Spring/Summer 2022
Countdown, College, Career First Generation Initiative supports, empowers students from eighth grade through adulthood
NEW LOOK
Check out what’s BRAND new
CONTENTS
6 12 22 24 29 31 38 42 44
SPRING/SUMMER 2022
VICE PRESIDENT OF ADVANCEMENT Gary Klein M’04
NEW BRANDING
EDITOR Deb Nahrgang Phone: 507-457-6966 dnahrgan@smumn.edu
BRAND PILLARS
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Donny Nadeau B’85, Deb Nahrgang, Ben Rodgers
BECAUSE OF YOU FIRST GENERATION INITIATIVE RETIREES
PHOTOGRAPHERS Rick Busch, Bob Conover, Blake Darst, Geoffrey DeMarsh PRODUCTION Robert Fisher B’97, M’06; Megan Weilandt CREATIVE DIRECTOR Bill Neumiller ART DIRECTOR Maria Beyerstedt PRINTED BY Supreme Graphics
NEWS AND VIEWS
Saint Mary’s Magazine is published by Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota for its alumni, parents, and friends.
ALUMNI
ADDRESS CHANGES Saint Mary’s Magazine Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota 700 Terrace Heights #21 Winona, MN 55987-1399
ATHLETICS
CLASS NOTES
ON THE COVER Saint Mary’s First Generation Initiative is now expanding to reach even more students.
ON THE WEB smumn.edu/magazine 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 5,000 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.
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FROM THE EDITOR
Privileged to tell the Saint Mary’s story T The heart of this university is its people
here’s a large crystal award on my bookcase that will forever make me smile. I was recognized with this year’s Bishop Heffron Award during Founders’ Day, and I can’t begin to share how meaningful and touching it was to be honored in front of colleagues and students from across the university for my work over these past 18 ½ years. As I told the audience that day, I’ve enjoyed storytelling since I was a little girl and announced I wanted to become a writer when I was in the sixth grade. I started out in journalism for nine years, and was blessed to be part of some amazingly uplifting and heartbreaking stories; I covered a house explosion in Rushford, Minn., and a tornado in Lewiston, Minn.; I spoke with dog groomers, tattoo artists, and grave diggers; and I interviewed a few celebrities, like musician Jonny Lang, former First Lady Barbara Bush, and William Christopher from MASH. I flew a plane, dressed as a clown in a parade, and covered more county fairs than you can shake a corndog at. I never dreamed I would end up in public relations, but it was Saint Mary’s that changed my mind. Back in college, Saint Mary’s was my beat, so I like to say I’ve been telling Saint Mary’s stories since 1990.
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I knew that coming here meant I would still have an opportunity to tell amazing stories — of alumni who have achieved greatness and overcome tremendous obstacles; of faculty and staff who go above and beyond in helping students; and of students who have accomplished more by the age of 21 than many twice their age. And I have shared many of those stories … because of you. I’m also blessed because I also get to hear the stories — of how Saint Mary’s changed someone’s career as a graduate student, of students who found their life’s passion here, and how so many undergraduate alumni refer to their time here as the best four years of their lives. I hear those stories … because you share them. It’s fitting that our new brand slogan is “Because of YOU.” It’s a time of change across our university but particularly at our undergraduate campus. Yes, as you’ll see in this issue, we’re welcoming a new logo, fonts, colors, and messaging, but you want to know about changes to our academic offerings. To ensure Saint Mary’s future in this incredibly challenging higher education environment and amidst stiff enrollment declines, 11 majors will be phased out over time. We’ve worked to answer some of your questions on pages 35 to 37.
Coming from newspapers, I’ve seen hundreds of positions eliminated as the newspaper industry declined because of shifts in trends and consumers. Now, for the first time in decades, higher education is facing the same dramatic shift. The supply is higher than the demand, and it’s sad but true, and we aren’t alone. A lot of anger, frustration, disappointment, and loss has been shared since the beginning of May. It’s precisely because you’ve had amazing experiences that you want to protect and defend those areas and experiences you hold most dear. There’s an overarching fear that the Saint Mary’s we know and love will change too much, and we especially worry about the people we know these changes will affect. Letting good people go is never an easy decision. Through it all, our students and their needs throughout this transition are our primary concern. Individualized paths for students are being created. Although low-enrolled majors are being eliminated, many courses in these areas will remain. A path forward with a new, well-rounded general education platform is being carefully put together throughout the summer. There is comfort to be found in the foundation of who we are. Our five brand pillars, shared on pages 12 to 21, clearly define
what we are told time and time again that Saint Mary’s is known for, and it’s so affirming to know that alumni, regardless of area of study or degree year, have all shared these same experiences. The more things change, the more we can all take comfort in knowing these pillars stay the same: Faculty and staff are “all in” for every student. We provide practical hands-on education for the real world. Our Lasallian Catholic values provide real values. We are a community that cares. And a Saint Mary’s education is an education that is within reach. This is the heart of this university. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity — and the honor — to tell your stories for all these years. I’m looking forward to sharing many more.
Deb Nahrgang Saint Mary’s Magazine Editor
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NEW LOGO TELLS THE SAINT MARY’S STORY
Seeking knowledge and education. Lasallian Catholic values guide our journey.
Light of truth and illumination.
Faith in the presence of God (Cross).
“Our Lady, Star of the Sea,” or Stella Maris, is an ancient title for Mary, our patron Saint. Polaris, a star commonly called the North Star or Pole Star, is associated with the Virgin Mary.
The essence of Saint Mary’s is found in the new logo. Elements surround the key feature — the Lasallian Star. This is our northern star, and from it we navigate life with character and greater purpose. It functions as the foundational design of visual components from which all branches of the Saint Mary’s architecture originate.
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THE PRESIDENTIAL SEAL
The book represents quality education.
The five-point star represents our Lasallian Catholic values.
Virtue and knowledge
The lamp represents the light of truth and illumination.
The eight-point star represents the light from on high that guides all we do.
The cross symbolizes faith in the presence of God.
Used by the office of the president and board of trustees to indicate formal actions and declarations, the presidential identity visually upholds our most ceremonious operations such as degrees, recognition and achievement awards, and presidential and trustee documentation and letters.
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FEATURE › NEW BRANDING
Brand new at Saint Mary’s
University unveils new look and distinct, but familiar, messaging
K Because a brand is what our audiences say it is, the messages must be true, authentic, and relevant to them. Kelly Shannon
elly Shannon, vice president of marketing and communication, stands behind Saint Mary’s brand. Saint Mary’s is rolling out the results of a branding refresh in June, and yes, there’s a new logo, but Shannon explains that branding is so much more than a logo: “A brand is the sum total of all of the images and feelings that someone holds about an organization and its services or products,” she said. “A brand is our promise, and our audiences determine whether we deliver on that promise.” Higher education is more competitive than ever, with universities and colleges all going after fewer students. “We are mindful that we don’t have endless resources to tell our story and get that story heard,” she said. “Our challenge, which is fun to take on, is telling our story in a creative way to interest and captivate those we are trying to reach. It comes down to three ‘c’s: being consistent, clear, and compelling.”
common outcomes and benefits that we want all students to have at Saint Mary’s.” Further, she said the brand is shared and solidified at every major touchpoint, from the website, to a campus visit, to every interaction a potential student or current student has in the classroom and with staff and faculty across the university. According to Shannon, we are all brand ambassadors. “Branding starts internally,” she said. “If we all know and tell our story consistently, we have a great opportunity to make the case to a prospective student about ‘Why Saint Mary’s?’ ” Strong university brands also have alumni, employees, and current students who express their pride, ownership, and passion for their school. According to Shannon, “Alumni pride goes a long way toward building awareness, excitement, and affinity for a school. One of the leading indicators of a strong brand is the answer YES to the question: would you recommend this (organization, company, product, service, program) to someone else?”
What is a brand?
Time for a change
“A brand is not what an organization says it is, it is what our intended audiences experience, perceive, and believe,” she said. “What is the experience that our students have, students who range from 17 to well into adulthood or even retirement? While each student has their own educational experience, there are 6 | SAINT MARY’S MAGAZINE | SPRING/SUMMER 2022
The rebranding process began a year ago. The process is lengthy, mainly because of the research done with current and prospective students, faculty, staff, and alumni to help define the brand. “Our external partner, who is also doing our web redesign, did extensive quantitative
Kelly Shannon, vice president of marketing and communication
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FEATURE › NEW BRANDING
New banners, reflecting the logo, new colors, and branding language were installed on the Winona Campus.
and qualitative research,” Shannon said. “They then created a visual identity that represents the attributes important to our community. A lot of listening goes into creating your visual signature in the marketplace. Because a brand is what our audiences say it is, the messages must be true, authentic, and relevant to them.” As you noticed on pages 4 and 5, Saint Mary’s is launching a new logo and updated seal. Additionally, new fonts, overall photography and design looks were established, and a new color palette is being unveiled. For the first time in its history, Saint Mary’s primary color is navy blue. “Our primary colors remain red and blue but we’re leaning more heavily into blue,” Shannon said. “The blue is bold and classic, yet contemporary. And it stands out in a market where many universities in our competitive set have red as the lead primary color. As a university with a long legacy and strategic vision, we want both to acknowledge the strong heritage and say we 8 | SAINT MARY’S MAGAZINE | SPRING/SUMMER 2022
are agile and responsive to the needs of our future students.” Ever mindful of financial resources, the new logo and seal will rollout in phases. The branding effort was funded through reallocation of existing marketing funds so did not require additional funding. “Walk the campuses and you will see branding everywhere, so we have to be very planful about how we launch the new visual identity without having it being financially onerous,” Shannon said. “A brand drives reputation, which in return drives revenue (enrollment, giving), so phase one is getting the new branding in front of external audiences.” Also, still to come, is a brand new web redesign, slated to roll out by fall. “The new website’s primary audiences are our many and diverse prospective students — from traditional undergrad and transfer students to adult bachelor’s completion seekers to graduate and professional learners,” Shannon said. “Best practices in
WEB REDESIGN The new website will be more user friendly, more compelling, and will visually tell the Saint Mary’s story.
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FEATURE › NEW BRANDING
website design call for excellence in content, navigation, and design. How do we provide a prospective student, wherever they are in their learning journey, to quickly find what they want? Too many clicks and they are gone, so what is the easiest and most intuitive navigation? Does the design entice and tell our brand story? Does it compel them to stay on the site and visit other areas? And is the content clear, relevant to what they want and need, and interesting?”
Our pillars
Shannon explains there are five brand pillars that describe who Saint Mary’s is and what sets it apart. • Lasallian Catholic values create real value. • Faculty and staff are all in for every student. • A community that cares. • Education that’s within reach. • Practical, hands-on education for the real world. “Those pillars should be familiar,” she said. “We hope this is exactly the experience our alumni had as students. Part of the refresh is a recommitment and a refocus and actually stating our brand clearly and concisely.” Shannon believes now is the perfect time to refresh the Saint Mary’s brand. “We, 10 | SAINT MARY’S MAGAZINE | SPRING/SUMMER 2022
and all of higher ed, are facing challenges, with declining enrollment due to COVID-19, and with a smaller pool of potential undergraduate students on the horizon,” she said. “New branding, a new website, and cleaner, crisper messaging increases visibility. The goal of branding is to provide a clear and positive sense of what we offer. When a prospective student is researching or deciding on colleges, we hope to have caught their attention and interested them. If our brand resonates with their values and the outcomes they are seeking, we should minimally be in the mix of their decision making and hopefully the ultimate choice. “Saint Mary’s has a strong value proposition, especially in our Lasallian Catholic vision of education, and this is our opportunity to articulate that well,” said Father James P. Burns, IVD, Ph.D., Saint Mary’s president. “We meet students where they are along their learning path and support them with excellence in a real-world educational experience that prepares them to work, lead, and serve with character and purpose. By telling our story clearly, consistently, and compellingly in a way that is relevant and resonates with our various audiences, we have a very bright future ahead.”
HISTORY OF LOGOS Throughout its history, Saint Mary’s has undergone numerous rebranding efforts to heighten visibility and strengthen its cohesive branding. SEAL Saint Mary’s most recent seal (bottom) was adopted in 1995 when Saint Mary’s College was renamed Saint Mary’s University. Translated, the seal reads: Sanctae (Saint) Mariae (Mary) Universitatis (University) Sigillum (Seal) Virtus (virtue) et Scientia (and Knowledge). The graphic symbols depicted, similar to those used in new branding, include the academic lamp of knowledge and the De La Salle Christian Brothers cross and star. The cross is a sign of our Catholic heritage and a calling of all of us associated with Saint John Baptist de La Salle to share this heritage. The star is a symbol of enlightenment and instruction and a reminder that those “who instruct many until justice will shine as stars for all eternity.”
COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY LOGO The previous logo was designed by Brother Roderick Robertson, FSC B’63 in the late 1980s, as an abstraction of the bluffs which surround the Winona Campus. The cross of the Saint Thomas More Chapel tower in the center of the symbol is created from the “negative” space between the “S” for Saint and the “M” for Mary. The lines running through the letters represent the Mississippi River.
ATHLETICS LOGO The Cardinal athletic logo currently used was adopted by the athletic department in 2002. The Cardinals became the Cardinals (from the Redmen) in 1988, and Brother Roderick Robertson, FSC, B’63 also created the first Cardinal logo. The cartoon Cardinal was also periodically used by athletics. The Redmen label evolved around 1935, due to the color of the athletic uniforms. That name lasted until 1988, when the school opted to change its name out of respect for Native Americans. At this time the university expanded the Cardinal name, as the women’s program had been playing as Cardinals since the early ’80s. Saint Mary’s athletes were originally called the Maroon and White, the Maroon Men, and the Maroons. Teams were also referred to as the Skempmen, Warriors, Cardinal Warriors, and Terrace Heights basketeers. SAINT MARY’S MAGAZINE | SPRING/SUMMER 2022 |
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FEATURE › BRAND PILLARS
Lasallian Catholic values create real value Sharing a love for faith, service, community
W
BRAND PILLARS The Saint Mary’s brand promise is supported by the strength of our five brand pillars. Our pillars represent the core messages that define the value of our distinctive educational experience.
hen students come to Marisa (Niemiec) Corcoran B’99 and ask the tough questions about faith and religion, her answer is clear and simple. “My philosophy is love,” she said. “I’m going to show them so much love and show them God loves them. Conversation is important. We invite people to be honest about where they are. We open the door.” As the director of Campus Ministry at Cotter Schools in Winona, she wants her door to always be open — mirroring the same welcoming atmosphere she experienced at Saint Mary’s University.
