Heidi Wolford Parrow ’09 reunites with classmates at last year’s Reunion. This summer, join us on campus June 6–8 for Reunion celebrations, including the all-alumni Evening With St. Kate’s. Learn more at stkate.edu/reunion.
INTERIM VICE PRESIDENT OF DEVELOPMENT AND ALUMNI RELATIONS
MARY HAEG, JD
DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI RELATIONS
LINDSAY BUTTERFIELD WHIPPLE ’09
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS
SARAH VOIGT
EDITOR
MICHELLE MULLOWNEY ’17
DESIGNER HEATHER LONGMORE
CONTRIBUTORS
KAT BRAZ/THE ESC PLAN
KARA D eMARIE MLIS’16
LINDSEY FREY PALMQUIST
KENDALL GRAHAM
LINDSAY MADRYGA
BELLA NORCROSS ’25
MOLLY ORTH
ANA PEREIRA ’25
TESSA SCHOENECKER ’25
AMY SHAW/ARCHIVES AND SPECIAL COLLECTIONS TEAM
ANDY STEINER
ARTISTS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS
PATRICK CLANCY
VIOLETA ROTSTEIN
REBECCA ZENEFSKI SLATER ’10
TARA SLOANE
RACHEL STOCKER
ADDRESS CHANGES
651-690-6666
STKATE.EDU/UPDATEINFO
mag.stkate.edu
@st.kates
@stkates St. Catherine University
St. Catherine University Magazine is published three times a year by the Office of Communications. No part of this publication may be reprinted without permission.
St. Catherine University was founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in 1905.
Learn more: stkate.edu/ourhistory
18
FEATURES
Sipping Shaah, Sharing Sheeko
’25 AND MICHELLE MULLOWNEY ’17 4 12
As a Phillips Scholar, Nimo Mohamed ’23 created a program to address the silent struggles faced by elders in her Minneapolis community.
BY LINDSEY FREY PALMQUIST
Serious Science
With Mendel’s major remodel complete, St. Kate’s STEM building is ready for the next generation of scientists.
BY ANDY STEINER
Spotlight on The O’Shaughnessy
The classic St. Kate’s venue is home to an arts community of patrons, students, alumni — and a longtime production crew who knows every brick of the building.
BY
TESSA SCHOENECKER
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Last November, Victoria Delgado-Palma ’23 (center) traveled to Rome with Kristine West, PhD, (left) and D’Ann Urbaniak Lesch (right) to present at the international Uniservitate symposium and to Pope Francis. Read more on page 26.
CLOCKWISE FROM RIGHT: PHILLIPS SCHOLAR NIMO MOHAMED ’23 DEVELOPED PROGRAMMING TO ADDRESS NEEDS IN HER COMMUNITY. THE FALL 2024 EVENT IN THE WOMEN OF COLOR LEADERSHIP SERIES FEATURED A ROUNDTABLE CAREER DISCUSSION WITH MINNESOTA-BASED, BIPOC WOMEN. STEM STUDENTS LEAD FAMILY-FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES IN MENDEL BEFORE “THE MOTH PROJECT” AT THE O’SHAUGHNESSY.
PHOTO/TARA
SLOANE
PHOTO/REBECCA
ZENEFSKI SLATER ’10
PHOTO/PATRICK
CLANCY
From the President
What did you want to be when you grew up?
For me, I thought for sure I was going to be a medical doctor. I graduated from high school when I was 16, jumped right into a pre-med college program… and struggled mightily with lab sciences, among other things. It took that struggle for me to recognize that my calling was not in medicine, but to help others in moments of adversity to feel less alone, less isolated. Once I found my path, the way was clear and the momentum was strong: I got my bachelor’s degree in psychology, a master’s degree in education and another in rehabilitation counseling, and a PhD in counselor education and supervision.
Along the way, I noticed how few of my peers resembled me — a woman of color leading in her field. That brought a grounding clarity to my personal mission and vision: to help all students, but particularly students of color, see a woman of color lead; to normalize the concept that women of color can excel in their chosen field; and to show how to find one’s own path despite the undergrowth of gender or race.
I remember that path to my calling when I look out on the campus quad and see the Mendel science building standing tall. With a steady stream of Katies coming and going through the doors, it’s a space where all students can be students, be curious, learn, lead, and influence. Mendel is already a very special place to me, made that much more exciting by the recent renovations allowing passionate students like Sof Walker ’25 to soar (page 12).
For most of us, finding our path means walking the trails: paying attention to the sights and sounds, exploring an unlikely route, sharing our load with another. Opening our minds to the rich array of performances curated at The O’Shaughnessy (page 18), or trying something new to improve the well-being of your community members (Nimo Mohamed ’23, page 4). These ventures into new territory contribute to a holistic experience building critical thinking, inquiry, and drive for equity — one that has been the hallmark of a St. Kate’s education for 120 years and will be for 120 more to come.
Marcheta P. Evans, PhD President
Sipping Shaah, Sharing Sheeko
As a
Phillips Scholar, Nimo
Mohamed ’23 created a program to address the silent struggles faced by elders in her Minneapolis community.
BY LINDSEY FREY PALMQUIST
Unlike the erratic cardiac beeping of arrhythmia or the hacking cough of respiratory illness, isolation creeps silently into our lives. Its grip tightens over time, weaving invisible walls, severing lifelines of connection, and instilling a sense of invisibility.
But loneliness is no less an epidemic than more noticeable counterparts like heart disease, diabetes, opioids, and infectious disease. In fact, the warning siren sounded on May 3, 2023, in an advisory from Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, detailing the “devastating impact of the epidemic of loneliness and isolation in the United States” and listing social disconnection as “a significant predictor of premature death and poor health.”
While social isolation impacts all ages, it can be particularly challenging for older immigrant populations. They face additional obstacles, including language barriers, cultural differences, and reduced or limited social networks, which can be intensified by health issues and financial insecurity.
St. Catherine University alumna Nimo Mohamed ’23 witnessed many of these challenges firsthand in her Minneapolis Somali-American community. While an undergraduate student pursuing her bachelor’s degree in social work, Mohamed interned with Hope Community and later the Minneapolis City Council, strengthening connections between residents and community resources.
MOHAMED INCORPORATED TRADITIONAL EAST AFRICAN ELEMENTS SUCH AS “SHAAH IYO SHEEKO,” OR “TEA AND CONVERSATION,” INTO HER PROGRAMMING TO FACILITATE COMFORT FOR ELDER PARTICIPANTS.
Through this outreach, she began noticing many of the health issues and disparities facing the often-overlooked elderly population of East African immigrants there.
“Many African immigrants in Minneapolis are unseen, a quiet minority that often gets taken advantage of,” says Mohamed. “Many struggle with malnutrition, disease, and related health issues, which are often caused by a lack of access to healthy food options, limited information about nutrition and exercise, and a stigma about seeking help for psychological wellness.”
