I AM A TOMMIE
SHANA KOALSHEA
CLASS OF 2008
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Why did you want to go to the University of St. Thomas?I made my decision to go to the University of St. Thomas almost on default. I had not originally intended to spend my undergraduate career here. It was one of my "safety" schools. My applications were accepted at each university, so I had a tough decision to make. I flew to New York; I visited Madison and I wandered around UST. Never before had I felt instantly comfortable. The campus is beautiful! Each student, member of our faculty or staff I passed on the sidewalk smiled or said ‘hi!’ There were a group of men, who looked like grumpy grandfathers, playing music in the lower quad, a game of Frisbee going on around them and a student snoozing under one of the tall trees. Seriously, can you get much better than that? None of the other schools made sense anymore – UST was were I wanted to be. The next few years were not going to be easy financially because of my decision to attend UST, but I knew I would be happy.
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What was it like to be a woman on campus? What experience was most difficult, or important, or funniest, oddest, or most memorable? It would be helpful to describe when you were here and how that might have affected your experience. We would also invite you to reflect on how elements of race/ethnicity, social class, religion, etc. also impacted your experience.If one can get past the daily competition amongst women students- who has the newest? The best? The brightest? -Overall, I think being a woman on campus, here at UST, was like being a woman on any other campus. I’m Caucasian from a middle- to upper- class background. I’m Christian, albeit not Catholic. My viewpoint due to my social standing and background is probably a bit biased.
I had classes taught by powerful women in Twin Cities industry. They balanced an academic life, a career and their home. These women made me feel empowered; they offered insight and their stories.
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How did your time at St. Thomas change the way you look at or interact with the world?My time at St. Thomas changed my interactions with the world through simply opening me to it. We’re still quite sheltered here at UST – our viewpoints are commonly shared; our ideas commonly expressed among the "educated elite." Despite all this, I have had the opportunity to tutor and mentor young children at a not-so-privileged middle school. Through one of my courses, I was able to talk to an 80plus –year- old man about his stories and his life. St. Thomas offered me interactions with those I would not have approached myself. St. Thomas forced me to interact, thus forcing me to become a better person.
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What elements of the University’s mission do/did you most identify with? What have you taken with you; in other words, how did your years at UST affect you later in yourlife/career?
I have yet to leave the arches of St. Thomas, but I will soon enough. I know that I will take with me integrity, faith, and a desire to be challenged. I will become an opener of doors for someone else through charity – time, energy and money. I have become a woman who is well-respected, but most of all, who truly respects and loves herself.
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If you had one wish for future women at UST, what would it be?To be given the same opportunities I was given: To have someone watching out for her financially so that she can truly attain the best education in the Midwest – one that allows her to explore her faith, her community, and academics.
ELLIS BYRNE
CLASS OF 2009
I am a junior here at St. Thomas majoring in public relations and minoring in political science. Being a Tommie, to me, means being proud of who I am, working hard and standing up for what I believe in.
I AM A TOMMIE
MARTA PEREIRA VINDAS
CLASS OF 2005
I am from Costa Rica and I have lived in the United States for five years. I received my Bachelor of Arts degree at UST in 2005 and have continued my studies at the Saint Paul Seminary School of Divinity, where I am only one class shy of completing the coursework for a master’s degree in theology.
When I first came to Minnesota in 2002 I knew right away that the University of Saint Thomas was where I wanted to study. My poor English, limited financial means and my challenges as a new wife and mother-to-be did not deter me from enrolling in the Catholic Studies and Theology programs in 2003. With the generous financial help of the Latino Leadership Scholarship and the Aquinas Fellowship, my dream of being a Tommie came true.
Getting this far in my studies has been quite an achievement for me as an international student for whom English is not the first language. In addition to these challenges, I also managed a part-time job, volunteer work and parish work with the Hispanic Ministry, as well as my responsibilities as a wife and mother. My first son was born during my second year of studies, and I was pregnant with my second son during my last semester.
To be an international student, wife and new mother during my undergraduate years presented great challenges. My gratitude goes to those persons in the institution who believed in me and challenged me to achieve. In particular, I am thankful to Dr. William Cavanaugh, who was not only the Latino student advisor but also a mentor during my years of studies, and to Dr. Deborah Organ, who has been an inspiration, supporter, and friend. I also thank all those who understood my particular challenges—the professors who put up with me constantly eating crackers and drinking ginger ale during class because of my morning sickness and those who allowed me to bring my three-week-old baby to class when I did not have childcare. I truly appreciate the welcoming attitude of professors, staff and fellow classmates that made things easier for me.