Marisa (Niemiec) Corcoran B’99 found her calling at Saint Mary’s to help people along their faith journey.
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Coming from a Lasallian high school, she admits she never considered Saint Mary’s until her step father Jack “John” White B’79 urged her and her twin brother Matt Niemiec B’99, M’00 to take a tour. “We took a bus trip, and I was sold,” she said. “I had the best weekend ever. I saw Brother Larry Schatz, FSC, and said, ‘I’m going to this school.’ It was love at first sight.” Through her courses and her deep admiration for the Christian Brothers, she found her calling as a theology and pastoral and youth ministry major.
“I originally thought I was going into human services. I knew I felt called to help people,” she said. “It was a time in my life that my faith was blossoming, and I saw youth ministry as a similar path, a way to engage and help people in the spectrum of God. God is awesome, and I knew I wanted to share that with other people. I realized the people I wanted to help in their faith journey were teenagers and college students — young people.” Corcoran immersed herself in all things Lasallian Catholic at Saint Mary’s. “I loved the Brothers and the concept of being Lasallian, and I dove into that,” she said, detailing how she started the Lasallian Collegians, so college students could grow in faith, serve one another, and grow in community. She also took part in every opportunity Campus Ministry offered including TEC (Together Encountering Christ) retreats, urban plunges, and a S.O.U.L. (Serving Others United in Love) trip to Tijuana, Mexico. “There were so many ways and opportunities to get involved,” she said. “I loved Sunday night Mass at 10 p.m. Afterward, we would go play darts or get together. Community was a huge part of my faith experience. We’d go caroling and then have hot chocolate with the Brothers.” To someone unfamiliar with the term Lasallian, Corcoran describes it as three words: faith, service, and community. “It’s feeling like you belong, are bonded, and have a shared interest or commonality,” she said. “When you do service together, that’s where that happens. Being Lasallian means reaching out to others. My job now is to touch the hearts and minds of young people which is what Saint John Baptist de La Salle did.” Corcoran has been in her position for 16 years and says she loves her job more and more every year. “I really value the opportunity to walk with young people in exploring and learning about their faith,” she
said. “Everybody connects with a different element of faith, whether it’s trips, service, Bible study … I love journeying in that whole spectrum. They are questioning God and asking those big questions, and I feel privileged to share that God is love, so no matter what you are going through, you are loved. God created you and God loves you. Brother Robert Smith, FSC B’76 told us we can love (religion) or leave it, or we can love it and make it better. As theologians, it’s our responsibility to love it, and question it, and try to understand it.” After college, Corcoran and her husband John B’99 (whom she met in Theology 101, taught by Brother Robert) volunteered for four years in West Virginia at Nazareth Farm, a Catholic organization in a low-income area. Their mission was to serve people with home repair and a ministry of presence. After that, they moved to a Lasallian community connected to San Miguel Middle School in the Twin Cities before settling in Winona. In high school, Corcoran’s Lasallian Youth Group described being Lasallian as “a community of believers, bound by faith, and joined in service.” It’s this combination that keeps the college bonds of friendships strong 23 years later. “There are 10 of us who still hang out and keep in touch,” she said. “All but two of us married other Saint Mary’s graduates. We all believe in being Lasallian, and many in our group became Lasallian volunteers or taught in Lasallian schools.” Also in high school, Corcoran remembers being told, “Just because you’re graduating, doesn’t mean you stop being Lasallian. You are always Lasallian, and we need you to be Lasallian wherever you go. “The idea of being Lasallian Catholic is a hidden gem,” she said. “I wish we had more Lasallian universities. I think it’s a little part of the world where things are right. I wish it were more commonly known and a more common experience because it’s been so critical to the formation of who I am.”
Being Lasallian means reaching out to others. My job now is to touch the hearts and minds of young people which is what Saint John Baptist de La Salle did. Marisa (Niemiec) Corcoran B’99
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FEATURE › BRAND PILLARS
Faculty and staff are all in for every student Modeling strong education
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Alex Zuzek B’18, M’22 studied education at Saint Mary’s at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
lex Zuzek B’18, M’22 wasn’t sure, at first, that he wanted to follow in the footsteps of his older sisters and study education at Saint Mary’s. But he’s glad he did. And by the time he was ready to enroll in an M.Ed. program — largely because of his meaningful undergraduate experience and the university’s quality reputation — Zuzek said, he “didn’t really even think twice about going back to Saint Mary’s.” Zuzek was first introduced to the university as a ninth grader, while touring with his sisters, Katie (Zuzek) Nye B’14, M’17 and Abbie (Zuzek) Budin B’15. When it was his turn to look at undergraduate schools, Zuzek was hesitant to automatically go where they did. “But then I Iooked back and decided I liked the setting in Winona and the bluffs, and I knew I wanted to be a teacher. My dad was a principal, so he knows quite a bit about different schools, and he thought Saint Mary’s was a really strong one.” The combination, he said, “kind of made it the perfect place for me.” Zuzek, in turn, became grateful for the early introductions to the department. “I do feel like I was lucky having sisters who were both studying to be teachers, too,” he said. “I met the Sorvaags and another education professor so I knew them ahead of time. We all ended up teaching in different areas. One sister and my wife, Aleaha (Zabel B’18), are elementary teachers, and my middle sister studied K-12 music. We could talk to each other about what to expect from certain teachers, but not so much detail that you had this full concept.”
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Zuzek quickly settled on studying social studies secondary education, with a goal of being both a teacher and a tennis coach, and he was soon creating his own path in education — one encouraged by supportive faculty. “I was able to learn so much from them,” he said. “It felt like another level of connection in the sense that when you would see them around campus, it wasn’t just a passing ‘Hi, how’s it going?’ It was more meaningful. I also remember (faculty) coming to different events, and some of the education faculty hosted a kickball game at their house. It might sound hokey, but to me that’s the good stuff, that’s what makes it. “It’s really important in education to model what it can look like, as far as being a mentor and teacher. At the undergrad campus, it felt like faculty would have met any need that you had. If you needed a reexplanation or an extension, it was at your fingertips, at your disposal; it was fantastic. If you go to a bigger school, that’s not going to happen there.” Now, Zuzek said he, his sisters, and his wife reminisce about the professors who had such a positive impact on them personally and professionally. At the graduate level, though his experiences have been quite different — especially because he was in his first fully virtual M.Ed. community — he found the same close connections with faculty. “The master’s programs are popular in the Twin Cities, especially among teachers,” he said. “To already know their educational philosophy and beliefs was huge. It gives me a sense of cohesion between my degrees. I
have just loved that cohesive piece and how personal it is.” Zuzek, who graduated in June, points out he’s been able to earn his degree while working full time at Hastings High School and raising a family. “My wife and I had our first child, Arthur ‘Archie,’ a year ago in April, so out of the 15-16 month program, for a year of it, I also had a young child,” he said. “But the way faculty laid it all out still made it all doable. They make it so clear what’s expected. “A master’s is more difficult in the sense that the standard of work is higher and also because you have a job while doing it,” he added. “In both the master’s program and in my undergrad studies, I’ve been very fortunate to have teachers, facilitators, and mentors who truly care and know you.” Zuzek is applying what he’s learned back to his alma mater in Hastings, where he teaches social studies (and where his dad was once principal). Previously, he had served as a long term sub in Farmington, Minn. And, he’s also a tennis coach at Hastings High School. “I would say I hope to stay connected with Saint Mary’s faculty and facilitators at some level,” he said. “It’s been a really impactful thing for me.”
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FEATURE › BRAND PILLARS
A community that cares
Building lifelong relationships
F Landman, right, posed with college friends, from left: Ruth (Lambert) Naughton ’04, Stacy Langworthy ’04, Sally (Baker) Sundsmo B’04, M’13, and Bryanna (Linscheid) Sauer B’04.
or Sarah (Marek) Landman B’04, M’07, Saint Mary’s has always been a second home. A Winona native whose parents, Patrick B’79 and Maureen (Randell) ’81 Marek, as well as several aunts were all alumni, she was introduced to the Saint Mary’s community early in life. Running around her parents’ regular reunion get-togethers, she would frequently overhear her parents and their lifelong college friends laughing and reliving memories. Older brother Mike Marek B’07 also attended. Also as a child, she began acting. At 6, she was involved in a community theatre performance that was the first performance in the “then” new Page Theatre on campus. As an eighth grader, she was cast in a Saint Mary’s performance and experienced firsthand the “culture and sense of caring” that theatre students had for one another. When it came time to choose a college, she said she truly felt like Saint Mary’s wanted her to be part of the community. “Between Anthony Piscitiello, AFSC B’69, M’82 (then vice president of admission) reaching out and my admissions reps who would send me clippings every time I won an award or made the honor roll, and the fact my mom and dad went there, and a bunch of my aunts, it was a very comfortable and natural place to be,” she said. Landman would soon discover she had many of the same experiences as her parents. She too enjoyed staying on campus during the summer. A theatre major, Landman worked in the admissions office and for the box office and enjoyed the true beauty of the campus. “I showed up as a freshman and never really went home,” she said.
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“I felt cared for, and very much known,” she said. “Professors I didn’t even have classes with still knew my name. I can still see Jerry Seibert at Campus Safety; the women at the registrar’s desk; and everyone at the switchboard and in the cafeteria. Everyone was just so welcoming of all students. At Saint Mary’s, no one is anonymous.” Eighteen years later, she, like her parents, stays in close touch with the friends she made on Terrace Heights. “Beyond the Theatre Department, I met a good group of friends from my residence hall,” she said. “I’m still friends with them, and I’m godmother to one of their children. We’ve been there for each other through marriages, having kids, and losing parents. We were there for each other during tough things; 9/11 occurred when I was a sophomore. That’s a good example of how the community rallied together during a traumatic event. The chapel was packed, we all went to an assembly and were encouraged to give to relief efforts. “The Taylor Richmond Benefit started while I was a student, and I remember how supportive the community was of the Richmond family during their journey with
Taylor (the benefit’s first recipient). When there was a need on campus, students responded with the resources they had, as well as prayers and support.” Landman said when she compares her college memories with others, she finds no one else, who attended other universities, had the same experiences she did of a tight knit community and lifelong bonds. Landman has also seen it from the graduate perspective. Her first job out of college was in development at Saint Mary’s. An added bonus of her position, she was able to earn her Philanthropy and Development degree from the university. She recalls being part of a supportive cohort. “I was at more of a junior level than most people,” she said. “Studying alongside professionals, I learned so much from them, and we’re all still in touch. My cohort has had
four or five Zoom calls since COVID-19 began. We send each other Christmas cards. It was a different experience as a graduate, but the heart of it was still the same, that same sense of caring and community, everyone willing to share knowledge and contribute.” Now a university trustee, Landman takes the honor and responsibility very seriously. “It’s important for me that Saint Mary’s is able to do what it did for me for future generations of students,” she said. “The faith component is behind a lot of the sense of community. At the root of being Lasallian Catholic is being good to each other, being kind, being a good human, and treating people like you want to be treated. That was at the core. It’s important to me to be a trustee of an institution that is faith based and is encouraging people to keep their faith. Under Father Burns’ leadership, it’s one of the things that energizes me. Saint Mary’s is a place where Catholic students can come and grow in their faith and not take a step back from it. And learning ethical values and leadership is more important than ever.” The executive vice president of Insightful Philanthropy, Marek Landman said she knows that in the business community, you learn that ethical behavior isn’t always the norm. “This world needs more ethical leaders. There’s no better place to get a great community, a strong foundation, and grow in your faith than Saint Mary’s.”
Sarah (Marek) Landman today with college friends Ruth (Lambert) Naughton and Bryanna (Linscheid) Sauer.
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FEATURE › BRAND PILLARS
An education that’s within reach Affordability, accessibility, opportunity
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My experience at Saint Mary’s helped me be able to critically think and be able to handle and troubleshoot any problems that came up throughout my entire career. Abby (Zimmer) O’Brien B’08
s a staff accountant for the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, Abby (Zimmer) O’Brien B’08 sees herself as a problem solver. And she’s felt that way in the myriad of positions she’s held in her professional career since leaving Saint Mary’s. For O’Brien, it’s the education she received at Saint Mary’s that set her up to fulfill that role. “My experience at Saint Mary’s helped me be able to critically think and be able to handle and troubleshoot any problems that came up throughout my entire career,” she said. The ability to access such an education, according to O’Brien, was made easy by Saint Mary’s in a variety of ways, from the assistance that made seeking a higher education affordable to faculty who are available to students and prioritize their success. When looking at colleges, O’Brien was unaware of Saint Mary’s and had planned to apply to other schools. However, during a visit to Winona with a high school friend, she was instantly drawn to the city. Thinking Winona State was the only college in town, she was pleased to find Saint Mary’s tucked away in the bluffs. After a tour of campus and a taste of student life that included Gaslight, an oncampus variety show, O’Brien knew where she wanted to spend her next four years.
