Fall 2025 Winter 0626 Magazine

Fall 2025/Winter 2026

Invested Commitment comes from the heart

INSIDE:

Read about the ways our community has a strong connection to Saint Mary’s and is invested in its future.

CONTENTS

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VICE PRESIDENT FOR UNIVERSITY RELATIONS Michelle Rovang

FROM THE EDITOR

EDITOR Deb Nahrgang dnahrgan@smumn.edu

FEATURE: INVESTED

ALUMNI DIRECTOR Tracy Heaser

FEATURE: HERITAGE AWARD

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Ashly Bissen, Abbie Campion, Michelle Rovang, Deb Nahrgang PHOTOGRAPHERS Bob Conover, Geoffrey DeMarsh, Deb Nahrgang

FEATURE: NEW INITIATIVES

FINANCIALS

PRODUCTION Sara Fitterer, Megan French, Tim DeCelle CREATIVE DIRECTOR Bill Neumiller ART DIRECTOR Maria Beyerstedt

NEWS AND VIEWS

ATHLETICS

ALUMNI

CLASS NOTES

LOOKING BACK

ON THE COVER The Munns and Vogt families have three generations of Saint Mary’s alumni who have attended the undergraduate campus in Winona, as well as finished bachelor’s completion and master’s degree programs. Though they have and are attending in different decades, they share a similar experience and an investment in their alma mater.

PRINTED BY La Crosse Graphics ADDRESS CHANGES Saint Mary’s Magazine Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota 700 Terrace Heights #21 Winona, MN 55987-1399 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 enrolls nearly 4,000 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

Invested

I

am invested.

I’m invested in Saint Mary’s because: • of the number of heartfelt and healing hugs shared at a recent funeral of a former colleague. Bonds here at Saint Mary’s are as strong as a family because here, you are family.

• of the number of Saint Mary’s friends and colleagues who volunteered countless hours to help me set up and take down, as well as create decorations at my daughter’s wedding. I can never really say thank you enough to this group of lifelong friends.

• of the multitude of former students who greet me at reunions and are still friends of mine on social media. Staying in touch past graduation at Saint Mary’s isn’t really optional, it’s second nature.

• of the fact I can still sit down with a table of students I’ve never met before and instantly feel welcomed and part of the conversation.

• of the pride I get in talking with alumni and students who found that here is where they thrived, felt at home, and felt special.

I worked in the office at Saint Mary’s for close to 20 years, and have continued to freelance for Saint Mary’s for the past two years. There’s something special about Saint Mary’s that I’ve never felt anywhere else, and

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it’s something we all need to hold tightly onto and not let go.

There are a lot of changes occurring in higher education, and Saint Mary’s is not immune, but my hope in this magazine is to showcase just a fraction of the ways we continue to be invested, from the perspectives of employees, alumni, and benefactors.

Being invested means more than making philanthropic gifts, it means caring about something and wanting it to succeed or have a good result, usually because you have put time, energy, or thought into it.

Our first story features three people who together have put in more than 75 years of service to our university. Nicole Witt Gerdes B’98, Jeffrey Wieczorek, and Dean Beckman work in three different areas (admissions, IT, and the Business and Communication Department), and each of them serve students in varying ways. They’ve stayed because they love what they do, they love the students, and they’ll tell you it’s all about the community at Saint Mary’s.

There are families who have sent multiple generations of students to Saint Mary’s including the Munns and Vogt families, each of whom have three generations of Cardinals attending. That’s another form of

being invested. Members of these families have had different experiences, some have been traditional undergrads, others bachelor completion or graduate students. Some are currently attending, others graduated in the 1950s, yet I’m sure you’ll find many underlying similarities in their stories. Again, “community” is a common thread.

There are those like Gene Gelgelu M’08, D’22 who have returned for multiple degrees, using those degrees to truly make a difference in their communities. Many of our alumni have multiple degrees after their names, which says a lot about the quality of the education they received during their first degree programs.

And there are those who are invested in the truest sense of the word, generously giving philanthropically like David B’59 and Marlys Thies who have transformed our gymnasium into a state-of-the art competitive arena now bearing his name. David and Marlys Thies were presented with this year’s Heritage Award for Transformational Philanthropy in honor of their generous support that will continue benefitting countless students for decades to come.

Also in this issue, learn more about what’s happening on campus, how Saint Mary’s is making degrees even more accessible, who is

receiving this year’s Hall of Fame awards, and how Saint Mary’s is making headlines.

Saint Mary’s is getting media attention for a new online option to our portfolio of academic offerings. We’re one of the first universities in the state to offer reduced credit options for those who know their career path — allowing them to get through college with 90 credits, thereby saving both time and money.

Please continue to tell us more about what’s happening in your lives, because you are what makes Saint Mary’s so special.

ALUMNI, SEND US YOUR NEWS We want your personal and professional news items – photos, news clippings, etc., as well as tips about fellow alums who might make good feature story subjects.

For submission guidelines and how to submit your news, go to connect. smumn.edu/alumni/ classnotes.

Deb Nahrgang Saint Mary’s Magazine Editor

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FEATURE › INVESTED

A combined 75+ years of service to Saint Mary’s It’s all about the students and building community

I

n the Toner Student Center hangs a plaque engraved with many names.

The plaque recognizes those employees who have worked for more than 25 (and up to 50!) years in service to Saint Mary’s and its students.

The typeface will have to continue getting smaller to fit the hundreds of employees listed there each time it is updated.

These are the names of those who have been invested in Saint Mary’s, and particularly in its students, alumni, and its future. We talked with just three of those each currently employed for more than 25 years about their stories and why they continue to be invested.

Jeff Wieczorek, academic computer support technician, started working at Saint Mary’s 26 years ago.

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They came for different reasons.

For Jeff Wieczorek, academic computer support technician, it was the dreaded Y2K issue 26 years ago. “Remember when the world was concerned that computers would stop working at the stroke of midnight, Dec. 31, 1999? Part of the reason I was hired was that they needed people to go around updating the BIOS of every computer and server on campus. I was hired in June of 1999, and we had six months to make sure we were as ready as possible,” he said. “It was a great way to learn the layout of the campus — visiting every classroom, office, maintenance closet, and hidden tunnel on campus. After an uneventful

New Year’s Eve, they started looking for ways to get rid of me on Jan. 1, but I bamboozled my boss with wit and charm to keep me onboard.”

He was fortunate that while playing in the band Shadow Dancer, his future boss came to one of his gigs and mentioned Saint Mary’s needed more IT staff for the Y2K issue. “I was working in the IT Department of Benchmark at the time, and thought it would be fun to give campus life a try. I was just starting married life, and when I found out my kids could get free tuition, that sealed the deal,” he said. “I was able to lord that perk over my kids in lieu of allowance: one yard mowing equaled one semester of biology. One sidewalk shoveling equaled one semester of Business and Communications with Dean Beckman.

And that’s no joke, my daughter had Dean for several classes!”

Dean Beckman, chair of the Business and Communication Department and associate professor, started shortly after Wieczorek in 2001, as an adjunct instructor, and he was full time by August, largely because of being in the right place at the right time and building great relationships.

Beckman had been working in news and sports for the local radio station in Winona and became an acquaintance of Saint Mary’s professor Dr. Steve Schild’s after completing his graduate studies. Beckman once offered to be a graduate speaker in one of Dr. Schild’s classes. When a sudden vacancy occurred, Dr. Schild began searching for a replacement, and Beckman was at the top of his list to teach one of the courses: Intro to Mass Communication — which to this day is one of Beckman’s favorite courses to teach. At Schild’s suggestion and encouragement, he later applied for and was hired for the full-time job.

Nicole Witt Gerdes B’98, associate director of admissions for recruitment marketing, came to Saint Mary’s 26 years ago in September 1999 to work in admissions, only a year after graduating. Ironically, back when she was looking at colleges, she was one of those prospective students who didn’t have “local” Saint Mary’s on her radar.

“I was from Winona and wanted to move away, but my mom’s health wasn’t good, so I

decided I didn’t want to be that far away, so I followed my best friend to Saint Mary’s and absolutely fell in love with it. I loved criminal justice. Dr. Matt Vetter was an amazing adviser as were all the professors in the department, like Valerie Edwards Robeson. It really made me love being a student,” she said.

After graduating, a position opened up in the admission office. She interviewed with the legendary Anthony M. Piscitiello, AFSC B’69, M’82 and discovered the position would require extensive travel. With her mother’s need for care, she knew that position wouldn’t work, so Piscitiello pointed out another position that would be a better fit — essentially the one she is currently in. “The title just changes, but really the job has stayed the same,” she said with a smile.

The reasons why they stay are similar. It largely has to do with the people, particularly the students.

“I think two reasons primarily: I think it would be the number of incredible colleagues that we’ve had over the years,” Beckman explains. “When I think back to colleagues like Dr. Marilyn Frost who was my dean and was a tremendous mentor for me. I owe her a lot for my success, same for Dr. Steve Schild, but then others who maybe I didn’t work as closely with but embraced me when I was just starting, like Dr. Gary Diomandes and Brother Stephen

Dean Beckman, chair of the Business and Communication Department and associate professor, started working at Saint Mary’s 25 years ago.

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FEATURE › INVESTED

What I enjoy the most is meeting up with alumni and seeing what they are doing with their lives today. As much as I enjoy teaching and the other responsibilities that come with the job, it’s seeing the success they have and the families that they raise — that to me is the most rewarding and enjoyable part of the job, and fortunately I get to do that often, and they allow me into their lives after they graduate.

Dean Beckman

Rusyn, FSC, and Brother Tom Houde, FSC, a dear friend of mine. They made it feel like home.

Second, the students. Hands down, we have the best students, the best alumni. I stay in touch with some, even some I only taught once or twice. In what other job can you have that impact and end reward? I don’t think there are those kind of jobs. It’s the best job in the world.

Where else would they tolerate my jokes?”

Gerdes responds with two words. “The people.”

“All along the way, I’ve worked with really fabulous people, not just in admissions but other departments on campus. Tony Piscitiello really made me want to stay here and help Saint Mary’s become everything that it could. I have loved working with the students. It keeps you young; it makes you feel young to be around them, even though conversations come about that make me realize I’m actually extremely old. A lot of us who have been here a long time retire from here.” Gerdes said she just received a wedding invitation from two student workers who met in the office. “That was exciting to get my ‘save the date.’ I’ll try my best to get to Chicago for it.”

Beckman adds, “We’ve had a couple of people who met in my classes who have gotten married and started a family. Those are fun stories. It’s increasingly easy to stay in touch now. I’ve been blessed with personal social media, it’s so much easier to stay in contact. It’s humbling (when they reach back). I was the one giving them work, but they still want to stay in contact. It’s very rewarding. It’s what I love about the job. It tells me that the work I put in meant something to them. It was worth it and was worth the time and the effort.”

And in addition to “the people,” Wieczorek adds, “the atmosphere” to his answer.

“When you can wake up and look forward to going to work, that’s pretty ideal,” he said.

“I’ve had several great bosses over the years, and they’ve all been very accommodating to life events. There’s a level of flexibility in this job that other employers don’t offer.”

It helps if you love what you do.

For Gerdes, it’s the variety in her days: overseeing the marketing materials and edits, the mailings, getting counselors ready for the

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road, overseeing the student workers, doing the admission counselor schedules, invoicing, college fair sign-ups, budgets, and ordering supplies. “There’s never a dull moment. I never sit here and have nothing to do,” she said.

Beckman adds that seeing where students go is incredibly rewarding.

“What I enjoy the most is meeting up with alumni and seeing what they are doing with their lives today,” he said. “As much as I enjoy teaching and the other responsibilities that come with the job, it’s seeing the success they have and the families that they raise — that to me is the most rewarding and enjoyable part of the job, and fortunately I get to do that often, and they allow me into their lives after they graduate.”

And Wieczorek enjoys playing with technology.

“There was a lot of discovery in the early days,” he said. “ ‘Jeff, we need to figure out how to use a webcam for lab use; go down to Kmart and pick one up.’ There were also unexpected crises that really bonded the IT team together, for example, the year that the worms took over move-in weekend. There was a time when most computers didn’t have McAfee or Norton, because computer viruses hadn’t yet made an impact on the average internet user. A couple students arrived on campus with their infected 15 lb. CPU Towers, and the minute they plugged them into the network, a virus started to spread to all the other computers in the dorm, and eventually into other resident halls. The IT staff had to fabricate a virus cleaning CD-ROM, and we spent all day and night, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday visiting each and every student room on campus. Some of us even slept in our offices. It was unexpected chaos, but all of us pulling together like that bonded us in ways that a normal, uneventful work day could never do.”

In the end, the work they all do makes a huge difference on the student experience, and they are each honored to do it because they believe Saint Mary’s students deserve it.