OBSERVATION LEADS TO OPPORTUNITY
In the spring of 2023, Mohamed saw a flyer on St. Kate’s campus for the Phillips Scholars Program, which sponsors students to create and test innovative ideas to address community needs. With support from St. Kate’s Abigail Quigley McCarthy Center for Women, Mohamed decided to apply and detailed a three-part, comprehensive health program focusing on elders in the East African community in Wards 6 and 9 of Minneapolis. The program included a culturally sensitive approach to nutrition education for African culture-specific preferences, physical activity events designed for accessibility and inclusivity, and mental health support through community conversations.
Her project idea impressed the selection committee, as did her focus, determination, and commitment to her local elder community, and she was selected as a 2023–2024 Phillips Scholar.
“Phillips Scholars are natural student leaders on their campuses, and I see a lot of that in Nimo,” says Inika Raikar (left), scholarship coordinator for the Minnesota Private College Fund. “She’s very well connected, a strong communicator, fantastic listener, and is very good at knowing how to
support others in an effective way. She saw an unmet need that she wanted to address, and she was able to build plans for sustainability along the way.”
Mohamed was set up with a mentor for her project duration, Zakariya Abdullahi, a 2019–2021 Phillips Scholar and fellow member of the Minneapolis SomaliAmerican community. The two met regularly throughout the year to help develop, refine, and launch her project in the summer of 2024.
“Most programs are focused on youth, and there aren’t really any programs focused on elders besides adult daycare,” says Abdullahi. “Before she even created the program, she was meeting with elders and involving them in its design. There was positive engagement in the work Nimo was doing because she was listening to them and empowering them from the beginning. They were contributing to something, they really enjoyed it, and it gave them purpose.”
To recruit for the program, Mohamed invited elders to attend and even went door knocking to spread the word about events. She gathered group members for activities, such as trips to the grocery store or gardening at Hope Community, which allowed them to learn about growing and cooking fresh, nutritious foods while enjoying exercise and social time together. Activities with gentle movement, like walking around the block before tea began, also provided a chance to get to know each other.
“During a quiet walk, they would share stories of when they were younger and lived in Africa, and accessing those memories can bring feelings of nostalgia that improve mood,” says Mohamed. “And it’s been so rewarding to see they’re still doing it today. They’ll see me and tell me about the food they’ve made, the two-mile walk they took, or they became friends with someone from the group. It’s something I wanted for them to keep up, and it’s happening.”
AT RIGHT, ELDER PARTICIPANTS IN MOHAMED’S PROGRAMMING TAKE PART IN GENTLE WALKS, CONVERSATION, AND COMMUNITY GARDENING.
FROM SOLITUDE TO SOLIDARITY
Cultural sensitivity and respect for tradition were key factors in how Mohamed engaged with the elders. The majority were between 60 and 80 years old, from East African backgrounds, and Mohamed translated for the group. She incorporated traditional elements that established the familiarity, trust, and understanding crucial to the participants’ mental health and healing work. The tea was prepared and served in the Somali style used for casariyo, the customary afternoon break for shaah iyo sheeko, or “tea and conversation,” when friends and family pause their day to gather and share hot drinks, sweets, and conversation, often seated in a circle.
While most participants were East African elders, the activities welcomed individuals from other backgrounds, including African American elders, Hmong neighbors, and Somali youth, who face obstacles such as language barriers, limited access to resources, or age-related difficulties. Mohamed says that though she began her Phillips project with her immediate community in mind, seeing the shared challenges experienced by community members of all kinds was a “wow” moment for her.
That was my dream — create a space where they felt empowered to change, no matter where they are in life or how old they are.”
— Nimo Mohamed ’23
“Even if you don’t speak the same language, you can have the same concerns, the same lack of activity, the loneliness, or loss of hope,” she says. “Our tea and conversation time established a foundation of belonging that enabled the nutrition education and movement components to flourish. That was my dream — to reduce the stigma and create a space where they felt empowered to change, no matter where they are in life or how old they are.”
For Khadija Ahmed, an East Phillips community member who participated in Mohamed’s program, sharing with the group about the health challenges she and others faced was the most meaningful and
Stepping out of my comfort zone and meeting new people over tea was an incredible experience. I genuinely hope this project persists, because I’ve noticed a significant improvement in my well-being.”
— Khadija Ahmed
advisor and professor during her undergraduate studies. “Nimo is constantly thinking of ways to help her community be healthier and more connected,” says Mears. “I remember her mentioning how easy it is to get lost in a new place, and she wanted to remind people that community can be anywhere. So when I heard she was working with elderly immigrants to improve their health, it just fit what she’s always wanted to accomplish.”
Mohamed is now enrolled in St. Kate’s prerequisite program for dental school, which she is on track to complete in 2026. Dental care is another area in which Mohamed sees common needs across underserved populations.
insightful part. “Stepping out of my comfort zone and meeting new people over tea was an incredible experience,” she says. “I genuinely hope this project persists, because I’ve noticed a significant improvement in my well-being.”
Mohamed has goals to continue the programming she created in her Phillips project and expand it to include more communities, backgrounds, and ages in collaboration with other organizations.
Professor Marcy Mears, Bachelor of Social Work program director at St. Catherine University, was Mohamed’s
“St. Kate’s has been instrumental in my growth. The supportive professors and community have provided me with the confidence to pursue my dreams, achieve this amazing project, and work diligently to achieve my goals,” says Mohamed. “My background in social work complements my dentistry aspirations to create equitable healthcare solutions with empathy, trust, and cultural awareness — crucial qualities in healthcare.”
Mears looks forward to watching Mohamed’s continued work in equity and community building. “She will be a spokesperson and advocate with a strong voice for the community,” she says. “With her advocacy and leadership, they can know they’ll never be forgotten.”
IN HER PROGRAMMING, MOHAMED (CENTER) AIMED TO FOSTER SOCIAL CONNECTION THROUGH SHARED ACTIVITIES LIKE COOKING.
FELLOW FEELING
Through competitive fellowships, awards, and scholarships, St. Kate’s students make an impact in causes they care about.
SOFIA VANDERLAN ’26 2024–25 NEWMAN CIVIC FELLOW
Through her Newman fellowship, Vanderlan has accessed opportunities in leadership development training, and aims to “create better environments for Indigenous students so they feel more supported, acknowledged, intelligent, and empowered.” She has brought her fellowship experiences back to St. Kate’s in the Indigenous Student Alliance — which she co-founded — and in continued curriculum revision through Mellon Foundation support. Vanderlan, an English major, has presented at the Minnesota Indian Education annual conference, and assisted Minneapolis Public Schools in revising their ethnic studies curricula.
PLEN 2025 SCHOLARS
For over 40 years, St. Kate’s Abigail Quigley McCarthy Center for Women, part of the Centers for Equity and Belonging (CEB), has sponsored students to participate in Public Leadership Education Network (PLEN) policy seminars in Washington, D.C. Luul Adam ’25, Najma Darwish ’26, Erica Wing ’25, and Julia SchmitMischke ’26 (pictured left to right, with Senator Tina Smith at center) attended the January 2025 seminar, and were also able to meet with St. Kate’s alumni in the area. “This seminar opened up so many fields of
AUBRI FARNIOK ’24 2024–25 FULBRIGHT ENGLISH TEACHING ASSISTANTSHIP PROGRAM
Last September, Farniok began her Fulbright Teaching Assistantship program in Malta, where she teaches English to middle school, high school, and university students. For Farniok, living abroad expands personal horizons “when you approach it with an open mind and you’re okay with admitting, ‘I don’t know this — that’s okay,’” says Farniok, who graduated from St. Kate’s in spring 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. “It challenges you in ways that you aren’t back home.” After experiencing higher education settings abroad, she is considering a career as a professor.
public policy for me and gave me connections I need to further women’s roles in public policy,” says Darwish. “Now I feel more confident in the decisions I will make in the future, including a possible path in health policy!”