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“A lot of little things added up that made me say, ‘Yeah, this is the right place for me,’ ” she said. One aspect that made Saint Mary’s the right place: the cost of tuition. Compared to the other schools O’Brien had been considering at the time, Saint Mary’s was the most affordable. O’Brien also was awarded a number of merit-based scholarships through the university. “It really allowed me to focus on school instead of focusing on how burdened I could have been by student loans,” O’Brien said. “So it was also great that my hard work in high school paid off and then continued to pay off in college.” Another cost-savings option made readily available to O’Brien was the opportunity to hold work-study positions throughout her college career, which included checking student IDs at the Recreation and Athletic Center and helping the Sports Information Department with basketball statistics. O’Brien says she benefited from the two work-study opportunities in multiple ways. “My work-study helped further engage me with the school because I was attending athletic events,” she said. “It also made it so I didn’t have to find a job off-campus.” The idea of having an education within reach did not stop at the affordability of the school for O’Brien. As is echoed by many students and graduates of Saint Mary’s,
Abby (Zimmer) O’Brien B’08 is a staff accountant for the Archdiocese of Saint Paul.
she valued the small class sizes and the availability of her professors. “I had friends who attended larger schools and would have their gen ed classes in a lecture hall with 300 other students,” she said. “But that was never the case at Saint Mary’s. Whether it was a gen ed class or something for your major, the classes were always small and personable. And that definitely made education accessible. And the professors were always able and willing to connect with you, whether it be during office hours or over email.” One door Saint Mary’s opened for O’Brien, a highlight of her college experience, was the opportunity to study abroad in London. For her, this was an opportunity to experience England and other parts of Europe, all while earning credits toward her business minor and needed general education courses.
“That was an experience I wouldn’t change for the world,” she said. “It was amazing to experience life outside of this country while not falling behind.” Access to extracurriculars was also an essential part of O’Brien’s college experience. An active high school student, she continued that trend at Saint Mary’s, getting involved in numerous organizations including the student newspaper, Habitat for Humanity, choir, and band. “There was a lot I was involved in,” she said. “And it was great to be able to connect with my classmates and cohorts outside of the classroom.” To O’Brien, her time at Saint Mary’s seemed like “the best of both worlds.” “I was able to enjoy small class sizes, develop amazing friends, and have all these clubs and extracurriculars I could be a part of,” she said. “I truly enjoyed it.” SAINT MARY’S MAGAZINE | SPRING/SUMMER 2022 |
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FEATURE › BRAND PILLARS
Practical, hands-on education for the real world Standing apart from the competition
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avid Dahlstrom B’10 remembers his Strategies presentation like it was yesterday. “I remember I didn’t sleep the night before,” he said. “I remember how much time and effort we put into it and how many times we flip flopped on our strategy. And I remember the relief when it was completed, and the nap I took post presentation.” In the required Strategies course, business students at Saint Mary’s are grouped together to work on a real-world scenario. After completing extensive research, they present to a team of business professionals, as well as faculty, in a boardroom. As in the real world, the questions are unrehearsed and unpredictable. Now director of investor relations for Hormel Foods, Dahlstrom returns to his alma
David Dahlstrom B’10, director of investor relations for Hormel Foods, says real-world experiences as a Saint Mary’s student helped jump start his career.
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mater three times a year, twice a year to judge the Strategies competition. Today, he’s the one asking the tough questions. “It remains the most real life experience Saint Mary’s does,” he said. “I prepare presentations all the time. Rarely do you get to walk through a presentation beginning to end. Things get off track, and it becomes less about you presenting and more about answering questions. People can review slide decks on their own time. What they want are answers to their questions about risk and return. When I reflect back, it matches the real world 100 percent.” Dahlstrom, who double majored in accounting and human resource management, also comes back to Saint Mary’s once a year to talk with students in a cost accounting class about Hormel Foods’
internship opportunities, which he knows first-hand can turn into a full-time position. Dahlstrom interned with Hormel Foods in 2009 before joining the company full time in 2010. “A gentleman interned the summer before me. I was in this pipeline, and another five or six Saint Mary’s students have also interned, and five or six alumni have come on full time,” he said. “I’ve made it my personal mission to keep the pipeline strong. We’re talking about an accounting class of maybe 20 a year and I know there’s an opportunity for one or two of them to join a growing Fortune 500 company. That’s very important to me. That’s how I got here. “I hope to continue that in the future. As long as I keep getting invited back to give my spiel; I speak about Hormel Foods, run through an example of a real-world cost accounting project, answer questions about the industry and my experience, and about certifications they may want to consider.” As director of investor relations at Hormel Foods, Dahlstrom is responsible for building and strengthening relationships with the investor community; leading the preparation and presentation of quarterly earnings materials; the interaction with equity research analysts, investors and other third parties; communication of insight to executive management regarding company perception and peer performance; and the company’s annual report. “I have had opportunities to have multiple jobs,” he said. “My current role is a mix of financial acumen and interpersonal skills. I enjoy the financial and business aspect, but I also like to talk to people and tell the Hormel Foods story. It’s a great match of interests and my skills.” Dahlstrom admits he wasn’t sure what his career path would be when he enrolled at Saint Mary’s. “Initially, I knew I wanted to continue playing baseball, and five minutes after stepping on campus, I knew this was where
I wanted to be,” he said. “I figured I would study something business oriented, but I never considered accounting until I took my first class. It sparked a love for the financial world and numbers.” He believes his accounting classes prepared him well for his career. “You have four years of learning theory, and the application is wide. I think Saint Mary’s did a fantastic job,” he said. But, he adds, Saint Mary’s — as a whole — also instills in students personal accountability from day one. “In the professional world, we are held accountable for our actions, our work, every day. At Saint Mary’s, you couldn’t miss a class without receiving a phone call or an email. There was no ability to just blend in. You had professors and coaches who cared about you, classmates who cared about you. If anything in your life became imbalanced, someone would reach out. From day one, (baseball) coach Nick Whaley told us, ‘If you don’t go to class, I’m going to hear about it.’ You had to show up and participate and answer to someone if you didn’t. That four-year development is so helpful in the real world.” It’s because of this real-world preparation that Dahlstrom says Saint Mary’s interns and alumni have historically done well at Hormel Foods and why he’ll continue to help students get a foot in the door. “The school did so much for me. So in return, I need to give back,” he said. “Advocating on behalf of the current students and using my voice to say, ‘We can get really good people, people willing to work hard and be accountable, if you give me an opportunity to go down there.’ I’m advocating on behalf of (students) I don’t know personally but having gone to Saint Mary’s, and being married to someone who went to Saint Mary’s, I know who those people are, and they can do great things for the company.”
I’m advocating on behalf of (students) I don’t know personally but having gone to Saint Mary’s, and being married to someone who went to Saint Mary’s, I know who those people are, and they can do great things for the company. David Dahlstrom B’10
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FEATURE › BECAUSE OF YOU
Alumni help make Saint Mary’s affordable
Chuck Joseph B’66 sees the return on his investment
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It’s always fun to receive a handwritten note from the kids and get an idea of what’s going on at campus. And those communications do make you feel like there is a return or reward for your giving. Chuck Joseph B’66
first-generation college student, Chuck Joseph B’66 knows firsthand about Saint Mary’s goal to make education accessible to every student. And it’s the accessibility to the breadth of education Saint Mary’s has to offer that has kept him close to his alma mater for so long. Growing up during the Great Depression, neither of Joseph’s parents had the opportunity to finish their education and pursue college. “My mother started working as a secretary at 16, and my dad ran away from home and joined a carnival at 16,” Joseph said. “Neither finished high school, so a good education was kind of a goal they set for their kids.” Joseph became acquainted with Saint Mary’s after a De La Salle Christian Brother visited the Catholic high school he attended in the Chicago area. Besides being an affordable option for education (with tuition around only $1,000 at the time), it was an opportunity to learn from the Brothers on campus, and Joseph decided to pursue a physics degree at Saint Mary’s. Joseph found himself on campus during a momentous time. During his junior year, the first group of female students from the College of Saint Teresa, a majority of whom were math and physics majors, began taking courses at Saint Mary’s. Joseph was also a classmate of Blessed James Miller B’66, M’74, the beatified De La Salle Christian Brother and Saint Mary’s alumnus who died serving and protecting youth in Nicaragua. “My class produced a number of Ph.Ds, a pro hockey player, and a number of successful people,” Joseph said. “But as one classmate
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said, Brother James’ beatification trumps them all.” While there were many memorable moments during his time on campus, Joseph says what he holds most dear is the time he spent learning from the De La Salle Christian Brothers. “I owe so much to the Brothers who were at Saint Mary’s at the time,” Joseph said. “They really gave us a good education and taught me how to think and be flexible about where I was going to go after Saint Mary’s.” The lesson in flexibility was key for Joseph as he navigated his professional life. After leaving Saint Mary’s, he first began a master’s degree in physics prior to entering the business world in 1969 building market research models for Quaker Oats. “Business majors had no clue what to do with the computer in those days,” Joseph joked. After a stint at Quaker Oats, Joseph continued building a career in market research, eventually landing a job at Ecolab in Saint Paul, Minn. It was in the Twin Cities where Joseph took the talents he built at Saint Mary’s and through his career and began using them to serve others, first by serving on a finance committee for the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. After retiring in Racine, Wis., he continued his volunteer work, writing a monthly column for the newspaper about how to avoid senior fraud and serving on the local traffic safety commission. It was his time volunteering with the archdiocese, however, that made him reflect on his time in Winona and want to continue
Chuck Joseph B’66 and his wife, Kathie.
to make Saint Mary’s an accessible place to those seeking an education. Joseph has given to the university through a number of funds, as well as an irrevocable charitable trust he created. However, now he primarily gives to the First Generation Initiative (FGI), a program at Saint Mary’s focused on providing academic success for first-generation college students. “I wish something like that had been there for me when I started college,” Joseph said. “I probably would have avoided some of the hardships I had in my first year.” He added, “It’s a phenomenal program, and the hope of keeping Catholic education going through programs like this goes back to the whole original concept of why the De La Salle Christian Brothers were founded.” Another major gift Joseph gave to the school was a donation to the renovation of Aquinas Hall, formerly known as the Adducci Science Center’s Hoffman and Brother Charles Halls and the Science and Learning Center. The building now houses the business, science, and psychology
departments, as well as the new B.S. in Nursing program. Joseph was gratified to be able to return to campus for a recent reunion to see the new building and gain an understanding of the benefits the new facility and programming inside will have on students. “I’m pleased there is a bigger space for the sciences,” Joseph said. “Especially as the science programs continue to grow bigger and stronger.” For Joseph, giving to help keep education at Saint Mary’s accessible — be it donating to scholarship funds or capital improvements — helps keep him connected to his alma mater. He says he regularly sees a return on investment. That especially rings true when he receives communications from FGI Scholars. “It’s always fun to receive a handwritten note from the kids and get an idea of what’s going on at campus,” he said. “And those communications do make you feel like there is a return or reward for your giving.” SAINT MARY’S MAGAZINE | SPRING/SUMMER 2022 |
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FEATURE › FIRST GENERATION INITIATIVE
Surrounded by support
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amily is everything to Jacqueline (Jacky) Beltran ’24. After losing her father to cancer her senior year of high school, the connection between her, her mother, and her now 5-year-old little sister became even stronger. Love carried them through the tragedy. So when she began applying to colleges, the idea of moving away from their Waukegon, Ill., home definitely wasn’t an option. The farthest she’d ever traveled was just over the border into Wisconsin. But the opportunity to be one of Saint Mary’s University’s First Generation Initiative Scholars eventually persuaded her to step out of her comfort zone. Established in 2010, the Saint Mary’s First Generation Initiative (FGI) was designed to address a growing academic achievement gap, particularly in under-resourced, diverse communities. The program helps ensure academic success for high-potential, first-generation students in partnering schools.
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Programming supports students from middle school through college graduation. FGI Scholars receive scholarship support not covered by financial aid. Beltran was not part of the high school Countdown to College summer preparation program. Instead, she was introduced to the FGI program by her high school guidance counselor. She hadn’t thought much about college in middle school, but at Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep, with encouragement, she realized a college education would brighten her future. “I had never thought going out of state was an option because I am really attached to (my family),” she said. “I applied to two other schools in Illinois. I’d never been this far from home. Once I heard about the scholarship at Saint Mary’s, I knew it was an opportunity I had to take.” When Beltran heard she was accepted as a First Generation Initiative Scholar, she admits, it was emotional for her and her family. “I read the email like 30 times,” she said. “When I got it, I was in shock and called my mom, and we both cried on the phone. My Mom had encouraged me. It was a future she wanted, and she wasn’t able to get for herself. It was an opportunity I was very thankful for and am still thankful for.” Beltran’s father also proudly learned of his daughter’s accomplishment before his passing. “He hugged me. He didn’t see me cross the high school graduation stage, but he saw my diploma. It was an emotional roller coaster.” Once she settled in Winona, Beltran quickly found the FGI program was about more than a scholarship. The sophomore psychology major says the community support and relationships have helped her grow and accomplish things she never would have otherwise. “Being an FGI Scholar is an awesome opportunity,” she said. “I’m not very social.
I wouldn’t have been interacting as much on campus without the encouragement and support I’ve received. I’m thankful I’m more involved on campus. I’m a guided study mentor and peer learning assistant. I’m also the social media manager for the psychology club, and next semester I’ll serve as vice president.” Not one to normally reach out for help, she said she also found the academic support she needed at Saint Mary’s. “They helped me with questions personally or academically,” she said. “If I was struggling with a class, they guided me to resources like tutoring or connected me with upper classmen. It’s a small community and professors are really supportive. Last semester I had a tough time mentally. I was homesick. Faculty here acknowledge you and pay attention to what’s going on in your life.” Through her courses, Beltran is learning more about herself and her interests. She started out thinking she wanted to major in zoology and work with animals. She quickly changed to psychology after loving her first courses. This year, she completed research classes, and next semester, she will learn more about specific disorders and the clinical psychology aspect. “I’ll see both aspects before deciding where I want to go with my career,” she said. Regardless, Beltran has always felt a calling to help others, and believes psychology is the right path forward. “If it were not for the FGI program, I wouldn’t be where I am in my life. It’s a supportive community that is always there for me. This is a height I didn’t know if I would ever get to. “I’m very thankful. This is a once-in-alifetime opportunity. I feel like they’re really helping us accomplish our dreams and our families’ dreams. They’re brightening our future.”
