life, but not in the way you might imagine. Taugher was at the lowest point in his life, yet felt his LADC was so incompetent that he could do the job better than she did. After another clinician encouraged him to pursue a master’s degree and expressed that he could do well as a therapist, Taugher began evaluating colleges.
He learned that Saint Mary’s had a LADC program and offered a Master’s in Counseling and Psychological Services degree, and he was accepted into the program, despite not being a great student as an undergraduate. Taugher decided to pursue both simultaneously, and he appreciates how Saint Mary’s gives people a second chance to become a good student.
Virtual Reality Therapy
“I’ve used my master’s degree to work as an in-home therapist, Adult Rehabilitative Mental Health Services (ARMHS), and Children’s Therapeutic Services and Supports (CTSS) provider. Working at Ellie Mental Health, I also developed a new program that uses virtual reality to treat mental health issues,” said Taugher. “Ellie Mental Health started in the Twin Cities and has roughly 300 franchise clinics across the country. I’m one of two program managers of virtual reality therapy.” 
Before Ellie Mental Health would add virtual reality therapy, Taugher had to pitch it and develop a proposal to show empirical evidence that it was clinically effective and relevant, and that it met the CEO’s business requirements/expectations. Once he sold it to the executive committee, Taugher had to coordinate with Ellie’s IT, payroll, legal and facilities departments, as well as clinical directors.
Taugher also was a member of the Leadership Advisory Board at Ellie Mental Health. The board met with the company’s senior leadership to describe their day-to-day work – without having their observations and experiences filtered through layers of employees.
“Having a different (business) background with therapy skills was invaluable to the approval process for virtual reality therapy. I had to get buy-in from all those departments, and it only took eight months, which is insanely fast,” added Taugher. “It’s very unusual for a therapist to think like a businessman and understand how the business needs to be profitable. Having a business background has been incredibly valuable, and it’s been a prized resource.”
Geek Therapy
In addition, Taugher developed (with another therapist of Ellie) what he calls Geek Therapy because it integrates “geeky stuff” from video games, Star Wars, Harry Potter, Magic the Gathering, Dungeons and Dragons and more. He recognizes that the role of the clinician is to understand people’s passions, and to leverage and integrate them in a way that’s relevant and meaningful.
He also believes technology can make therapy more effective, and using video games can help clients and allow clinicians to bring stimulus into therapy in ways that would be very difficult or impossible. For example, it’s impossible to bring an MRI machine into your office, but with virtual reality, you can and have a therapist sitting next to you.
Finally, conversations on his passions with Dr. Lindsey Teigland, his program director, led her to ask Taugher if he’d like to co-create and co-teach a new elective course with senior leaders of Ellie Mental Health, Kyle Ross, and Kyle Keller. The class, Special Topics in Psychology: Emerging Therapies explores promising new treatment approaches using technology and virtual reality.
“Dr. Teigland and other Saint Mary’s faculty members provided support and encouragement when I didn’t think I could do it, and helped me see my potential,” said Taugher. “They helped me realize I could get my master’s and continue on to my doctorate.”
Reindorf overcomes obstacles to obtain her master’s degree
Born in Ghana, West Africa, Roberta Reindorf has done many things and lived in many places including France and London, but she didn’t discover her innate abilities or her life’s work for many years. While working in human resources, Reindorf researched depression and related disorders, and the more she learned about mental health, the more her interest grew.
“I wanted to see what courses I could take. I learned I could use counseling to teach and work in government, advocate for equality, and use my voice,” Reindorf said. “My goal is to be a mental health professional and provide diagnostic assessment when I graduate with my master’s degree in Counseling and Psychological Services. I’d also like to be a faculty member at Saint Mary’s because I like the diversity and inclusivity I see at Saint Mary’s.”
Reindorf faced numerous challenges in her educational pursuit. She had enrolled in a practicum at Saint Mary’s when her mother and sister passed away. Deeply stricken by grief, she couldn’t complete her practicum. After taking a year off, Reindorf was preparing to resume her studies when COVID-19 struck, and the world as we knew it shut down.