SIX ST. KATE’S APPLICANTS SELECTED AS 2025 FULBRIGHT SEMI-FINALISTS
The following students and alumnae will be notified of their final status for the respective Fulbright U.S. Student programs throughout the spring. Read more about the semi-finalists at stkate.edu/fulbright
Josibeth Aguilera ’25
English Teaching Award, Kyrgyzstan
Elizabeth Bolsoni ’23
English Teaching Award, Kenya
Kiara Gomes ’25
Master’s Degree Program Award, Taiwan
Kristin Lentz MLIS’25
English Teaching Award, Malta Nag Poe ’24
English Teaching Award, Thailand
Emma Svendsen ’25
English Teaching Award, Belgium
— Ana Pereira ’25
Bookmark
MLIS students and alumni share books
to stir the heart and inspire the mind.
BY MICHELLE MULLOWNEY ’17
The Map of Salt and Stars by Zeyn Joukhadar (2018). Fiction.
LAURA CHOOKIATSIRICHAI MORLOCK ’04, MLIS’08
Once upon a time there were two Syrian refugee girls who fled the same route, 800 years apart, across the Middle East. One apprentices, as a boy, to a mapmaker; the other loses her Baba. Some might call this novel fantasy or historical fiction, crossing both genres and timelines. Syrian American Joukhadar writes to find himself as a non-binary person, offering us “a story of how the salt breeze pours black water into me. It sinks deep into a place I can’t name, a place I can’t chart.” How is it we can swim through grief to healing? Joukhadar paints a path through The Map of Salt and Stars for readers seeking to immerse themselves in a world that has been turned upside down.
Morlock selected this book for the Readers’ Advisory Services course, which she is teaching this spring.
Every Tool’s a Hammer by Adam Savage (2019). Nonfiction.
MEGAN SCHIERENBECK MLIS’24
Written by one of the hosts of the Discovery Channel’s “MythBusters,” this memoir examines the art of making things and inspires the reader to explore, get a little messy, and enjoy the ride that is the creative process. Every Tool’s a Hammer is a guidebook for all. As a future library sciences professional, I appreciated the philosophy that creating is for everyone, and hope to bring this attitude of inclusivity to my future work.
Buy the titles featured in this “Bookmark” in person, online, or as audiobooks: stkate.edu/bookstore
Schierenbeck read this book for the MLIS class Making and Makerspaces.
Remember by Joy Harjo (2023). Poetry.
MELISSA GUNELSON MLIS’25
Harjo writes in her author’s note, “We need poems when we lose something important, when we need to pay attention, or when we need to repair what has been broken.” Harjo’s poem “Remember,” illustrated by Michaela Goade, offers just that. This picture book is a powerful tool for reflection and connection, whether read aloud to audiences young and old or cherished in quiet solitude. Harjo invites us to remember and honor all that intertwines us.
Gunelson selected Remember for an elementary school library collection she developed, as part of a grant she received from Roseville Area Schools Foundation to expand Native American literature representation in the district.
A Recipe for Persuasion by Sonali Dev (2020). Fiction.
LYDIA BUTLER FASTELAND ’12, MLIS’17
For St. Kate’s community readers who are literature nuts like me and enjoy retellings of the “classics,” A Recipe for Persuasion is a great option. Part of Dev’s Rajes Series — all adaptations of Jane Austen’s works — A Recipe is a modern Persuasion, set within the realm of reality TV. If you have not read romance before, this is a great entry into the genre! Dev centers her characters and their lives through her lens as a South Asian woman living in the U.S., interweaving them with the classic tropes from Austen’s writings to create a vibrant story that jumps from the page.
A Recipe for Persuasion is part of Conversation With Books in June. Hosted by Fasteland and fellow alum Taylor Harwood ’15, alumni will discuss romance novels from a feminist lens.
Visit stkate.edu/cwb for more information on Conversation With Books events in June and October.
MARIANNE ADAMEK MLIS’26
Taking the Intro to Library and Information Science course opened my eyes to the fact that I am equally passionate about social justice and equity as I am a bibliophile. This book collects previously scattered information about the libraries at the heart of the Civil Rights Movement in the South, and the brave volunteers who risked their lives to open and run them. If you have ever doubted the absolute power of equal access to information, or the immense impact that libraries can have in a community, read this book!
Adamek’s experience in Introduction to Library and Information Science inspired her to look for more readings about racial inequality in literature independently, and she found Freedom Libraries .
Freedom Libraries: The Untold Story of Libraries for African Americans in the South by Mike Selby (2019). Nonfiction.
Serious Science
With Mendel’s major remodel complete, St. Kate’s STEM building is ready for the next generation of scientists.
BY ANDY STEINER
Walking into the refurbished Mendel feels like entering a beloved home that has been thoughtfully and beautifully remodeled. All of the history and memories are still there, but the building somehow feels brand new and full of promise, a place where stories could be made, and inventions created — in the nearly century-old facility devoted to Katies’ study of science.
Just ask Tami McDonald, PhD, St. Catherine University associate professor of biology.
“This campus has a lot of energy, especially around healthcare. That’s a theme that’s come through from our very founding,” she says. “We have a history of educating women to work in key fields like nursing, and we are also
M cDONALD, Ph D, (LEFT) AND SOF WALKER ’25
building future scientists who pursue majors in fields like biology and physics. It’s really nice to have a science building that reflects all of those possible pathways.”
Mendel occupies a central place in the history of St. Kate’s. In 1927, when Mother Antonia McHugh boldly spearheaded the building’s creation, the idea of having “an entire building dedicated to the study of science at a college for women was,” McDonald says, “revolutionary. It seemed outrageous to many people at the time, but Mother Antonia was determined to make it happen.”
Biology student Sof Walker ’25 has spent a good portion of his St. Kate’s undergraduate classes and research in Mendel. “I think this building is iconic,” Walker says. “At the time it was built, I bet it was an amazing and bold idea. To me, it feels impactful and inspiring.”
Walker has worked closely with McDonald on key projects, including a National Science Foundationfunded experiment where St. Kate’s biology students team with International Space Station astronauts to explore nitrogen and carbon through cultivation of a nitrogen-fixing legume. He has a deep appreciation of Mendel’s history and just how far these renovations have brought the building, noting the former “cozy” biology labs. As a prospective student, however, he was quickly won over by the dedication of the faculty and the strong collaboration with students. “In Mendel, serious science gets done.”
“The professors, especially Dr. McDonald, are great,” Walker continues. “I love the smaller class size. It is personable, and the community is very good.”
TAMI
In Mendel, serious science gets done… This building is iconic.”