If it were not for the FGI program, I wouldn’t be where I am in my life. It’s a supportive community that is always there for me. Jacqueline (Jacky) Beltran B’24
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FEATURE › FIRST GENERATION INITIATIVE
FGI program focuses on aiming high
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rom his new office at Goldman Sachs & Co. in Tucson, Ariz., Javier Madrid B’18 describes his shoot-for-the-moon philosophy. He believes in aiming high. His philosophy is that if you fall short of your goal, you’ll still end up in a good place. Madrid grew up in Naco, Ariz., and had just moved to Tucson, Ariz., at the age of 13 when he had the opportunity to participate in Saint Mary’s inaugural Countdown to College (C2C) four-year summer program through San Miguel High School (Cristo Rey Network). He credits C2C, the broader FGI program, and the program’s first administrators, Jane Anderson and Edith Galvez, with changing his life. “First off, from where I’m from, statistics are very grim as to how many people go to college and graduate,” he said. He’s also grateful for the lifelong lessons he learned from his peers in the program. “I grew up in a predominantly Hispanic
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neighborhood and went to a high school that was mostly Hispanic, so C2C exposed me to different cultures,” he said. “It’s where I began to expand my horizons, and it helped me put myself into other people’s shoes. Some of my best friends are from Chicago and had their own sets of challenges. It gave me the gift of perspective, which is so important, especially in the professional world. And in society, particularly in this political spectrum, we all need to take a second to listen. There’s an opportunity to build bridges and build one another up. We work better in teams.” It’s this team atmosphere that, Madrid said, supported him for eight years through the C2C and FGI programs. “The C2C program helped prepare me for high school because I technically went to college before I went to high school,” he said. “It showed me the importance of time management, and prioritization. And when I got to college, it was nothing new. Aside from all the academic courses, in grammar, math, and science, the C2C program showed us what a college environment is like. In my last year of C2C, we conducted a science project on clean water and the variables that affect its accessibility. This is the type of activity that catapults you into the college atmosphere because you’re presenting to tenured professors with Ph.D.s.” Being chosen as an FGI Scholar and being able to attend Saint Mary’s on a full scholarship, Madrid said, meant the world to him. “It was emotional,” he said. “When I reflect on all the sacrifices my parents made, working late nights and extra jobs, how they sent my sister Yvonne and I to Tucson for the opportunity at a better life, I acknowledge all the sacrifices my family made for me and how they led to additional opportunities. Madrid is thankful to Jack and Mary Ann (Wera) Remick CST’64 for generously supporting the program from the beginning. “They’re amazing individuals,” he said. “By the time I graduated, I understood a lot more about the commitment people made to me
and my peers and the money and time they invested in us to push us and provide us with the resources to be successful. With every passing day, you appreciate that more and more.” And, he’s grateful to the De La Salle Christian Brothers. “I can never repay the Brothers for what they’ve done for me and my family. I’ve been able to see and grow so much. I was chosen to travel to Washington, D.C., when Pope Francis visited and was also selected to go to Rome as a Lasallian Leader. The Brothers bring so much to the school’s culture.” It has always been important to Madrid that he not let anyone who has believed in him down, and that hard work ethic has extended to his career. After moving back to Arizona to be closer to his family, Madrid began working in management in the paint industry before switching to commercial insurance. About a year ago, he had an opportunity to join Goldman Sachs & Co. as an analyst. He now works in wealth management, helping clients reach their investment goals through financial planning and investment management. “It’s one of the top financial firms in the world, and working here has been a life-changing experience,” he said. Another life-changing experience was the birth of his daughter Kamila in fall 2021. “I feel like it’s a dream come true,” he said. “I have a long way to go but feel like I made it and if I wouldn’t have dreamed it and aimed high, I wouldn’t be where I’m at today. “Saint Mary’s obviously gave us a quality education but one of the most important things is the type of people they graduate. We’re adaptable and excited about learning. It produces young, productive, passionate, and caring young men and women.”
Saint Mary’s obviously gave us a quality education but one of the most important things is the type of people they graduate. We’re adaptable and excited about learning. It produces young, productive, passionate, and caring young men and women.” Javier Madrid B’18
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FEATURE › FIRST GENERATION INITIATIVE
FIRST GENERATION SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM CHANGES Saint Mary’s is expanding the First Generation Initiative scholarship program to be able to serve a greater number of students, doubling available scholarships to 12-15 per year, instead of the previous five to six scholarships. This change will create a larger community of scholars — and expand benefactor gifts even further. FGI scholarships will continue to cover tuition and most course fees, basic housing and basic meal plans, a laptop, and school supplies as needed. Going forward, Saint Mary’s University will award institutional aid to cover approximately half of the scholarship, “matching” the funds provided by the benefactors. With this partnership, the benefactor funded scholarship award will be reduced to $25,000 a year for four years for a total of $100,000 (from $50,000 a year for four years for a total of $200,000). Scholarship recipients will be responsible for their books and materials, and they will receive a work-study award for on-campus employment to help pay for books, materials, and incidentals. All scholars need to demonstrate eligibility for the Federal Pell Grant Program, a measure of financial need, with priority given to those demonstrating the greatest level of need. At least half of the scholars should be from Minnesota, also qualifying for the Minnesota State Grant program. “To ensure the future sustainability of the FGI program and to be able to offer more scholarships each year, we are trying to grow the enrollment while at the same time recruiting and soliciting
Margarita Lopez B’22
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annual sponsors,” said Alisa Macksey, dean of Student Success and First Generation Initiative. “We’re excited about growing the FGI community, because there’ll be more people to engage with, and students will feel more support,” she added. “This year we’ll be able to triple the number of scholarships offered in the past four years.” Being able to invite more students into the program means more graduates will have a broader array of career options which, in turn, allows them to provide even stronger financial support to their families. “It’s exciting to see so many FGI alumni going back and serving their communities,” Macksey said. “It’s great to see them giving back and being a role model to younger students in their families and in their neighborhoods. It’s the trickle down effect. They’re starting a legacy.”
RETIREES
Joe Dulak Current/former title(s): Assistant director of the Academic Skills Center and Reading Lab supervisor; director of the Academic Skills Center; director of Learning Services; director of Learning Services and First Generation Initiative. How many years have you worked at Saint Mary’s and what brought you here? 31 years. I just graduated from my master’s program in counseling: college student development in Mankato. I was newly married. I was in Mankato and my new wife (Karen) was living in Minneapolis. I had a new job, new living arrangements — a new start to life. What have you enjoyed most about teaching/your job? I started as a teacher, teaching college reading and study skills and variations on that theme. I was able to teach technology to the honors students; computer, speech, and reading to the international students; and technology to the faculty. (I was faculty development for a semester.) I took on more administrative roles, overseeing tutoring, assisting with access services (disability services back then), advising, and became the case manager for Early Alert eventually. I enjoyed working with the De La Salle Christian Brothers, students, faculty, and staff
the most. We felt like family for much of my time here. I got to work with those students who struggled, and those that stood out above the rest (my tutors and peer learning assistants). In my roles, I was able to interact with most of the faculty and much of the staff. It was an honor to be connected to so many individuals who were here to help students at the college. How do you hope you’re remembered/what will you most be remembered for? My laugh. I once interrupted a class on the fourth floor of Saint Mary’s Hall as I was laughing and coming out of the Toner Student Center. What are you most proud of from your career? The opportunity to have my children attend Saint Mary’s, and now my daughter is working and recently advanced in admissions. What are your retirement plans? Lifelong learning, just like our mission has stated all these years. I’m going to improve my guitar playing, learn how to draw, and read a lot. I’m also going to focus on my health and well-being. What will you miss the most? The people (the Brothers, students, staff, faculty, and administration).
Joe Dulak has worked at Saint Mary’s for 31 years.
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RETIREES
Dr. David Jackson Current/former title(s): Dr. David Jackson, associate professor, School of Education, and former chair and dean of the School of Education.
Dr. David Jackson has worked at Saint Mary’s for 27 years.
How many years have you worked at Saint Mary’s and what brought you here? I have been working at Saint Mary’s for the past 27 years. What brought me here was the opportunity to be a part of a university/ program that was innovative and committed to preparing outstanding teachers. What have you enjoyed most about teaching? What I have most enjoyed about teaching has been the opportunity to get to know and work with so many wonderful students who have been passionate about teaching and learning, and their desires to make a difference in the lives of their
students. I loved facilitating learning through having the students engaged in classroom activities. How do you hope you’re remembered/what will you most be remembered for? I hope to be remembered for my joy and passion for teaching. I hope that students will recall with fondness the different creative learning activities we did in class that brought to life whatever we were studying and helped to build a strong learning community where everyone supported one another. What are you most proud of from your career? I am most proud of working collaboratively with my colleagues in the School of Education and others across the university in building and supporting exceptional education programs where our students, both pre-service and practicing teachers, have developed into outstanding educators who are making a difference in the lives of their students and their communities. What are your retirement plans? I am looking forward to traveling with my wife to new places as we seek to experience different cultures and make new friends. I also plan to continue to work on my golf game, fishing the Mississippi River, gardening, and spending time with family. What will you miss the most? I have been blessed to have had the opportunity to work with so many wonderful colleagues and students over the years. I will miss the day-to-day conversations I have with them. I will also miss the excitement and energy that comes with teaching students, finding innovative ways to engage them in the learning process and having them share their thoughts and new ideas with one another in the classroom. Most of all, I will miss helping students achieve their dreams and goals.
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NEWS AND VIEWS
Five honored during Founders’ Day celebration In celebration of its heritage, Saint Mary’s presented awards to beatified alumnus Blessed James Miller, FSC B’66, M’74 posthumously, as well as one faculty member, one staff member, and two outstanding seniors at its annual Founders’ Day celebration, which was held on March 15. In recognition of his lifelong dedication (and ultimately tragic death) in service to the marginalized youth in his care, Blessed James Miller received an honorary Doctorate in Educational Leadership posthumously. The recognition highlights Blessed James Miller’s devotion to youth in Central America at a time of great violence, pervasive injustice, civic unrest, and political turmoil, and his faithful and devout life as a De La Salle Christian Brother for 19 years prior to his death. His family members, sister Patti (and her husband Carl) Richter, and brothers Ralph and Bill Miller, attended the event, and Brother Michael Fehrenbach, FSC, Visitor of the Christian Brothers of the Midwest District, accepted the award on behalf of Blessed James. Presented each year to a member of the faculty, staff, or administration whose life of faith and service exemplifies the ideals of Saint John Baptist de La Salle, the Distinguished Lasallian Educator Award was presented to Paul Kotz, Ph.D., core professor in the Ed.D. in Leadership program. 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. Kotz, who has worked at Saint Mary’s for a total of 18 years, is renowned for his kindness, his patience, his dedication, and his positive spirit — traits that he shares with students, colleagues, and through his many involvements and written works. A sought-after adviser and mentor, Kotz models the Lasallian charism in his interactions. To honor her 18 years of service to the university, Deb Nahrgang, senior communication director, was honored with the Bishop Heffron Award. The Heffron award — named after the founder of Saint Mary’s — 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
Paul Kotz, Ph.D., and Deb Nahrgang, recipients of the Distinguished Lasallian Educator and the Bishop Heffron Award. Outstanding Seniors Trevor Paradise B’22 and Jordan Keeley B’22.
in interactions with colleagues and students. Nahrgang regularly demonstrates, through her work and her interactions with other employees and with students, a deep commitment to respect for all persons and to the university’s mission of ethical leadership and service. Her bright smile and infectious laugh lighten the load of employees and are a source of inspiration for many. 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 Jordan Keeley, of St. Peter, Minn., and Trevor Paradise, of Colorado Springs, Colo. The eight other students nominated for Outstanding Senior included Mary Furlong, Terra Lieser, Jordan Modjeski, Destiny Walker, Jack Hatton, Jonathan Krull, Angel Sacta Espinoza, and Elijah Williams. SAINT MARY’S MAGAZINE | SPRING/SUMMER 2022 |
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NEWS AND VIEWS
Saint Mary’s awarded $1.18 million NSF Noyce Grant to increase number of diverse STEM teachers
A new grant will increase the number of secondary STEM teachers (or teacher candidates) from diverse backgrounds who are committed to teaching in high-need local education schools in southeastern Minnesota.
This spring Saint Mary’s was awarded a $1.18 million NSF Noyce Grant in support of the university’s new Inclusive STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Teacher Education Pipeline (ISTEP) project. ISTEP is designed to increase the number of secondary STEM teachers (or teacher candidates) from diverse backgrounds who are committed to teaching in high-need local education schools in southeastern Minnesota. According to Wilder Research (2019), nearly 42% of public school districts in Minnesota report that teacher shortages are a serious problem. Additionally, less than half of Minnesota’s licensed teachers are currently teaching in public schools. Overall, 3.8% of Minnesota’s 64,202 public school teachers are teaching out of their licensed area, especially in the field of mathematics. In fact, the U.S. Department of Education has reported teacher
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shortages in Minnesota, especially in math and science, for more than 15 years. Gaps in racial/ethnic representation are even more significant. As of 2019, one-third of Minnesota students were students of color, while teachers of color were reported as 4%. Over a five-year period, grant funding will enable Saint Mary’s to provide scholarships and stipends to more than 20 undergraduate and graduate students pursuing teacher licensure in a STEM-related field. This will build a pool of Noyce Scholar graduates large enough to move the needle in STEM teacher preparation. STEM+Education (B.A.) students will be awarded two-year scholarships and MAT students will be awarded one-year stipends, commensurate with the duration of the respective programs. Curriculum and programming will support and thoroughly prepare these students for their careers — and encourage others to pursue STEM careers and study. “The goals of the NSF Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program align with Saint Mary’s ‘Strategic Plan: Building a Future Full of Hope 2025,’ which emphasizes increasing access to educational opportunities,” said Saint Mary’s President Father James P. Burns, IVD, Ph.D. “The program will build a pipeline from high-need secondary schools to Saint Mary’s, which will improve student success, retention, and completion; respond to workforce needs; and provide career support for students after graduation. We are grateful that together, we can begin to address this gap in our educational system.” “Guided by distinctly Lasallian Catholic principles, Saint Mary’s has been preparing students for ethical lives of service and leadership for over 100 year,” said Michael Lovorn, Ph.D., dean of Saint Mary’s School of Education. “Our mission to awaken, nurture and empower learners is enriched by our collective commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in all academic contexts. We are humbled and pleased to be the recipients of the ISTEP program award, as it will advance our efforts to recruit and retain more teacher candidates of color. Our team of teacher educators and STEM experts is enthusiastic about this important work, and we are confident the program will help us achieve our overall goal of increasing the number of STEM teachers of color across southeastern Minnesota. We couldn’t be prouder of our participation in this effort.”
