Advisory Boards
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota has assembled several advisory boards to articulate, grow, and clarify the vision of the areas they serve. Advisory boards also provide advocacy, guidance, and financial support to the president.
Advisory Boards
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota has assembled several advisory boards to articulate, grow, and clarify the vision of the areas they serve. Advisory boards also provide advocacy, guidance, and financial support to the president.
Kerry Edwards B’04, President-Elect
Apple Valley, Minn.John Hendele B’67
Chicago, Ill.Russell Barcelona B’82, Ph.D.
Elm Grove, Wis.Stephanie Belair B’20
Shoreview, Minn.Zachary J. Cizek B’11Stillwater, Minn.Hannah S. Friedrich B’16, M’20Rochester, Minn.Daniel Hunt B’78
Edina, Minn.Carrie (Drazkowski) Jones B’99, C’00, M’05
Tampa, Fla.Betsy Larson M’08
Winona, Minn.Peg (Stringham) McCoy M’11
Saint Paul, Minn.Mario Mollo B’94
Lemont, Ill.Glory Olaniyan M’18
Minneapolis, Minn.Prachi Priya B’08
Irvine, Calif.Dr. Steven Rice B’79
Excelsior, Minn.Meghan Shields B’98
Crystal, Minn.Dr. Christopher Tyre B’81
Wauwatosa, Wis.Darrell Vitullo B’01
Bloomington, Minn.Bethany Warburton B’92
East Greenwich, R.I.
Edward Dieter
Robert Edwards B’00
Susan Fangel M’09, B’19
Dr. Janice Johnson
Dr. Craig Junker M’96, D’05
Elizabeth Kautz
Christine Kobold B’96
Matt Mahmood
Lindsay McCabe M’98
Hamid Quraishi
Dr. Jill Reilly
Keith Ryskoski
Tim Weir
Kathy Wilde M’92
David Bogie B’86
Brother Francis Carr, FSC B’66
Derrick Carter B’96
John Killen B’85
Judy Lucas B’83
Nicholas Michaels B’03
Jeremy Miller
Robert Paradise B’66
Michael Regan ’79
Jerome Colletti B’69
Aleksandra Denisova M’07
Theresa Evans B’83
Joseph Hettinger B’87
Ronald Kimlinger B’88
Roberta Kochevar M’08
Sheryl Lisowski B’89
Randy Skarlupka
Angela Steger B’76
Renee Thompson B’03, M’07
Cathy Walsh
Dan Arnold
Matthew Bubala B’94
Scott Schwalbe
Meredith Speier
Dr. John Domanico B’77
Ulrike Harrison
Elizabeth Koenig
Dr. Michael Linden B’98
Jeb Myers M’16
Kelly Regan
Andrew Remick
Gregory Stevens B’74
Mark Chronister
Brother Louis DeThomasis, FSC, Ph.D.
Julie Hendrickson
Dr. Eric Jolly
Michael Kelly
Timothy Penny
David Arnold
Matthew Bubala B’94
Scott Schwalbe
Meredith Speier
Joan Domanico CST’78
Susan Fangel M’09, B’19
Carly Felicetta M’12
Carolyn Smeltzer
Kathy Wilde M’92
Linda Laak CST’79
Danielle Brown, Esq.
Danielle M. Brown, Associate Director of the ad hoc Committee Against Racism at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), was born and raised in the Archdiocese of Detroit. She is a lawyer licensed in the State of Michigan. Before coming to the USCCB in May 2018, she served on several boards and ministries in Lansing, Michigan, including co-founding and leading one of Renewal Ministries’ first young adult discipleship chapters, I.D.916, now known simply as I.D. She was previously an assistant deputy legal counsel to the Governor of the State of Michigan, a commissioner on the State Bar of Michigan’s Board of Commissioners, and a three-time governor-appointed appellate administrative law judge also in the State of Michigan. She currently serves on advisory boards for the GIVEN Institute, FOCUS, and the Board of Directors for Renewal Ministries and Benedictine College.
