The Eugene J. McCarthy Center is a dynamic hub committed to bipartisan public policy and civic engagement.
M c C a r t h y C e n t e r T e a m
Matt Lindstrom
McCarthy Center Director, Edward Henry Professor
Joseph Farry Professor
McCarthy Scholar-in-Resident
Weiss
Student Coordinator, ‘26
Welcome to the Spring 2026 edition of the McCarthy Magazine. It is an absolute joy to have the privilege to work with so many exceptional people, especially the student coordinators and Anastasia Nathe, the McCarthy Center assistant. For the past 20 years, the small but mighty McCarthy Center team has created hundreds of opportunities and impacted lives and learning across campus and the wider community.
As this issue of McCarthy Magazine illustrates, the semester has been a busy one! From the McCarthy Lecture with Jake Sullivan to the Washington, D.C. study tour and beyond, students are engaged in research projects, hosting events, and much more.
The College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University offer tremendous opportunities for students to learn and create pathways to a bright future. Having two national leaders and fellow 1992 grads, Dave Schulte and Denis McDonough, teach a class about health care policy made this an extra special year. We are deeply grateful for their generosity and for sharing their wisdom and experiences with the students.
So many volunteers, friends, and donors made this an exceptional year for the McCarthy Center We are very honored to have your support. Thank you very much! Enjoy this McCarthy Magazine and get ready for a very big fall semester when we celebrate our 20th anniversary with programs on October 5 and the McCarthy Lecture with David Brooks on October 6.
As we look forward to the coming year, we remain inspired by the passion and commitment of our students, faculty, alumni, and supporters. Together, we continue to strengthen the McCarthy Center’s mission of fostering leadership, civic engagement, and meaningful community connections. Thank you for being a part of our journey. We can’t wait to see what we’ll accomplish together in the year ahead.
-Matt Lindstrom
Engaging with current students reinforced the sense of continuity and left me optimistic about the future. Together, we deepened our appreciation for the complexity of healthcare its central role in the Minnesota economy and its profound impactonpeople’sdailylives
Ouraccomplishedguestspeakers manyof them CSB and SJU alums brought these ideas to life Their professional journeys inspiredstudentstoimaginetheirownbold futures
I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of these students’ journeys, and to reconnectwithaplaceandcommunitythat shapedmyown
United States Federal District Judge Laura Provinzino and Deputy Chief U.S. Probation Officer Nicole Smith visited CSB+SJU for a compelling discussion of the federal judicial system. With support from the St. Cloud Chapter of the American Association of University Women, this gathering brought togetherstudentsandthelocalcommunity.
Officer Nicole Smith spoke about the hardshipsshefacesinherprofessionandthe rewards of supporting those in her community. Smithcitedthedevastatingcase of Jacob Wetterling as a significant motivator, expressing her ongoing desire to protect and serve residents. Smith mentioned the joy and pride she feels when she can celebrate others’ successes and support them in times of trouble, especially when she witnesses their growth and transformation. U.S. District Judge Laura Provinzino, was introduced by CSB student Cecilia McNair and SCSU student Maria Shavers Judge Provinzino shared her mindset on justice, linking it to her professionaljourneyandpersonalambitions,
by Marissa Watt, ‘29
which were fueled by her upbringing in St. Cloud.
As Judge Provinzino mentioned, a notable inspiration throughout her career was former U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, the first woman appointed to the Supreme Court. Provinzino recognizes the challenges women face in our judicial system and in society,andappreciatestheworkofAAUW and their ongoing advocacy for women in education, research, and gender equity Throughout her career, Judge Provinzino has consistently emphasized the Rule of Lawanditsroleinprotectingall,reflecting herintegrity.
Theopportunitytohearfirsthandaboutthe importance of our legal system was engaging, especially given the significant role the law plays in our daily lives and society.