— Sof Walker ’25
The years Walker has spent in Mendel have prepared him for a career in science. He plans to take a gap year to consider options and start the application process, and then go to graduate school for plant biology, where he hopes to do field, greenhouse, or molecular study.
“I love science, I really do,” Walker says. “I don’t know if it’s always come easy for me, but over time it has gotten a lot easier.” Thanks to the support of St. Kate’s faculty, “Now all of my classes connect. I’ll go to microbiology; I’ll learn about some genetic term, then it will apply to another class. It carries over like that. I know that science will always be an important part of my life.”
Thanks to updated learning spaces and new technology, the over-1,000 students who take classes in Mendel per year have access to relevant, hands-on academic experiences, preparing them for impactful science careers through excellence in the bench sciences and manifold leadership opportunities.
“I think this says to our students, current and future, that we value them and their education,” McDonald says of the extensive remodel. “It says, ‘We have already invested in you — by reinvesting in in this historic building.’”
A RESOURCE FOR ALL Mendel’s remodel was completed just as students were returning for classes in the fall of 2024. McDonald’s enthusiasm for the top-to-bottom changes — funded by the $149 million LEAD & INFLUENCE: The Campaign for the Next Level of Excellence, as well as an $800,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Education — is clear when she walks through the gleaming building, showing off its new light-filled labs, high-tech equipment, and welcoming study spaces.
McDonald and other STEM faculty and staff played a key role in the planning for the building’s transformation. “There were a series of conversations with the architects,” she says. “They asked not only, ‘What are your needs?’ but also, ‘What are your values?’ This is reflected in the finished design.”
One of those values important to McDonald and her colleagues was creating visibility, literally, into the work they do with students. In the past, much of the science that went on in Mendel took place in closed-off labs. The transformed spaces now feature large, airy windows, so that other students walking through the building can be inspired by STEM students at work, and, potentially, envision themselves as scientists too.
SOF WALKER ’25 HAS SPENT MUCH OF HIS SCIENCE CAREER IN MENDEL AND WITH PROFESSOR TAMI M cDONALD, Ph D, PARTICIPATING IN RESEARCH LIKE THEIR “ MEDICAGO” PROJECT WITH THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION (BELOW).
M cDONALD AND OTHER STEM FACULTY ARE SHAPING MENDEL AS A COMMUNITY RESOURCE. LAST FALL, SHE WORKED WITH THE O’SHAUGHNESSY TO ORGANIZE FAMILY-FRIENDLY SCIENCE ACTIVITIES BEFORE “ THE MOTH PROJECT.”
With the reimagining of the building have come deliberate University efforts to shape Mendel as a resource not just for students, but for the larger community. In one piece of programming, McDonald collaborated with The O’Shaughnessy to organize family-friendly science activities for attendees of The Moth Project production. Before the show, St. Kate’s STEM students hosted booths in Mendel that focused on science topics like the chemistry of smell, the physics of flight, and the important pollinator role of moths in our ecosystem.
“We wanted to transform the labs, and, by extension, the building, into more of a public space,” McDonald says.
“These new, big windows make it so you can see into the labs and witness the science being done.”
By tearing down interior walls and reconfiguring spaces, architects were able to make Mendel feel bigger inside without actually expanding the historic building’s footprint, McDonald explains. A good example is one of the updated biology labs, still located in the basement but now more open and inviting.
“This space used to be about two thirds this size,” McDonald says, gesturing around the remodeled lab. Pre-construction, she explains, space was tight, with low benches squeezed around work tables: “We made it
PHOTOS/TARA SLOANE
NEW EQUIPMENT FUNDED BY A DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION GRANT, LIKE THE AUTOCLAVE BELOW, ALLOWS STUDENTS TO LEARN USING THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY.
This says to our students, current and future, ‘We have already invested in you — by reinvesting in this historic building.’”
— Tami McDonald, PhD
A HOME FOR “A WHOLE NEW CROP OF SCIENTISTS”
Chemistry alumna Denyce Alvarez ’16 always knew she wanted to study science — but she was also confident that she wanted to do it a certain way. “I knew that I would thrive best if I had mentors and professors who really cared about the students,” says Alvarez, who was born in the Philippines and grew up in Texas. “I didn’t want to go to a big school where I would just be a face in the crowd.”
When she came to campus to start her first year, Alvarez says she knew she had made the right decision. The University’s small size and student-centered faculty felt like a good match, and she had the support she needed to take on her challenging coursework. “I was able to get to know my professors, and they were able to get to know me, too,” she says.
As the years went by, Alvarez says STEM faculty played a key role helping to develop her plans for life after graduation. “I felt my professors were supportive of my goals. They were all very helpful in terms of how I can grow better, which helped me transition into my professional career.” During her senior year, Alvarez conducted research with chemistry professor Gina Mancini-Samuelson, PhD, and participated in the Assistantship Mentoring Program (AMP) and Summer Scholars. “That one-on-one mentorship helped me hone in on my skills in terms of communication, delivery, and confidence,” Alvarez says.
Alvarez also appreciated St. Kate’s student diversity and emphasis on women’s leadership in the sciences, saying
that it has helped prepare her for her professional career as a research and development chemist and an adhesive sealant specialist.
“I’ve been in many rooms where not only have I been the youngest woman but also the only woman of color,” Alvarez says. “Being at St. Kate’s, being in that small, supportive setting, you were always able to let your voice be heard. That helped to build my confidence so I can perform — even when I stand out.”
During a visit to campus in 2023, Alvarez was excited when Mancini-Samuelson told her that Mendel was undergoing a total rehaul. “I’m excited to see what opportunities the students will have in this new space,” she says. “Knowing what opportunities I’ve already had in my career, and thinking about the opportunities new students could have, that’s exciting for me.”
Raising the millions of dollars required to complete Mendel’s transformation on the eve of the building’s 100th birthday sends an important message to other young women who are dreaming of becoming scientists, Alvarez believes. “I think it will entice more students to study STEM. That’s exciting: it will help grow a whole new crop of scientists just like me.”
work. But it was very cozy. Now, the new equipment is set up so that students are working together but they also have more elbow room.”
The Department of Education grant went toward purchasing new equipment for Mendel, McDonald says. She’s especially excited about technological upgrades that make the microbiology lab biosafety level 2 eligible and a PCR machine that can track the amplification of DNA in real time. “There’s a lot of excitement,” she says, brightly. “Everything is new, fresh, modern.”
Walker is among the teams of student workers helping unpack the many moving boxes that still fill some of Mendel’s new spaces. Putting scientific equipment in their
new spaces is hard work, but it’s also exciting, Walker says: he’s part of a new chapter in his beloved University’s history, a thrilling time of change and growth.
The Mendel remodel is, Walker says, “significant. The organization is amazing. There are places for everything; there are specific washing stations for things like beakers and containers.”
Beyond the organization, Walker adds, spending time in the updated building just feels like the perfect culmination of his college career: “It’s awesome, I get to work in the lab every day. I’m a little sad that I’ll be leaving so soon, but I tell myself, ‘The building is finally finished. It’s so beautiful. Just cherish it now.’”