As a recent immigrant, St. Thomas was the first place where I experienced the new culture I was about to engage. Now I look back fondly at those years and value my experiences as a student and the solid education that I received. I was always challenged to give my very best in everything I did. I also discovered that I was capable of overcoming any obstacles that I encountered on the way and that as a Tommie I would always find the support I needed to do so. I found people who valued what I had to bring as a Hispanic immigrant woman and who helped me grow in leadership to give back to the community.
If I had a wish for future women at UST it would be to appreciate the opportunity Saint Thomas offers to grow not only academically but also integrally, recognizing all the potential and talent that one possesses as a woman. At Saint Thomas I discovered that, more than a profession, my career is a vocation, a call to fulfill what God calls me to be, a way of identifying my gifts and how to employ them in service to others. I wish that every woman at Saint Thomas could discover just that—that she is unique and that she has much to give to society and the world.
I AM A TOMMIE
RASHMI SENEVIRATNE
CLASS OF 2004
My one wish for UST women is to take at least one women's studies course. In our culture, both at UST and outside of UST, being a feminist has such a negative connotation and women tend to shy away from that label or even taking women's studies courses.
My women's studies courses at UST really helped shape my view of our culture--understanding the issues women face and even understanding and changing my own stereotypes of myself as a woman. After graduation, I was more cognizant of the stereotypes of women in the workplace (they may not be as overt as generations past, but they still exist). How each individual woman reacts to such issues is a personal choice, but having the basic understanding of why this was happening really helped me deal with such issues. As a future female attorney, there is the double-edged sword of being to aggressive and being labeled a "bitch" and not being aggressive enough and losing your case. It's a on-going battle, but I honestly believe the lessons I learned in my women's studies courses really helped me gain an inner strength to debunk these stereotypes and succeed on my own terms.
As a side note, I think women have taken our rights for granted. Our ancestors fought so valiantly for our rights--to work, to earn money for our work, to be stay-at-home mothers if we chose, to control our own bodies. And systematically, these rights our being chipped away and it breaks my heart that women aren't as involved in these issues as they need to be. We don't want future generations of women fighting massive battles when we could fight and win these minor battles.
I AM A TOMMIE
RASHMI SENEVIRATNE
CLASS OF 2004
My one wish for UST women is to take at least one women's studies course. In our culture, both at UST and outside of UST, being a feminist has such a negative connotation and women tend to shy away from that label or even taking women's studies courses.
My women's studies courses at UST really helped shape my view of our culture--understanding the issues women face and even understanding and changing my own stereotypes of myself as a woman. After graduation, I was more cognizant of the stereotypes of women in the workplace (they may not be as overt as generations past, but they still exist). How each individual woman reacts to such issues is a personal choice, but having the basic understanding of why this was happening really helped me deal with such issues. As a future female attorney, there is the double-edged sword of being to aggressive and being labeled a "bitch" and not being aggressive enough and losing your case. It's a on-going battle, but I honestly believe the lessons I learned in my women's studies courses really helped me gain an inner strength to debunk these stereotypes and succeed on my own terms.
As a side note, I think women have taken our rights for granted. Our ancestors fought so valiantly for our rights--to work, to earn money for our work, to be stay-at-home mothers if we chose, to control our own bodies. And systematically, these rights our being chipped away and it breaks my heart that women aren't as involved in these issues as they need to be. We don't want future generations of women fighting massive battles when we could fight and win these minor battles.
I AM A TOMMMIE
KELSEY L. HINKEL
CLASS OF 2009
My senior year of high school I wanted to go to St. Thomas so bad; however, they didn’t offer nursing. I tried two other schools before realizing that occupation was not for me and that St. Thomas was still for me. I was drawn to the rich history, the location, and the future potentials. I met some great people prior to transferring and knew that I would have a great time at UST if in just visiting I met so many friends.
As a non-catholic female on campus, I have yet to feel set apart or disconnected from any group on campus. It seems whether I attempt to join HANA or STAR, I am welcomed. If I am invited to church and dinner for a certain event and am not comfortable with the church part, I am not looked down upon and not alone.
