As the 2023-24 academic year is approaching, the President’s Cabinet would like to provide faculty and staff with a number of events that can be added to calendars. Additional information will be shared as available. August: Aug. 17 - University Picnic - Minneapolis Campus (University Center, noon) Aug. 22 - University Convocation (, 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m.) An email with a detailed schedule is forthcoming. Aug. 24 - University Faculty Workshop (location TBD, morning with College faculty meeting reconvening at 1:30…
Title Professor of Theatre, Department of Fine and Performing Arts How many years have you worked at Saint Mary's? 24 academic years (1999-2023) How do you hope you are remembered? I hope I am remembered for being a fair teacher. I hope my dedication to teaching theatre and my prideful joy of learner accomplishments in my voice studio, classrooms, and productions are what are remembered most. What will you mostly be remembered for? I have no idea! I’m sure my…
Title Professor of Music and Music Education How many years have you worked at Saint Mary's? Since fall of 1990, 32 years How do you hope you're remembered for/what will you most be remembered for? For the privilege of bringing not only active music making to our students through instrumental ensembles (and choir this past year), but also providing an outlet in their lives that nourishes the soul. Music helps us make connections to others in a way nothing else…
MINNEAPOLIS/WINONA, Minn. - Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota is announcing the election of The Most Reverend Robert E. Barron, D.D, S.T.D., Bishop of Winona-Rochester to its Board of Trustees. The university is governed by its Board of Trustees, which has fiduciary responsibility for the governance of the university. The Most Reverend Robert E. Barron is bishop of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester (Minnesota) and an acclaimed author, speaker, and theologian, and as the founder of Word on Fire Ministries, he is…
Having worked as a teacher for years, Samantha Holland knew when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, it would have a long-lasting impact on school classrooms. To combat those disruptions, Holland made the decision to apply to Saint Mary’s to pursue her Ed.S. in Educational Administration degree and become an administrator. “As a teacher, you manage your classroom but the only way to effect change on a big basis is to go to the next level, which is administration,” she said. Since…
Nick Vanden Heuvel, an assistant public defender for the 3rd Judicial District in Winona, can tell you from experience that internships, no matter how valuable, never truly prepare someone for a career in law. The learning curve is far too steep. “Internships are good because they help you realize, mostly, what you want to do when you get out of college,” he said. “I used to want to work for Congress in the Capitol, and that internship taught me I…
Saint Mary’s University senior Jordan Keeley may only be 5’6”— “average” as she calls it — but she’s proof positive that one person can make a big impact. And there’s nothing average about Jordan Keeley. As a goalie for the Cardinal women’s hockey team, Keeley guards the net game after game — knowing she’s the last line of defense against the opposition. As a student, she has a nearly perfect grade point average. And as a dedicated Winona community member,…
Saint Mary’s is committed to your success by providing you with the tools necessary to not only achieve your professional goals, but to share them with the world — especially the digital world. In 2021, Saint Mary’s launched 87 digital badges through a partnership agreement with Credly, and although we’re just getting started, we’re already seeing the benefits of these visual credentials. The best outcome is that our alumni are landing jobs because their badges are getting noticed on platforms…
Seeing the vital role nurses are playing throughout this pandemic helped to solidify Cecilia Flores’ career choice. “Since the pandemic, I definitely gained more interest in nursing, especially within critical care aspects,” she said. “It really touches me thinking about how critical COVID-19 patients are … it’s nurses who are with them during their last breaths and last words. I would do everything I could do to make them as comfortable as possible.” The West Saint Paul native said she…
A high school psychology class first sparked Kailee Johnson’s interest in working in mental and behavioral health. “I’ve always liked listening to people and helping them with whatever they may be going through,” Johnson said. “So that’s where I’ve always seen myself.” This summer Saint Mary’s senior psychology major had the opportunity to see herself doing exactly that. By serving as a behavioral therapist with Caravel Autism Health in Rochester, she was able to build relationships with children diagnosed with…