On Wednesday, March 4, 2026, the McCarthy Center welcomed Marlene Johnson, Minnesota’s first female lieutenant governor under Governor Rudy Perpichfrom1983to1991,foraninspiring conversation on leadership, resilience, and public service. Johnson, author of Rise to the Challenge: A Memoir of Politics, Leadership,andLove,spokewithstudents and faculty about her groundbreaking career in politics and the lessons she has learnedthroughdecadesofleadershipand advocacy
Throughout the day, Johnson reflected on thebarriersshefacedasawomanentering publicofficeandtheperseverancerequired tonavigatepubliclife
Drawing on stories from her memoir, she discussed the importance of courage, adaptability, and empathy in leadership, notingthatmomentsofchallengecanoften become opportunities for growth. Johnson spoke candidly about her professional life and answered students’ questions about politicalleadership,publictrust,andtherole ofwomeningovernmentthoughtfully
The McCarthy Center is grateful to Marlene Johnson for visiting campus and sharing her story with the CSBSJU community Her message of resilience and purpose left a lasting impression on students and reinforced the Center’s commitment to fostering civic engagement through thoughtfuldialogue
Written by Francis Koll ‘29
On March 12, the CSB and SJU community wasfortunatetohearfromformerNational Security Advisor Jake Sullivan at the 19th AnnualEugeneJ McCarthyLecture Inhis lecture, “A New World Disorder?,” Sullivan discussed foreign wars, implications of AI, and the US’s role on the global stage Aside from his main speech, Sullivan also graciously spent time with students in informal settings, sharing his experiences withusandlisteningtoourmanyquestions! WhatstruckmemostaboutSullivanwashis genuine care and decency As a powerful political figure who was instrumental in many of the Biden Administration’s foreign policy acts, such as the withdrawal from Afghanistan and the U.S. response to the October 7th attacks in Israel, Sullivan inevitablyattracteddetractors.
Written by Charlotte Whiting, ‘27
Together with Alayna Furman, I had the opportunity to speak with Mr. Sullivan on stage and ask questions about ongoing matters relating to U.S foreign policy. Mr. Sullivan spoke thoughtfully about the United States' role in conflicts in the Middle East and how to navigate a changing political climate. Throughout the lecture, Sullivan encouraged students to approach leadership with integrity, empathy, and a willingness to engage thoughtfully with difficult questions. He spoke about the responsibility leaders have in moments of crisis and highlighted the need for civic
However, when meeting and talking with him, it was impossible to deny that he was an authentic public servant who truly desired to make the world a better, safer placeforallofus Iappreciatedhisabilityto synthesize his positions, while also clearly laying out the arguments on the other side ofthosepositions
HearingpeoplelikeJakeSullivantalkabout their work and the motivations behind it consistently restores my hope and trust in our world Listening to them, even if we disagree with their actions, can help us better understand how they try to keep our worldtogether Therearenumerouspeople, all over, working like Sullivan to ensure we can all do better together. His lecture inspiredmetoworktojointhoseranks.
participation and informed conversations in sustaining democratic institutions both domestically and internationally A native of Minnesota, Sullivan was an inspiring figure for students to have on campus.
Body
At one of our first team meetings this semester, Dr Lindstrom asked the team, “If the McCarthy Center could do anything this semester, what would you want it to do?”
Upon hearing this, I immediately recalled a recent conversation with a handful of first-year students, who expressed a desire to visit the Nation’s capital to explore the city and connect with alums. To me, this embodied the mission of the McCarthy Center: collaborative learning with a diverse group of students, career development and discovery, and engagement in civic conversations with students, alums, and professionals
While I had pitched the idea of taking a group of students to Washington, D C , for a weekend as one that, at first, felt far-reaching, the support of Dr Lindstrom and Anastasia Nathe made this dream a reality. Soon, we were sending out applications to students from all majors, classes, and backgrounds. I was ecstatic to see that my passion for this opportunity was reflected in the greater CSB+SJU community, as evidenced by nearly 40 students applying.
In the end, we took 12 fantastic students to D.C. from March 26 to March 29 These students represented a diverse range of disciplines, including English, Economics, Biology, Communications, Psychology, and Political Science Incredibly, a majority of the students were first- and second-year studentsindividuals who saw this as an opportunity to begin discovering their career and personal interests through experiential learning Their excitement was invigorating and fostered a group culture that emphasized collaboration, discussion, and openness to discovery. th th
WRITTEN BY: ALAYNA FURMAN, ‘27
We visited Capitol Hill and took a personal tour of the House of Representatives with Patrick Stewart Hester, Chief of Staff to U S Representative Elise Stefani We engaged in an exciting scavenger hunt, visiting monuments and historic sites, including the Supreme Court, the National Mall, the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian Museums, and so much more
Then, we toured the U.S. Department of State and attended a panel of wonderful Johnnie and Bennie alums, including Anna Cron ‘16, Jeremy Richart ‘00, and David Noble ‘77 This opportunity was made possible by the work of Jake Patrick Collins, Chair of the D C Alum Chapter, who organized the panel and welcomed us into the State Department
We had the opportunity to engage in conversations with alumni such as Grace Terlinden ‘23, Sydney Walker '23, Shelby Stang ‘14, Melissa DeOrio ‘14, and Nick Swanson ‘20 -
including an exciting meal at La Ferme in Maryland, graciously provided by Kiyoshi and MaureenNakasaka.