Beckman said, “I would describe our students and alumni as some of the friendliest, most genuine and caring people you’ll ever meet. They truly want to be educated to the

Nicole Witt Gerdes B’98, associate director of admissions for recruitment marketing, began working at Saint Mary’s 26 years ago.

best of our ability so they can have career success but they also truly want to have a professional and friendly professional relationship and let you into their lives. I don’t think a lot of other schools are like that.

They want us to get to know them. There is a vulnerability that comes with that. I think that means a lot. It’s also a responsibility that we carry as well.

“I think what makes Saint Mary’s special is that we allow every student to be who they are in faith and to be true to themselves in all aspects of life. The faith-based component is incredibly important. I think the other thing is the faculty and staff live out what we say as far as caring for them and wanting to know what happens in their lives after graduation.

At so many colleges the relationships stop after the transaction ends. Here it is a lifelong transaction. If you’re going to work here, or if you come to school here, that’s what you should want.

“I’m invested because that’s what the students deserve and should expect from us,” he said. “When they agree to come here, we make a promise to them that we are going to do everything in our power to help prepare them for their careers and also to lead ethical lives of service leadership. As a father of college-aged students, I expect their university to take as good care of them as I would of them. I just

think we owe it to them; that’s the promise we make when we recruit them.”

Wieczorek said he’s invested “Because we’re loaded to the hilt with friendly people. You make lifelong friends that you want to visit outside of work hours. We’ve got a good thing going here. It’s nice to see students and staff alike appreciate the opportunity that Saint Mary’s offers.”

Gerdes describes our students as “genuine and funny.” “I love listening to their stories,” she said. “I think that Saint Mary’s does a really good job teaching students to be good people and go out and be good people in the community. When my seniors graduate I get very teary-eyed but I know they’re going to do great things.

“I’m invested because of the people and the students. I’m invested because I don’t know what else I would want to do. I feel like I do this well. I feel like the people around me appreciate me. It’s hard to stop loving something you’ve done for so long. I don’t know what else I could see myself doing. It’s in my blood. This is where I spend the majority of my time. I stay because I love Saint Mary’s; I believe in it.”

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FEATURE › INVESTED

Saint Mary’s capstone leads to flourishing business Vogt family shares love of Saint Mary’s and, of course, making wine

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I did get an ‘A.’ It’s fun to look back at the original plan and what we were expecting and what we didn’t expect to happen.

Vicky Vogt B’08

icky Vogt B’08 came to Saint Mary’s with a dream of starting a winery and bringing her family closer together.

As long-time farmers in Spring Valley, Minn., she and her husband knew more than a little about growing more traditional southeastern Minnesota regional crops, but Vicky Vogt knew they had to expand. Her four daughters could potentially be enticed back home by wine, but soybeans and corn weren’t going to cut it.

As for the business prowess she’d need to start up her new entrepreneurial endeavor, her daughters will tell you their mom already had the necessary determination, brains, and skills.

She’d run a number of businesses throughout her life including a successful upholstery business, and she’d advised a youth leadership organization.

What Vicky Vogt wanted was a degree. Her daughter Justine Vogt B’08 explains that her mother had started her bachelor’s degree in education in the 1970s, with the dream of being a band teacher, but marriage and children put that dream — and degree — on hold.

“She always talked about wanting to finish her degree,” Justine Vogt said, adding that, coincidentally, she had nearly completed a degree in interior decorating, and she was determined to finish earning her bachelor’s as well. They found Saint Mary’s, which at the time offered night classes in Rochester, so mother and daughter decided to complete their degrees together.

“We took all of our classes together for about a year and a half, and we both graduated with marketing degrees, and it was the coolest experience I’ve ever had in my life, being able

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to have a study buddy built right into my house,” Justine Vogt said. “There were a lot of nontraditional students. I feel like it was our place, and we fit right in there. We loved the teachers, we loved everything about the whole program. It was set up so we could work during the day and go to classes at night. It was a very cool experience.”

The two were already familiar with Saint Mary’s as Justine’s older sister, Dr. Erin (Vogt) Stromberg B’01, had the traditional undergraduate four-year experience on the Winona Campus from 1997 to 2001. “I loved the campus. It was pretty and it was small, which I liked too coming from a small school,” Dr. Erin (Vogt) Stromberg said. “I was close enough where I could go home if I wanted to.

I was in volleyball my first year, and I was a biology major. Dr. (Jeanne) Minnerath helped me with my thesis. And I remember Dr. (Dick) Kowles.” Following graduation, Stromberg worked at Mayo Clinic for a couple of years in the microbiology department before becoming an optometrist. She now owns her practice in Virginia.

For her capstone project at Saint Mary’s, Vicky Vogt wrote an in-depth business plan (about 40 pages in total) for what would become Four Daughters winery in Spring Valley, Minn. Her daughters say — no surprise to them — she went above and beyond classroom expectations, talking to business entrepreneurship advisors from SCORE in Rochester. Her eldest daughter, Shawn Vogt Sween, said, “Years later, I served on a foundation board with members of that SCORE committee who initially met with her, and they

said, ‘Your mother came in and blew us away.’

We said, ‘You’re too far advanced; we can’t help you.’ So they told me they weren’t surprised that her business was successful.”

“I did get an ‘A,’ ” Vicky Vogt said with a laugh. It was that very business plan she used to take to the bank. “It’s fun to look back at the original plan and what we were expecting and what we didn’t expect to happen.”

In five years, the winery went from being just opened (in 2011) to the largest winery in Minnesota. Now fifth largest in the state, their products have graced events such as the

Country Music Awards after-parties and the Sundance Film Festival and have been featured in the fridge of the popular TV show, “The Big Bang Theory.”

And Vicky Vogt was indeed successful in getting several daughters to move back to Minnesota and get involved in the family business. Justine Vogt is the event manager; she handles private and ticketed events and weddings. Another daughter, Kristin Osborne, is the marketing director, and Shawn Vogt Sween does the legal work for the winery; Shawn Vogt Sween’s son, Rowan Sween, also

Vicky Vogt B’08 (center) along with two of her daughters who help in the family business, Shawn Vogt Sween (whose son Rowan is a current student) and Justine Vogt B’08.

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Vicky Vogt B’08 had a dream of building a winery and having her daughters come home to join in the fun. Her dream has turned into a successful business that just keeps winning awards, including No. 1 Bourbon in Minnesota by the American Craft Spirits Association.

Dr. Erin (Vogt) Stromberg B’01, owns her own optometry practice in Virginia. Though she isn’t involved in Four Daughters Winery, she says she enjoys returning home to enjoy the fruits of the family business.

helps out with the family business, and is attending Saint Mary’s this fall. Husbands are also deeply involved.

“Growing grapes made sense, and making wine was fun, and I thought that was something people would enjoy and move home for,” Vicky Vogt said.

“We’re still working on Erin,” Shawn Vogt Sween said. “We just travel to Erin to get our eyes checked.”

“I like going to visit and drinking the wine, but not working there. I just want to enjoy it, and not work,” Dr. Erin (Vogt) Stromberg responded with a laugh.

Vicky Vogt couldn’t have guessed in her original business plan, which included a small kitchen and maybe serving some paninis, would grow into a full kitchen and full restaurant, as well as an event center and tasting room. And turns out wine is just the beginning.

“In addition to wine, we have Loon Juice which is a hard cider. I believe our cidery is the largest in the state,” Justine Vogt said. “We also make bourbon. Anyone not familiar with it, it is the holy grail of alcohol in the U.S. It can only be made in the U.S., like champagne can only come from France. It has been very successful.

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Rowan Sween, who is studying business management and communications, started at Saint Mary’s this past fall and is active in many things, including track and field. He’s looking at one day following in his mother’s footsteps and becoming a lawyer. His experience at the winery has helped his business prowess and communication skills.

My other sisters can attest that it is delicious.

Our business model is, like Disney, we want to be not just a destination, we want to be a full experience, with music, food, wine, and an atmosphere for people to come and relax and get out of their other world.”

The sisters describe an annual lobster boil, and 10-course dinners, yet also a place where kids are always welcome. It’s a place where elegant formalwear can be worn, but farmers can also come in fresh from the field. “Everyone is welcome, no judgement,” Justine Vogt said.

“We want to make it a place where people come and stay. Not come and get their check and leave,” Shawn Vogt Sween added. “We encourage lingering.”

Huge Disney World fans, they recall being on a cruise, where all of the staff lined up when they walked in and cheered and gave out high fives and waved at them as they entered the boat. “We did that for an event, and we found that our guests were just delighted. And at first they were a little surprised when the first staff member greeted them, but by the 10th, they were all into it, ready to high five and ready to have a good time. And that’s what we want people to experience when they come

to feel like they’re one of us and important,” Justine Vogt said, adding that little things like a personalized place card make all the difference.

When Rowan Sween visited campus and saw his name on one of the parking signs, they noticed. “I visited three of our schools, and I loved the Saint Mary’s campus; it was so pretty,” he said. “I am throwing for track and field, so that was a determining factor.

After meeting with the coach and getting a tour, I decided on Saint Mary’s. They also offer all the programs I want to study: business management and communications.”

Rowan Sween is planning to apply to law school after he graduates. If the two generations before him are any indication, Saint Mary’s may help his dreams come true as well.

“We’re excited that he is going to Saint Mary’s,” Vicky Vogt said. “We had a great experience and we thought it would be great for him too.”

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A legacy that spans three generations Munns family shares love of Saint Mary’s close community

Mark B’83 and Laurie Munns and their daughters, from left, Emily Munns B’12; Rebecca “Becca” (Munns) Cage B’14, M’20; and Sarah (Munns) Derouin B’18.

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hree generations of the Munns family members thought about how they would describe Saint Mary’s to someone unfamiliar with their alma mater.

Words like “family,” “home,” and “community” came up often. Emily Munns B’12 said she would describe a place where “professors cared about students’ success and would check in with them — even outside of class — and would get to know students by name.”

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Rebecca “Becca” (Munns) Cage B’14, M’20 said every department, from admissions to campus ministry, is where “people look out for each other.”

By the time the last Munns alumni, Sarah (Munns) Derouin B’18, took her turn, she wasn’t sure there was much left unsaid.

“I was going to say community and home, a place for opportunities,” she said, explaining that she’d participated in so many of those opportunities, she often overcommitted

Yearbook photos of Robert Munns B’54

herself, but ultimately that also led to building relationships and challenging herself.

It’s no surprise this tight-knit family chose these particular words. Clearly, feeling at home, comfortable, and part of a larger active and caring group was important to all of them. They had those relationships at home, so finding them at their university was also important.

That’s why they’re invested in Saint Mary’s and its people.

It all began with Robert Munns B’54, who came to Saint Mary’s (then College) from Chicago to study history. His parents researched schools and after finding the Winona college, they made the decision for him about where to go.

Robert particularly remembers the faculty and says his experience inside and outside of the classroom helped him immensely in his career choices, which included teaching in the Twin Cities area. He then spent the majority of his career working for federal governmentfunded programs for Saint Paul Schools.

These programs helped provide education and training, transportation, and child care for lowincome families and their children.

He particularly remembers Brother J. Robert Lane, FSC; Brother J. Raymond Long, FSC B’43; and Brother H. Charles Severin, FSC. As a freshman in introductory science class with Brother Charles, Robert was once asked to identify a particular kind of tree. Robert, being a city boy, replied, “Well, Brother Charles, it’s a maple tree, of course.” It was not and Brother Charles grinned and joked that he hoped Robert would still be around in four years.

Robert also remembers the Barracks, spending time with the Brothers, and a not-so-

winning football team filled with nonetheless great guys.

When Robert’s son Mark Munns B’83 was choosing colleges, he was researching several when he happened upon an admissions representative for Saint Mary’s at a college fair.

“The idea of following in Dad’s footsteps didn’t factor a whole lot,” he said. But after touring Saint Mary’s again for the first time since he was a kid, he found that it was a good fit.

He chose to major in business administration with an emphasis in accounting, and even though he never read music or played an instrument, he also joined Phi Mu Alpha and served as treasurer for at least two years.

Helping with Blue Angels and Gaslights were a highlight of his college career. He was in Dr. Patricia Sommerville’s first class (before she even became a Sommerville), and fondly remembers Brother J. Raymond Long, FSC B’43; Brother Leonard Courtney, FSC B’37; and Brother Robert Smith, FSC B’76, Ph.D., who served as best man at his wedding and is a Godfather to his daughter, Sarah. He also fondly remembers Father Andrew Fabian and Dr. Jeffrey Highland.

“We had a slogan in the day ‘so much for so little,’ ” he said. “It was a great small college that had faculty and the Brothers, who really invested in students as human beings, and I felt that was so important for my development.”

Mark worked in accounting, credit, and collections for 38½ years for a Kenworth trucking dealership. He feels Saint Mary’s prepared him well for his career. Currently, he is working at a Catholic school in Shoreview in safety and security.