Spotlight on The O’Shaughnessy
Irene Green and students talk art and community.
Recently, Irene Green, executive director of The O’Shaughnessy, sat down with Madeline Maurer ’25 and Tessa Schoenecker ’25, leaders of St. Kate’s student theater group Dew Drop Drama Company (3DC). In their conversation, the three discussed the community role of the performing arts and the unique partnership between “the O’Shag” and 3DC.
UPCOMING EVENTS AT THE O’SHAUGHNESSY
Mandy Gonzalez in Concert March 22, 7:30 p.m.
An Evening With Mandy Harvey March 28, 7:30 p.m.
TU Dance Celebrates 20 Years April 25–26, 7:30 p.m.
Goodman Lecture: Janet Horvath May 1, 6 p.m.
Katie Acts! May 2, 7:30 p.m. | May 3, 2 p.m.
DEW DROP DRAMA CLUB SPRING PRODUCTION
The Wolves
April 4–5, 7:30 p.m. Frey Theater
Learn more about The O’Shaughnessy and see upcoming events at oshag.stkate.edu.
@TheOShaughnessy @DewDropDramaCo
MM: What have been your priorities in planning programming?
IG: We’ve been using this idea of “anchor events” that hit all of our programming objectives: connection to the campus community, reflection of St. Kate’s mission and values, and hopefully student involvement. And art that reflects our specific time and place, like last year when The Aunties brought a group of amazing Indigenous women storytellers from Minnesota onstage. Uplifting what’s here, so people can experience things that relate to where they’re from, makes their connection to the art that much more powerful.
TS: What are some of the opportunities unique to being part of a college campus?
IG: For me, community engagement is one of the prime pieces of DNA that defines a theater’s culture. Here, there’s a campus community — faculty, staff, students, alumni, others — interested in women’s leadership and social justice. There is this amazing ecosystem that we’re able to be part of, where we can plug into what’s happening in classrooms and with other constituents at St. Kate’s.
TS: Like The O’Shaughnessy’s Moth Project show.
IG: Yes, where we worked with science faculty and students to host STEM family activities before the performance. If there are ways students can be onstage, or backstage, or influencing the program, both the art and the community are stronger.
IG: What has surprised you the most about the partnership between 3DC and The O’Shaughnessy?
MM: When we started, we had Shakespeare and a pipe dream! The O’Shaughnessy has been such a help, and what means a lot to me is that you guys take us so seriously. I remember our first meeting with you and Troy [Wilhelmson] — you were talking to us as if we were any other artist coming in. The fact that we get to work with theater professionals and mentors like you and Troy and Maria [Signorelli Verdoorn] is amazing.
TS: Being able to offer 3DC members the opportunity to learn theater tech like sound and lights is completely thanks to the O’Shag. That’s something we’re really grateful for as well.
IG: The gratitude goes both ways, you know; there are students who maybe are a nursing major, but they were in all of the plays when they were in high school. So to have a space where people express that part of themselves is so great for the campus and for the community.
MM: Our hope is definitely that we’ve built something that will outlive us.
IG: You’ve built something great. I hope that through the drama club, Katie Acts!, and other opportunities, we can continue to develop those pathways together to give students the chance to express themselves artistically. I think we have exciting work that lays ahead of us.
— Tessa Schoenecker ’25
TESSA SCHOENECKER ’25
MADELINE MAURER ’25
IRENE GREEN
CHADWICK COOK
24 years
PRODUCTION SERVICES COORDINATOR
Oversees the crew, serves as point of client contact, and manages backstage staffing for all events.
MARY BETH “MB” ZORN
26 years
LIGHT TECHNICIAN
Runs lights for shows, and sometimes calls the show as well (directing other crew members to raise or lower the curtain, move scenery, etc.).
ROGER ROSVOLD
11 years
CARPENTER AND RIGGER
Creates scenery for the stage, and oversees anything lifted above the stage like curtains, lights, and decorations.
TROY WILHELMSON
26 years
ASSISTANT PRODUCTION MANAGER AND VIDEO SERVICES MANAGER
Oversees events in the Frey Theater and Recital Hall, and livestreams The O’Shaughnessy events.
BRI ATWOOD 1 year
SOUND TECHNICIAN
Manages microphones and ensures quality of sound for audience.
KEVIN JONES
36 years
PRODUCTION MANAGER
Manages all backstage operations and contract generation for rentals.
Don’t call them a team.
“Theater production terminology like ‘deck’ and ‘rigging’ came from nautical origins, so the backstage folks are usually referred to as a ‘crew,’” says Troy Wilhelmson, assistant production manager and video services manager. “And at The O’Shaughnessy, we’ve always thought of ourselves as a bit of a pirate crew.”
Given the length of time that most of this particular crew have been manning the lights, sounds, and scenery of The O’Shaughnessy together — a cumulative 126 years — it makes sense that they have developed a special, battle-tested bond.
It’s that same dynamic that inspired Bri Atwood, the newest crew member, to join as sound technician last year. “I thought, ‘Wow. There’s something really special here, if these humans have stayed together and at The O’Shaughnessy all these years,’” she says.
— Michelle Mullowney ’17
Read more about this exceptional crew and their time with The O’Shaughnessy at stkate.edu/oshag-crew.
Around Campus
HISTORIC WIN FOR WILDCAT
VOLLEYBALL
St. Kate’s volleyball concluded their season with a 20-9 record, hosting the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Playoff Championship final match against the College of Saint Benedict. The Wildcats recorded the most program wins, along with the best conference finish (9-2), earning the No. 2 seed in the postseason. St. Kate’s historic season included the program’s highest regional ranking at No. 4, the program’s first MIAC playoff semi-final win, and four All-MIAC selections. Lexie Petrick ’25 led the way for St. Kate’s, making All-Region, and was named the MIAC Elite 22 award recipient — another first for the Wildcat volleyball program.
CITIZEN KATIE UNITES SERVICE AND COMMUNITY
On September 28, St. Kate’s students, alumni, faculty, and staff gathered on campus for this year’s Citizen Katie event. For over two decades, the annual tradition has united the University community on and off campus for service projects, community building, and reflection.
Volunteers worked in six groups in collaboration with University programs and local organizations. Groups assembled dressers for the nonprofit organization Bridging, put together menstrual kits with the Minnesota chapter of Days for Girls, created bowls for the St. Kate’s Empty Bowl Project, worked in the St. Kate’s/CSJ community garden to support the Food Access Hub, assembled
sweatshirts for the Dialysis Sweatshirt Project, and worked in the property gardens and garage area for Sarah’s… an Oasis for Women.
“I absolutely love all that we are able to do together at Citizen Katie. This year was no exception,” said D’Ann Urbaniak Lesch, assistant vice president for engaged learning and director of the Office of Scholarly Engagement. “What a fabulous opportunity to build connections and strengthen community. I am so thankful for all the students, alumni, faculty, and staff who participated, and grateful to our community partners and their amazing work that we got to support.”
For more news and to read full announcements, visit stkate.edu/news.