Father Leo Patalinghug, IVD.
Fr. Leo Patalinghug is a priest member of a community of consecrated life, Voluntas Dei (The Will of God). He is the creator and founder of an international food and faith movement called Plating Grace, and founder and chair of the nonprofit group The Table Foundation. He is a best-selling author, acclaimed international speaker, host for radio, podcast and a weekly international food and faith show on EWTN, Savoring our Faith. His unique background as a chef and his previous experience as a two-time black belt martial arts instructor and former award-winning break dancer and choreographer has earned the attention of major media outlets, including the Food Network where he won “Throwdown with Bobby Flay!” The mission to see food as a gift from God to nourish your family and to strengthen relationships is making this world a better place one meal at a time.
Pastor James E. Ward
James E. Ward, Jr. is a pastor and author whose ministry addresses a hurting generation seeking real and lasting change. He is highly sought-after by corporate and government leaders, to assist in mitigating the complex challenges that accompany racial, cultural, and socio-political issues. Ward offers keen insight into practically applying spiritual principles to peacefully resolve the growing social discord of intersectionality. In his book, Zero Victim: Overcoming Injustice With a New Attitude, Ward shares a universal principle that has fueled his success in every area of life—the development of a Zero Victim mindset.
Rashad Turner
Rashad Turner is an experienced educator, social sector executive, and founder of Minnesota Parent Union. He knows how important a quality education is for our children, communities, and state, and has invested his career in being an advocate for and with those whose voices have been historically marginalized. He was educated at Hamline University with a bachelor’s in Criminal Justice and earned his master’s in educational leadership at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. Rashad also founded Black Lives Matter Saint Paul, before following his heart back to education advocacy.
Deacon Gerard-Marie Anthony
Deacon Gerard-Marie Anthony is a deacon at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Gainesville, VA. He has a Master’s Degree from Catholic Distance University and a Theology of the Body Certification from the Theology of the Body Institute. He is on his Diocesan Advisory Board on Racism and works with their multicultural office. He has given multiple workshops on Theology of the Body as well as works with numerous families with healing from various circumstances of life. He has written numerous articles on various topics of the faith, has apostolates to give hope and healing to people in many life situations, and is honored to be an instrument of God’s grace for St. Mary’s University.
Leon Dixon, MBALeon Dixon is the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer at Redeemer Center For Life, in the Harrison Community in North Minneapolis. In this role, Leon provides overall leadership to the organization as they work to achieve its mission of advancing human dignity and equity by investing in the strengths and resilience of the individuals and families in the Harrison Neighborhood.
Previously, Leon served as the inaugural Vice President for Inclusion and Human Dignity at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, where he was tasked with establishing an innovative culture of diversity, inclusion, and engagement within the Lasallian Catholic tradition. He engaged faculty, staff, and students in building a welcoming culture of hospitality.
Leon Dixon has extensive leadership experience providing guidance and coordination of efforts to build more inclusive cultures, where people from all backgrounds thrive. Dixon, also, served as the inaugural Director of Mission Integration for Inclusive Excellence (Chief Diversity Officer) in the Office of Equity and Success at Mount St. Mary’s University. Before Mount St. Mary’s, he held various leadership positions at the Archdiocese of Detroit, Kingdom Visions Human Services, and Detroit Cristo Rey High School. Dixon is a veteran of the U.S. Army and a proud father of two daughters – Noel and Taylor.
Fatima Said
Fatima is the Executive Director of Project FINE. A refugee to the United States from her native Bosnia, she came to Project FINE with a background in education and business, as well as 12 years of experience as a teacher and director of the Head Start program at Child Care Resources and Referral in Rochester. Fatima and Project FINE seek to sustain Winona as a community that welcomes all newcomers and is sensitive to cultural diversity. The organization continues to help immigrants and refugees adjust to life in their new homes and become active, contributing members of the community.