Although Mark’s wife, Laurie, is not a Saint Mary’s alumna, he says they’ve adopted her as

I appreciate what Saint Mary’s has done for me, where I am in life, my friendships, and the jobs I’ve held.

Emily Munns B’12

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FEATURE › INVESTED

Emily Munns B’12, her dad Mark Munns B’83 and grandfather Robert Munns B’54.

an honorary alumna because of all the time she’s spent on campus. “Having three generations attend has shown me that a lot of the things that I valued obviously has had an impact on (my daughters),” he said. “They saw what I saw down there and liked it as well. It speaks to the people at Saint Mary’s.”

When Mark and Laurie’s first daughter, Emily Munns B’12, began looking at schools, she toured Saint Mary’s during Minnesota Private College week in high school and did an overnight visit. “At the end of the day, I felt like Saint Mary’s was a good fit. Having Dad go there helped a lot. I knew I wanted to go into business, but I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do. It was the right decision.”

Emily majored in marketing and sport management and says she enjoyed her business classes immensely, particularly the upper-level ones. “They were tough, but they set me up for where I am today,” she said, adding she is now living in Florida and has worked in several roles in marketing throughout her career.

At Saint Mary’s, she was active in dance team, as well as worked with Chartwells and the Registrar’s Office through work study. Some summers, she worked for the M.Ed. Department.

She remembers the Lasallian Core Traditions course (taught by Mary Catherine Fox, AFSC B’75, Ph.D.), going to hockey games, and hanging out at what was then called the Old and New Villages.

And she enjoyed overlapping some years with her younger sister, Becca. They were able to experience aspects of college together.

“Sharing this is unique; it’s pretty special,” she said. “I appreciate what Saint Mary’s done for me, where I am in life, my friendships, and the jobs I’ve held.”

Rebecca “Becca” (Munns) Cage B’14, M’20 declared she was attending Saint Mary’s after tagging along with her older sister during a college tour. “Being two years younger, my parents told me I should go along because those two years were going to fly by. I like to say I knew I was going to Saint Mary’s way before Emily, and she followed me.

“It was just gorgeous, the small feel of the community, for me, was good. I saw this as a good place for me to dip my feet in when

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I’m ready and slowly find my groove and my community.”

Becca did indeed find her community, particularly among her education professors who continue to serve as her mentors: Scott D’07 and Karen D’07 Sorvaag, Dr. Melissa Luedtke and Dr. David Jackson. “They are what made my experience so wonderful, their love for all their students. They had a huge impact on my life as a teacher and I thank them for how they continue to impact me,” she said. Not only did she graduate with an undergraduate elementary education degree in 2014, she also earned her M.Ed. in Teaching and Learning in 2020 (during COVID-19). She has taught in her own classroom for many years, and after her recent marriage, she is now working as a teaching assistant in a preschool.

“I also sing Dr. Fox’s praises,” she added, listing her other favorites in rapid succession: getting dressed up at Taylor Richmond Benefit dances and raising money for a good cause; being the second person to stay in her room in a then new Brother Leopold hall; the ice cream machine; Zumba classes; dance team; Family

Weekend; the Fall Frolic in the bluffs; the omelet line; the Italy trip with Rob McColl and Preston Lawing; sporting events; Blue Angel; Education Club; the M.Ed. Department; and Together Encountering Christ (TEC), which she said hit her at a time in her faith where she needed that sense of community.

Being part of a legacy family and part of Saint Mary’s legacy, Becca said, blows her away.

“The amount of people, and the connections are out of this world and it’s a very small world but anybody can join and be a part of it. Come join!”

By the time Sarah (Munns) Derouin B’18 was exploring colleges, she admits she thought maybe she didn’t want to follow in her sisters’ footsteps.

The biology pre-cytotechnology major, back then, knew she wanted to study something science-related, but wasn’t sure if she wanted to do something patient focused like nursing or physical therapy or if she wanted to be more behind the scenes. Even though she toured her mom’s alma mater, she had already decided that Saint Mary’s was where she wanted to go to college.

“I followed (my sisters) everywhere. I stayed over with Becca (who was a senior at the time).

It was fun. I just knew and I committed. It just felt right. Saint Mary’s became home to me. It felt comfortable. That’s a theme for our family.

I could picture myself there. And I knew they had a strong science program and had a connection with Mayo Clinic.”

Sarah took advantage of that connection and went on to the Mayo Clinic’s School of Health Sciences cytotechnology program, did her clinicals, and now works as a cytotechnologist for Mayo Clinic.

Her memories include everything from golf team bonding, morning workouts, studying late, TEC retreats, intramural sports, selling beta fish through Biology Club, going camping with Dr. Jeanne Minnerath, the Student Athletic Committee, being an orientation leader, the Taylor Richmond Benefit Dance, hiking in the bluffs, kayaking on the river, the Italy study abroad, Bloedows, the pre-finals breakfast and tree lighting ceremony, and studying in the new science building.

She worked all three summers at Saint Mary’s. Sarah worked in admissions, outdoor maintenance, and the Master’s of Education department. It was while working with outdoor maintenance that she met her future husband, Drew Derouin B’18, adding to the family legacy.

Robert Munns is proud his son attended and that his three granddaughters were Cardinals as well; one day he hopes there’s a fourth generation to keep the Munns legacy alive.

Becca (Munns) Cage B’14, M’20 and Mark Cage’s wedding in June 2025.

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FEATURE › INVESTED

Gelgelu uses double degree to change lives

Alumnus forms African Economic Development Solutions

G The value added at Saint Mary’s is the education about ethics. ... At the core, the biggest part of the school is teaching people business ethics, the moral value of being human. It’s not about making profit but having a moral ethos.

Gene Gelgelu M’08, D’22

ene Gelgelu M’08, D’22 knew, while he was finalizing his MBA at Saint Mary’s, that it was time to do something new — something that would be life changing not only for him, but for others.

“I always knew I wanted to start a nonprofit to help people in the community,” he said.

“But it’s hard to leave a full-time job, but being in school gives you the opportunity to think outside of the box.”

He formed African Economic Development Solutions nonprofit organization (www.aedsmn.org), and it’s been changing lives ever since.

The organization has three pillars including the Business Development Service, which includes a 12-week business development training program, designed for start-ups or expanding businesses. They also support clients in marketing, pro-bono attorney support, and financial support. “When they come to us for a loan, we say the loan is not first, the loan is third after training, TA (technical assistance), then lending. We are a package,” he said, adding as of 2024, the organization has disbursed $2.07 million in loans, and 65 percent of those they serve are women.

“When you look back at the past 17 years, to impact someone’s life. This is incredible,” he said. “This is incredible to see the people who otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity to start their own business, their future. It really feels great when you have a chance to be part of people’s success.”

Gelgelu tells the story of a woman who was a refugee from Ethiopia who had been working as a housekeeper in hotels and a cook but whose dream it was to start her own restaurant.

“She saved money for years, and she found the space, and she had a consultant to help her out, but because of language, it did not work out,” he said. “Someone said work with

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Gene, and they gave her my cell phone number.

It was April 2012 when I saw her. I saw her passion. I saw her drive. I saw her energy. Also I saw her gap, which was to deal with the city government. So it was an opportunity for me to fill in that gap.”

Gelgelu said in our lives, we all depend on someone to fill in gaps, and he sees opportunities to serve in that role. “I jumped and worked with the city. We were able to open a restaurant by June of 2012 and serve beer and wine.” When the woman needed to expand her revenue by acquiring a liquor license, he again worked with her to find funding to make necessary renovations. Now, two years ago, she expanded to two locations, with restaurants in Saint Paul and Minneapolis, over a million dollar project. “This time we financed it ourselves,” he said, “And she has helped get jobs for others, people who find it hard to get jobs. She’s providing critical job opportunities for people in the community. That’s really true wealth, lifting people out of poverty, giving people a chance. That is investing in life. I am fortunate enough to be part of this,” Gelgelu said.

The second pillar of African Economic Development Solutions is housing assistance for those who want to buy their first home, combined with an eight-hour education class and financial housing counseling.

And the third pillar is community building, which includes the Little Africa art festival in Saint Paul in August, which brings a diverse community together to celebrate and appreciate the diversity of the community through music, food, art, and dance. It’s grown to 10,000 people with an online presence of 1 million attendees.

“We cannot accommodate the number of artists who come to perform and the vendors’ food was sold out; that’s incredible,” he said.

“It’s making a place where people connect and build relationships and not just African immigrants. This festival is for everyone.

It’s a way of creating a vibrancy, and what we are really learning over the years is that it’s impacting the fabric of society. They are immersing with their own cultures although far away from their homes. Where they fit in the fabric of society, they invest. Their young succeed in life because they see they are part of the bigger picture, and they are learning their culture and appreciating their culture.”

Also part of community building, his organization holds the National African Leadership Conference, which has a goal of building a network of leaders across the U.S. The conference focuses on women leadership, youth leadership, health and wellness, lending, and a variety of topics, and various speakers are recruited, forums are held, and the Leadership Award is given out on a national level.

Gelgelu said his time at Saint Mary’s has helped him to expand his work. “The literature review that I did for my doctorate has already

blended with practical experience on the ground. The organization grew double after my doctorate,” he said.

He first chose Saint Mary’s for his MBA because he was looking for somewhere that would be accommodating for a working adult and somewhere that was also affordable.

“The experience was a great experience. The size of the class was not huge so there was an intimate experience that you were building. Any support you needed, it was working together and learning from each other and sharing experiences. It was more than a class.” When he received a BUSH Fellowship, he knew he would return to Saint Mary’s for his Doctor of Education in Leadership.

Why is Gelgelu invested?

“The value added at Saint Mary’s is the education about ethics. … At the core, the biggest part of the school is teaching people business ethics, the moral value of being human. It’s not about making profit but having a moral ethos. That’s the biggest value.”

Gelgelu speaks at the Little Africa art festival in Saint Paul, which has grown to 10,000 people with an online presence of 1 million attendees.

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FEATURE › HERITAGE AWARD

Heritage Award given to David R. B’59 and Marlys A. Thies

D

avid R. B’59 and Marlys A. Thies were presented with Saint Mary’s Heritage Award for Transformational Philanthropy on Oct. 9, 2025, at the university’s annual Benefactor Recognition Dinner on the Winona Campus. The Heritage Award recognizes special individuals whose exceptional philanthropy has significantly

Father James P. Burns, IVD, Ph.D., president, presents the Heritage Award for Transformational Philanthropy to David B’59 and Marlys Thies.

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transformed the university and positioned Saint Mary’s for a second century of excellence in education.

A two-sport athlete while attending Saint Mary’s, David Thies went on to pursue a brief professional baseball career in the major leagues with the Kansas City Athletics before co-founding the highly successful

BENEFACTOR RECOGNITION DINNER The university’s annual Benefactor Recognition Dinner was held Oct. 9, 2025, on the Winona Campus.

Director and inaugural Jack and Mary Ann Remick Chair of Nursing, Sister Agnes Mary Graves, speaks with nursing scholarship benefactor Dr. Sam Cascio B’48, who, incidentally, joined the Benefactor Recognition Dinner at the bright young age of 101!

Sadly, Dr. Cascio passed away on Dec. 8, 2025.

Watch for a profile on this dedicated and faithful benefactor in the next issue of the magazine.

Betty Kabara and her grandson, Jamisen Beevers ’02, joined the celebration. She and her late husband, Dr. Jon Kabara B’48, have been generous supporters of the university; their generosity created the Kabara Endowed Chair and the Kabara Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies.

Gathering at the event are, from left: Trustee, Dr. Marcy Van Fossen; Mary (Fiss) Colletti CST’71; Trustee, Jerry Colletti B’69; Jeff Van Fossen; and Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Ann Merchlewitz M’95.

One of the newest members of the Board of Trustees, Jonathan Krull B’22 (left) joins current Trustee, Dr. Julie (Meehan) Kaiser B’84; her daughter, Maria; and husband, Mel Kaiser B’86 at the post-dinner “coffee and cordials” event.

Pat and Jerry B’62 Papenfuss, whose generous gift created the Jerry V. B’62 and Pat Papenfuss Multimedia Lab, speak with Maribeth (Latterell) Bedtke CST’72 and Vice President for Facilities, Jim Bedtke.

Trustee, Sarah (Marek) Landman B’04, M’07 and her husband, Murl Landman, chat with Trustee, Michael Laak B’77.

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FEATURE › HERITAGE AWARD

David R. Thies B’59 leads his family through applauding Saint Mary’s Cardinal student-athletes.

business, Thies and Talle Enterprises, and continued to remain deeply connected to Saint Mary’s as a trustee and trustee emeritus.

He and his wife, Marlys, have shown extraordinary generosity, visionary leadership, and profound devotion to the mission of Saint Mary’s. Their transformational philanthropic support has advanced student access to education through scholarships while also enhancing athletics; their most recent gift included the largest contribution ever made to Cardinal athletics, enabling the complete renovation of the university’s gym, now named the David R. Thies B’59 Arena.