SIMULATION DIRECTOR RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS FELLOWSHIP
Krista Anderson DNP’24, director of St. Kate’s Institute of Simulation and Interprofessional Learning (I-SAIL), has been named a 2025 Society for Simulation in Healthcare Fellow. This national distinction, bestowed on fewer than 200 individuals in the award’s existence, recognizes healthcare professionals who have made significant and sustained contributions to healthcare simulation. 2025 inductees represent a wide range of expertise and dedication, underscoring the global impact of simulation in healthcare education, research, and practice.
On March 7, The Right Honourable Dame Jacinda Ardern, prime minister of New Zealand from 2017 to 2023, spoke at The O’Shaughnessy as spring 2025 Kelly Lecturer and in celebration of International Women’s Day. Read about her visit at stkate.edu/ardern
PRESIDENT EVANS OFFICIALLY INAUGURATED
On November 1, St. Catherine University inaugurated its 12th president, Marcheta P. Evans, PhD. “I am filled with pride, not only in this personal milestone but in what it represents for St. Catherine University,” said President Evans, the University’s first Black president, during her installation remarks. “Inclusion, justice, and the boundless potential in each person.”
The occasion included an inaugural Mass in Our Lady of Victory Chapel and a vibrant installation ceremony in The O’Shaughnessy, featuring several guest speakers and performances by Jevetta Steele and Grammy Award-winning group Sounds of Blackness.
In December, we published a special inauguration edition of St. Catherine University Magazine commemorating this new chapter for St. Kate’s. Read the issue at mag.stkate.edu.
NEW LEADERS NAMED
In September, St. Catherine University welcomed Noha Elmohands (above left) as the new director for the Center of Intercultural Development and the Abigail Quigley McCarthy Center for Women, now collectively known as the Centers for Equity and Belonging (CEB). Elmohands has dedicated a decade to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in previous roles at the University of Minnesota, Boston Collegiate Charter School, and Simmons University, a womencentered institution.
In February, Latisha Dawson (above right) was named vice president of human resources (HR), having previously joined in December as interim director. Dawson brings over 20 years of HR leadership experience at Fairview Health Services, Taylor Corp, and Goodwill Easter Seals of Minnesota. Most recently, she spent eight years as part of the Global HR Solutions Leadership team at Cargill, focusing on strategic HR initiatives and cultural transformation.
OHE GRANT EXPANDS STUDENT
PARENT SUPPORT
The Minnesota Office of Higher Education (OHE) awarded St. Kate’s a $181,470 grant through its Student Parent Support Initiative program. The grant expanded the financial assistance and support that student parents receive from Access and Success, overseen by director Beth Hamer. Students may now be eligible for up to $3,000 annually to cover unexpected childcare costs — double what was previously available — and, for the first time, emergency grants that cover mental health co-pays and support for legal fees.
On November 13, the St. Catherine community came together for another successful Give to St. Kate’s Day, surpassing this year’s goal with a total of $534,450 from 607 donors from all 50 states!
Give to Honor Her on February 11 inspired as much Katie pride. Each year, St. Kate’s alumni, students, faculty, staff, and friends celebrate the remarkable women in our lives with a gift that supports the next generation of leaders. 215 donors honored hundreds of impactful women, directly supporting current and future students.
Both days of giving facilitated student scholarships and other crucial resources “thanks to the generous support of our Katie community,” said Christy Donovan Jepperson MBA’21, director of annual giving. “Investing in women leaders today is an investment in the future of our world. Scholarships make an immediate impact, and they’re key to supporting our students and our future leaders who will drive change.”
FEAST OF SAINT JOSEPH
March 20
GOODMAN
May 1
DEW DROP BOP
May 9
CONVERSATION WITH BOOKS: ROMANCE
June 7
REUNION
June 6–8
Visit stkate.edu/alumni-events for more information.
Katies in Action
From research to youth empowerment, community connections drive Victoria Delgado-Palma ’23.
BY KENDALL GRAHAM
You never know where a St. Catherine University education will lead you. For alumna Victoria DelgadoPalma ’23, experience with St. Kate’s “Welcoming the Dear Neighbor?” (WTDN) project led her around the country, and then to Rome, Italy — right to an audience with Pope Francis.
This journey began when she was a first-year student in The Reflective Woman class. As part of the course’s community engagement component, she transcribed historic property deeds for “Welcoming the Dear Neighbor?”, an interdisciplinary project in partnership with Mapping Prejudice that investigates Minnesota housing inequality. Delgado-Palma says the project helped contextualize the discrimination and disparity that she’d felt as a person of color in Minnesota. “It’s something that I had experienced, but then to find out that there are these policies in place that have had a say in the way that our neighborhoods are structured, and in the composition of them, was pretty impactful,” Delgado-Palma says.
She remained involved in the project in both coursework and paid research capacities. When St. Kate’s was awarded the 2024 Uniservitate Global Service-Learning Award, Delgado-Palma was selected to travel to Rome for the Uniservitate Global Symposium, along with Kristine West, PhD, professor of economics, and D’Ann Urbaniak Lesch, assistant vice president for engaged learning. After attending panels and presenting their research, the team met with Pope Francis and Delgado-Palma shared St. Kate’s WTDN work with him. The Pope commended the Uniservitate conference, emphasizing the crucial role that service learning at Catholic higher education institutions plays in creating a better future.
Delgado-Palma had presented at research conferences in the U.S. before, but says the experience in Rome “brought everything together” for her: “It made me feel really proud of getting involved in this project and being able to represent my peers that I worked with, and other students that are working on the project now,” she says. “Hearing how receptive the people at our session were, I could just tell that this project has been really impactful, not only to me, but to others that have been part of it as well.”
The trip was also special because she got to share it with West and Urbaniak Lesch. “I think being able to present alongside them really is showcasing the connection that faculty, staff, and students have at St. Kate’s,” she says.
That connection is in large part responsible for her current trajectory. Delgado-Palma originally came to
St. Kate’s with plans to be a nurse, but when she did well in her economics class, West suggested she think about majoring in economics — a field where women, particularly women of color, are underrepresented. “That gave me a sense of feeling empowered, and wanting to make a difference and encourage other females of color like myself to consider all options when it comes to careers,” says Delgado-Palma.
Today, Delgado-Palma supports the next generation through her work as a youth empowerment and training coordinator at CLUES (Comunidades Latinas Unidas En Servicio), a nonprofit organization supporting the Minnesota Latino community. In her
role, she focuses on college and career readiness, connecting high school and college students with resources and tools for their future.
She finds meaning in youth empowerment, but for her, the key lies in making an impact. “I want to be in a role where I’m helping my community, and I realize sometimes that doesn’t have to be one-on-one, it can also be from a different area,” Delgado-Palma says — like organizational predictive analytics. In the future, she hopes to earn a master’s degree in business analytics, building off of a realization she had during her WTDN experience: “Data isn’t just another number — it’s the lived experiences of real people.”
SUSANNE AHCAN EDMONDS ’69 and her husband, Jack, moved to Palm Desert, California, after living in Minnesota for 20 years. While she’ll miss the change of seasons, snow-free winters have “great appeal to our almost 80-year-old bones!”
1970
CAROL SWANSON BANNEN ’73 received the 2024 Wisconsin Governor’s Archival Achievement Award in recognition of her work at the Wauwatosa Historical Society. The Archives Awards honor significant contributions to the preservation of, and access to, Wisconsin’s historical records.