I truly appreciate the way St. Thomas has pushed us out into the community. Between bus200 classes and clubs that fundraise, I feel we are bettering our surrounding environment, one that we are soon to be fully immersed in. With a history in volunteering, St. Thomas alum will hopefully carry that with them into professional settings.
In a short two year experience here, I have gained so much. I have had internships, study abroad and volunteer opportunities. These have set me apart from most other college students and will ease me into the real world with a greater knowledge of what else is out there.
I hope that females at St. Thomas continue to engulf themselves in all the great opportunities the University offers. I pray they never feel less than anyone else or better, but see everyone as equal regardless of gender, race or religion. That they may do unto others as others have done unto them. If we can continue to grow as we have, so will the rest of campus and therefore community around us and society that we touch.
I AM A TOMMIE
JANELLE SCHULENBERG
CLASS OF 1986
I selected St. Thomas as my preferred college because I was seeking a respected business degree program and appreciated the faith-based environment. It also offered opportunities for financial aide, grants and a work-study program that were integral to helping me fund my education.
In 1982, female students had not been on campus very long and I was teased that women only attended St. Thomas for their "Mrs." degrees. I also fell prey to the notion that all the other women would be from very wealthy families and would be more concerned about whether their belts matched their shoes and purses than with the future career prospects this education would offer. While there may have been some truth to these stereotypes in others’ experiences, they proved false for me as I was exposed to some of the brightest, most motivated and warm women in my life to that point.
There were rumors about certain clergy and faculty members not appreciating women on campus but my dealings with those individuals were always mutually respectful and focused on the best educational outcome for students or standards for the institution.
As I became increasingly involved in campus life and activities, I was warned that while St. Thomas was a fraternal organization, only males whose fathers and grandfathers attended would be privy to post-graduation employment opportunities. This, too, proved false in my experience. In fact, early on in my career I was on business travel in California when a member of the Old Guard approached me, somehow already knew I had graduated from St. Thomas, and arranged for me to meet some influential people in the industry I had just been hired to serve. I never forgot that and have committed to paying that forward at every opportunity.
From these experiences I learned that the glass ceiling and the good ol’ boys club didn’t exist for those who refused to be limited by that mind set and focused on positive means for peak performance and opportunity capture. This has served me well in a career path that has been dominated by traditionally male industries.
St. Thomas prepared and molded me for a career that has absolutely been rooted in my education there. Were there challenges along the way? Absolutely. But each bout with adversity taught me valuable life and career lessons. For example, having to work several jobs to attend gave me a heightened appreciation for the opportunity and greater pride in the accomplishment. I would not have traded my school for anyone else’s and still wouldn’t. I’ve often said that it was just big enough and just small enough - I was never a number and there were opportunities to be as involved as one wanted, yet there was no babysitting - I was responsible for my own registration and graduation planning and for the discipline of getting the right classes and the coursework done.
My wish for the future generations of women at St. Thomas is that they seize the full opportunity presented and maximize each day while keeping an eye on the ultimate career goal. And commit to giving back when able. Your time here is precious and will never return yet the benefits will last a lifetime in values, friendships, memories, and career implications. Pass it on…
I AM A TOMMIE
JANELLE SCHULENBERG
CLASS OF 1986
I selected St. Thomas as my preferred college because I was seeking a respected business degree program and appreciated the faith-based environment. It also offered opportunities for financial aide, grants and a work-study program that were integral to helping me fund my education.
In 1982, female students had not been on campus very long and I was teased that women only attended St. Thomas for their "Mrs." degrees. I also fell prey to the notion that all the other women would be from very wealthy families and would be more concerned about whether their belts matched their shoes and purses than with the future career prospects this education would offer. While there may have been some truth to these stereotypes in others’ experiences, they proved false for me as I was exposed to some of the brightest, most motivated and warm women in my life to that point.
There were rumors about certain clergy and faculty members not appreciating women on campus but my dealings with those individuals were always mutually respectful and focused on the best educational outcome for students or standards for the institution.
As I became increasingly involved in campus life and activities, I was warned that while St. Thomas was a fraternal organization, only males whose fathers and grandfathers attended would be privy to post-graduation employment opportunities. This, too, proved false in my experience. In fact, early on in my career I was on business travel in California when a member of the Old Guard approached me, somehow already knew I had graduated from St. Thomas, and arranged for me to meet some influential people in the industry I had just been hired to serve. I never forgot that and have committed to paying that forward at every opportunity.