NEWS AND VIEWS
Saint Mary’s wins NCAA Division III Team Works Service Challenge Saint Mary’s Cardinal athletes are not only great athletes, but great students — and great people — as well. This past winter, in recognition of its outstanding community service, the NCAA office named Saint Mary’s the NCAA Division III Team Works Service Challenge winner. “NCAA student-athletes continue to give back to the communities that support them on a regular basis across the nation. It is our pleasure to recognize their tremendous efforts to impact their communities in this great time of need nationwide,” said Victor Hill, associate director of Team Works, which is an NCAA championships initiative. “In addition to earning a degree and having the privilege to compete at a national level, we see that doing community service also contributes to the overall studentathlete experience in a very positive way that, in many cases, produces a life-long commitment to social responsibility.” “At Saint Mary’s, our athletic department prides itself on developing the whole person, not just the athlete,” said Saint Mary’s women’s hockey coach Sarah Murray, who serves as the department’s volunteer coordinator. “Serving others is one of the best ways for our athletes to develop empathy, cooperation, and gratitude, shifting the focus from themselves to the needs of others. It also allows us to meet and learn from a range of new people and create memorable experiences with our teammates and members of our community that will last a lifetime.” NCAA Team Works, which coordinates community service efforts at the NCAA championships, and Helper Helper, a volunteer management and tracking platform, launched the community service competition to recognize student-athletes who give back to their communities. The competition, which ran from September through November, is based on the number of service hours completed and the number of participating student-athletes. This is the Cardinals’ first year competing in the challenge, and Saint Mary’s student-athletes jumped into action logging more than 2,000 hours — helping make a $34,219 economic impact on their community during the challenge. “Getting out in the community gives us the opportunity to learn and grow through experiences we have while serving others,” said
Jordan Keeley, a senior goalie on the Cardinal women’s hockey team — and a nominee for the 2022 Hockey Humanitarian Award. “As athletes, we have a platform to advocate for what we believe. We can be the change we wish to see in our communities — which makes volunteering incredibly gratifying. Not only does serving others make you as an individual feel good, but being able to see the difference you can make in someone else’s life is an incredible experience in itself.”
Cardinal athletes at a Think Pink Color Fun Run/Walk.
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NEWS AND VIEWS
Jonathan Haidt keynotes Hendrickson Forum
Keynote speaker Jonathan Haidt poses with this year’s Hendrickson Medal For Ethical Leadership recipient Tony Sanneh.
Renowned author and speaker Jonathan Haidt, a social psychologist widely considered to be one of the world’s leading experts on the psychology of morality, spoke on the topic “What Capitalism Does To Us and For Us” at its 2022 Hendrickson Forum April 7. Drawing on extensive research surrounding the book he is currently writing — “Three Stories about Capitalism: The moral psychology of economic life” — Haidt helped attendees think about capitalism, business, prosperity, and ethics, not just in North America and Europe, but in the world’s many rapidly developing countries, where he’s found great interest in understanding the relationships between morality, prosperity, and society. In addition to teaching in the NYU Stern School of Business, Haidt has won three teaching awards from the University of Virginia, and one from the governor of Virginia. His four TED talks have been viewed more than 7 million times. He was named a “Top 100 Global Thinker” by Foreign Policy magazine in 2012, and one of the 65 “World Thinkers of 2013” by Prospect magazine. He is also the author of more than 100 academic articles and four books. Also during the event, decorated professional soccer player and local nonprofit founder, Tony Sanneh, received the Hendrickson Medal for Ethical Leadership. In 2003, while at the height of his professional soccer career, Tony Sanneh (who was a member of the USA team at the 2002 FIFA World
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Cup) established The Sanneh Foundation to assemble a network within the community that provides supportive and inclusive social environments for youth from low-income families and communities of color to become positive and productive adults. Sanneh has grown the organization from one program and a total budget of $60,000, to six programs and yearly budget of $3.5 million in only five years. The Sanneh Foundation has partnered with Saint Mary’s to establish the Teacher Pathway program to create a supportive, accessible way for Dreamline coaches to become fully licensed teachers and earn master’s degrees.
Check out the Star Tribune’s article: https://www.startribune. com/st-anthony-soccerstar-tony-sannehs-effortsexample-of-enlightenedcapitalism/600165213/
NEWS AND VIEWS
Saint Mary’s announces academic program changes On May 9, following the Board of Trustees’ spring meeting and endorsement of academic changes at the College in Winona, the university shared the following information (https://smumn.edu/ academicchanges) and other communications to the university community to inform faculty, staff, students, parents, alumni, benefactors, and friends of the changes that would take place over the next few years. The following editorial was written by Father James P. Burns to offer perspective and vision on the plans and future state of the college. Our alumni have reached out with additional questions, and the Q&A that follows includes some of the most frequently asked questions the university has received. As detailed curriculum decisions and implementation plans are finalized this summer, we will continue to update our community.
Higher Education – Time and Need for Action! When asked what the biggest challenge a university president faces, I have said that it is staying true to the mission. Our enduring and sustaining mission is to be a Lasallian Catholic university that nurtures a commitment to a practical, Christian, and human education in the midst of challenging times for all higher education. Our steadfast mission remains our North Star as we resolutely confront society’s current economic difficulties. We are actively planning for a viable and strong future for Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. Know for sure that our trustees, administration, faculty, and staff are committed to our traditional liberal arts foundations and faith-filled adherence to our Catholic ethical and social values as we plan and manage for changes that will sustain those
very values in a world of growing economic and societal uncertainty. To that end, Saint Mary’s University recently announced changes to our academic portfolio on our Winona Campus to ensure a bright and sustainable future. We did this through a strategic and thorough review process that involved faculty and academic leadership. The changes include phasing out several majors over the next three to four years. That has prompted a significant response and an assumption that we are stepping away from a commitment to a well-rounded education that includes a grounding in liberal arts. That could not be further from the truth. In fact, we continue to see liberal arts as foundational to each student’s education, regardless of major. Courses that provide students the ability to think critically, solve problems, communicate clearly, and discern the truth will remain core offerings, in alignment with our Lasallian Catholic mission. A number of faculty and academic leadership are hard at work this summer creating a set of integrated courses that will continue to engage and educate students in the liberal arts. This means that areas such as history, English, and theology will still be taught AND required, even if they are no longer majors. We also are pursuing the best ways to incorporate arts such as music and theater into our larger student experience. By transitioning these offerings into co-curricular offerings, we believe more students will be able to participate and benefit. Our goal is to provide students with full and well-rounded extracurricular and co-curricular experiences. We will continue to partner with the vibrant regional arts community and have reached out to express that continued commitment. While our commitment to a wellrounded education remains, any observer of higher education knows that for the last few decades, there
has been a real need for higher education to examine its assumptions and the dominant paradigms under which it has labored. There are even more reasons and challenges today: changing student populations, debt loads, inflation, shifting expectations and interest of students and their parents for a greater return on investment, the need for practical as well as theoretical education, increased student services, and more. While the pandemic didn’t cause these challenges, its impact has shocked a stressed industry. The numbers are staggering. Students attending college have dropped by nearly 1.4 million nationwide during the pandemic, leaving all schools competing for fewer students. This latest data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center shows continued declines year-over-year with a total decline of 9.4% in the pandemic. In Minnesota, the state Office of Higher Education reported that the total undergraduate enrollment has plunged by almost a third. Shifting demographics over the next few years portend greater pain points for higher education. All doom and gloom? Not at all. Optimism, hope, and future success is possible, but only if action replaces conversation, and a hard look at the data and its implications replaces theoretical musings alone. It is up to the leaders of the nation’s institutions of higher learning to ensure our schools remain vital, true to our mission, and in service of the countless students we plan on educating for decades. It bears repeating — our Lasallian Catholic mission offers an education rooted in virtue formation along with a grounding in liberal arts. Integrating a well-rounded core with in-demand majors and virtue formation prepares students for excellent careers and ethical lives of leadership, character, and service. Saint Mary’s is joining other universities that have already taken
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NEWS AND VIEWS action and are now able to advance their educational missions. They serve as exemplars and role models who leaned into change and the new disruptive paradigm. I firmly believe our actions, as difficult as they were, will set a bright future course for Saint Mary’s, our current students, and future students for generations to come.
Questions and Answers Why are you taking this action? We are taking action now so we can continue to serve students for decades. There were a number of actions taken, including a significant budget review this spring that resulted in reducing our current deficit by $6 million. The academic portfolio changes are part of our future sustainability efforts as well and will take place over several years so we can help students transition smoothly and meet their academic goals. We are similar to most schools in that we are competing for far fewer students choosing higher education. This is a national, regional, and state issue. Enrollments have declined nationally by more than 1.4 million students in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. Researchers are estimating that the total could rise as high as 3 million over the next 10 years. In Minnesota total undergraduate enrollment has plunged by almost a third to levels last seen in the late 1990s, according to the state Office of Higher Education, outpacing the more gradual drop in U.S. undergraduates. The enrollment uptick Saint Mary’s was starting to see prior to the pandemic dissipated. We have to right size the College. A work group of faculty, academic leadership, and administrators went through a strategic and thorough review, directed and endorsed by Saint Mary’s Board of Trustees. The recommendations from the group
were unanimously endorsed by the board in May. We believe we are doing the right things for the right reasons. Was this easy? Absolutely not. Do we believe our academic offering for future students will position them well for the future? Yes we do. Are you abandoning liberal arts? Not at all. We continue to see liberal arts as foundational to each student’s education, regardless of major. While some academic majors are being phased out over time, we will require a base of general education in liberal arts courses. Courses that provide teach students to think critically, solve problems, communicate clearly, and discern the truth will remain foundational, as it is central to our Lasallian Catholic mission. We have faculty and academic leadership working this summer to create a set of integrated courses that will continue to engage and educate students in the liberal arts. We also are pursuing the best ways to incorporate arts such as music and theatre into our larger student experience. Saint Mary’s is committed to partnering with the vibrant regional arts community and has reached out to express that continued commitment. To provide a richly holistic and integrated human and Christian education, we aim to make our students’ extracurricular and cocurricular experience as full and wellrounded as possible. What percentage of majors are being phased out? How many majors are left? Previous to this process, the College offered 37 major programs. The reduction of 11 major programs (including Actuarial Science, Art, English, History, Human Services, International Business, Music, Music Industry, Spanish, Theatre, and Theology) represents 30% of the total majors. By having fewer majors, with high growth potential — and directly filling areas employers have identified as needs in the workforce — we can invest and
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focus on ways to bolster learning and the entire student experience. This has resulted in universities and colleges reviewing and reshaping offerings and learning outcomes. How many students does this affect? About 140 current students and about 18 deposited first-year students were originally affected. They — and now the students who have committed to staying — have been our focus. We have reached out to all affected students and are listening to their questions and needs and working with them to ensure they can complete their studies and have a rewarding experience. We have contacted each and every affected student for personal and honest conversations about their options. Students currently enrolled in these programs will be able to complete their degrees and will be offered the appropriate planning and guidance to do so. The paths will likely not be conventional for firstyears and sophomores. For example, they’ll need to take higher-level courses early. What does Saint Mary’s future look like? The universities that will thrive in the future are the ones that are providing the best outcomes for students and meet the needs of employers in a distinct, differentiated way. Thus, a strong grounding in liberal arts and ethical leadership remains a desired outcome for each Saint Mary’s student, now and in the future. One of our next and most important action steps, happening throughout the summer, is to review and revamp our liberal arts courses, which will be part of every student’s undergraduate degree. Saint Mary’s is fortunate to have a large population of graduate, bachelor’s completion, professional students, and a robust online student population in addition to our College for undergrad students in Winona. Having multiple campuses (Minneapolis, Rochester, and
NEWS AND VIEWS Winona), strong online offerings and serving a variety of learners provides diversification, grows our prospective student pool, and allows us to lean into our founding mission: a practical, accessible, student-centered education. We are addressing the many trends and headwinds, which are impacting us (and all higher ed institutions), by restructuring. We will be very happy to grow once again, and plan to reinvest in the future as we become more financially stable at our Winona Campus. What has Saint Mary’s undergraduate enrollment looked like in recent years? Like many schools, our enrollment numbers have fallen for a few years, with greater declines since the pandemic. We have gone from 1,200 undergraduate students in the fall of 2016 to a spring 2022 number of 878. What steps is the university taking to improve its financial stability? Along with re-envisioning our future state, we also tightened budgets for each and every area of the university. Through much work, including reductions in staff and administrative positions in the spring, a savings of more than $6 million has been identified. This included a reduction of 23.5 administrative and staff positions on both campuses, above and beyond undergraduate faculty affected by academic changes announced in May. Once implemented, the future state of the College is expected to close the remaining operating deficit. We also are heightening and adapting our student recruitment efforts. When were these decisions made and who was involved? Our Board of Trustees directed us to achieve a financially sustainable model for the university, but most especially for the College. At its February 2022 meeting, the board directed a working group be formed
to review programs and majors at the College. At the May board meeting, the board received and reviewed the report from the working group and endorsed a phasing out of some programs and majors. The work group included a range of academic leadership, faculty, and administrative leadership, including from areas directly affected by the decisions. Does this affect the Winona Campus only? While we focus on stabilizing the College in Winona, we know this will also affect the overall health and strength of the entire university. How many faculty will be affected? The 13 faculty members, connected to the majors that we will be phasing out, received at least a one-year notice, some two years. This advanced planning will provide a transition for students and faculty. We simply can’t maintain the same size of staff and faculty given the current number of students we serve. Any and all losses are felt across the university. Decisions that inevitably impact the lives of our faculty and staff are difficult and not made lightly. We are forever grateful to all of our dedicated employees for their service and the care and concern they have shown Saint Mary’s students. How do you feel about the criticism some alumni have expressed? We understand that not all in the community are going to agree with the changes being made. We too value the academic disciplines being phased out and the faculty who teach them, and we understand the strong connections our alumni have with their faculty and their disciplines. We also acknowledge the tremendous successes our alumni have had in these fields. Many alumni, from these same fields and others, have expressed support for changes made so that Saint Mary’s will be around for many generations to come.