Father James P. Burns, IVD, Ph.D., Saint Mary’s president, said, “David and Marlys Thies embody the spirit of faith-filled generosity that defines this university. A proud Cardinal athlete and Major League Baseball pitcher, Dave brought the same discipline and drive from the ball field to a remarkable business career. Yet, beyond all of that, his life has been distinguished by faith, service, and love of others,” adding that Dave and Marlys’

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“generosity and friendship have touched hearts — and changed countless lives.”

David and Marlys Thies’ profound commitment to fostering the Lasallian Catholic values of faith, service, and community well into the future ensures that generations of Saint Mary’s students to come will flourish academically, athletically, and spiritually.

David R. Thies B’59 Arena blessed and dedicated Also on Oct. 9, 2025, the newly refurbished David R. Thies B’59 Arena was blessed, and a program honored its benefactors, two-sport Saint Mary’s Hall of Fame inductee David Thies B’59 and his wife Marlys of Plymouth, Minn.

After the ribbon-cutting ceremony, David Thies led his family through a tunnel — formed by cheering and grateful Saint Mary’s athletes — and into the new arena, which now bears his name.

As he got his first look at his name on the wall, heard the thunderous applause, and took in the beauty of the new facility

Three photos that showcase the refurbished facility, which includes a concession and ticket booth, as well as new bleachers, flooring, and branding — and air conditioning.

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FEATURE › HERITAGE AWARD

David B’59 and Marlys Thies, joined by family and friends, celebrated seeing the newly refurbished David R. Thies B’59 Arena.

made possible through his and his wife’s generosity, it was an emotional moment.

The quote “for it is in giving that we receive”

by Saint Francis of Assisi is appropriate.

The couple committed $5.5 million to the university last year to largely support Cardinal athletics and scholarships.

The largest portion of the gift ($2.625 million) remodeled the Winona Campus gymnasium into a state-of-the-art competitive arena. Enhancements include: • New bleachers • A refurbished floor • A concession and ticket booth in the Hall of Fame room • An air handler and chiller for air conditioning • Saint Mary’s branding • VIP bleacher and floor seating for 100

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As Tracy Heaser, senior director of Alumni and Benefactor Engagement, said during the ceremony, “This arena isn’t just a facility; it’s a home court, a gathering place, and a stage for the lessons and memories that will shape our students for years to come.

“This space is truly a tremendous blessing to our student-athletes and to everyone who will gather here throughout the year. We are deeply grateful to you, David and Marlys, and your family for building upon the spirit of excellence that defines Saint Mary’s.”

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SAINT MARY’S MAGAZINE | FALL 2025/WINTER 2026 | 23

FEATURE › NEW INITIATIVES

Saint Mary’s School of Advancing Studies is off to a ‘fast start’ with plans for 90-credit degrees

W

SCHOOL OF ADVANCING STUDIES To learn more about the School of Advancing Studies, visit smumn.edu/ school-of-advancingstudies

hen Holly Tapper, J.D., joined Saint Mary’s Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs as the inaugural dean of the School of Advancing Studies, she was armed with more than a wealth of experience in higher education leadership and adult learners.

Tapper also returned to Saint Mary’s with passionate new ideas and her proverbial running shoes in hand.

“I don’t love to run, but I am dedicated to working out and running fast with my career and five grown children. And I have heard our students plead for opportunities to get a faster start once they find their path,” said Tapper.

“As a former Saint Mary’s employee and alumni parent, I have received such a warm welcome back and am just thrilled to make an immediate impact on the future of adult and continuing education here,” she said. “Thanks to the generosity of a

remarkable alumnus of the Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs (SGPP) who funded my position and the School of Advancing Studies, we have the opportunity to start laying the groundwork for the first 90-credit online bachelor’s degrees in Minnesota.”

Q: How would you describe the 90-credit online bachelor’s degree initiative?

It is really a strategic, mission-driven reform that advances affordability, flexibility, and access for our online students. The initiative streamlines degree pathways from 120 to 90 credits while preserving the essential elements of a bachelor’s degree.

Piloted through the B.S. in Applied Psychology, the program integrates academic excellence with character and virtue formation, workforce-aligned outcomes, and the Lasallian values of faith, community, and service.

Holly Tapper, dean of the School of Advancing Studies, was interviewed by KSTP-TV about the launch of the new 90-credit online bachelor degree.

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Q: Why did Saint Mary’s create a 90-credit bachelor’s program?

The impetus was to make higher education more affordable, accessible, and mission-aligned for working adults and transfer students. Saint Mary’s Lasallian mission — to “awaken, nurture, and empower learners to ethical lives of service and leadership” — guided the decision. The reduced 90-credit format removes financial and time barriers for nontraditional students, helping them complete degrees faster and with $13,200 in savings.

Q. How does the 90-credit model align with Saint Mary’s mission and strategic plan?

This initiative fulfills the Lasallian focus on access and equity, expands opportunities for underserved adult learners, and advances the strategic plan’s goals of flexibility, affordability, workforce alignment, and mission-centered character formation. It also builds on the School of Advancing Studies initiative, which consolidates adult and online programs with a focus on careerconnected, values-based education.

Q. What benefits does the 90-credit initiative provide for students and for Saint Mary’s?

Students benefit from lower costs, reduced debt, faster completion, integrated work experience, and character formation. Saint Mary’s benefits through improved retention, enrollment growth, and alignment with its workforce-driven mission. The 90-credit model positions Saint Mary’s as an early regional adopter, enhancing its competitiveness and reputation for innovation.

Q. What other 90-credit programs will follow the Applied Psychology pilot?

Following the B.S. in Applied Psychology, Saint Mary’s plans to propose five additional 90-credit online B.S. programs within the School of Advancing Studies: Business Administration, Criminal Justice Leadership, HR, Healthcare Administration, and IT. These will follow similar structures of general education — with character and virtue development — and workforce alignment.

Q. How was the 90-credit curriculum designed, and what is the rationale for this structure?

The new structure retains 36 major credits and 30 general education credits, reducing only elective credits from 54 to 24. This maintained disciplinary integrity while reducing excess coursework. Core courses were refined for applied, career-aligned learning.

Q. How does Saint Mary’s ensure academic rigor and quality in the 90-credit model?

Rigor is maintained through: • Alignment with national psychology outcomes or career equivalent.

• Use of Lightcast data to match course assignments with regional employer skills.

• Shared core courses in ethics, leadership, and communication across programs to enhance interdisciplinary depth.

• Embedded work-integrated learning, microcredentials, and internships.

• General education coursework infused with National Association of College and Employers (NACE) competencies and the character and virtue framework from the Jubilee Centre.

Q. How does the 90-credit B.S. Applied Psychology program in Advancing Studies compare to the 120-credit B.A. Psychology major at the College?

The B.A. Psychology (Winona Campus) is a 120-credit residential bachelor’s degree which includes labs, minors, and co-curriculars; the 90-credit B.S. Applied Psychology (online) emphasizes application, social impact, and flexibility for working adults.

Thanks to the generosity of a remarkable alumnus of the Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs (SGPP) who funded my position and the School of Advancing Studies, we have the opportunity to start laying the groundwork for the first 90-credit online bachelor’s degrees in Minnesota.

Holly Tapper, J.D.

Q: How will the 90-credit programs be delivered, and what learning infrastructure supports it?

Fully online and asynchronous, supported by our Canvas Learning Management System, Student Central, and The Nest portal with access to tutoring, writing support, IT, and advising. The 90-credit model builds on Saint Mary’s longtime experience with online master’s programs since 2012.

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FINANCIALS

Financials 2024-25

Saint Mary’s annual report of its financial status Revenues and Expenditures

Consolidated Balance Sheet

Revenues and Gains

Assets

Net tuition and fees Government grants Private gifts and grants Sponsored research and programs Endowment income Other sources Net gain on investments Auxiliary enterprises

$45,087,998 $2,289,733 $10,676,318 $157,175 $1,640,300 $1,487,619 $4,539,867 $7,774,648

Total revenues and gains

$73,653,658

Cash and cash equivalents Receivables Prepaid expenses Endowment investments Other investments Property, plant, and equipment

$23,891,002 $12,302,686 $1,586,618 $71,503,591 $176,400 $88,382,061

Total assets

$197,842,358

Liabilities Expenses Instruction $24,935,759 Research $115,834 Public service $3,558,087 Academic support $6,280,509 Student services $12,485,161 Auxiliary enterprises $5,831,795 Institutional support $19,219,735 Annuities payable adjustment $0 Gain on disposal of property, plant, and equipment ($408,694) Total expenses

$72,018,186

Increase in net assets

$1,635,472

Funds Raised from Development Efforts Foundations Friends Alumni Corporations Parents Minnesota Private College Fund Faculty and staff

$3,523,761 $320,892 $12,495,376 $162,588 $418,504 $18,467 $22,157

Total funds

$16,961,746

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Accounts payable Accrued liabilities Deposits and deferred revenue Asset retirement obligation Contract Payable-Food Service Bonds payable Annuities payable Deposit held in custody Government grants refundable

$448,917 $2,633,441 $11,103,513 $1,037,363 $1,282,342 $0 $180,683 $1,328 $333,934

Total liabilities

$17,021,521

Net Assets Unrestricted Restricted

$100,588,076 $80,232,761

Total net assets

$180,820,837

Total liabilities and net assets

$197,842,358

FINANCIALS

Sources and Uses of Funds

6.16%

Revenues n Net tuition and fees n Private gifts and grants n Auxiliary enterprises n Net gain on investments n Government grants n Endowment income n Other sources n Sponsored research and programs

10.56%

61.22% 14.50% 10.56% 6.16% 3.11% 2.23% 2.02% 0.21%

61.22% 14.50%

4.92%

Expenses n Instruction n Institutional support n Student services n Academic support n Auxiliary enterprises n Public service

3.11% 2.23% 2.02% 0.21%

8.06%

34.48% 26.58% 17.27% 8.69% 8.06% 4.92%

8.69% 34.48%

17.27%

26.58%

Funds Raised from Development Efforts n Alumni n Foundations n Parents n Friends n Corporations n Faculty and staff n Minnesota Private College Fund

73.67% 20.77% 2.47% 1.89% 0.96% 0.13% 0.11%

2.47% 1.89% 0.96% 0.13% 0.11%

20.77%

73.67%

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NEWS AND VIEWS

Saint Mary’s reaccreditation process enters year two The university is in year two of its process to complete required documents in support of its reaccreditation with the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), the institution’s accreditor.

Institutional accreditation validates the quality of an institution as a whole and evaluates multiple aspects of an institution, including its academic offerings, governance and administration, mission, finances, and resources. The process of self-review puts added focus on improvement efforts as well. Accreditation requires regular ongoing reporting, along with submission of significant documents addressing HLC provided criteria in year four and year 10 (which includes an on-site visit) of the 10-year cycle, along with completion of a Quality Initiative in years seven through nine. The university successfully completed its Quality Initiative, titled “Advancing Data Analytics” in Summer 2025.

The reaccreditation initiative is led by the Reaccreditation Steering Committee of Dr. Susan Hines, vice president for Academic Affairs, Minneapolis, Rochester, Online; Dr. Darren Row, vice president for Academic Affairs, Winona; and Tracy Lehnertz, assistant vice president for Institutional Effectiveness and reaccreditation coordinator. Training of committee leaders occurred August through December 2024.

Since January 2025, 43 administrators, faculty, and staff have been actively engaged in reaccreditation work, and first drafts of documents were submitted and reviewed September through November 2025. The Steering Committee has made reaccreditationrelated presentations to the university community this past year during the 2024 and 2025 Convocations starting the academic years,

President’s Cabinet meetings, the October 2024 Board of Trustees meeting, and the College Student Senate Fall 2024 and 2025 meetings, with others planned in 2026.

The university will submit its Assurance Argument addressing the Criteria for Accreditation listed below along with its Federal Compliance document addressing its adherence to certain regulatory requirements in September 2026. The on-site visit of the HLC Review Team Visit will occur Oct. 26-27, 2026, and will include meetings with administration, faculty, staff, current students and select members of the Board of Trustees. Those listed below are leading the respective committees.

Criterion 1: Mission – Brother Robert Smith, FSC, Ph.D., senior vice president for university initiatives; special advisor to the president; executive director, Hendrickson Institute for Ethical Leadership Criterion 2: Integrity: Ethical and Responsible Conduct – Nicole Peterson, dean of students; and Fernando Rosas, assistant vice president for Human Resources Criterion 3: Teaching and Learning for Student Success – Dr. Shelly McCallum, dean of the College; and Dr. Shirin Edwin, director of Accreditation, Compliance, and Assessment Criterion 4: Sustainability: Institutional Effectiveness, Resources and Planning – Kara Wener, director of Data Analytics and Institutional Research; and Scott Walker, vice president for Student Development Federal Compliance – Dr. Shirin Edwin, director of Accreditation, Compliance, and Assessment; and Alison Block, director of Academic Records and Systems

Save the Date for Hendrickson Institute Forum

Joanne B. Ciulla, Ph.D., professor, pioneer, and renowned author on the topic of leadership ethics.