By Maura Sullivan Hill Dr. Tanya Rand D’20 did homework for her undergraduate and graduate degrees at the kitchen table, usually alongside her three children. By the time she was working on her Doctor of Education Degree in Leadership at Saint Mary’s, her grandchildren were around for the study nights. “They’d be saying, ‘Nana, Nana, what are you doing?’ Well, I’m writing my paper,” recalls Rand, who worked as a clinical social worker for 13 years and now teaches in…
Dear Cabinet, As you know, we have a new Social Media Policy that covers posting officially on behalf of the university as well as tips for using one's personal social media accounts to post. We will be offering training in the coming weeks for those who have a role to post for their respective areas/departments. We hope to get all who post trained and will ask them to sign an agreement to follow the policy (thanks Ann for putting that…
On Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023, Saint Mary’s will welcome Dr. Liz Gulliford for a Cardinal Virtue lecture on “How Gratitude and Related Virtues Help Students and Teachers to Flourish.” This lecture presents gratitude as central to the other virtues and human flourishing. The Cardinal Virtue lecture will be at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 19 in Aquinas 200 and is open to the entire Saint Mary’s community. Earlier in the day, Dr. Gulliford will facilitate a conversation with faculty on…
Congratulations to the following undergraduate students, who were named to the 2023 spring semester Dean’s List at Saint Mary’s University. The list includes 465 undergraduate students who earned a grade point average of 3.60 or better on a 4.0 scale. Aidan Adamek, Helena, Mont. Elise Amerongen, Lake Elmo, Minn. Philip Apel, Saint Paul, Minn. Ryann Aschenbrener, Whitewater, Wis. John Assaf, Rock Island, Ill. Guadalupe Avalos, Zion, Ill. Julia Backlund, Jordan, Minn. Allysa Barlow, Appleton, Wis. Dylan Bartlett, Forest Park, Ill.…
WINONA, Minn. — The following Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota students completed requirements for bachelor of arts degrees in April 2023. Student name, hometown, parents' or guardians’ name/s Shamat Abraha, Saint Paul, Minn., Amanuel Abraha Teklemariam and Wikyanos Affa Jostin Alvarado, Northlake, Ill., Erika and Leonel Alvarado Elise Amerongen, Lake Elmo, Minn., John and Lisa Amerongen Raheem Anthony, Chicago, Ill., Adeyanju and Mohammed Bello Jared Antony, Marshall, Minn., Mark and Karla Antony Jack Arndt, Coon Rapids, Minn., Tara and Mike…
Saint Mary’s is pleased to announce that Bob Elmore, Ph.D., has been named dean of academic affairs. Elmore started in the role on June 5. As dean of academic affairs, he will oversee curriculum and instruction, registrar, online operations, accreditation and assessment, among other responsibilities. Elmore has worked in higher education for more than 20 years and has a strong background in teaching, online learning, program development, and curriculum design. Since 2001, he has run Elmore Consulting, working with colleges…
MINNEAPOLIS/WINONA, Minn. - Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota is announcing the election of The Most Reverend Robert E. Barron, D.D, S.T.D., Bishop of Winona-Rochester to its Board of Trustees. The university is governed by its Board of Trustees, which has fiduciary responsibility for the governance of the university. The Most Reverend Robert E. Barron is bishop of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester (Minnesota) and an acclaimed author, speaker, and theologian, and as the founder of Word on Fire Ministries, he is…
WINONA – Today, Saint Mary’s and the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge (ALL IN) announced that Saint Mary’s student Riley Hall has been recognized as part of the 2023 ALL IN Student Voting Honor Roll. The ALL IN Student Voting Honor Roll awards college students doing outstanding work to advance nonpartisan democratic engagement at participating campuses. Hall joins a group of 175 students recognized for their voter registration, education and turnout efforts ahead of last year’s historic midterm elections. The…
GiGi Centeno B’22 decided that the best way she could bring about positive change in society is by pairing a career in politics with gathering international teaching experience. A job with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s office and a plan to teach in Korea this spring has solidified that she is on the right path. When Centeno arrived at Saint Mary’s, she began pursuing an education degree; it was a natural choice for her to follow in the footsteps of many…
Name LJ (John) Taugher Program Counseling and Psychological Services M.A. Program Completion date June 2020 Why did you choose Saint Mary’s? They were supportive of people restarting their careers and returning to school to do so. What can you do with a M.A. in Counseling and Psychological Services? Primarily work as a therapist in a range in populations and types of settings – in clinics, with children or adults. Work as a therapist. What made you decide to go back…