From these experiences I learned that the glass ceiling and the good ol’ boys club didn’t exist for those who refused to be limited by that mind set and focused on positive means for peak performance and opportunity capture. This has served me well in a career path that has been dominated by traditionally male industries.
St. Thomas prepared and molded me for a career that has absolutely been rooted in my education there. Were there challenges along the way? Absolutely. But each bout with adversity taught me valuable life and career lessons. For example, having to work several jobs to attend gave me a heightened appreciation for the opportunity and greater pride in the accomplishment. I would not have traded my school for anyone else’s and still wouldn’t. I’ve often said that it was just big enough and just small enough - I was never a number and there were opportunities to be as involved as one wanted, yet there was no babysitting - I was responsible for my own registration and graduation planning and for the discipline of getting the right classes and the coursework done.
My wish for the future generations of women at St. Thomas is that they seize the full opportunity presented and maximize each day while keeping an eye on the ultimate career goal. And commit to giving back when able. Your time here is precious and will never return yet the benefits will last a lifetime in values, friendships, memories, and career implications. Pass it on…
I AM A TOMMIE
JANELLE SCHULENBERG
CLASS OF 1986
I selected St. Thomas as my preferred college because I was seeking a respected business degree program and appreciated the faith-based environment. It also offered opportunities for financial aide, grants and a work-study program that were integral to helping me fund my education.
In 1982, female students had not been on campus very long and I was teased that women only attended St. Thomas for their "Mrs." degrees. I also fell prey to the notion that all the other women would be from very wealthy families and would be more concerned about whether their belts matched their shoes and purses than with the future career prospects this education would offer. While there may have been some truth to these stereotypes in others’ experiences, they proved false for me as I was exposed to some of the brightest, most motivated and warm women in my life to that point.
There were rumors about certain clergy and faculty members not appreciating women on campus but my dealings with those individuals were always mutually respectful and focused on the best educational outcome for students or standards for the institution.
As I became increasingly involved in campus life and activities, I was warned that while St. Thomas was a fraternal organization, only males whose fathers and grandfathers attended would be privy to post-graduation employment opportunities. This, too, proved false in my experience. In fact, early on in my career I was on business travel in California when a member of the Old Guard approached me, somehow already knew I had graduated from St. Thomas, and arranged for me to meet some influential people in the industry I had just been hired to serve. I never forgot that and have committed to paying that forward at every opportunity.
From these experiences I learned that the glass ceiling and the good ol’ boys club didn’t exist for those who refused to be limited by that mind set and focused on positive means for peak performance and opportunity capture. This has served me well in a career path that has been dominated by traditionally male industries.
St. Thomas prepared and molded me for a career that has absolutely been rooted in my education there. Were there challenges along the way? Absolutely. But each bout with adversity taught me valuable life and career lessons. For example, having to work several jobs to attend gave me a heightened appreciation for the opportunity and greater pride in the accomplishment. I would not have traded my school for anyone else’s and still wouldn’t. I’ve often said that it was just big enough and just small enough - I was never a number and there were opportunities to be as involved as one wanted, yet there was no babysitting - I was responsible for my own registration and graduation planning and for the discipline of getting the right classes and the coursework done.
My wish for the future generations of women at St. Thomas is that they seize the full opportunity presented and maximize each day while keeping an eye on the ultimate career goal. And commit to giving back when able. Your time here is precious and will never return yet the benefits will last a lifetime in values, friendships, memories, and career implications. Pass it on…
I AM A TOMMMIE
DANIELLE HANSEN
CLASS OF 2004
Why did you want to go to the University of St. Thomas?
As a junior in high school I had completed a large amount of research on colleges and universities. One of the most important attributes that I considered when looking for a university was the mission and application of that mission in addition to the core curriculum. At UST, the value of giving back to the community was rooted in everyday education. Students were provided with the opportunity to help in numerous ways including: mission trips, volunteer hour degree requirements, tutor/mentor programs, and service learning just to name a few. I wanted to obtain a multifaceted education that allowed me to give back to the community which is what UST provided for me.
How did your time at St. Thomas change the way you look at or interact with the world?
At UST, I was provided with the opportunity to further expand my education in numerous methods including both inside and outside the classroom applications. As an undergrad, I worked closely with Adams School of Immersion, a Spanish Immersion school, to not only further my Spanish speaking skills but also to give back to younger generations. Thereby expanding both my realm of learning and theirs. In turn, I had the ability to meet and interact with people of various diverse backgrounds including international students thus broadening my perspectives and increasing my cultural knowledge beyond the classroom.