If the Theology major is being phased out, how can you still be a Catholic university? How does that affect the seminarian students? We remain deeply committed to teaching Philosophy and Theology at Saint Mary’s. Theology remains central to two of the fundamental principles of Catholic universities. Saint Mary’s will continue to teach lower- and upper-division Theology courses now and beyond the 2023-2024 academic year. In fact, Theology will remain an essential part of our liberal arts general education curriculum. In 2021-22, we had only three total Theology majors, all seniors. And we remain deeply committed to our Catholic identity as we will continue to educate undergraduate seminarians, who all complete a B.A. in Philosophy and are required to take several Theology courses. What is the implementation plan? Since the board has approved the recommendations, we have been able to take the next step in the process, which is creating a framework and implementation plans around key areas of focus. Planning is underway now as four implementation work groups have commenced their projects. The teams will work on: • The process for degree completion for students on the majors and minors that will be phased out over time. • The foundational and core liberal arts courses that all students will take for general education. • Operational and organizational review and update to meet future needs. • Future state planning including areas of potential growth and cocurricular arts planning. Communications will be ongoing throughout the planning and implementation phase to keep all faculty, staff, students, and alumni informed and updated.
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ALUMNI
UPCOMING ALUMNI EVENTS July 28 Rochester Brewery Series (Forager Brewery) Aug. 16 Alumni Book Club (Virtual conversation) Sept. 3-4 Mens’ Soccer Games (Chicago area) Sept. 10 Cardinal Excellence Fund Golf Outing (Winona, Minn.) Sept. 16-17 Alumni Board Meeting (Rochester, Minn.) Oct. 14 Benefactor Dinner (Winona, Minn.) Oct. 22 Lasallian Day of Service (locations across the country) To see what’s coming up next, visit connect.smumn. edu/events.
Together again A
s we continue through this historic era of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has especially been hard not to be able to engage in a personal way with our Saint Mary’s alumni. In late September 2021, the Office of Advancement held its first in-person event as we started to re-enter these activities for alumni, benefactors, and friends. In fall we were off to the races once again with three events: the benefactor dinner in Winona, Lasallian Day of Service at locations across the country, and a Saint Mary’s Men’s hockey reception and game in the Chicago area. It was so great to celebrate each other and our Saint Mary’s through these activities once again. We have continued a calendar of events and programming through the winter and spring, capped off with the first in-person Reunion Weekend since 2019. We have long looked forward to welcoming back the many alumni and friends who return home to the Winona Campus. On behalf of the alumni association, I want each of you to know that we are excited to engage and connect with you. We know alumni engagement can
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occur in so many different ways. Many of our alumni interact in many of the following ways: staying in touch with former professors and staff, mentoring students, speaking in a class, assisting in mock interviews or career service opportunities, making a contribution to our current and future students, reading this magazine, keeping connected via the many social media channels offered by the alumni association and through our electronic newsletters, or attending an event/virtual programming offered through the year. All of these are excellent opportunities and methods of staying connected to your alma mater. I strongly encourage alumni from all over our great Saint Mary’s network to engage with the university, but also with one another. If we (as alumni) connect with the university, our current students and invest our time, talent and treasure — the university will certainly have a future full of hope.
Bob Fisher B’97, M’06 Senior Director of Alumni and Benefactor Engagement
ALUMNI
HELP US HONOR ALUMNI Do you know a Saint Mary’s alumnus/a who has made outstanding achievements in his/her career? Or, someone who has given significant time and commitment to the community or Saint Mary’s University? Does someone stand out in your memory as deserving of an alumni award? Can you remember an athlete or coach whose accomplishments brought honor to him/herself and Saint Mary’s University?
Programs. Current employees of the university are ineligible for the award. Continuous personal contributions of time and effort are the primary criteria. Lasallian Service Award Criteria This award honors an alumnus/a for outstanding contributions to the Lasallian spirit of faith and zeal and exemplifies the highest of Lasallian values. This award will be given for personal achievements in the Lasallian charism.
Each year, the Alumni Association of Saint Mary’s University bestows awards upon deserving alumni. We are now accepting nominees for Reunion Weekend for Distinguished Alumnus/a, Alumni Appreciation, Sports Hall of Fame, and Religious Service Awards. All nominations must come from alumni or employees of Saint Mary’s University.
Outstanding Young Alumnus/a Award Criteria This award will honor a young alumnus/a for outstanding accomplishments within the first 10 years from graduation, whose professional accomplishments, service to alma mater, and/or selfless and caring work to benefit society are distinctive.
Distinguished Alumnus/a Award Criteria This award honors an alumnus/a for outstanding achievements in his/her chosen profession. This person’s daily life reflects the Christian ideals promulgated by the university. This person has distinguished him/herself in his/her chosen field or in another area of endeavor.
Sports Hall of Fame Criteria This award honors individuals or teams who have made outstanding contributions to the Saint Mary’s intercollegiate athletic department as athletes, coaches, or administrators. An athlete must have attended Saint Mary’s for a minimum of four semesters. An athlete’s class must have graduated at least five years prior to selection. A coach or administrator must have served the university a minimum of five years and five years must have elapsed since the nominee last served in that capacity. If currently serving at the time of the nomination, the nominee must have had 20 years of continuous service. Five years must have elapsed since any team nominated competed at Saint Mary’s. A Hall of Fame nominee will have shown athletic and academic skills, teamwork, leadership, character or other attributes of an ideal Saint Mary’s student athlete.
Alumni Appreciation Award Criteria This award honors an alumnus/a of the university who, by his/ her consistent and continuous volunteer efforts, has given his/her personal time and energies to further the goals and objectives of Saint Mary’s University. He/she must show exceptional personal commitment involving time and effort in any or all areas involving university functions supported by the Alumni Association. These areas include, but are not limited to, Career Services, Admissions Support, Chapter Development, Alumni Board, Chapter Involvement, and Regional Events and
ALUMNI AWARD NOMINATION FORM (preliminary information) I wish to nominate an individual for: (please check type of award; photocopy to nominate in more than one category.) n Distinguished Alumnus/a n Sports Hall of Fame n Alumni Appreciation n Lasallian Service n Outstanding Young Alumnus/a Name of Nominee Telephone (daytime)
Class Year
Telephone (home)
Why do you think this individual should receive a Saint Mary’s University Alumni Award?
Name of Nominator
Does this person know he/she is being nominated?
Telephone (daytime)
Telephone (home)
Email To nominate a candidate for an award, complete this form and return. Saint Mary’s Alumni Relations staff will follow up with you as necessary. SEND TO: Alumni Relations, Saint Mary’s University, 700 Terrace Heights #21, Winona, MN 55987-1399. FAX TO: 507-457-6697 SAINT MARY’S MAGAZINE | SPRING/SUMMER 2022 |
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ALUMNI
The 2022 Alumni Awards
E
ach year at reunion, Saint Mary’s is honored to recognize alumni who have made outstanding achievements personally and professionally. The university congratulates this year’s recipients.
Robert ‘Bob’ Skemp ’49
Distinguished Alumnus Award
Robert ‘Bob’ Skemp considers Saint Mary’s home. He and his family have been part of the university — and supported its growth — for decades. His father, Thomas Skemp, was long-time football coach from 1919-1929. Next came Bob’s older Brother Tom Jr. ’45 who joined the then college’s Navy V-12 program. Bob found his turn at Saint Mary’s in June of 1945 in an accelerated program, due to the war. He made life-long friends, played football and basketball (serving as captain in ’48-’49), studied history, and paved the way for two more brothers, Bill B’56, and Joseph ’50. Sister Eileen Gass CST’53 attended Saint Teresa. Most importantly, at Saint Mary’s, he met his wife, Frances (Perry) CST’51, and they would go on to have 10 children, many of whom also attended Saint Mary’s and the College of Saint Teresa. He went on to Marquette Law School and had a successful law career in La Crosse, Wis. In 2010, Skemp was honored by the State Bar of Wisconsin with the Leonard L. Loeb Award, which honors a lifetime of exceptional contributions to the community and to the goal of justice for all Wisconsin citizens. Bob continues the legacy of Skemp generosity, and recognizes his appreciation for the De La Salle Christian Brothers, through many gracious gifts to Saint Mary’s.
Honorable Judge George Stephenson B’80 Distinguished Alumnus Award
As a judge in Ramsey County District Court, from 2002 until his recent retirement, Honorable Judge George Stephenson made it his mission to make his community better, fostering relationships 40 | SAINT MARY’S MAGAZINE | SPRING/SUMMER 2022
with community groups and creating programs and advocating for those incarcerated to make changes in their lives. Judge Stephenson initiated or helped launch the John School Program, which provides educational intervention to clients of prostitutes; St. Paul’s Community Court, a program which more assertively handles cases involving “quality of life” (neighborhood nuisance offenses with an emphasis on completing community service hours); and the Community Prosecutor Program, a group of community leaders working to devise strategies to proactively engage youth and prevent them from getting into trouble. In 2020, he received the Minnesota District Judges’ Association President’s Award for Commitment to Excellence and the Minnesota District Judges’ Foundation Award for Outstanding Service to the Community. It is only the second time that one judge received both awards in the same year. With his recent retirement from the bench, he has shifted into creating and selling horror and monster models and busts through Black Heart Enterprises. Judge Stephenson also was inducted into the SMU Sports Hall of Fame in 2000 for his wrestling successes.
Sue Fangel M’09, B’19 Alumni Appreciation Award
Sue Fangel, who has devoted 42 years of her life to nursing, believes in the power of education and lifelong learning. At 48, she decided to enroll in Saint Mary’s M.A. in Health and Human Services Administration program. Ten years later, at 58, she needed a B.S. in Nursing degree and again turned to Saint Mary’s. In her career, she has moved through the
ALUMNI
ranks of nursing and leadership, starting as an LPN and now working as vice president/chief nursing officer for M Health Fairview, St. John’s, and St. Joseph’s Hospitals in St. Paul. Overseeing all nursing operations at two hospitals, she particularly enjoys mentoring younger nurses and healthcare staff to learn and grow for the future. She has used her skills and her vast knowledge on the university’s Nursing Advisory Council and is also serving on Saint Mary’s Board of Regents, the advisory board of the graduate school. She and her husband, Tim, have two adult sons, James B’08, M’19 and Andrew B’11, M’19 who are also Saint Mary’s alumni, along with their wives, Sophie (Harrison) B’13, M’18 and Abby (Lough) B’13. James, Andrew, and Sophie also have master’s degrees in Health and Human Services. They also have four grandchildren, Jacob, Charlotte, Carly, and Elena.
Sarah Jane (Engle) Maher B’07 Lasallian Service Award
Sarah Jane (Engle) Maher, the director of service and social justice at La Salle Catholic College Preparatory High School in Milwaukie, Ore., has dedicated her career to the Lasallian mission. She majored in ministry and minored in music at Saint Mary’s, where her passion began through S.O.U.L. (Serving Others United in Love) trips and many other activities. After graduating, she joined the Lasallian Volunteers and worked in campus ministry at Bishop Loughlin High School in Brooklyn, N.Y. Her passion grew for radical hospitality to those facing injustices such as racism, houselessness, and generational poverty. Her career path then took her to Villanova University where she studied theology, worked in the campus ministry office, and fell in love with a fellow Lasallian Volunteer who later became her husband. Daniel and Sarah Maher, shaped by their experience with the De La Salle Brothers, headed west to Portland, Ore., where they started a
lay community for four Lasallian Volunteers to work at De La Salle North Catholic High School where they were also employed. Sarah worked at DLSNC for seven years as a theology teacher and Campus Minister before moving to La Salle Prep where she works today.
Zach Cizek B’11
Outstanding Young Alumnus Award
Zach Cizek used his years of business acumen in the medical device industry — and a taste for entrepreneurship — into building a tasty foodrelated business. Cizek works for a medical device endoscopy company, Ambu, as a regional sales director. In his work, he oversees sales operations throughout 13 states for Ambu’s Urology & ENT division. Prior to his current sales management role, he was a field sales rep for Ambu for seven years, living in both Chicago, Ill., and the Twin Cities. While working as a sales rep, Zach and his wife, Jessica B’12, launched a successful sandwich-turned-Italian sauce business in 2013. The couple were inspired by a sandwich they had while studying abroad in Florence, Italy the summer prior to senior year. Bollito’s began, first as a traveling sandwich business at street fairs in Chicago and then pivoting into an Italian sauce company. Bollito’s sold their sauces in 175+ retail locations, including all Midwest Whole Foods locations. He credits Saint Mary’s for instilling the entrepreneurial spirit he’s used in both of his careers. During Zach’s senior year, he was selected as a member of the Saint Mary’s Mayo Innovation Scholar team, and during his senior year entrepreneurship class, Zach’s business plan project was to create a sandwich shop selling the Italian inspired sandwich which ultimately became Bollito’s. The Cizeks have two children, Miliania and Callen, and currently live in Stillwater, Minn.
