Saint Mary’s University welcomed more than 300 alumni, family, and friends back to the Winona Campus June 26-28 for Reunion Weekend. Most notable of the various events held on campus for Reunion Weekend this year, the Class of 1976 celebrated its 50th reunion and enjoyed a special reception and dinner, and alumni from 1975 and older were invited to an alma mater banquet.
Each year, during the alumni awards brunch and ceremony, alumni are recognized with special honors. Saint Mary’s honors alumni who have made outstanding achievements in their professional careers, who best exemplify the Lasallian charism Saint Mary’s was founded upon, and who have generously contributed time and talent to the goals and objectives of their alma mater.
This year’s awardees include: Distinguished Alumnus Award recipients Thomas Killion B’74 of Middleberg, Va., and Richard “Rick” Paul B’66, Ph.D. of Lawrenceburg, Ind.; and Outstanding Young Maria Glenski B’14 of Richland, Wash.
Thomas Killion B’74, Ph.D.
Distinguished Alumnus
In October 2016, the North Atlantic Council (NAC) appointed Dr. Thomas Killion B’74, Ph.D., as its chief scientist. Now retired, in this distinguished role, he had three major responsibilities. First, he served as chair of the NATO Science and Technology Board. In this role, he served as the board’s representative to the secretary general and the NAC and was responsible for the effective coordination of NATO’s Science and Technology program. Second, he served as the senior scientific advisor to NATO leadership, ensuring that appropriate and timely advice is provided to NATO senior decision makers. Finally, he led the Office of the Chief Scientist at NATO headquarters.
Prior to this appointment, Dr. Killion — of Reston, Va. — was the director of technology at the Office of Naval Research within the U.S. Navy. During this time, he was responsible for policy, planning, resourcing and execution management for a substantial portion of the Department of the Navy Science and Technology budget.
From 2010-2012, he served as the director of the Biometrics Identity Management Agency (BIMA), executing the secretary of the Army’s executive agent responsibilities for Department of Defense Biometrics.
And, from 2004 to 2010, Dr. Killion served as the deputy assistant secretary of the Army for Research and Technology chief scientist. In this position, he was responsible for developing an S&T strategy responsive to Army needs, from the near-term ( less than 5 years) stretching out through the far-term ( more than 20 years). He was also the principal scientific advisor to both the secretary of the Army and the assistant secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology. In support of major acquisition programs, Dr. Killion was responsible for providing independent assessments on the readiness of critical technologies for weapon systems programs approaching key program decision points.
Dr. Killion earned dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in psychology and English from Saint Mary’s in 1974. He received his Master of Science degree and Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology from the University of Oregon in 1977 and 1978. He was awarded the Meritorious Executive Presidential Rank Award in 2006 and the Army Exceptional Civilian Service Award in 2010.
Richard “Rick” Paul B’66, Ph.D.
Distinguished Alumnus Award
Class valedictorian and a physics major at Saint Mary’s, Rick Paul B’66 went on to earn his Ph.D. from Harvard University, kicking off an illustrious career in biophysics, beginning as a teaching fellow, research fellow and instructor at Harvard during the 1960s-’70s. Focusing on physiology, he primarily spent his career at the University of Cincinnati, but he also worked globally at Universität Heidelberg, University College London, University of Leuven, and Monash University.
His research interests focus on the mechanisms underlying the control of smooth muscle contractility and its coordination with metabolism. Using gene-altered mice has opened new avenues for studying basic smooth muscle mechanisms and diseases from coronary artery vasospasm to hypertension.
Dr. Paul was named professor emeritus at the University of Cincinnati in 2012, the same year he and his wife Patricia “Pat” (Mostardi) CST’66, Ph.D., moved to Lawrenceburg, Ind. He remains active with the university, working with a master’s program to help students to successfully apply for medical school.
Throughout his career, he published nearly 300 articles and received multiple national accolades, as well as substantial grants.
The Pauls have also focused time and talent on their community in multiple ways. Dr. Rick Paul is also involved in the area’s judicial panel, serving as chair. This panel reviews all citations issued by the sheriff’s deputies, boat patrol, architectural committee, and others.
The couple also volunteers at a food pantry called Dearborn County Clearinghouse. They (led by a program Pat developed) help put together 500 packages of weekend food and distribute them to nine eligible elementary schools in Dearborn County.
The couple has frequently generously contributed to Saint Mary’s (where Pat also attended), including to Aquinas Hall, establishing a seminar room in their name. More recently, they have supported the First Generation Initiative program, motivated by the fact they are both first generation graduates, and they plan to recognize Saint Mary’s in their will. The couple has expressed they want to recognize and honor the professors who inspired them as students at Saint Mary’s.
Maria Glenski B’14, Ph.D.
Outstanding Recent Alumna Award
Maria Glenski B’14 of Richland, Wash., leads the Foundational Data Science group in the National Security Directorate’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data Analytics division at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The laboratory is dedicated to addressing critical national security challenges in areas of deep-learning, AI-enabled communications, natural language processing, visual analytics, and more. In her role, Dr. Glenski pilots multiple technical project teams focused on transformational research in areas including generative AI and human language technologies, characterizing how information spreads online, and novel methods of evaluating AI and machine learning to enable trusted and responsible AI development or use. Her research has significant international impact in top-tier research communities, and — in recognition of her achievements — she has received multiple awards and is frequently invited to speak at various events.
Recipient of the Women in AI North America’s 2023 AI in Government AI Disruptor of the Year award, her innovative work has disrupted conventional paradigms, driving innovation, efficiency, and positive change. In 2022, she received the Core Value Award for Creativity from the National Security Directorate. And, in 2025, she received Gold Stevie Award for Mentor/Coach of the Year honors in the government or nonprofit category, as well as the Bronze Stevie Award for Female Executive of the Year for her dedication to supporting the growth of her teams and impact in AI for national security missions.
Dr. Glenski earned her B.A. in Mathematics from Saint Mary’s and her Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Notre Dame, where she was an Arthur J. Schmitt Leadership in Science and Engineering Fellow. Outside of work, she enjoys volunteering with a local humane society, fostering small dogs.