In turn, I was able to partner directly with Dr. Marsnik of the Legal Studies in Business Department on a Collaborative Research Inquiry Grant. In this realm, I was able to work directly with a prominent business/legal professional at UST to conduct research entitled, "Women’s Reproductive Rights in the Americas: Myth or Reality? A Comparative Analysis of Laws in the United States, Argentina, and Mexico." This allowed me to combine two of my three majors into my research. I was able to use my Spanish language skills to conduct research in Spanish (thus providing me access to many resources that would not have been available if I had only spoken English and making it possible to pair directly with Dr. Marsnik to learn and understand the legal research process, presentation, etc. In turn, I was invited to speak at the Academy of Legal Studies in Business and present my research at their annual conference in Ottawa, Canada.
Without Dr. Marsnik, none of this would have been possible. She is a professor that continually goes above and beyond her role as a professor. Without her, my UST experience would not have made as significant of an impact on my academic career.
What elements of the University’s mission did you most identify with? What have you taken with you; in other words, how did your years at UST affect you in your later life?
My experiences at UST provided a foundation on which to build. It was here that I found and further developed myself, beliefs, and values. These three things have continued to be exemplified in my later life. After obtaining a triple major from UST, I obtained a job at Medtronic, a company heavily rooted in their mission. In this period of my life, I’m able to continue giving back to the community through the Medtronic Mission in Motion program in which I am an Ambassador for. This is a position in addition to my career as a Medical Device Technical Sourcing Specialist but allows me to put the Medtronic Mission along with my values in motion to make an impact in the lives of others.
If you had one wish for future women at UST, what would it be?
If I had one wish for future women at UST, it would be for them to fully establish who they are along with their values and then embrace that through their everyday actions. Everyone is unique regardless of their gender, ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation. It is this uniqueness that distinguishes people. By knowing who you are and not being afraid to exemplify your full self no matter if you are at St. Thomas, church, with family, friends, or at work, you will be more successful in the future.
In turn, I would suggest partnering with a mentor while at UST. My mentor was Dr. Marsnik and this has been a lasting relationship that has impacted my life greatly. Not only am I able to learn from her scholarly knowledge but I have also been able to learn from her past experiences as well. When the time comes, I may only hope to be as great of a role model as she has been for me.
I AM A TOMMIE
LAURA STIERMAN
CLASS OF 2007
Imagine a youthful world, filled with innocence, hope, and a joi de vive that the young possess in great quantity. Now imagine a mature world, filled with responsibility, reality and a tenacity for life that adult women possess in great quantity. When these two worlds collide, as they did for me when I entered the prestigious halls of the University of St. Thomas, something wonderful happened. I discovered the beauty of innocence buried deep within responsibility, hope abiding in the reality of life, and a tenacious joi de vive that propelled me to attend classes, find my voice, and engage in coversation with confidence.
Being a woman on a campus, and an older woman at that, I found myself in the interesting position of being both an authority figure and student, with the lines often blurred between the two. It proves to be quite advantageous. On one occasion, early in my academic career, some fellow students and I were waiting impatiently to get into our computer lab; we all had last minute revisions to make on a paper, and the lab had printers available. Something had to be done. I walked into the nearest office and announced to the administrative assistant, "My classroom door is locked. May I borrow a key?" She promptly handed over the master key, and I let myself and my fellow students into the lab, then gratefully returned the key. We madly made our last minute revisions, printed quickly, and turned in the ‘perfect’ paper just in time. There are advantages to looking my age. I also realized then – at that very moment – that I could actually be a professor. It had nothing to do with the situation at hand, but the fact that someone mistook me for a learned, confident woman made me realize that I was a learned and confident woman, not just some frumpy housewife with a husband and six children who wanted to attend college. I think it is the small moments that allow us to discover more about ourselves that we ever thought possible.
It is also the small moments that allow us to see what is not possible. I am a parent on campus, different from ninety-nine percent of the population. I do not wear low-rider jeans, I do not spend hours on my hair/makeup, I do not need a Tommie Taxi voucher to get me home from the local watering hole, and I attend class regularly. I do not text from my cell phone, I do not own an iPod, I cannot play Guitar Hero, and I am only vaguely aware of what an avatar is. It is simply not possible to for me to have the undergraduate experience my children have. And for that I am quite thankful, actually.