Our conversations with those we met in D.C. were packed with wisdom not just about career paths and professional opportunities, but also advice about living in D.C, making friendships in such a large city, and ways to stay connected to the CSB+SJU community. Professionally,wehadtheopportunitytohear aboutworkinginthepoliticalpress,pursuinga career in the civil and foreign services, the demands of cybersecurity work, and what it trulymeanstoworkonCapitolHill.Personally, though, we realized that opportunities to engage in hands-on learning allowed us to discoverourselves,buildbondswithpeerswe would not typically cross paths with on campus, look out for one another, and experience a unique learning opportunity together
TheMcCarthyCenterD.C.StudyTourwastruly a transformative experience for the students whoattended.Notonlydidwehaveaonce-ina-lifetime opportunity to visit D.C. with the financial support of the McCarthy Center and theSt.Ben’sSenate,butwewerealsoableto connect with the strong and fantastic D.C. alumni chapter,discover career paths we had never considered before, and grow alongside one another as scholars, people, and future professionals.
This March, I got the chance to visit our nation’scapitalviaastudytourarrangedby theMcCarthyCenter DCwasablast!There is a pervasive energy buzzing around the citythatwasaddictivetome.Havingnever been to Washington, DC, before, I relished the chance to get to know it, especially during the ample free time we were given eachdaytoexplorethecityonourown(my friendsandIwalked33milesintwodays!).
Whilebeingatouristwasextremelyfun(the cherryblossomswereespeciallystunning),I greatly appreciated the many opportunities to meet, connect, and learn from alums through organized daily lunch meetups throughout our trip. We learned from members of the foreign service, State Department workers, Capitol Hill staffers, and cybersecurity experts, to name a few.
CSB+SJU has such a strong network of graduateswhoareseeminglyalwayswilling to share their experiences and knowledge withus,currentstudents!
Each person we met emphasized the importance of doing. Too often, students self-select out of opportunities because theythinktheyaren’tgoodenoughforthem. Iwastoldrepeatedlyonthistripthatoneof thebestthingsyoucandoistosimplyask whether an opportunity is available. By usingyourresourcesandworkinghard,you will continue to see many opportunities presentthemselvestoyou.
Iamsograteful tohavehad thechance to attend this study tour, and I know I will be backinDCsomeday…
WRITTEN BY: ALAYNA FURMAN, ‘27
The 2025-2026 McCarthy Mentor Program paired roughly 50 alums and professionals working in government, public service, and nonprofit sectors with students. Last semester, we hosted a series of meetings and events focused on professional development:interviews,resumes,business cards,andmore.
As we returned from winter break, we wantedtocontinuethemomentumwehad built to kick off the new semester with a dinner at Krewe Restaurant in St. Joseph, MN. While we shared hushpuppies and jambalaya, students talked about their experienceswiththementors.
One student cited how their mentor sat down with them and combed through their resume, polishing it to help secure them a Congressional internship this summer in Washington,D.C.!
The connections developed between mentorsandmenteesareprofoundandfarreaching.AsCo-Directoroftheprogramthis year, it has been particularly rewarding not only to hear from students about the professional and personal impact their mentorshavehadonthem,butalsotohear frommentorsaboutthejoytheyderivefrom working alongside students. The mentor program is a testament to the strength of the Bennie and Johnnie community and continues to help students and mentors grow,learn,andengageeveryyear. Weare beyondexcitedtowelcomeanewcohortof studentsandmentorsnextfall!
BY EVELYN BIEDERMAN, ‘27
David Brooks will be featured for the 20th Annual McCarthy Lecture on October 6, 2026
Next semester, the McCarthy Center will celebrate its 20th Anniversary while hosting the20thAnnualMcCarthyLecture Looking backatthepasttwodecades,theMcCarthy Center has been shaped by the dedication, leadership, and community built by student workers, staff, volunteers, and generous donors. This milestone celebration is an opportunity to reconnect with fellow alums, current coordinators, and staff while honoringtheCenter’simpactandfuture.
TheMcCarthyCenterisexcitedtoannounce the guest speaker for the 20th Annual McCarthy Lecture, renowned author and former New York Times columnist David Brooks. Brooks is a political and cultural commentator, best known for his op-ed pieces in the NYT, his commentary on PBS NewsHour, and his writing in The Atlantic. His most recent book, “How to Know a Person” (2023), explores sociology, character,andhumanconnection.
All are welcome to attend the 20th Annual McCarthy Lecture with David Brooks on October6 byregisteringfortickets. th
Along with the 20th Annual McCarthy Lecture, taking place on Tuesday, October 6th,thiscelebrationwillincludeafulldayof paneldiscussions,networkingopportunities, and fun for current and former student workers, staff, and volunteers on Monday, October5th,thedaybeforethelecture.
Congratulations to the 2026-2027 John E. Robson Scholarship for Students of Public Policy recipients! We hope you continue to inspire meaningful action and change in the field of public policy.