Save the date for Friday, April 10, 2026, when Joanne B. Ciulla, Ph.D., professor and director of the Institute for Ethical Leadership at Rutgers University Business School and a pioneer in the field of leadership ethics, will serve as the keynote speaker for the 19th Hendrickson Institute for Ethical Leadership Forum on Saint Mary’s Minneapolis Campus. The event will begin at 11 a.m. with the lunch and keynote from 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on the topic of “Leading with Integrity: Overcoming the Moral Hazards of Leadership.”

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Dr. Ciulla’s research focuses on the ethical challenges of leadership — a topic that matches perfectly with the mission of the Hendrickson Institute and its annual public forum.

Dr. Ciulla has also written extensively on topics in business ethics such as meaningful work, business ethics, international leadership, and the philosophy of work. Before joining Rutgers, she held the Coston Family Chair in Leadership and Ethics at the Jepson School of Leadership Studies (at the University of Richmond), where she was one of the school’s founders. She also has held academic

NEWS AND VIEWS

Saint Mary’s in the Spotlight The university’s mission to awaken, nurture, and empower learners to ethical lives of service and leadership resonates in more than just classrooms — it’s increasingly receiving media attention across Minnesota. Here are some recent stories that highlight how Saint Mary’s is being recognized and featured in the news.

Financial Aid: Navigating the State Grant Shift — Vice President for Enrollment Management, Michael McMahon, and Saint Mary’s student, Jaedyn Fellenz, were featured in the Star Tribune’s article, “Fewer students will qualify for Minnesota college financial aid program after cuts,” about how cuts to the Minnesota college financial aid program are affecting Saint Mary’s students. While the Minnesota State Grant program’s funding was boosted, the qualifications for receiving the grant and the amount disbursed to each student is changing, which could impact the number of students receiving aid.

Mental Health and Faith Integration — Dr. Anthony Isacco, program director for the M.S. in Clinical Psychology program, published an article in the National Catholic Register discussing the urgency of creating support-systems for priests as they face a growing amount of pressure from the Church and society. He went on to discuss the topic on The Drew Mariani Show on Relevant Radio, also sharing about Saint Mary’s M.S. in Clinical Psychology program and how its faith integration can help teach future mental health professionals to combat this issue.

Game Plan for Life Helps Graduating Students Prepare for Life After Sports — The Star Tribune highlighted Saint Mary’s Game Plan for Life program. Student-athletes in the program

learn skills in financial literacy, career development, and communication that will help them land a job and build relationships and identity outside of sports. Among those interviewed for the article were Saint Mary’s student athletes; program coach; Kylene Ruth; and Athletic Director, Brian Sisson.

Saint Mary’s Among Minnesota Schools Finding Alternative Ways to Boost the Liberal Arts — Vice president for Academic Affairs, Dr. Darren Row, and Dr. Joe Tadie, professor of theology and philosophy, spoke with the Star Tribune for their article “Liberal arts are on a long decline. Some Minnesota schools are finding new ways to boost them.” Dr. Row and Dr. Tadie joined representatives from other schools across Minnesota, discussing creative ways that students can experience the liberal arts outside of traditional academic programs.

Accelerated Degrees: 90-Credit Online Bachelor’s Degree Programs — Holly Tapper, dean of the School of Advancing Studies, spoke with KSTP-TV about the launch of Saint Mary’s new 90-credit online bachelor degree as part of Saint Mary’s School of Advancing Studies, which is set to roll out in Spring 2026. Students looking for a nontraditional undergraduate education will be able to complete an online bachelor’s program in the B.S. in Applied Psychology program in just 90 credits, giving them increased flexibility and lowering the cost of their tuition.

These features reflect not just what Saint Mary’s is doing — but where Saint Mary’s is going.

Responsive to changing times, yet steadfast in its mission, the university continues to meet students where they are, cultivating the whole person so that graduates are prepared to work, lead, and serve with character and purpose.

appointments at Harvard Business School, The Wharton School, and LaSalle University.

Dr. Ciulla has received Lifetime Achievement Awards from The Society for Business Ethics, the International Leadership Association, and the Network of Leadership Scholars at the Academy of Management. In addition, she is the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award for Service to the field of business ethics from the Society for Business Ethics among many other awards.

She sits on the editorial boards of “The Business Ethics Quarterly,” “The Leadership Quarterly,” and “Leadership” and edits the “New

Horizons in Leadership Studies Series” (Edward Elgar), one of the largest collections of books from the humanities and the social sciences on leadership. She has served as president of The Society for Business Ethics and The International Society for Business, Ethics, and Economics. She has been an expert witness, consulted, and given lectures and seminars to business, government, and non-profit organizations worldwide.

For more information and to register (available later in February), go to smumn.edu/ hendricksonforum.

SAVE THE DATE April 10 Hendrickson Institute Forum, Minneapolis Campus

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ATHLETICS

2026 Sports Hall of Fame inductees announced

T Follow the Cardinal athletics action! saintmarys sports.com

he Saint Mary’s Athletic Department, in association with the Saint Mary’s Alumni Association, is set to induct three members into the Saint Mary’s Sports Hall of Fame on March 21, 2026: Steven Brieske B’92, Bailey Edwards B’12, and Kate (Jerman) Mannor ’97. The trio will be recognized as part of the Cardinal Excellence Fund Dinner, held on Saint Mary’s Winona Campus.

“We are excited to honor three alumni who excelled on the court and on the field,” said Brian Sisson, athletic director. “We’re excited not only to honor these three outstanding Cardinal greats, but also to celebrate an incredible year across all of Cardinal athletics.

“I look forward to the celebration and encourage everyone to join us for this premier event. Together, we’ll continue to elevate Cardinal athletics and recognize the remarkable achievements of our three Hall of Fame inductees.”

Keep an eye out on the Cardinal Athletics webpage at saintmaryssports.com for more information about the Cardinal Excellence Fund Dinner.

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STEVEN BRIESKE B’92 (baseball)

Steven Brieske enters the Hall of Fame as one of the most dominant pitchers in Cardinal history. He ranks second in all-time in strikeouts (189) and second in strikeouts per nine innings, showcasing his ability to overpower hitters throughout his career.

Brieske also sits eighth in all-time in wins (18), 12th in lowest ERA, and 16th in innings pitched, numbers that reflect both his consistency and his impact every time he took the mound.

ATHLETICS

BAILEY EDWARDS B’12 (women’s tennis)

Bailey Edwards cements her Hall of Fame legacy as one of the most accomplished tennis players in Cardinal history. She is the all-time leader in career doubles wins (58) and ranks third in career singles victories (57), demonstrating excellence across every facet of competition.

Edwards holds fourth and seventh all-time for single-season singles wins, as well as first and fifth all-time for single-season doubles wins.

A three-time First-Team All-MIAC selection in both singles and doubles, Edwards anchored the lineup throughout her four-year career playing every match at No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles.

KATE (JERMAN) MANNOR ’97 (women’s soccer)

Kate (Jerman) Mannor enters the Hall of Fame as one of the most dynamic and impactful players in the history of Saint Mary’s women’s soccer. Across 73 games, she amassed 25 goals (13th all-time) and 27 assists (fourth all-time) for 77 points for totals that place her eighth all-time in program history, while her 27 assists rank fourth and her 247 shots fifth. A two-time NCAA All-Central Region honoree (Second Team in 1996, Third Team in 1995), she also earned First-Team All-MIAC recognition in 1996 and honorable mention honors in 1995.

SAVE THE DATE March 21 Cardinal Excellence Fund Dinner, Winona Campus

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ALUMNI

Our strength lies in supporting one another

A

Margaret ‘Peg’ (Stringham) McCoy CST’80, M’11 Alumni Board President

Four alumni and friends volunteered at the Little Sisters of the Poor-St. Mary’s Home in Chicago, Ill. See page 40 for more photos from Lasallian Day of Service.

s president of the Alumni Board of Directors for Saint Mary’s, it is my privilege to share an update on what your alumni board has been working on over the past few months.

One of our signature events each year is the Lasallian Day of Service, which brings alumni, family, and friends together to serve their communities in the spirit of Saint Mary’s. This year, more than 260 alumni, staff, faculty, community members, and their families (including and 54 students) participated in projects across the country, making an extraordinary impact. From serving meals at shelters, to tutoring young students, to helping beautify parks and public spaces, the reach of our alumni volunteers continues to touch countless lives.

The board is also committed to creating new ways for alumni to connect with one another. A year ago, we launched Alumni Board Networking Nights in conjunction with our quarterly meetings. These gatherings offer food, beverages, and camaraderie — while giving board members the chance to hear directly from fellow alumni about their experiences and ideas. If you are unable to attend in person but would like to share your thoughts, please email us at alumni@ smumn.edu, attention Peg McCoy. We sincerely welcome your input.

Speaking of feedback, we are deeply grateful to the 1,079 alumni who responded to the Alumni Engagement Survey this past spring.

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A special congratulations goes out to alumni Kristen Almo B’84, Judy Duenow M’08, and Karen (Bingen) Wiewiura B’86, who were randomly selected as our prize winners.

This survey is the beginning of a larger process to help the alumni board better understand how you would like to engage with fellow alumni and with our alma mater.

We are carefully reviewing the valuable data collected and look forward to sharing more in the months ahead.

The strength of our alumni community lies in the ways we support one another and carry forward the mission of Saint Mary’s.

Thank you for being an important part of that story. I am excited for the opportunities that lie ahead, and I hope to see many of you at upcoming events.

ALUMNI

Alumni Events

UPCOMING ALUMNI EVENTS March 17 Founders’ Day and Day of Giving, online March 21 Cardinal Excellence Fund Dinner and Hall of Fame Induction, Winona Campus Led by local Saint Mary’s alumni in the Wheaton, Ill., area, a reunion of friends gathered May 14, 2025, at the Arrowhead Golf Course for lots of good-natured ribbing, story-telling, laughter, and even some pretty good golfing!

April 10 Hendrickson Forum, Minneapolis Campus June 26-28 Reunion Weekend 2026, Winona Campus To see what’s coming up next, visit connect. smumn.edu/ events

In June 2025, alumnus Joe Hettinger B’87 hosted an alumni golf weekend at Devil’s Head Resort in Baraboo, Wis. It was billed as the first annual “Back 9” Golf Weekend.

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ALUMNI

ALUMNI, SEND US YOUR NEWS We want your personal and professional news items – photos, news clippings, etc., as well as tips about fellow alums who might make good feature story subjects.

For submission guidelines and how to submit your news, go to connect.smumn. edu/alumni/ classnotes.

Members of the Classes of 1970 and 1971 came to Winona on June 25, 2025, to honor their late classmate John Hanna B’70. With the funds they raised, they were able to sponsor a memorial tree in Hanna’s name on the plaza.

Chicago-area alumni and friends gathered at Allium, Chicago’s newest rooftop venue, perched atop the headquarters of Blue Plate Catering on Aug. 14, 2025.

Among the more than 80 alumni and friends who attended, Larry Stephan B’70, Patti Stephan, Mike Desmond B’70, Denise Kearney, and Marty Kearney B’71 enjoyed the camaraderie and rooftop celebration.

Joseph Phillips B’80 stands next to the evening’s host, CEO of Blueplate and Saint Mary’s alumnus, Jim Horan B’72.

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ALUMNI

Trustee Angela (Scully) Steger B’76 celebrates with fellow alumnae Molly (Purcell) Greenwood B’76 and Nancy (Lorenz) Cassato B’76.

More than 100 alumni, friends, and fans came out to support Saint Mary’s student-athletes at the Cardinal Excellence Fund Golf Outing on Sept.

6, 2025, at Cedar Valley Golf Course.

Greg Arens B’84, brings back the oldschool swag with Tim Gormley B’87, M’98; Brian Nerison B’85; and Tom Rice B’82.

Alumna Maddie (Chappuis) Ecklund B’17 of Mayo Clinic (right) conducts a mock interview with a Saint Mary’s student at Cardinal Career Prep on Oct. 7, 2025, on the Winona Campus.

UPDATE YOUR INFO Make sure we have your most recent contact information so you can stay on top of the latest news and events and share your updates with other alumni at connect. smumn.edu/ updatemyinfo.

SAINT MARY’S MAGAZINE | FALL 2025/WINTER 2026 | 35

ALUMNI

Members of the Saint Mary’s Alumni Board speak with local alums who stopped by Schells Brewery on Sept. 19, 2025, for a social and networking night. Special thanks to Schell’s staff member and Saint Mary’s alumnus Curt VanAsten B’10 for hosting the event!