Not only was my experience different from that of my young counterparts, it was also different than that of some of my ‘partners in crime;’ women like me who are attempting to juggle family life with academic life, with actually having a life. That was eye-opening, and in not so much in a wonderful I-love-it-here kind of way. There are people in authoritative places who are rigid in their thinking, leaving no option for a woman to find her voice. There are those who are self-righteous in their demeanor and classroom style, leaving no option for the adult woman to speak her voice. There are those who are condescending, leaving no option for the student mother to have a voice, once she’s uncovered its power. There are even those who believe that a woman’s place is in the home, leaving no option for a woman to speak at all. Oppression comes in many forms, takes many shapes, and comes in a kaleidoscope of colors.
The most dangerous place for it to occur is here in the halls of academia, where it is our conviction to provide an ‘education needed for complete human development’ and where it is our mission to ‘give a student a foundation for clear thinking and expression; a sufficient understanding to read intelligently in fields with which an educated person ought to be acquainted.’ Complete human development and providing a foundation for clear thinking and expression simply cannot be obtained when women are not allowed to speak their voice. It is the small moment of sitting in a classroom, feeling unable to speak an opinion, that academic freedom is lost. And lost in its essence – in the person herself, not its attributes – her work. That is the true tragedy in the loss of academic freedom.
However, the University does have in its core, a challenge: Challenge Yourself and Change Our World. This motto is a mirror image, however, for it is also a challenge to change the world at UST. Perhaps challenge and change are convertible terms: when one is challenged she is changed, and when changed she is challenged. Both opportunities, I think, come in the form of respectful conservations. I hope the University continues to listen to its students, as the faculty, staff and student body has done with me. I rarely felt my opinion was delegated to some ‘one-touch circular file’ without a second thought. I found my voice as an adult learner, and used it frequently. When I spoke with respect, most often I received respect in turn. I must admit, I did challenge myself and hopefully, in some small way, change the perception of the wife-and-mother turned academic-student here on campus.
In return, then, I guess that means I should learn how to play Guitar Hero, or figure out how to load music onto an iPod. I have heard that Guitar Hero is a great aerobic exercise and that I can load only songs I actually like onto an iPod. Engaging in worthwhile conversation does indeed necessitate finding a common ground. Hmmmm, me using an iPod and playing Guitar Hero. Imagine that.
I AM A TOMMIE
BREANNA ALSTON
CLASS OF 2011
Although I am currently a freshman just starting my experience at UST, I can already tell that I am going to be a very different woman when I leave. With so many opportunities, the only way I can’t succeed is if I’m not open to discovering the many things on this campus that could make me more diverse, compassionate, intelligent, and worldly and also further fortify my personal foundation.
Some might say that being an African American woman might present its challenges often but the truth is that I can overcome anything in my path. I know that I will always have certain obstacles to bear that others may not, but it’s all in how I respond to them that will show my true character.
My advice to any incoming woman is to have a support system whether it is friends, family, a club or organization and make sure that you know they represent all the things you are about and believe in. Be involved, take risks, and most of all be proud to be here, as a woman, growing.
I AM A TOMMIE
EMILY CZECH
CLASS OF 2009
Upon making the decision to attend St Thomas, I was embarking on a unique four year experience. The community at St Thomas is one that encourages students to go out and experience the world.
Being a business major, St Thomas has provided me with invaluable connections with the corporations around the Twin Cities. Attending a recognized university, I have gained skills and knowledge that I will use throughout my life. Furthermore, the support I have recieved here has prepared me for internships and my future career in corporate America.
I AM A TOMMIE
TIFFANY ORTH
CLASS OF 2009
The academic reputation of the University of St. Thomas is what drew me to the school. I wanted the opportunity to receive an excellent liberal arts education that would help to ensure success in my future career. Additionally, the gorgeous campus, small class sizes, and warm professors were all factors that combined to form my ideal college experience.
Being a woman at St. Thomas has been a remarkably rewarding experience. I have found encouragement and support for my ideas and goals as well as opportunities to be involved with on-campus leadership roles. Not once have I ever been made to feel like I can’t do something because I am a woman. One funny thing to me is that chivalry is not dead at St. Thomas. Male members of the student body still go out of their way to open doors for you and let you go first. It’s funny how that remnant of old-fashioned values carries on into this modern age.