1980
KATE KELLY ’83 was elected to the board of directors of Clearfield, Inc., a fiber optics product supplier in Minnesota. She serves on the company’s audit committee and its nominating and corporate governance committee.
ANN RINKENBERGER ’88 was appointed as executive director of Gammelgården Museum, located in Scandia, Minnesota.
1990
STACIE STANLEY ’97, MAED’05, EdD, was named superintendent of the St. Paul school district, Minnesota’s second largest district. Formerly the Edina Public Schools superintendent, Stanley was voted in unanimously by the St. Paul district board.
SUBMIT A CLASS NOTE
CONTACT US
Online: stkate.edu/alumni
Phone: 651-690-6666
Email: alumni@stkate.edu
facebook.com/katiealumni University Alumni
2000
SAHRA NOOR ’02 was published by Cambridge University Press in February 2024. She contributed a chapter to the book Reimagining Philanthropy in the Global South: From Analysis to Action in a PostCOVID World
LISA ELLINGSON ’04 was named co-chair of the data privacy, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence practice group at Minneapolis law firm Winthrop & Weinstine, P.A.
ANGELA OLSON TAMKE MAED’04 began a new teaching role in the Juvenile Detention Center at Caledonia Community Schools in Minnesota.
CARMEANN FOSTER ’08, MSW’12, JD, received the 2024 Alumna Achievement Award from the University of St. Thomas School of Law, along with Christy Botts, JD. Foster and Botts are co-founders of the Twin Cities nonprofit Rebound, Inc.
ASHLEY CURTIS JENSEN ’09 and Craig Jensen welcomed their child, Gunnar, on June 9, 2024.
LAURA NELSON ’09, JD, a University trustee, was named by Minnesota Lawyer as a member of the 2024 Top Women in Law class, which recognizes 40 women attorneys in the state demonstrating leadership and professionalism. The Top Women in Law honorees were celebrated at a gala in October.
2010
ANNE STONER SADOWSKA ’13, MAOT’14 was named vice president and chief administrative officer for the Northwest Wisconsin Division of Aspirus Health. In her role, she will serve as the senior executive at Aspirus Stanley Hospital and Clinics and provide additional operational leadership in the Aspirus Northwest Wisconsin Division.
FIRAOLI ADAM ’17 and YASMIN SAMATAR ’17 were featured in a segment by WCCO & CBS News Minnesota highlighting their company, Mawadda, which creates disposable, hygienic PPE hijabs for healthcare professionals.
2020
CAILLYN COSTELLO ’20 began her new role with the United States Peace Corps in Lilongwe, Malawi this September. She supports Nkhoma College of Nursing and Midwifery as a clinical educator and lecturer.
BROOKE BALLANTINE MLIS’21 and KARI JAGUSCH MLIS’21 were both welcomed as full-time faculty members at Bethel University last fall, Ballantine as an instructional services librarian and Jagusch as a digital initiatives librarian.
BETH DUYVEJONCK MAOL’21 was promoted to executive vice president of construction at Opus in Minneapolis. In her new role, Duyvejonck’s duties expanded to include managing operational efficiency and strategic planning.
PAMELA SMITH MAOL’21 began a new role as financial advisor with Edward Jones.
In Memory w
Our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of the following St. Catherine University graduates, faculty, staff, and community members.
Judith A. Miller ’65, PhD, former social work professor w October 8, 2023
John W. Marnell, former trustee w May 11, 2024
John M. Murphy, Jr., former trustee w January 26, 2024
Laura J. Peterson, assistant professor and radiation therapy program director w November 19, 2024
Cecilia M. Saddler, former education program placement coordinator w October 19, 2024
Mary E. Ahern ’39 w October 23, 2018
Geraldine Konz Franklin ’40 w April 1, 1996
Lorane Cook Walsh ’43 w June 2, 2018
Marie Frappier Cogburn ’44 w June 4, 2021
Ruth Cook Cooper ’46 w October 14, 2017
Kathleen Loomans Ciske ’46 w August 13, 2022
Helen Schillo Bollman ’46 w 2017
Helyn Teno Novak ’46 w November 15, 2024
Marina Welle Hohman ’46 w July 8, 2024
Lois Jans Burgess ’47 w October 13, 2023
Dolores Kinsella Carriel ’47 w November 9, 2020
Dorothy Anne Claesgens ’48 w September 16, 2015
Helen Fischer Capistrant ’48w January 17, 2017
Betty Lou Hammargren ’48 w October 20, 2024
Ruth Lovaas Clark ’48 w April 27, 2021
Delores Pesek Chenery ’48 w April 1, 2023
Helen Wimmer Bukowski ’48w May 25, 2022
Mary Cruciani Del Vecchio ’49 w February 6, 2022
Winnifred Hoch Conger ’49 w September 19, 2024
Aiko Ogata King ’49 w May 26, 2022
Helen Buckley Markham ’50 w December 14, 2020
Irene Dunne Garry ’50 w August 28, 2019
Eileen Fasbender ’50 w June 29, 2016
Patricia Gibson Saam ’50 w May 12, 2021
Rosemary Mikschl Alberg ’50 w October 28, 2024
Mary Ann Pappenfus Polipnick ’50 w September 30, 2023
Dolores Quast Anderson ’50 w August 9, 2022
Theresa Sirek Spletstoser ’50 w December 30, 2023
Donna Stahl Baumann ’50 w November 14, 2023
Ann Arvanitis Pathos ’51 w November 29, 2021
Dorothy Bernd Bade ’51 w June 23, 2019
Margaret Louden Crawford ’51 w December 19, 2019
Catherine Riehle Tierney ’51 w October 3, 2017
Rosemary Seledic Adams ’51 w June 20, 2023
Martha Tavis Boise ’51 w November 18, 2015
Mary Timbers Evans ’51 w October 23, 2024
JoAnne D. Bastien, MM ’52 w January 3, 2023
Elizabeth Knopik Beeson ’52 w June 29, 2018
Lorrayne Lenarz ’52 w October 18, 2024
Mariella Weber Arnold ’52 w October 25, 2023
Ione Zimmerman Christian ’52 w January 16, 2021
Donna Eiden Fink ’53w September 13, 2022
Madeleine Martineau Olender ’53 w July 26, 2020
Jacqueline McLaughlin Flood ’53 w July 1, 2010
Monica Paquay Carlson ’53 w January 27, 2023
Eunice Poirier Banken ’53 w July 17, 2021
Gloria Tauer Bradley ’53 w April 28, 2020
Jo Vitali Carpenter ’53 w February 1, 2015
Jane Boorman ’54 w December 11, 2020
Zona Burke ’54 w November 14, 2012
Dardinell Danielson Cope ’54 w December 7, 2019
Dorothy Hart Fabian ’54 w June 29, 2023
Marie Hilger Borgert ’54 w December 7, 2018
Marilyn Misgen Schema ’54 w June 28, 2024
Mechthild Mueller Ellis ’54 w September 25, 2024
Kathleen Murphy Swensen ’54 w June 1, 2024