WATCH FOR ALUMNI WEBSITE CHANGES The alumni website is upgrading to a platform designed to better serve you.

That means some links — including some mentioned in this magazine — may have changed or moved. Simply go to the alumni home page at connect. smumn.edu to navigate to any new links.

Or, connect with us at alumni@ smumn.edu or 507-457-6647.

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Music in the Wetlands included an afternoon of music and community as nearly 80 guests gathered in the Rochester Campus atrium on Oct. 25, 2025, to enjoy performances by the Saint Mary’s band, choir, and ensembles, led by Dr. Zoraida OyolaRebaza.

ALUMNI

Reunion Weekend Recap

M

ore than 300 alumni and their families gathered on the Winona Campus for Reunion Weekend 2025.

The full weekend of activities included the 50th anniversary dinner for the class of 1975 (in matching tie-dye T-shirts), an alumni awards brunch, alumni BBQ dinner and music, a boat cruise, as well as other specific class gatherings and activities planned by class peers. Several alumni enjoyed getting a sneak peek at the construction progress being made on the new David R. Thies B’59 Arena, and others listened to a panel of Saint Mary’s administrators including Father James P. Burns, IVD, Ph.D., Saint Mary’s president, as they addressed questions regarding the state of the university.

Alumni reunited, reminisced, shared photos and stories, laughed, and danced, and generations of families enjoyed time together in the Gostomski Fieldhouse.

Plans are underway for Reunion Weekend 2026, so save the date for June 26-28, especially for those classes ending in a 6 or 1 celebrating a special milestone.

See you in June.

This class, including Trustee Bob Cerone B’75 and his wife, Catherine, were ready to celebrate!

Fifty-nine members of the Class of 1975 came to Winona in June to celebrate their golden reunion.

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ALUMNI

Fifty years later, these alumni were still full of laughter and the Saint Mary’s spirit, and their tie-dye helped prove it!

The 2025 Alumni Award recipients join Father James P. Burns, IVD, Ph.D., Saint Mary’s president, (center) at the Alumni Awards ceremony on June 28, 2025 in Winona, Minn. Recipients, from left, are: Distinguished Alumnus Award recipient, Dr. Brian L. Desbiens B’67; Alumni Appreciation Award recipient, Henry P. Jakobsze B’83; Outstanding Young Alumna, Kristen (Hammermeister) Hosman B’10; and Lasallian Service Award recipient, Dr. James Hake B’73.

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ALUMNI

Class of 2020 members and friends celebrated at the All Alumni BBQ including, from left: back, Brady Kramer and Carol Dao; front, Jacob Friebe, Maddie Bollig, and Jacob Kramer.

Class of 2015 members Abbie (Zuzek) Budin, Mary “Cate” Coghlan, Keara Hannan-Smith, Janie (Maki) Jorgenson, Lauren (Salonek) Keyes, and Theresa LaValla celebrate (with spirit and matching shirts) during Reunion Weekend 2025.

Members of the class of 1990 prove that nothing can keep a true Cardinal away from Reunion Weekend — not even geography.

Popsicle-stick heads are always welcome aboard!

The most senior class at reunion (the class of 1965, celebrating their 60th reunion) included, from left: back, Walter Kelly, James O’Toole, and David Cratty; front, Edward Mulhern and James Farruggia.

SAINT MARY’S MAGAZINE | FALL 2025/WINTER 2026 | 39

ALUMNI

Lasallian Day of Service During this year’s Lasallian Day of Service, a 16-year tradition at Saint Mary’s, more than 260 alumni, friends, students, as well as faculty and staff and other community volunteers put in more than 625 service hours on Oct. 25, 2025 and throughout October.

Alumni, faculty, and students, as well as community members, family, and friends came together to help out in 37 cities, within 12 states and two countries (Canada

and the U.S.). These states were spread out throughout the U.S. including Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Nevada, Florida, New Mexico, Washington, Rhode Island, Arizona, Ohio, and Oregon. The Lasallian service was strong and proud. Make plans to join us in your community and spread some Lasallian spirit. Let us know how you are serving others during Lasallian Day of Service next year, Oct. 24, 2026.

1

2

3

4

5

6

1. Eleven alumni and friends volunteered at My Very Own Bed in Minneapolis, Minn.

2. Seven alumni and friends volunteered at the Saint Mary’s Food Bank in Phoenix, Ariz.

3. Seventeen alumni and friends volunteered at Feed My Starving Children in Schaumburg, Ill. 4. Eleven alumni and friends volunteered at the Open Arms of Minnesota (11:30 a.m. shift) in Saint Paul, Minn.

5. Four alumni and friends volunteered at the CAP Agency in Shakopee, Minn.

6. Fifty-four Saint Mary’s students took part in volunteer projects at eight different sites in Winona, Minn.

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Bring 0-90 credits.

Bring 0-90 credits.

Leave with your degree.

Leave with your degree.

Whether you’re just getting started or returningyou’re with previous college credits, Whether just getting started or Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota returning with previous college credits, will meet youUniversity where you Past Saint Mary’s ofare.

Minnesota credit hours never will meet you where you are. Past expire — transfer credit hours never up to 90 credits. expire — transfer up to 90 credits.

Secure your spot today.

Secure your spot today.

New to college?

New Finishing your to college? degree?

Finishing your Start here! degree?

Start here!

Explore our fully online bachelor’s degree programs: Explore our fully online bachelor’s programs: B.S. in Accounting B.S. degree in Healthcare Management Applied Psychology B.S. in Healthcare B.S. in Accounting B.S. in Human Resource Management BusinessPsychology B.S. in Applied Management Administration B.S. in Human Resource B.S. in Business B.S. in Information Management B.S. in Criminal Justice Administration Technology Leadership B.S. in Information B.S. in Criminal Justice B.S. in Special Education Technology Leadership B.S. in Special Education

SAINT MARY’S MAGAZINE | FALL 2025/WINTER 2026 | 41

CLASS NOTES 1970s Patrick Salvi B’75, Chicago, Ill., was recognized by Best Lawyers as the 2026 Lawyer of the Year for Personal Injury Law – Plaintiffs.

1980s Timothy “Tim” O’Rourke ’81, Huntley, Ill., began his position as a registered nurse at Streamwood Behavioral Healthcare System in July 2025.

Zachary “Zach” Chicos B’82, Los Angeles, Calif., began his position as technology analyst at Paramount Pictures in May 2025.

Susan “Sue” (Rudigier) Mchabcheb B’85, Chicago, Ill., began her position as chief development officer at Lycée Français de Chicago in September 2025.

Brian Murphy B’86, Minneapolis, Minn., began his position as senior salesforce solution owner at Digital Mass in June 2025.

Michael Hill M’97, Chautauqua, N.Y., began his position as president of Randolph-Macon College on Aug. 1, 2025.

Dr. Stephanie Krusemark M’97, Westminster, Colo., was named president of Starr King School for the Ministry in May 2025.

Richard “Rick” Loeffelholz B’98, Dubuque, Iowa, is serving as the Dubuque Hempstead head boy’s swim coach, and was awarded MBC conference coach of the year, district coach of the year, and state coach of the year, and the team won the state title for the first time in school history during the 2024-25 school year.

Sean McLaughlin B’99, Lake Zurich, Ill., began his position as senior digital marketing specialist at Snapfish in August 2025.

John “J.J.” Williams B’99, Waunakee, Wis., began his position as creative director at Halo Studios in August 2025.

1990s

2000s

Ellen (McGonagle) Cole B’90, Clearwater, Fla., began her position as director of marketing and business development at Simon Property Group in April 2025.

Lisa Dietlin M’00, Chicago, Ill., received a Fulbright Specialist Program award. She will complete a project at Economic Society Ynamly Durmush in Turkmenistan that aims to exchange knowledge and establish partnerships benefiting participants, institutions, and communities both in the U.S. and overseas through a variety of educational and training activities within communication and journalism.

Mark Ringo B’90, Bradenton, Fla., began his position as partner and alliances manager at Smartsheet in September 2025.

Dr. Raymond Petras M’91, Phoenix, Ariz., presented his revolutionary non-invasive pain/injury management technique, PsychoNeuro Pain Response™ (PNPR™) Technique, also called Talking Away Pain™ (TAP™), at Sonoran University Health Sciences on May 16, 2025.

Robert “Bob” Pechman B’92, Minneapolis, Minn., published his book, “The Riddles of God: Musings of a Catholic Patent Lawyer on the Paradoxes of Science, Society, and Scripture” on June 17, 2025.

Melissa (Cachor) Ulatowski B’93, Lemont, Ill., began her position as chief financial officer at Westside Children’s Therapy in August 2025.

Heather (Perkins) Ferber B’94, Brookfield, Wis., began her position as regional infusion specialist at Vivo Infusion in April 2025.

Gary Burgess M’01, Minneapolis, Minn., began his position as senior lead analytics consultant at Wells Fargo in June 2025.

Jennifer “Jenny” Davis M’02, Rosemount, Minn., began her position as course instructor at Concordia University in May 2025.

Alissa (Erichsen) Gibson B’02, Winona, Minn., began her position as marketing supervisor at WNB Financial, N.A. in August 2025.

Nathan Weinandt B’02, Hammond, Wis., began his position as vice president customer remediations program owner at U.S. Bank in October 2025.

Amanda “Rosie” (Gwost) Dotson B’04, M’05, New Prague, Minn., began her position as middle school teacher at

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Saint Wenceslaus School in August 2025.

Nicole “Nicki” (Spears) Drennan ’04, B’12, M’24, Cumming, Ga., began her position as market growth and innovation manager at Siemens in April 2025.

Sean Fleming M’04, Saint Paul, Minn., published a book, titled “Explain the Joke,” on May 13, 2025.

Jessica Franck M’04, Fredonia, Wis., began her position as project manager at Midwest Stairs & Iron, Inc. in April 2025.

Geoffrey “Geoff” Johnson M’05, C’19, Big Lake, Minn., began his position as assistant principal of alternative programs at Willmar Public Schools in the 2025-2026 academic year.

Megan Schaar B’07, Grayslake, Ill., began her position as ethics program director at JLL in July 2025.

David “Davey” Warner III B’08, Alameda, Calif., began his position as director, guest operations at Oakland Zoo in July 2025.

Eric Burroughs B’09, Minneapolis, Minn., began his position as assurance director at CliftonLarsonAllen in May 2025.

Cristina (McColl) Churney B’09, M’12, Brookpark, Ohio, began her position as cloud support engineer at Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland in July 2025.

Heidi Schmitz M’09, Elk River, Minn., began her position as instructional designer at Luther Automotive Group in June 2025.

2010s Kristen Hosman B’10, Pine, Colo., won a BC/NAV All Star award at Community Summit, a Microsoft Dynamics, Power Platform, and CRM conference in October 2025.

Erin Jack M’10, North Saint Paul, Minn., began her position as primary therapist at AMFM Healthcare in August 2025.

Abigail Brown B’11, Naperville, Ill., began her position as supply chain planner at KeHE Distributors in September 2025.

Lindsay Christensen B’11, M’20, New Brighton, Minn., began her position as operations and marketing coordinator at Youable Emotional Health in October 2025.

CLASS NOTES Benjamin Eirikson B’11, Kenyon, Minn., began his position as compliance attorney editor at CUBE in April 2025.

Samuel “Sam” Kehoe B’11, Rosemount, Minn., began his position as senior revenue accounting manager at Vumedi in April 2025.

Sarah Pusateri B’11, Chicago, Ill., began her position as executive director at The Goddard School of Deerfield in June 2025.

Jacob “Jake” Rivet B’12, New York, N.Y., began his position as manager, account support at Springer Nature in July 2025.

Emily Vierling B’12, M’21, Saint Paul, Minn., began her position as assistant director of business development and proposals at Ballard Spahr LLP in July 2025.

Nicole Attaway B’14, Hastings, Minn., began her position as client relationship manager, associate director at Cognizant in September 2025.

Evan Claffy ’16, Romeoville, Ill., began his position as manager of member services at Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce & Industry in May 2025.

Jesus Martinez B’14, Chicago, Ill., began his position as AVP marketing, ecommerce solutions at Synchrony in September 2025.

Benjamin Coleman B’16, Rochester, Minn., began his position as family nurse practitioner at ThedaCare in July 2025.

Cody Sprague B’13, M’17, McGregor, Minn., began his position as a South Korea English teacher at Aclipse in June 2025.

Samantha “Sami” Amatuzio B’15, Saint Paul, Minn., began her position as sales representative at Medtronic in June 2025.

Jeremy Ciconte B’15, Saint Paul, Minn., began his position as logistics manager at TA Dedicated in May 2025.

Minda (Buckland) Anderson B’13, M’16, Jenkins, Minn., began her position as HRBP associate manager at Graphic Packaging International in August 2025.

Michael Etter M’15, Stillwater, Minn., began his position as GIS solutions architect at Blattner in September 2025.