Aside from my gender experiences, one thing that stands out to me is the hardship in having differing religious views on campus. While it is a Catholic university, I still assumed that an academic institution would be tolerant and aware of different religions and perspectives. This has not always been the case. Whether it be in classes where opinions are received with sighs and annoyed expressions, or in the dorms where you are made to feel out of place if you don’t follow the norm, diversity in religion is something that is met with subtle opposition at St. Thomas.
My time at St. Thomas is opening me up to so many new ideas and perspectives. I find that my beliefs are constantly being tested and adjusted to take into account the myriad of viewpoints that exist. People are more complex than I could have ever imagined and this is showing me how to understand people’s actions in a deeper way.
Classes, students, professors, and organizations are helping me to form a strong sense of self that will aid me in future endeavors. This is teaching me to approach the world with a more mature and careful air while still giving me the confidence to express my own beliefs. I most identify with the University’s mission to promote diversity. While not always accomplished here at St. Thomas, I feel it is the single most important tenet in higher education. It is through experiencing diverse people, interests, ideas, and lifestyles that we truly learn how to appreciate the similarities and differences that connect us all in the human race. I hope to carry this with me always.
My one wish for future women is that they are always able to pursue whatever their heart desires and to not feel trapped into what society is dictating to them at that point in time. The only time we truly live our lives and fulfill our potential is when we become everything that we are.
I AM A TOMMIE
NANCYGRAF
CLASS OF 1998
I am a member of the class of ’98 with a B.A. in Applied Sociology and minor in Theology. I accomplished this wonderful goal through the Parents on Campus program. I actually completed three years of undergraduate classes from 1966 through 1969 at St. Catherine’s and just needed to finish that last year. Although it took 30 years to finish what I started, I realize that each of us has different ways to accomplish our goals. St. Thomas was an important part of that process at many steps along the way.
It started with taking an English class and a Sociology class at St. Thomas during the 1968-69 school year, during the early years of the cooperative agreement between St. Thomas and St. Catherine’s, beginnings that encouraged the formation of the Associated Colleges of the Twin Cities (ACTC). Yes, I was one of those students who took the first bus rides on the old blue bus that traveled between St. Catherine’s and St. Thomas. In the English class, I was the only female student, and I think I cramped the style of the instructor, or so I was told. In the Sociology class, I enjoyed the diversity of discussion, and Mr. Ahler seemed to be OK with a female student in the class. I also made some new friends from the then all-male St. Thomas campus.
As often happened in those times, I, then a "Katie," married a "Tommie." We met through the introduction of our eventual best man and lifelong friend. We have been married now for 38 years, still stay in touch with several of my husband’s classmates from St. Thomas, have attended several reunions over the years, and actively contribute to alumni giving programs.
My renewed activity as a St. Thomas student came when our third son chose to attend St. Thomas as an undergrad. I was browsing through the catalog and read this small paragraph about the Parents on Campus program. I was looking to make a change in my job situation, and thought that this might be the change to focus on—finally completing my B.A. through this program. When our son attended Orientation activities at St. Thomas, I scheduled an appointment at the Admissions Office to have them look over my 30-year-old transcript and assess the possibilities for me. After a few weeks of analyzing my transcript, they accepted ALL my credits! Now I just needed to make arrangements to do it.
This was not an easy task. We live in Iowa. Going back to St. Thomas as a full-time student meant leaving my husband and our 14-year-old daughter at home for a year to "fend for themselves." My mother still lived in the Twin Cities area and agreed to let me be her roommate for a year while attending classes. Our son, now a junior at St. Thomas, gave up his PC and the use of his car to me so I could have computer access and drive to class. It was definitely a family decision with full family support.
I started back to classes at St. Thomas in the fall of 1997. I was amazed, despite the growth since the late sixties, how close the college community remained. I was seeing it again as a student and felt good about that as a parent as well. When deciding what major program to pursue, I chose Applied Sociology, switching from my former focus on Elementary Education. Sociology seemed more aligned with my interests and activities at this point in my life. I didn’t have much room for electives and began registering for all the remaining required classes. One of the classes was a full year of Research. One of the instructors was Mr. Ahler. Yes, it was the same Mr. Ahler whose class I attended back in the late sixties. I signed up for his class.