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ATHLETICS
Alumni, students recognized at inaugural Cardinal Excellence Fund Dinner
I
t was three years in the making, but after COVID-19 foiled the first two attempts, the Cardinal Excellence Fund Dinner and Sports Hall of Fame ceremony finally came to fruition March 12 in Winona. It was worth the wait. “The inaugural Cardinal Excellence Fund Dinner was an amazing night — it surpassed my expectations for year one, and I can’t wait to grow this signature event
The Saint Mary’s Alumni Association inducted three members into the Saint Mary’s Sports Hall of Fame on March 12, 2022 including, from left: Emily Kearns B’04, Tyler Stevenson B’06, and Marni (Orthey) Lamberty B’96, M’07.
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for years to come,” said Saint Mary’s athletic director Brian Sisson, who noted that more than 150 people joined in the festivities. “It was so great to be among our many Cardinal faithful. Seeing our new class of Sports Hall of Fame members being inducted in front of their friends and family — the emotion, the joy, the amazing speeches — it was truly special.” “Special” proved to be the word of the day for the three
new inductees into the Saint Mary’s Sports Hall of Fame — Marni (Orthey) Lamberty B’96, M’07, Tyler Stevenson B’06, and Emily Kearns B’04 — who all echoed Sisson’s sentiments. “The Cardinal Excellence Fund Dinner was a fabulous event. It was fun to see former coaches and athletes come together and celebrate a great athletic program and honor three former athletes,” said Lamberty,
ATHLETICS
Senior women’s hockey player Jordan Keeley, joined by several members of the Student Athlete Athletic Council, speaks to those in attendance at the Cardinal Excellence Fund Dinner last March.
an All-American women’s soccer player who helped the Cardinals to a 52-16-6 record during her four-year collegiate career. “I felt so honored as an inductee into the Hall of Fame. “The whole night was special and meaningful, not only for me, but also my family and friends,” Lamberty added. “Being inducted into the Hall of Fame meant so much to me. I will always have a place in my heart for my time at Saint Mary’s.” “It was an incredible experience that could not have gone better,” said Kearns, an All-American during her time with the Saint Mary’s women’s hockey program — and still among the most prolific scorers in program history. “I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of the weekend. From the campus tour, visiting the locker room, skating, seeing old friends,
and finally, everything at the event and afterwards; it could not have been more special and fun. “I am truly honored and blessed to be included with the amazing individuals I am joining in the Saint Mary’s Hall of Fame.” Stevenson echoed fellow inductees. “Having the honor of being inducted into the Saint Mary’s Hall of Fame — being surrounded by my family, my coach, my teammates, and my closest friends — is an experience that I will never forget,” he said. The five-time All-MIAC performer and the men’s tennis program’s all-time wins leader added, “The event itself was a great example of how Saint Mary’s is truly a one-of-a-kind family, where we can catch up with old friends and meet new ones all at the same time.” The induction of three new members into the Saint
Mary’s Sports Hall of Fame proved to be the highlight of an evening that also included recognizing all the recent academic, service, and athletic accomplishments of the Cardinal student-athletes — including an inspirational speech from Hockey Humanitarian Award finalist Jordan Keeley of the women’s hockey team — and getting a sneak-peek at proposed enhancements to the Cardinal athletics experience in the near future. “The evening was a celebration of three amazing individuals, as well as a celebration of all the good things that are happening within Cardinal athletics,” said Sisson. “It was great to see so many alumni, partners of Cardinal athletics, and former Hall of Fame inductees support this new class.”
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CLASS NOTES 1970s Dr. Christine (Adams) Leska B’77, Kasson, Minn., was chosen to receive the 2022 Distinguished Service Award from the Minnesota Optometric Association. Dr. Susan Fuerstenberg B’78, Saint Paul, Minn., began a new role at Forest to Fork as the food safety manager. 1980s David Space B’81, Downers Grove, Ill., began his role as dealer relationship manager at Stellantis Financial Services. John M. Vitek B’82, Rochester, Minn., retired from his position as president and CEO of Lasallian Educational & Research Initiatives, effective July 2023. 1990s Gavin Duffy B’93, Apple Valley, Minn., began working at NWEA as a senior graphic artist in February 2022. 2000s Andy Kerrins B’00, Geneva, Ill., became the director of sales - lithium at Sunlight Group Energy Storage Systems in April 2022. Angela (Yockey) Gustafson B’01, M’06, Minneapolis, Minn., was promoted to senior sales and solution engineer at Sitecore.
Sara (Charneski) Wright B’06, Richfield, Minn., began her new position as manager of advertising yield for Best Buy Ads in April 2022. Cassandra (Schuette) Zacharias B’06, Owatonna, Minn., began her new role at Federated Insurance as a property and casualty product analyst. James M. Iddins B’07, Indianapolis, Ind., released his debut novel, “The One That Got Away,” in November 2021. The novel can be found at jmichaeliddins.com. Andrew C. Lee ’07, Portville, N.Y., started a new position as property development & facilities specialist at Enterprise Holdings in September 2021. Brian Masterson M’07, C’08, C’15, Hinckley, Minn., began his role as superintendent in the Hinckley-Finlayson School District. Michael Krumm B’08, Montrose, Minn., was promoted to senior buyer at Hoya Vision Care. 2010s Sharlene “Miata” Getaweh M’10, D’18, Minneapolis, Minn., was named associate vice president of human resources management for Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota.
Amy Bollman M’02, Annandale, Minn., joined Kensington Bank as a mortgage lender.
Lindsay Christensen B’11, M’20, New Brighton, Minn., began her position as development specialist at Anoka County Historical Society.
Clinton Link M’02, C’18, Waseca, Minn., accepted a position at North Branch Area High School as principal, effective July 1, 2022.
Andrew Kilpatrick B’11, Champlin, Minn., began his position as graphic designer for the City of Burnsville in September 2021.
Timothy Kaufenberg B’04, Saint Paul, Minn., was promoted to director of industrial adhesives and tapes division, Asia area division leader, at 3M.
David Timmons B’11, Buffalo City, Wis., began his position as senior national accounts representative at Chamberlain Group in April 2022.
Monta May B’04, Winona, Minn., began working at 3 Media Web as a web support rep.
Michael Blanda B’12, Cottage Grove, Minn., was promoted to senior graphic designer at Sigma Beauty.
Jeffrey S. Wilson M’04, C’05, C’15, Cranston, R.I., was selected as the Underwood School District’s new superintendent.
Michelle Boris B’12, Fridley, Minn., was a candidate for the 2022 St. Paul Winter Carnival Queen of the Snows.
Sara (Vargason) Lawrence B’06, Farmington, Minn., has been named president of Lasallian Educational & Research Initiatives by the board of directors, effective June 1, 2022.
Nathan Truitt M’12, Alexandria, Va., was promoted from vice president of strategic partnerships to senior vice president of business development at the American Forest Foundation.
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Juan Machado B’13, East Bethel, Minn., was promoted to senior quality manager at Boston Scientific. Jason Kjos C’14, C’19, Lake City, Minn., was selected as the new Menahga School District superintendent. Heidi Loeffler B’14, Denver, Colo., began working at You 1st Realty as an associate broker in April 2022. Jesus Martinez B’14, Chicago, Ill., began his position as senior customer engagement and loyalty communications associate at JPMorgan Chase & Co. in February 2022. Anna Smaron B’14, Maple Plain, Minn., joined the Urgent Care team at Winona Health as a certified physician’s assistant. Janie Jorgenson B’15, Roseville, Minn., began a new role at North Memorial Health as the development specialist, events and communication. Nicholas Wojtynek B’15, Westchester, Ill., began his position as associate director of medical affairs at Verastem Oncology. Kay Nelson C’15, Saint Cloud, Minn., received the 2022 Outstanding Central Office Leader Award from the Minnesota Association of School Administrators. Lisa Viker M’15, Wabasha, Minn., began her role as technical business development specialist at Rhino Carbon Fiber. Michael Calderon B’16, Prior Lake, Minn., began working at Cleo as an account executive in April 2022. Dena Hagen C’16, Duluth, Minn., was awarded the 2022 Special Education Leader Award in March 2022. Emily Heydon C’16, M’17, Rochester, Minn., received the Honor Teacher Award from MINNDEPENDENT, and was one of only two teachers in Minnesota to receive that prestigious recognition. Karina Kim B’16, San Mateo, Calif., began her role as education program manager at Stanford Center for Asian Health Research and Education. Alysa Cross B’17, Oakdale, Minn., began her position as human resources specialist at Oxygen Service Company. Leticia Martinez B’17, Chicago, Ill., began working as a human services
CLASS NOTES caseworker at Illinois Department of Human Services in April 2022. Zachery Thielen B’17, Prior Lake, Minn., began his role as project manager at Sevan Multi-Site Solutions in April 2022. Demetrius Young B’17, Chicago, Ill., began his position as child support specialist trainee at Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services in March 2022. Jake Muzzarelli B’17, Normal, Ill., began a new position as office administrator/ development and marketing specialist at Illinois Symphony Orchestra. Rowan Flynn B’18, Wausau, Wis., began a new position at Aspirus Health as a business intelligence developer in April 2022. Garrett Grunke B’18, Eagan, Minn., was promoted to financial planning & analysis supervisor at Factory Motor Parts in February 2022. Elizabeth Johnson M’18, West Saint Paul, Minn., started a new position as quality specialist at Mayo Clinic. Kirsten Keefe B’19, Chatfield, Minn., became a financial advisor at NorthStar Financial Partners in February 2022. Lisa McKelvey M’19, Corpus Christi, Texas, began her role as director of stewardship and development at the Diocese of Corpus Christi. Hailey Nisbit B’19, Utica, Minn., began her role as underwriting associate at American Contractors Insurance Group in February 2022. Margaret “Meg” Steeves B’19, Bloomington, Minn., began her position as graduate student practicum counselor at Mt. Olivet Counseling Services in August 2021. 2020s Aimee Boggs B’20, Missoula, Mont., began a position as a dual clinician at All Nations Health Center Inc. Cecilia Hardacker M’20, Minneapolis, Minn., began working for the City of Minneapolis as a mental health counselor in April 2022. Sarah Lancaster M’20, Onamia, Minn., received the 2022 Minnesota Teacher of the Year Award.
William Matthews B’20, C’21, Winona, Minn., began his position as account specialist at Fastenal in April 2022.
DEATHS
Stephany Beck B’21, Oshkosh, Wis., began her position as account manager at E/Power Marketing, Inc., in April 2022.
John Schutz B’44, Sun City West, Ariz., in November 2021.
Heather Glass M’21, Knoxville, Tenn., began her position as business intelligence data analyst & reporting specialist at Highway Transport Logistics, Inc., in March 2022. Shane Sheets M’21, Green Isle, Minn., announced his candidacy to run for the Minnesota House of Representatives 17B seat. He also accepted a promotion to become the director of the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office and began work on a project called Angel Dress, which aims to provide free, custom made burial clothing for stillborns and infants.
1940s
Philip Brokenshire B’47, N. Riverside, Ill., on Aug. 4, 2021. Daniel Mulvihill ’49, La Jolla, Calif., on July 1, 2020. William Tomashek ’49, Winona, Minn., on Aug. 29, 2021. John Swails B’49, Winona, Minn., on Aug. 28, 2021. 1950s John Krickl ’50, Phoenix, Ariz., on May 26, 2020. Peter Schmit B’51, St. Louis, Mo., on July 1, 2021.
MARRIAGES 2010s Tommy Robaczewski B’14 and Jackie Trombetta, Arlington Heights, Ill., on Feb. 26, 2022.
Arthur Smith B’51, Schenectady, N.Y., on Feb. 10, 2022. John Insell B’52, Largo, Fla., on July 21, 2020.
John Soucheray B’14, M’16 and Jenna Trio B’15, Rochester, Minn., in 2020.
Walter Ayotte B’53, Winona, Minn., on Jan. 30, 2022.
Ashling Meehan B’15 and Sarah Fanning B’16, Madison, Wis., in 2020.
Brother Edwin Dupre, FSC B’53, Chicago, Ill., on April 15, 2022.
Joseph Bosco B’16 and Caroline Blackwood B’16, Palatine, Ill., in 2021.
Michael McGroarty B’53, Pinehurst, N.C., on Jan. 3, 2020.
Andrew Jaworski B’16 and Jocelyn Moreno B’16, Elk Grove Village, Ill., in 2020.
Bernard Schmanski ’53, on March 30, 2020.
Samuel Vetch B’16 and Paige Nelles B’16, Minneapolis, Minn., in 2020.
John “Jack” McClinktock B’56, Farmington Hills, Mich., on April 20, 2020.
Catherine Deysach B’17 and Trevor Young ’19, Winona, Minn., on Sept. 5, 2021.
Donald Byczynski ’57, Cary, Ill., on Feb. 25, 2020.
Kalee Petron B’16, M’20 and Joseph Kleve B’18, East Bethel, Minn., in 2021.
Dr. Richard Weiland B’57, Rochester, Minn., on Jan. 17, 2022.
2020s
Dr. C. David Wilhelm B’57, Mount Dora, Fla., on April 17, 2021.
Shane Sheets M’21 and Sarah Rygg, Green Isle, Minn., on March 7, 2022.
BIRTHS Britta and Austin Balko B’14, Byron, Minn., welcomed their son, Jackson, on March 2, 2022.
Stanley Lechwar B’58, Georgetown, S.C., in November 2021. Robert Perozynski B’58, Clermont, Fla., on June 5, 2020. Donald Dorsch B’59, Green Bay, Wis., on March 15, 2021.
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CLASS NOTES Robert Jastrab B’59, New Hartford, Conn., on Aug. 11, 2021.
James O’Connor B’66, Ivanhoe, Ill., on Feb. 2, 2022.
Bryce Vetter B’88, Minneapolis, Minn., on March 14, 2022.
Roger Rossi ’59, Bloomingdale, Ill., on June 14, 2020.
Leo Cavin B’67, Plymouth, Minn., on March 5, 2022.
1990s
Walter Wisniewski B’59, Naperville, Ill., on Jan. 11, 2022.
Dennis Cooney B’67, Spring Lake Park, Minn., on Dec. 25, 2021.