Bo Beyer B’13, Circle Pines, Minn., began his position as outcomes manager at BinSentry in April 2025.

David Gates B’15, M’22, Elgin, Minn., began his position as enterprise data governance consultant at Emplify Health in August 2025.

Michael “Mike” Lang B’13, M’21, Newport, Minn., began his position as regional manager at Gravie in September 2025.

Abdeladim Ouazizi B’13, Minneapolis, Minn., began his position as global trade analyst at Graco in May 2025.

Huzefa Poonawala M’13, Eagan, Minn., began his position as director of product management at Imagine in April 2025.

Megan Schultz B’13, Minneapolis, Minn., began her position as system manager respiratory therapy at North Memorial Health in August 2025.

Padraig Sheehan ’13, Oak Park, Ill., began his position as validation engineer at Amsino International, Inc. in July 2025.

Rebecca Thomason B’13, Byron, Minn., began her position as associate project manager at Proxima CRO in July 2025.

Alexander “Alex” Akers B’14, Saint Paul, Minn., began his position as social studies teacher at SciTech Academy in September 2025.

Anna Anderson B’14, Chicago, Ill., began their position as registered dietitian manager at Foodsmart in May 2025.

Stacey (Buss) Houston B’15, Indianapolis, Ind., began her position as employee support coordinator at USIC in August 2025.

Jonathon Elliott B’16, Portage, Mich., began his position as assistant coach at United States Air Force Academy in August 2025.

Megan (Ringsred) Garvey B’16, Maple Grove, Minn., began her position as senior director, human resources at UnitedHealth Group in August 2025.

Ryan Goebel B’16, Champlin, Minn., began his position as assistant project manager at Fieldwork Minneapolis in September 2025.

Haley Jung B’16, M’21, Saint Paul, Minn., began her position as director of sports information programs at Hamline University in September 2025.

McKenna (Parent) Mezzano B’16, Minneapolis, Minn., began her position as senior operations manager at Resolution Medical in April 2025.

Natalie Olson B’16, La Crosse, Wis., began her position as payroll accountant with the City of Roseville in May 2025.

Patrick McKenna B’15, Fishers, Ind., began his position as compensation consultant at NFP in July 2025.

Xavier Reed M’16, C’18, Maple Grove, Minn., began his position as principal at Osseo Area Schools in July 2025.

Colleen Morgan B’15, Houston, Texas, began their position as theatre educator at New Caney Independent School District in May 2025.

Alec Rolain B’16, Lakeville, Minn., began his position as attorney at Felhaber Larson in May 2025.

Mary Nordick B’15, M’19, Austin, Texas, began her position as customer success manager at Hitachi Solutions America in September 2025.

Brigette Audette B’17, Elk River, Minn., began her position as victim relations coordinator at Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Agents Association in July 2025.

Hudson Stensgard ’15, Chanhassen, Minn., began his position as Operational Technology Applications Engineer at TRC Companies, Inc. in August 2025.

John “Jack” Cherry B’17, Hopkins, Minn., began his position as principle finance business partner at Allianz Technology in June 2025.

Paul Thompson B’15, Holmen, Wis., was named program chair of Computer Support Specialist and Cybersecurity at Western Technical College in April 2025.

Clifford “Cliff” Nystrom II M’17, Kerkhoven, Minn., began his position as senior loan officer at Ag Resource Management in June 2025.

Michael Calderon B’16, Prior Lake, Minn., began his position as account executive at Convergint in September 2025.

Kayla Perri B’17, West Lafayette, Ind., began her position as assistant teaching professor at the University of Southern Mississippi in August 2025.

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CLASS NOTES Blake Primmer B’17, Kenosha, Wis., began his position as business systems team lead at Uline in September 2025.

Jonathan Thompson B’17, M’21, Rosemount, Minn., began his position as senior manager financial reporting at HealthPartners in September 2025.

Omar Diongue B’18, New York, N.Y., performed as Joe West at Madison Square Garden’s halftime show during the Knicks vs. Suns game on April 6, 2025. He also released a song called “DEMONS” on April 18, 2025.

Andrew Knutson M’18, Eagan, Minn., began his position as information security architect at UnitedHealth Group in August 2025.

Emily Lais B’18, Minneapolis, Minn., began her position as account manager at BI Worldwide in April 2025.

Tyler Aliperto B’19, Saint Paul, Minn., began his position as principal at Friendship Academy of the Arts in July 2025.

Jordyn Anderson ’19, Victoria, Minn., began her position as registered client service associate at Morgan Stanley in September 2025.

Austin Arnold B’19, Saint Paul, Minn., began his position as trade development manager at Johnson Brothers in August 2025.

Tatiana Jones B’19, Chicago, Ill., began her position as administrative assistant at YEMBA Inc. in September 2025.

Thomas Lowery B’19, Delano, Minn., began his position as associate director of site security and response at UnitedHealth Group in September 2025.

Cassidy Lucas M’19, Bessemer, Ala., began her position as senior director – IT operations and store support at Books A Million in September 2025.

Emily Seykora B’19, Eaton Rapids, Mich., began her position as assistant vice president, risk and allowance analyst at Dart Bank in June 2025.

Ko Thao B’19, M’20, Eden Prairie, Minn., began her position as data analyst at Western Computer in August 2025.

2020s Christopher “Chris” Ebert B’20, C’22, M’23, Rochester, Minn., began his

Saint Mary’s says goodbye to Bob Connor Never one to seek out the spotlight, Bob Connor, who was once associate dean for the university’s London and Florence programs, quietly declined to be interviewed for the 2009 magazine when he retired and also preferred a story not run. He started teaching theology at Saint Mary’s in 1968. Like his life, his passing came to us in a whisper. We learned he died on June 16, 2025 through the grapevine.

Back in 2009, students who knew him best weighed in on the man who introduced them to these countries and incited their love for travel.

We’ve decided to finally share a few of those stories in his memory.

Former students fondly remember his witty sense of humor and his abundant storytelling abilities. They wrote about his love (and good taste) for wine and chocolate; and several students joke about the tough time they had keeping up with him.

Still others reflect on Connor’s generosity, remembering how he treated students to lunch on their birthdays, and left chocolate and flowers for all the female students on Valentine’s Day or Italy’s Day of the Women. He never needed a special occasion to generously share his favorite wine and chocolate with his students, and through the years, he’s imparted many crucial words of wisdom to his fellow travelers including, “always carry an umbrella.”

How would you describe Bob Connor?

“Bob was unforgettable,” said Kaylin (Martin) Eidsness B’08. “He was the whole package, funny, kind, generous, one-of-a-kind, and a great mentor.”

Megan (Erickson) Janos B’06 called him, “A kind, thoughtful, warmhearted man who cared deeply for the students he traveled with. Bob connected with the young people

44 | SAINT MARY’S MAGAZINE | FALL 2025/WINTER 2026

he worked with and left a lasting impression on each of their lives. I know he has on mine.”

Amy (Kalina) Majewski B’08 called him a “man of mystery.” “(He was) an expert at evading personal questions with a smirk and a witty remark,” she said. “Bob had a story to tell about every place he had ever traveled and every student he had ever taught.”

Are there any stories about Bob that stick out in your mind?

“We would always try to follow Bob on the day trips in England, because we knew that he would only visit the best places,” said Nicholas Taylor B’04. “He was such a fast and tiny man that we could never keep up with him, and we lost track of him all the time.”

Scott Kronebusch B’00 agreed.

“Bob was the fastest walker of all time,” he said. “That guy could cover some serious ground … I think our initial tour of London, when we first arrived, was actually Bob’s training for the World Speed Walking Championship. We covered all of London in less than two hours. I was exhausted and thankfully, we only lost three of the students in our group that day.”

Majewski remembered how she and some friends tried to follow him to his “secret restaurant.” Connor, she detailed, caught sight of them and tried to shake them, but the women were persistent and ended up joining him for dinner. “Perhaps the warmest memory will always be the image of Bob running away from four young women in the dark alleys of Assisi,” she said.

Renee (Willkom) Pearl B’04 recalled the softer side of Connor.

“During our first few weeks in Italy, when my roommate Bridget and I were cold, Bob would always lend us his thick gray handmade woolen sweater,” she said.

CLASS NOTES position as global business operations manager at 3M in May 2025.

Michael Maniak B’20, Wisconsin Dells, Wis., began his position as senior accountant at Bridgecrest in July 2025.

John “Jack” Stang B’20, Saint Paul, Minn., began his position as outside sales representative at Electric Pump, LLC in July 2025.

Marissa Allshouse M’21, Sauk Rapids, Minn., began her position as senior associate controls liaison at Capital One in July 2025.

Bob Connor, who led Saint Mary’s London and Florence study abroad programs for many years, instilled a love of travel in many alumni.

Pearl remembers how Connor gave everyone a copy of the lyrics of “You’ve Got a Friend” by James Taylor. Connor lived these lyrics. He continued to stay in touch with Pearl and many other former students.

What helpful advice did he give you while you were abroad?

“I’ll never forget the night that Bob gave us lessons on what to say to the greasy Italians who hit on American women,” Majewski said.

For Alison (Kay) Duffy B’09 it was that she shouldn’t cut her pasta with a knife, but rather to twirl it onto a fork, so as not to offend the Italians.

“He also always knew where the bargains were,” she said.

Kevin Bok Dol Hanley B’02 said Connor taught him, “If the native food looks very native … eat Chinese.”

For Moreen (Bosch) Burkart B’08, it was not to stalk Ewan McGregor’s house. Two years after her trip, she still received articles in the mail on Ewan McGregor from Connor. “He never forgot anything and that still amazes me. We were really lucky to have had him with us,” she said.

Kendall (Archer) Graves B’21, Washington, D.C., began her position as law clerk at U.S. District Courts in August 2025.

Ryan Krewer B’21, Brighton, Colo., began his position as program coordinator at Marion Downs Center in May 2025.

How do you feel your study-abroad experience changed your life?

Janos said the experience opened her eyes to the rest of the world. “It gave me a taste of the beauty that the world has to offer,” she said.

“The experience made me realize so much about myself, and I feel that I grew and changed into a different person by the time I returned to Saint Mary’s.”

Eidsness quoted Mohammed, “Do not tell me how educated you are, tell me how much you have traveled.” She added, “Living in Italy and traveling around Europe gave me a better understanding of others’ sufferings and prosperities, which turned around and gave me a newfound depth into my own life.

I find myself better understanding what’s most important to me and why.”

Jaclyn “Jackie” Paul B’02, M’06 said her time abroad was “one of the best times in my life to this day.

Studying abroad taught me to slow down and enjoy the little things in life.”

Claire Patterson B’21, Marine on Saint Croix, Minn., began her positions as math teacher and head girls basketball coach at North Branch Senior High School in June 2025.

Claire (King) Rades B’21, Winona, Minn., began her position as kindergarten teacher at Cotter Schools.

Griffin Rades B’21, Winona, Minn., began his position as solutions engineer at Confluent in July 2025.

Yasmine Russell B’21, Chicago, Ill., began her position as philanthropy associate, estate and trust at International Fellowship of Christians and Jews in May 2025.

Samuel “Sam” Schultz B’21, Milwaukee, Wis., began his position as sales representative at Logical & Packaging Logistics in August 2025.

Noah Anderson B’22, Roseville, Minn., began his position as data delivery manager at Fulton Analytics in May 2025.

Augusta Chirbas B’22, Kenosha, Wis., began her position as 7/11 clerk at Will County State’s Attorney’s Office in August 2025.

Kayla Sjodin B’22, Waterford, Wis., began her position as cession accountant I at Old Republic Risk Management in June 2025.

SAINT MARY’S MAGAZINE | FALL 2025/WINTER 2026 | 45

CLASS NOTES

Dr. H. Patrick “Pat” Costello B’54 Dr. H. Patrick “Pat” Costello B’54, long-time Saint Mary’s professor, Hall of Fame athlete, coach, died Nov. 13, 2025 at the age of 93.

While a student at Saint Mary’s thenCollege, Dr. Costello was a three time all-conference basketball player and set the MIAC single-season scoring record, finishing his career playing on a college all-star team in an exhibition series against the world champion Minneapolis Lakers.

Following graduation, he taught and coached for a year at Christian Brothers High School and College in Memphis, Tenn. After earning his M.A degree, he then taught at Brother Rice High School, where he also coached.

In 1960, Pat married Joan (Smith) in Chicago. The following year he returned to Saint Mary’s College as an English instructor and assistant basketball coach. In 1965, he was awarded a Danforth Teacher Grant, enabling him to complete his Ph.D. In more than 40 years at Saint Mary’s, he shared his love of literature with generations of students. He taught

Shakespeare every year and chaired the department several times. From 197476, he returned to the basketball court as head coach while continuing his full teaching load. He received the Brother Charles Severin Award for Outstanding Teaching and is in the Athletic Hall of Fame. Joan Costello also worked for Saint Mary’s for many years.

