Saint Mary's Newsroom / Campus Notes
Winona Campus NewsletterHigher 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.
Listen here:
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.
Hall of Fame Profile: Jenny (Folgers) Baertsch B’05
WINONA, Minn. — Jenny (Folgers) Baertsch B’05 will be the first to admit that she never expected to be among those considered for the Saint Mary’s University Sports Hall of Fame.
Her accolades, however, told an entirely different story.
And now, the most decorated hurdler in Cardinal track and field history is days away from being inducted into the Saint Mary’s Sports Hall of Fame.
Baertsch, along with Jamie (Rattunde) Nelson B’05 and Marc Weisenburger B’75, 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’ll never forget being surprised with the news I was selected for the Hall of Fame,” said Baertsch. “Since I live in Winona, I was lucky to experience the surprise in-person at my home! At first I was shocked, and honestly a little confused. But now that I’ve had time to process the news, I feel incredibly proud and honored to be selected.”
A four-year letterwinner, Baertsch was a three-year track captain and a cross country captain her senior year. Owner of a combined 10 indoor/outdoor school records, she was the MIAC hurdles champion in 2004 — and qualified for the NCAA national championships in 2003, 2004, and 2005. Baertsch collected eight First-Team All-MIAC honors and added three honorable-mention selections over her storied career, while being named Academic All-MIAC and USTFCCCA All-Academic each of her last three seasons.
“I had the honor and privilege of meeting fellow Hall of Famer Retsey (Ronk) Anderson, class of 1980, who I learned was the first female inducted into the Saint Mary’s HOF in 1990,” said Baertsch. “She shared stories of women’s athletics during the late 1970s, and I listened in admiration and amazement of her accomplishments and how far we’ve come in women’s athletics.
“To be among Retsey and so many other legends is an incredible feeling.”
Hall of Fame Profile: Jamie (Rattunde) Nelson B’05
WINONA, Minn. — Jamie (Rattunde) Nelson B’05 was a force to be reckoned with on the basketball court — and her efforts during her four years as a Cardinal did not go unnoticed.
One of the most decorated women’s basketball players in program history, Nelson is days away from collecting yet another honor, this one on a far grander scale — being inducted into the Saint Mary’s Sports Hall of Fame.
Nelson, along with Jenny (Folgers) Baertsch B’05 and Marc Weisenburger B’75, 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.
When I received the news of my induction, it was a moment of profound honor, a realization that my years of dedication to Saint Mary’s women’s basketball had been recognized in the most extraordinary way,” reflected Nelson. “It was a humbling moment, one that I will forever cherish.”
A four-year regular for the Cardinals, Nelson helped guide the Cardinals to the MIAC post-season tournament each of her four years — including a semifinal appearance in 2004-05. She was a D3hoops.com Second-Team All-Region as a senior, not to mention landing First-Team All-MIAC honors in each of her final three seasons, while being selected to the MIAC All-Defensive Team all four years. Nelson closed out her collegiate career averaging 14.3 ppg and 7.9 rpg, while recording 350 steals and dishing out 385 assists. Nelson ranks first in program history in free throws made (423), free throws attempted (596), and minutes played (3271), while also ranking in the top five in eight other career categories.
“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. “This recognition represents not only personal achievements, but also the support and encouragement of teammates, coaches, and the entire community.
“As the newest member, I am humbled and proud to be part of such a distinguished group.”
Vatterott applies classroom experience to real world work
Tom Vatterott’s passion for social justice is evident in everything he does.
A case manager for Minnesota nonprofit Simpson Housing Services, Tom’s work focuses on supporting families experiencing or transitioning out of homelessness. His work is varied, ranging from helping people apply for affordable housing, to driving clients to appointments and providing referrals to other available resources for families in need.
Tom received his undergraduate degree from USC, an experience he is grateful for and acknowledges contributed substantially to his growth as a person. However, USC’s achievement-oriented culture felt like it prioritized personal ambition over social responsibility at times, which didn’t always sit well with Vatterott. He had a different feeling when looking at Saint Mary’s Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) program to continue his education.
“I got the sense that Saint Mary’s aligns with my values, so the university feels closer to home in this regard,” Tom says. “I felt drawn to Saint Mary’s by the affordable tuition and the belief in education as a tool for empowerment, the location, and its culture.”
During orientation, a discussion about the importance of caregiver health and well-being continues to resonate with Tom: an MFT’s health needs to be prioritized first because clients “borrow” the health of their clinicians. This concept has helped him focus more on self-care in his current role so that he can be fully present when supporting his clients.
One of the reasons Tom chose the Marriage and Family Therapy program was because he hoped to make a difference in tackling issues around harmful gender stereotyping and its adverse effects on interpersonal relationships and racial equity.
“I now see MFT work as a form of social justice, but I didn’t start the program thinking that way,” he shared. “I hadn’t thought of my intentions as falling under the umbrella of social justice specifically, but I liked to think that deeper empathy, improved communication skills, self-awareness, and acceptance of discomfort were all important aspects of recognizing privilege and paying attention to underrepresented perspectives.”
Much of what he’s learned in Saint Mary’s Marriage and Family Therapy program is applicable to his current work with equitable housing.
“I’ve started paying attention to where my clients land in the family development life cycle. I feel more attuned to the stressors clients experience during particular chapters of life,” he shares. “I’m able to recognize developmental milestones for my client’s children, and having that context helps me relate to my clients.”
Tom has also begun to notice that his work can be considered a form of activism in itself.
“Relationship systems often change in response to the growth of an individual member,” he shares. “It’s exciting to be able to encourage systemic change simply by being present to my future clients.”
Advocacy continues to play a tremendous role in Tom’s life. He’s been quoted in the Star Tribune and written an op-ed pushing for systemic change for case managers on the frontlines of the housing crisis who are working to end homelessness but struggle to afford rent themselves.
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