Marguerite Rice Blake ’54 w February 7, 2021
Marilyn Thorne Aldritt ’54 w September 16, 2022
Virginia Bartholome, CHM ’55 w July 13, 2024
Margaret Donovan Lynch ’55 w August 20, 2024
Joyce Masek Drexler ’55 w April 28, 2023
Mary Jane Pfeifer Thielen ’55 w December 7, 2023
Patricia Rathmanner McDonald ’55 w October 24, 2024
Jane Schadegg Cortella ’55 w August 4, 2009
Rosemarie Bougie Carlsten ’56 w April 27, 2022
Nancy Bratton Craven ’56 w March 15, 2024
Susan Denzel Reinders ’56 w September 27, 2024
Rita Furr Eggert ’56 w August 22, 2024
Lorraine Longbehn Endres ’56 w August 28, 2017
Patricia Waldorf Casey ’56 w December 9, 2023
Jacqueline Burke, VHM ’57 w June 2, 2020
Mary McBride Carroll ’57 w November 30, 2024
Mary Jane Quinn Blake ’57 w September 26, 2023
Shirley Trepanier Knutson ’57 w September 11, 2023
Sharon O’Neill Radke ’58 w February 6, 2022
Bernadette Hughes ’59 w December 1, 2024
Karen Goldsmith Etzell ’59 w October 31, 2024
Joann Kvasnicka Hynnek ’59 w September 28, 2024
Juliann Mies Sachs ’59 w May 1, 2024
Maureen Pautz Dvorak ’59 w August 30, 2024
Mary Sedivy Dravis ’59 w August 16, 2024
Monica Boland Peterson ’60 w July 29, 2023
Carole Fleischhacker Basil ’60 w May 19, 2020
Judith Hall Fischer ’60 w September 25, 2024
Rochelle Jankovich Brandl ’60 w November 6, 2024
Mary Michel Poston ’60 w July 4, 2024
Barbara Elm Weisz ’61 w October 2, 2024
Polly Preston, CSJ, ’62 w August 17, 2024
Dannette Sundquist O’Reilly ’62 w November 24, 2024
Dolores Kickels Curns ’63 w November 11, 2024
Elizabeth Schumacher Otto ’63 w April 17, 2024
Martha Schumacher ’63 w March 16, 2024
Virginia Young Hogan ’63 w June 30, 2024
Terry Black Cosgrove ’64 w September 2, 2024
Anna Marie DeVos, CSJ, ’64 w August 6, 2024
Dianne Spain Chirpich ’64 w February 7, 2024
Jean Bettendorf Heintzen ’65 w November 4, 2021
Rita Jacobs Schleeter ’65 w March 19, 2024
Margaret Marion Brettin ’65 w November 1, 2024
Ann Nelson Wormley ’65 w March 23, 2024
Judith Travers Regnier ’65 w September 22, 2024
Mary Fran McCloskey Soulis ’66 w September 25, 2024
Mary Folland Kozlowski ’67 w August 18, 2024
Heidi Haberkorn Bauman ’67 w December 16, 2023
Mary Jo Sweeney Groeller ’68 w October 22, 2024
Dorothy Mettile Hageman ’73 w April 16, 2024
Patricia Glenn Jensen ’74 w July 19, 2024
Betty A. Dilley ’75 w September 23, 2024
Rose Mary Ortiz ’75 w July 6, 2024
Harrietanne Sifferle ’75 w September 2, 2024
Terese M. Gassert ’77 w June 24, 2024
Rebecca Paczesny Delahanty ’77 w April 23, 2024
Timothy J. Tinge ’77 w July 29, 2021
Kathleen Frejlach McDonald ’79 w September 14, 2024
Judith Whitacre, CSJ, ’79 w August 29, 2024
Judith E. Bullock ’80 w August 10, 2024
Lynn Porter Harmacek ’81 w August 4, 2024
Rebecca Grams Schulzetenberg ’83 w July 18, 2023
Katrina Dueker Beste ’84 w September 6, 2020
Cynthia S. Shiely ’86 w November 17, 2024
Sharon Rasmussen ’87, Cert’89 w September 24, 2023
Pamela Juran Bjorum ’87 w June 18, 2023
Catherine L. Perron ’87 w December 18, 2023
Sheryl Skrivseth Stone ’88 w January 20, 2024
Bradley K. Harrigle ’89 w March 18, 2022
Barbara Steffens Hedin ’91 w September 18, 2024
Mary Ellen Paoli ’92 w September 11, 2024
Nancy S. Harding ’93 w October 5, 2024
Linda G. Hanson ’94 w June 23, 2024
Tiffany Leaders Haugen ’94 w December 16, 2020
Mary Haugen Noska ’95 w July 4, 2024
Ellen Moore Murphy ’97 w October 10, 2024
Luann M. Phillipich MLIS’97 w September 19, 2024
Kelly O’Donnell Davis ’98 w September 25, 2024
Anne E. Gaskill MAED’01 w November 14, 2024
Brynn Moore Palmer ’18 w August 16, 2024
MICHAEL P. SULLIVAN , JD, trustee emeritus, passed away on November 20 at the age of 89.
Born in 1934, Sullivan served as a Navy officer in the Pacific from 1956 to 1959, and then earned his JD from the University of Minnesota in 1962. He practiced law for 25 years at Gray Plant Mooty law firm (now Lathrop GPM) before becoming president and CEO of International Dairy Queen (1987–2001).
Sullivan served on several corporate, community, and academic boards throughout the years, including that of St. Catherine University (1967–96).
Sullivan’s children, family, and friends remember him for a sometimes gruff demeanor that hid a heart of gold, and the many lessons he imparted on the importance of faith, education, work ethic, and family. He is survived by a large and loving family, including Marilyn, his cherished wife of 60 years. Their daughter Bridget Sullivan Reddan Cert’95 is a St. Kate’s alumna.
Katie Diary
BY BELLA NORCROSS ’25
An integral part of St. Kate’s occupational therapy (OT) in the program’s early years, the “craft shop” offered a variety of tools that students could use to develop skills to help future patients. For example, OT students practiced weaving skills, pictured here in 1950, for patient therapy in both mental health and rehabilitation settings.
Celebrating its 80-year anniversary this year, OT has been among St. Kate’s most popular studies since the program’s beginnings in 1945. With the upsurge of the field during World War II, the then-College of St. Catherine responded to postwar demand for healthcare workers with the introduction of its OT bachelor’s program and expansion of its nursing program. Sister Jeanne Marie Bonnett (right), a 1917 St. Kate’s graduate, headed the new OT department. Her efforts allowed the program to earn accreditation within the first few years of its existence, becoming Minnesota’s first accredited OT program.
An early pioneer of OT at colleges and universities, the department has since expanded to include an occupational therapy assistant (OTA) program — which celebrates its 60th anniversary this year — a master’s program, and a doctorate program.
Throughout the decades, as now, the liberal arts have remained at the core of OT and St. Kate’s other healthcare programs — such as holistic health studies, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. This emphasis on critical thinking and comprehensive preparation continues to provide St. Kate’s-educated health professionals with a uniquely well-rounded approach to their fields.