As spokesman for his high school, his comments were featured in the Chicago Sunday Tribune in 1950: “I’d like to leave the world a better place for my being in it. I want to use every bit of talent I have for the good of other men.” His legacy lives on in the countless students, colleagues, friends, and family members, whose lives he touched with his wisdom, warmth, and generous spirit.

Fellow Saint Mary’s long-time educator and alumna Mary Catherine Fox, AFSC, B’75, Ph.D., said, “For the past 53 years, I have known Pat. He was an affable and principled scholar whose love and mastery of Shakespeare was infectious, his laugh delightful, his devotion to God and family inspiring. We have lost a giant.”

Susan Leo Vanderwalker B’79 adds, “As an English major, I was blessed to take most of my classes from Doc Costello. His teaching style was laidback, almost casual. So comfortable in the classroom, he would tip his chair back onto its back legs and weave his fingers behind his head. With eyes to the ceiling, he’d murmur, “Yeah,” before dreamily commenting on some aspect of one literary line or another. His love of The Bard was visceral, even heady. When I learned of his passing, I hugged my Riverside Shakespeare close and wept.

He was simply marvelous as a professor, as a mentor, and as a man.”

He is survived by his wife Joan of almost 65 years and his daughters Rosemary O’Connell B’83, Kathleen Costello, and Mary Eileen M’01, C’12, S’19 (Dan) Fitch, and four sons Patrick B’88 (Trish B’07), Michael M’01 (Stacy), Hugh (Thelma) and Daniel B’92 (Rosario).

46 | SAINT MARY’S MAGAZINE | FALL 2025/WINTER 2026

CLASS NOTES Karen Valdez B’22, Brookfield, Ill., began her position as paralegal at Legal Aid Society of Metropolitan Family Services in June 2025.

Zackery “Zack” Frantzen B’24, Urbandale, Iowa, began his position as sales account manager at Topgolf in September 2025.

Graysin Hartjes B’25, Green Bay, Wis., began her position as inside sales representative at Applied Industrial Technologies in June 2025.

Trevor Wilhelm B’22, Winona, Minn., began his position as procurement analyst at Boeing in October 2025.

Riley Hall B’24, Dallas Center, Iowa, began her position as physician assistant at University of Iowa in August 2025.

Aidan Indahl B’25, Peterson, Minn., began his position as solutions support at Fastenal in July 2025.

Briana Williquett B’22, Roberts, Wis., began her position as CLTS case manager at Professional Services Group, Inc. in August 2025.

Nicholas “Nick” Kiemel B’24, Winona, Minn., began his position as licensed real estate broker at New Western in October 2025.

Wesley Larson B’25, Minneapolis, Minn., began his position as regional admissions counselor at Saint Mary’s University in July 2025.

Kayla (Dwire) Antony B’23, Spicer, Minn., began her position as marketing coordinator at Marcus Construction in September 2025.

Abigail “Abi” Lang B’24, North Mankato, Minn., began her position as operations and program support assistant specialist at Mankato Area Public Schools in July 2025.

Allison Hanson M’23, Eagan, Minn., began her position as talent and leadership development manager at Element Fleet Management in May 2025.

Joshua “Josh” Janssen B’23, Bonita Springs, Fla., began his position as financial adviser at Gulf Coast Educators Insurance in September 2025.

Brady Lindauer B’23, Bradenton, Fla., began his position as financial consultant at Fidelity Investments in June 2025.

Mikayla McCart B’23, Minnetonka, Minn., began her position as administrative assistant at Dark Horse Athletics in May 2025.

William Sepsis B’23, Prospect Heights, Ill., began his position as business development manager at Benchmark Products in July 2025.

Emilie Serna B’23, Bowlus, Minn., began her position as front desk coordinator at RADIAS Health in July 2025.

Parker Swanson B’23, Eden Prairie, Minn., began his position as head coach at Northwest Chargers Hockey in August 2025.

Trevon Van Egtern B’23, Goodview, Minn., began his position as mathematics teacher at Lipscomb Academy in June 2025.

Morgan Von Feldt B’23, Chisago City, Minn., began her position as graphic designer at RESCO in June 2025.

Catherine “Catie” Carlson B’24, Lake Elmo, Minn., began her position as teaching assistant: examination and evaluation at The College of St. Scholastica in August 2025.

Abby Nosbisch B’24, Hopkins, Minn., began her position as assistant director of athletic communications at University of St. Thomas in May 2025.

Cerim Palislamovic B’24, Littleton, Colo., began his position as area practice consultant at Cartess Aesthetics in April 2025.

Michael Petrecca B’24, Bartlett, Ill., began his position as customer service representative at Greco and Sons, Inc. in June 2025.

Riley Ruud ’24, Winona, Minn., began her position as territory account manager at Vanicream Sensitive Skin Care in May 2025.

Daniel Sessler B’24, Brookfield, Ill., began his position as sales analyst at Samsung Electronics America in May 2025.

Connor Beutin B’25, Dubuque, Iowa, began his position as assurance associate at CliftonLarsenAllen in September 2025.

Will Boeckman B’25, Big Lake, Minn., began his position as staff accountant at Waste Connections in June 2025.

Caden Boyer B’25, Mason City, Iowa, began his position as wealth management analyst at Sequoia Financial Group in May 2025.

Allison Ciero B’25, Glen Ellyn, Ill., began her position as staff accountant at Barton, Walter & Krier, P.C. CPAs and Business Advisors in June 2025.

Melissa Gurung M’25, Floriac, France, began her position as technical support manager at Lychee in May 2025.

Jacob “Jake” Mejino B’25, Westchester, Ill., began his position as bookkeeping assistant at Ox Box in June 2025.

Jemari Moore B’25, Broadview, Ill., began his position as outreach specialist at WellBe Senior Medical in September 2025.

Jessica “Jessie” Nelson M’25, Kasson, Minn., began her position as therapist at Ellie Mental Health in September 2025.

Grace Schaffer B’25, Hampton, Minn., began her position as account executive at MPR Orthopedics in May 2025.

Emily Stanze M’25, Woodbury, Minn., began her position as human resources generalist at Bravas in July 2025.

Warner Young B’25, Newberry, Mich., began his position as client service associate at UBS in May 2025.

MARRIAGES 2020s Joseph “Joey” B’20, C’21 and Marta (Stoesz) ’22 Costello, Mountain Lake, Minn., were married on Sept. 6, 2025.

Caedon McCartney B’23 and Alyssa Waters McCartney, Owatonna, Minn., were married on May 31, 2025.

BIRTHS 2000s Erik and Nanci (Gruetzmacher) Valdmanis B’09, New Prague, Minn., welcomed a son on Feb. 28, 2025.

2010s Luke Gonnella B’11 and Alison FischGonnella B’10, Minneapolis, Minn., welcomed a daughter on May 29, 2025.

SAINT MARY’S MAGAZINE | FALL 2025/WINTER 2026 | 47

CLASS NOTES Bethany (Hastings) B’12 and Brian W. B’12 Dillon, Maple Grove, Minn., welcomed a second son on April 24, 2025.

Kristopher and Megan (Bond) Grant B’13, Burnsville, Minn., welcomed a son on May 13, 2025.

Miranda (Cole) B’13 and Andrew B’14 Ketterer, Chandler, Ariz., welcomed a son on Oct. 3, 2025.

Alex and Samantha “Samie” Spinabella B’14, Celina, Texas, welcomed a daughter on Aug. 15, 2025.

Luke B’15, M’18 and Katie (Miller) B’15 Buehler, Rochester, Minn., welcomed a daughter on June 11, 2025.

Clare and Tyler Kircher B’15, Stetsonville, Wis., welcomed a son on June 1, 2025.

Andrew B’16 and Jocelyn “Josie” (Moreno) B’16 Jaworski, Kenosha, Wis., welcomed a daughter on July 24, 2025.

2020s David and Meghan Hindermann M’21, Lonsdale, Minn., welcomed a son in August 2025.

DEATHS 1950s Lawrence “Larry” Cheslik ’51, St. Louis Park, Minn., passed away on June 12, 2025.

Philip “Phil” Feiten USNR ’52, Winona, Minn., passed away on July 29, 2025.

Dr. David Savickas B’62, Orland Park, Ill., passed away on March 6, 2025.

John Doppler ’65, Thief River Falls, Minn., passed away on July 4, 2025.

Msgr. Stephen Barnett B’66, Sioux Falls, S.D., passed away on May 23, 2025.

Andrew Carney B’66, Chicago, Ill., passed away on March 22, 2025.

Stephen “Steve” Nekola B’66, Waukesha, Wis., passed away on April 27, 2025.

1970s Joseph “Joe” Dolack Jr. ’78, Rochester, Ind., passed away on May 12, 2025.

1980s Philip Benz B’89, Winona, Minn., passed away on Sept. 1, 2025.

1990s Michael “Mike” McGrath B’90, Ballwin, Mo., passed away on April 21, 2025.

2000s Juliana “Julie” Hass M’02, Minneapolis, Minn., passed away on Sept. 7, 2025.

Faculty/Staff Mark Baumann, former staff member, Minnesota City, Minn., passed away on July 5, 2025.

Peggy Ebert, former payroll coordinator, Winona, Minn., passed away on Aug. 18, 2025.

1970s Karen (Minucciani) B’76 and Joseph “Joe” B’72 O’Malley, for the passing of their father and father-in-law, Donald “Don” Minucciani ’52, on Aug. 8, 2025.

Kathleen “Katie” (McGrath) Guinane B’01, and William “Billy” Guinane ’02, for the passing of their brother and brother-in-law, Michael “Mike” McGrath B’90, on April 21, 2025.

1980s Julie (Honquest) Smith ’80, for the passing of her father, Richard Honquest ’56, on June 20, 2025.

Marita (Craven) Foy B’83, for the passing of her mother, Ursula Craven, on July 28, 2025 at the age of 99.

Thomas “Tom” Feiten ’89, for the passing of his father, Philip “Phil” Feiten, USNR ’52, on July 29, 2025.

Joan Costello, former Saint Mary’s employee, Rosemary (Costello) O’Connell B’83, Patrick B’88 and Patricia B’07 Costello, Daniel Costello B’92, Michael Costello M’01, Mary Eileen Fitch M’01, C’12, S’19, for the passing of their spouse, father, and father-in-law, Dr. H. Patrick Costello B’54, former Saint Mary’s English professor, on Nov. 13, 2025.

1990s John Bristow B’91, for the passing of his father, James Bristow B’56, on May 7, 2025.

2000s

Donald “Don” Minucciani ’52, Wilmette, Ill., passed away on Aug. 8, 2025.

Robin Thelen, former maintenance staff member, Winona, Minn., passed away on April 27, 2025.

Dr. John Snyder B’54, Homestead, Iowa, passed away on July 8, 2025.

SYMPATHIES

Andrew Ebert B’03, C’04 and Christopher “Chris” Ebert B’20, C’22, M’23 for the passing of their mother, Peggy Ebert, former Saint Mary’s payroll coordinator, on Aug. 18, 2025.

James “Jim” Bristow B’56, Oak Brook, Ill., passed away on May 7, 2025.

1960s

2010s

Dr. Paul Reichenbacher B’62, Thomas McGrath B’63, Tracy (Jagodzinski) Reichenbacher B’86, William “Bill” Reichenbacher B’87, Thomas “Tom” Reichenbacher B’93, and Maya Reichenbacher B’22, for the passing of their wife, sister-in-law, mother, motherin-law, and grandmother, Patricia “Pat” (McGrath) Reichenbacher CST’60, on Jan. 23, 2025.

Anthony “Tony” Thelen B’12, for the passing of his mother, Robin Thelen, former Saint Mary’s maintenance employee, on April 27, 2025.

Richard Honquest ’56, Inverness, Ill., passed away on June 20, 2025.

John Martin B’58, Fairborn, Ohio, passed away on May 16, 2025.

1960s Capt. Joseph Reagan USN B’61, Norfolk, Va., passed away on March 25, 2023, and was interred at Arlington National Cemetery in 2025.

48 | SAINT MARY’S MAGAZINE | FALL 2025/WINTER 2026

LOOKING BACK In a magazine titled “Invested,” we couldn’t help but think about how much the university and its generous benefactors have invested in our students by upgrading our residence halls through the years. Although they’ve always been home away from home to our students, parents now reflect on how different residence halls are now compared to when they were students. Compare Heffron Hall in the 1930s with Brother Leopold Hall!

Now the majority of our rooms are airconditioned with private bathrooms, and filled with all the comforts of home.

If you have more information about these photos please contact Saint Mary’s Magazine editor, Deb Nahrgang.

Email dnahrgan@smumn.edu or mail comments to: Saint Mary’s Magazine Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota 700 Terrace Heights #36 Winona, MN 55987

SAINT MARY’S MAGAZINE | FALL 2025/WINTER 2026 | 49

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