Saint Mary’s honors former presidents

Brother Louis DeThomasis and Brother William Mann receive Heritage Award for Transformational Philanthropy

On a night dedicated to recognizing the generosity of benefactors and supporters of Saint Mary’s, Brother Louis DeThomasis, FSC, Ph.D., and Brother William Mann, FSC, D.Min., both former university presidents, received the Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota Heritage Award for Transformational Philanthropy.

The Heritage Award, given annually at the university’s Benefactor Recognition Dinner, held this year on Oct. 14, recognizes special individuals whose exceptional philanthropy has significantly transformed the university and positioned Saint Mary’s for the second century of excellence in education.

Brother Louis served as president of Saint Mary’s from 1984 to 2005 and chancellor from 2006 to 2011. He guided Saint Mary’s through an exciting period of change and growth in enrollment and programming. The college became a university, with successful new graduate and special programs at the Minneapolis and Winona campuses and Rochester Center, as well as classes in Apple Valley and more than 50 off-campus sites throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Brother Louis has continued to be a dedicated philanthropic supporter of the university.

Brother William served as president of Saint Mary’s from 2008 to 2018. During his tenure as president, he oversaw a decade of significant building projects and acquisitions including the Science and Learning Center (now Aquinas Hall), a baseball clubhouse, and Brother William Hall in Winona; Cascade Meadow in Rochester and its subsequent expansion into what is now the Rochester Campus; and the mansion and Saint Mary’s Event Center in Minneapolis. Under his leadership and vision, the university also saw significant growth in its online programs, initiated a collaboration with Mayo Clinic for a Physician Assistant program, and founded the First Generation Initiative. Brother William has also made regular and generous contributions to Saint Mary’s.

The Saint Mary’s community is grateful to be able to recognize these two individuals who are responsible for the growth of the university and have been committed to the institution’s mission and vision.

Jamisen Beevers ’02 and Betty Kabara, former trustee; Bob Kierlin and Mary Burrichter, former trustee; Michael “Mike” Gostomski B’62, trustee emeritus, and Roberta “Bobbi” (Dock) Kochevar M’08; Mary Pat (Navins) Wlazik B’73 and John Domanico B’77, D.D.S. current trustees.

More than 60 billboards, emphasizing our new brand, promoted Saint Mary’s across the Twin Cities area over the busy holiday travel season.