My experiences as an older, female student during 1997-1998 were great. I was attending all upper level classes. The students were motivated, full of great young ideas and idealism. Some of them were my son’s friends. There were many female students in the classes. Discussion was full, diverse, and open. Faculty were supportive and loved their interaction with students. My advisor was a wonderful coach and remains a friend to this day. In research class, Mr. Ahler and I became comrades who shared some of wisdom and facts of the sixties. I also realized that, even with just the use of a small, basic calculator, not a graphing calculator as some of the other students had, I could figure out all those research formulas. I understood the research stuff. Later that year, I received some actual research experience through an internship (required for Applied Sociology students) at the Wilder Research Center, experience that eventually led to my current position as a research assistant at the University of Iowa School of Social Work in the National Resource Center for Family Centered Practice.
Another experience that added to a more positive perspective on my life and future was receiving a leadership grant from the LuAnn Dummer Center for Women to attend the Leaders of Today and Tomorrow (LOTT) conference in January 1998. Hearing the personal stories of several women in leadership positions in the State of Minnesota, I realized I had much to offer. It gave me confidence to pursue further goals after graduation both professionally and through volunteer activities.
Volunteer leadership positions I currently hold include Chair of the Evangelization and Stewardship Commission in our parish, member of the Davenport Diocese Stewardship Commission, and co-chair of our parish’s knitting ministry. In the past, I have also served as school board member and Secretary for our Catholic community’s Interparish Education Center and Service Unit Director for a local Girl Scout unit. I wouldn’t have even considered taking on these positions without the confidence, inspiration, and opportunities I received during my final year of undergraduate class and activities at St. Thomas.
Not only are my husband and I graduates of St. Thomas, our son is a member of the class of 1999, with a double major in Physical Education and Elementary Education, and our daughter, the class of 2005 with a B.S. in Biochemistry. We remain connected to St. Thomas in many ways.
I AM A TOMMIE
TARA TREPANIER
CLASS OF 2005
I first proclaimed my intention to go to the University of St. Thomas while driving down Cretin Avenue with my father when I was 11 years old. Though I hail from Up North (Bemidji to be exact) I spent many summers living with friends in the Groveland-Macalister neighborhood so I could be closer to the St. Paul Figure Skating Club to train. Every day we drove down Cretin on the way to the rink and over and over again passed St. Thomas. I vividly remember watching Frey Science Center and Morrison Hall go up knowing they’d be ready for me when I got there.
I don’t have a history of family members going to St. Thomas, as many students do, but I suppose in another way I do. The figure skating community is a lot like a family and many of the older skaters at the rink were St. Thomas students. Sara Kastner was one of them. She was an excellent role model both on and off the ice, and her dedication and determination made me look up to her. I remember Sara often talking about St. Thomas and she even drove us back and forth from the rink regularly. So in addition to my daily drives down Cretin, the great example set by Sara solidified my decision to attend St. Thomas.
Once I got to campus there was a whole new set of great role models between professors, staff, and peers. My plan had been to get a major in psychology and then coach figure skating forever, but somehow my plans changed. Though I coached figure skating through my entire four years at St. Thomas and did become a psychology major, I started to develop different plans for my future through both my core and major classes. After a few courses with Dr. Britain Scott and Dr. Shirley Jordon, I soon became a women’s studies minor as well. Some of my most meaningful class experiences came through their guidance while doing independent research, discussing women and Christianity, and during a J-Term trip to Paris and London to study psychoanalysis and feminism.
During my senior year, thanks to the Luanne Dummer Center for Women, I was given the opportunity to attend the LOTT (Leaders of Today and Tomorrow) conference at the Minnesota State Capital. There I had the opportunity to meet women in leadership positions, hear from them, and ask them questions. A chance to network and think about career paths was also provided. It was then I started to realize that I wanted to be part of this network of great role models and someday take a leadership position too. Shortly thereafter, I began branching out and earned an internship at Minneapolis City Hall, followed by work on a US Congressional campaign.
I currently find myself in the Republic of Macedonia as a Peace Corps Volunteer. I’m putting my leadership skills to work through literacy campaigns, working on multi-cultural projects, Girls’ camps, and teaching the dangers of human trafficking. My first year here has been an amazing experience, and I am very thankful to the team of women who empowered me to take this path, I truly don’t know where I’d be without their influence and guidance. Someday, somehow I hope to pay them back for setting such great examples for me. I can only hope to carry on the tradition by providing a positive example for young women as well.