1960s
Brother Walter Schreiner, FSC ’67, Memphis, Tenn., on Feb. 16, 2022.
Jerry Beyersdorfer ’60, Claremont, N.C., on May 27, 2020. Edward McCarthy ’60, Chicago, Ill., on April 20, 2021. Robert Meyers B’60, Palos Heights, Ill., on Jan. 4, 2022.
James Weister B’67, Marshfield, Wis., on Nov. 7, 2021. Warren Adair B’69, Janesville, Wisc., on Jan. 18, 2022. 1970s
Robert “Cooper” Brown Jr. ’61, Desert Hot Springs, Calif., on Nov. 15, 2021.
John Behan B’70, Lafayette, Colo., on April 1, 2021.
James De Rose ’62, Paso Robles, Calif., on Oct. 4, 2020.
Father Robert Cummins B’70, Portsmouth, Va., on April 10, 2022.
Eugene Dropp ’62, Kansas City, Mo., on Jan. 3, 2021.
Walter Haraburda B’70, Cartersville, Ga., on Nov. 25, 2021.
Theodore Kueppers ’62, New Brighton, Minn., on Jan. 17, 2022. Col. Joseph Castonguay B’63, Lilliwaup, Wash., on Nov. 9, 2021. Norman Vidoni B’63, Naperville, Ill., on Oct. 5, 2020. Paul Hundt B’64, Elm Grove, Wis., on Dec. 30, 2021. John McEnery B’64, Tampa, Fla., on Dec. 21, 2021. Thomas Mullen B’64, Brandon, Miss., on Feb. 8, 2021. Charles Steib ’64, Chesterfield, Mo., on May 22, 2021. John Kronebusch B’65, Woodbridge, Va., on Nov. 8, 2020. Donald Barry ’66, North Brunswick, N.J., on Feb. 1, 2020. Gerald Linder B’66, Coto De Caza, Calif., in October 2021. Roland Sullivan B’66, Excelsior, Minn., on Dec. 26, 2021.
John “Tom” Phillips ’71, Biddeford, Maine, on Jan. 2, 2022. Steven Stodola B’71, Mapleton, Iowa, on Jan. 8, 2020. Dr. James O’Brien B’72, Wheaton, Ill., on July 17, 2020. Dr. John O’Leary B’72, Monee, Ill., on July 11, 2021. Brother Mark McVann ’73, Moraga, Calif., on May 3, 2020. Thomas Backis ’77, Waukegan, Ill., on April 29, 2020.
Ted Rueff M’91, St. Paul, Minn., on Nov. 21, 2020. James Bawek ’92, Rochester, Minn., on Feb. 29, 2020. Bob DeBoer M’94, Maple Lake, Minn., on Feb. 14, 2020. Lee Schwanke M’96, Minneapolis, Minn., on July 31, 2021. Jane (Fontaine) Genereux M’98, Saunderstown, R.I., on Sept. 26, 2020. 2000s John Lukowski M’00, Saint Paul, Minn., on March 16, 2021. Gloria (Wohlers) Livingston Hutchinson M’02, Falcon Heights, Minn., on May 9, 2020. Susan Fischer M’03, Waseca, Minn., on May 31, 2021. Dr. Heidi (Henschel) Pellett D’04, Ellensburg, Wash., on Feb. 25, 2022. Zee Anne (Zimmerman) Reishus M’05, Hanley Falls, Minn., on Jan. 24, 2020. Kristin (Johansen) Todd M’06, Plainview, Minn., on March 23, 2022. Laura Chmielecki M’08, Nashua, N.H., on Jan. 8, 2021. Richard “Danny” Mitchell Jr. B’08, Saint Paul, Minn., on Oct. 12, 2021. 2010s
Jon Kostner B’77, Arcadia, Wis., on June 1, 2020.
Matthew Holmquist B’11, Northfield, Minn., on Dec. 12, 2021.
Gordon Olson B’77, Rochester, Minn., on Aug. 3, 2021.
Samantha Claussen ’15, Hastings, Minn., on Jan. 27, 2022.
Jean (Illsley) Clarke M’79, Minnetonka, Minn., on July 1, 2021.
Faculty/Staff
Brian McCarthy B’79, Duluth, Minn., on Oct. 23, 2021. 1980s
Stephen Gierach B’66, Tinley Park, Ill., on Jan 13, 2022.
Mary Daly ’80, Munster, Ind., on Feb. 6, 2022.
Richard Hudik B’66, Lombard, Ill., on Jan. 9, 2022.
Jon Groth M’81, Bloomington, Minn., on Dec. 10, 2021.
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Walter Ayotte B’53, Winona, Minn., former faculty member in the Department of English, on Jan. 30, 2022. Genevieve (Sheely) Bartz, Winona, Minn., former staff in maintenance, on May 1, 2020. Dr. Lawrence Green, Rollingstone, Minn., former adjunct professor, on Dec. 16, 2021.
CLASS NOTES Marguerite Grahn-Bowman, St. Paul, Minn., former adjunct professor, on July 29, 2020. Dr. Priscilla Herbison, Minneapolis, Minn., former faculty and program director of the M.A. in Human Development program, on Jan. 28, 2022. Rosemary Jonsgaard, former maintenance staff, Minnesota City, Minn., on July 22, 2020. Donald Nelson, Winona, Minn., former adjunct instructor in the De La Salle Language Institute, on May 9, 2020. Pete Orput, Stillwater, Minn., former adjunct professor, on April 3, 2022. Brother Walter Schreiner, FSC ’67, Memphis, Tenn., on Feb. 16, 2022. David Van Beusekom, Minneapolis, Minn., former campus engineer of the maintenance department, on April 2, 2022. Dr. Richard Weiland B’57, Rochester, Minn., former adjunct professor, on Jan. 17, 2022.
SYMPATHIES 1960s Dr. Thomas Horak B’65, on the passing of his wife, Beverly Horak, on April 21, 2021. Brother Stephen Markham B’66, on the passing of his brother-in-law, Thomas Feltes, on Sept. 19, 2020. Dr. John Stegeman B’66, on the passing of his wife, Elizabeth “Betsy” Stegeman, on Feb. 6, 2022.
1970s Patrick Wiltgen B’72, Steven Wiltgen ’75, Julie (Wiltgen) Garesche ’79, David Wiltgen B’80, Jeffrey Wiltgen B’81, and Mark Wiltgen B’85, on the passing of their mother, Mary Jo Wiltgen, on April 21, 2022. James Kinsella B’73 and Elizabeth Kinsella B’93, on the passing of their brother and father, Dennis Kinsella, on Oct. 11, 2021. Bruce Kostner B’73 and Jane (Kostner) Bonlender M’95, on the passing of their brother, Jon Kostner B’77, on June 1, 2020. Michael “Mike” B’74 and Dr. Cecilia (Carroll) B’74 Heiges, on the passing of their father and father-in-law, Patrick Heiges, on Sept. 20, 2020. Jeffrey Adair B’76, on the passing of his brother, Warren Adair B’69, on Jan. 18, 2022. Dr. John B’76 and Deborah (Cantieri) B’77 Kolb, on the passing of their fatherin-law and father, Alfred Cantieri, on May 28, 2021. Paul Trunk B’76, and Robert “Bo” Rettig, Jr. B’77, on the passing of their father-in-law and father, Robert Retting, Sr., on Feb. 21, 2021. Michael Tomashek B’77, on the passing of his father, William Tomashek ’49, on Aug. 29, 2021. Karen (Ayotte) Sullivan B’78, Paul Ayotte ’80, Mark B’82 and Christine (Calabrese) B’82 Ayotte, Neil Ayotte B’85, Abigail Ayotte B’11, and Michael Sullivan B’14, on the passing of their father, father-in-law, and grandfather, Walter Ayotte B’53, on Jan. 30, 2022. 1980s
Margaret “Molly” Cavin CST’69, on the passing of her husband, Leo Cavin B’67, on March 5, 2022.
Edward Carroll B’83, on the passing of his father, Walter Carroll, on June 18, 2020.
Anthony M. Piscitiello, AFSC B’69, M’82, John B’97 and Sara (Murr) B’97 Piscitiello, Joseph B’98 and Dr. Deborah (Martinson) M’04, Anthony F. B’00, M’14 and Susana M’14 Piscitiello, Daniel Piscitiello ’05, and Juliana Piscitiello B’06, on the passing of their brother and uncle, Tom Piscitiello.
Karen Cushing B’80, John Cushing B’83, and Kevin Cushing B’78, on the passing of their husband and brotherin-law, David Kulhanek B’81, on Oct. 19, 2021. Donna (Schuster) Hrebec B’83, on the passing of her father, Kenneth Schuster, on Feb. 29, 2020.
Mary (Seitz) King B’84, on the passing of her father, Gordon Seitz, on April 21, 2020. Timothy Doffing B’85, on the passing of his father, Charles Doffing, on Dec. 6, 2020. Daniel Weiland ’85, on the passing of his father, Dr. Richard Weiland B’57, on Jan. 17, 2022. Brian Vetter B’86, on the passing of his brother, Bryce Vetter B’88, on March 14, 2022. Michael Adducci B’87, Brian ’90 and Allison (Thorne) ’91 Adducci, Zachary B’11 and Jessica (Adducci) B’12 Cizek, on the passing of their mother, motherin-law, grandmother, and grandmotherin-law, Sandra Adducci, on Dec. 17, 2021. Timothy B’89 and Megan (McCarver) B’94 Bergstrom, Christopher B’92 and Tara (Roling) B’92 McCarver, and Thomas McCarver B’93, on the passing of their mother and mother-in-law, Josanne McCarver, on Dec. 10, 2021. Michael B’89 and Rebecca (Viertel) B’89 Schmid, on the passing of their father and father-in-law, George Schmid, on Jan. 7, 2020. 1990s Julie (Heuel) B’90 and David B’91 Vennetti, on the passing of their mother and mother-in-law, Joan Heuel, on Feb. 18, 2020. Lisa (Peters) B’91, M’00 and John Amerongen B’91, and Elise Amerongen ’23, on the passing of their father, fatherin-law, and grandfather, Daniel Peters, on June 11, 2020. Sean Cooney ’91, on the passing of his father, Dennis Cooney, on Dec. 25, 2021. Mark Roeckers B’92, M’99, on the passing of his father, John D. Roeckers, on Jan. 1, 2020. Rich Curran B’93, M’96, M’10, on the passing of his father, Desmond Curran, on April 25, 2020. Virginia Ehrman M’94, on the passing of her son, Kevin Ehrman-Solberg, on June 12, 2021. Chad Dilks ’95, Angela (Dilks) McDonough ’96, and Patricia (Dilks) Rewey M’03, on the passing of their
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CLASS NOTES father and brother, William Dilks, on Sept. 15, 2020. 2000s Brion B’00 and DeAnn (Dokken) B’00 Appling, on the passing of their father and father-in-law, Ron Appling, on Nov. 10, 2020.
Michael Brokenshire B’09, and Matthew Brokenshire ’13, on the passing of their father, John Brokenshire, on July 14, 2020 and the passing of their grandfather, Philip Brokenshire B’47, on Aug. 4, 2021. 2010s
Christopher Elliott ’02, on the passing of his father, Kondrad Elliot, on Feb. 8, 2021.
Thomas Shipman M’13, on the passing of his brother, Bryce Shipman, on July 24, 2020.
Julie (Edmiston) Serowski B’02, on the passing of her father, Robert Edmiston, on Feb. 24, 2020.
Elena McHugh B’15, on the passing of her father, John McHugh, on Sept. 10, 2021.
Joe Fox B’04, on the passing of his father, Thomas Fox, on April 24, 2022.
Dr. Tyler Lursen B’16, on the passing of his father, Kent Lursen, on May 3, 2020.
Shannon (Hasling) Dreger B’06, on the passing of her father, Joseph Hasling B’77, on Oct. 13, 2021.
2020s
Robert Duckworth M’06, on the passing of his son, Sawyer Duckworth, on Aug. 12, 2020. Katie (Schares) Davis B’08, on the passing of her father, Tim Schares, on May 12, 2020. Emily Solheid B’08, on the passing of her grandmother, Betty Schneider, on Aug. 25, 2020.
Anna Rystrom B’21, on the passing of her grandfather, John Rystrom, on Jan. 23, 2020. Mackenzie Moller ’22, on the passing of her father, Charles Moller, on May 25, 2020. Maeve Hastings ’23, on the passing of her father, Brian Hastings, on March 16, 2020.
Priscilla Herbison Longtime Saint Mary’s administrator Priscilla Herbison, Ph.D., passed away on Jan. 28, 2022. Herbison was a dedicated program director of the Master’s Degree in Human Development at Saint Mary’s, through which she changed the lives of many students and received the George Christiansen Award for Excellence in Education. Colleagues, friends, and family describe Herbison as a gift, an insightful listener, and as someone who provided unconditional support to all who knew her. In her honor, and to continue her legacy of supporting Saint Mary’s students, the Dr. Priscilla J. Herbison Scholarship has been established. Memorial gifts to this scholarship can be made at smumn.edu/donate. 48 | SAINT MARY’S MAGAZINE | SPRING/SUMMER 2022
NOTE: Class Notes reflects submissions prior to May 4, 2022.
LOOKING BACK
Saint Mary’s last unveiled its new seal as Saint Mary’s College became a university in 1995. Joining then president Brother Louis DeThomasis, FSC, second from right, are, from left: Ann (Koenig) Van Brocklin B’96, M’04, C’11 (senior class president in 1996), Dr. H. Patrick Costello B’54 (faculty emeritus), Roger Connaughty (former director of maintenance), and Sal Polizzoto B’67 (chair of the board of trustees in 1995). If you have more information about this photo, or this exciting time period, please contact Saint Mary’s Magazine editor, Deb Nahrgang. Mail comments to Saint Mary’s Magazine, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, 700 Terrace Heights #46, Winona, MN 55987. Or, send an email to dnahrgan@smumn.edu.
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