Another year passed and, as she returned to her studies in 2021, Reindorf’s husband died. At that point she questioned how she could continue. By this time a new program chair was in place who encouraged her to take care of herself and assured Reindorf she’d help her get through the practicum.
“Through that whole experience, I learned I’m resilient and strong,” she said. “I’ve been working in Ramsey County Children’s Mental Health as a mental health practitioner for five years. I completed my practicum; I’m finishing my paper; and will graduate in June 2023.”
Reindorf not only brings resilience to her new career, she is bilingual and speaks many languages; she is currently adding Spanish to her list. In Ghana, 50 languages are spoken, so students in her classes spoke many languages. Her language skills have been a big plus with her non-English speaking clients, and not using an interpreter helps her establish trust.
Reindorf also was appointed to the Race Equity Advisory Council (REAC) for Hennepin County by Jeffery Lunde, Hennepin County Commissioner of District One. The council’s mission is to strengthen the county’s goal of reducing racial disparities and advancing racial equity throughout the county.
“The REAC is diverse, and I’m able to advocate for non-English speakers and immigrants. In the future I want to transition into politics,” said Reindorf. “I’ve been a journalist and I love to speak and learn about programs, so I approached the general manager of Northwest Community Television Channel 12 (now CCX-Media). Now I have my own show.”
On the Roberta Reindorf Show, she brings in professionals and politicians, asking them questions and discussing advocacy, policies, education, health care, and more. Former guests include former U.S. Senator Al Franken; former Minority Leader of the Minnesota Senate Melissa Lopez Franzen; and State Senator Jim Abler. She hopes to have Minnesota Governor Tim Walz on her show in the future. She was also elected to the station’s board of directors for three years, ending in 2023.
Reindorf credits Saint Mary’s with providing her the opportunity to see her innate abilities and is surprised by how much she’s accomplished. She describes the university as a web linking her to her instructors and Dr. Lindsey (Teigland), her program chair. According to Reindorf, Dr. Teigland’s faith in her,helped her keep going in the face of tragedy and the pandemic.
“Along the way I’ve instilled confidence and grace in my two boys. I’d love it if my kids can see the resilience and forcefulness in me to reach new heights,” adds Reindorf. “My 17-year-old son wants to be a computer scientist, and my 9-year-old wants to be an immunologist like Dr. Faucci and bring solutions to the world’s problems.”
Four Saint Mary’s students take part in Innovation Scholars program
Four Saint Mary’s students had an opportunity to take part in a real-world learning experience through the Minnesota Private College Council’s Innovation Scholars program.
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 and Medical Alley, a network of organizations in the healthcare industry.
The Saint Mary’s students who took part in this year’s Innovation Partners included Sophia Gannon ’24 (biology), Noah Kiemel ’24 (finance, business intelligence and data analytics), Luke Puffer ’23 (business intelligence and data analytics), and Emma Schuster ’24 (biology, pre-medical professions).
Since the fall, the team researched a new technology for stroke procedures and presented their findings to Mayo Clinic licensing managers earlier this month.
Matt Klosky, an assistant professor of business and adviser for Innovation Partners, says the program allows students to work in a cross-discipline manner, allowing students to break out of their “silos.”
“(For our students) This is a very good résumé builder in terms of demonstrating teamwork and partnering with people from diverse disciplinary backgrounds,” he said. “So this is a very interdisciplinary thing that gets you out of the heads-down technical aspect of the program you’re in and gets you thinking in a much broader sense about how an organization approaches these things.”
This year marks the 15th year of Saint Mary’s participation in Innovation Scholars.
Photo caption: Front row: Sophia Gannon, Rachael Rinehart (University of Saint Thomas MBA student). Back Row: Emma Schuster, Noah Kiemel, Luke Puffer.
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