Jeanne Parsons received the 2011 Nonexempt Staff Council Appreciation Award at this year’s Staff Appreciation Breakfast April 27. 

Jeanne Parsons

Jeanne Parsons received the 2011 Nonexempt Staff Council Appreciation Award at this year’s Staff Appreciation Breakfast April 27.  The award is presented annually to an hourly staff member in recognition for living and promoting the mission of the University of St. Thomas

Parsons is registration coordinator for all on-campus programs in the College of Applied Professional Studies, which includes the School of Education as well as Graduate School of Professional Psychology. She was nominated for the award by one of her colleagues: Jackie Grossklaus, department assistant in Leadership Policy Administration. 

In her nomination, Grossklaus mentioned that Parsons “works in an office where I am not certain how she gets anything done as there is always constant interruption.”  But Parsons always takes the time to “lend a smile and an ear to listen.”

Parsons responsibilities include entering all courses into Banner, working with students regarding registration as well as ensuring their academic program is on track for timely completion, providing training to others within the department and is said to handle all “proficiently and professionally.”

“Jeanne has been serving the university community for more than two decades,” remarked Dr. Chris Vye, associate dean in the College of Applied Professional Studies and Parson’s direct supervisor. “She embraces complexity and challenge in her day-to-day work, which exemplifies the excellence we aspire to at St. Thomas.”

Previous award recipients are:

• Mary Jean Loomis (2006)
• Mary Kay O’Rourke (2007)
• Pat Alexander (2008)
• Barb Dunker (2009)
• Helen Hunter (2010).

Helen Hunter receives 2010 Nonexempt Staff Council Appreciation Award

Helen Hunter received the 2010 Nonexempt Staff Council Appreciation Award at this year’s Staff Appreciation Breakfast March 31. The award is presented annually to an hourly staff member in recognition for living and promoting the mission of the University of St. Thomas. Previous award recipients are Mary Jean Loomis (2006), Mary Kay O’Rourke (2007), Pat Alexander (2008) and Barb Dunker (2009).

An administrative assistant since 2005 in St. Thomas’ Office for Mission and Office of Institutional Diversity, Hunter was nominated by for the award by one of her colleagues: Dr. Lawrence Potter, executive director and chief diversity officer. Her other “boss,” Father John Malone, vice president for mission, presented the award.

Formerly a secretary in the joint Social Work Department of the College of St. Catherine and what was then called the College of St. Thomas, Hunter began her academic career in 1983 at St. Catherine’s. She became a St. Thomas employee in 1984. After eight years in the St. Thomas social work office, she moved to the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs, where she worked until 2005.

In his nomination, Potter noted Hunter’s “impeccable organization skills, effective interpersonal skills and a great sense of humor.” He cited her leadership and support with two programs organized by the Office for Mission, Welcome Week and Heritage Week, along with her “impeccable customer service.”

“Time and time again, UST community members and visitors comment on how they appreciate Helen’s generosity and smiling face,” Potter wrote. “She is always enthusiastic about new opportunities to learn skills that will enhance her working relationships with others … . I have found Helen to be an inspiration to faculty, staff and students.”

Sharing her time and talents beyond the office, Hunter has been a volunteer visitor to UST international students and helped at numerous weekend projects and programs on campus and in the community. “Helen is truly an exemplary employee when it comes to giving back,” Potter added.

It probably would not surprise people to know that Hunter has been a teacher at a Catholic elementary school (St. Mary’s in Winona) as well as a secretary to a parish (she was the first parish secretary at St. John Neumann in Eagan) and companies in Chicago and the Twin Cities. She brings skills from each role to her job at St. Thomas.

At the Staff Appreciation Breakfast she told a story about one of those previous jobs ­­– as a church secretary some 25 years ago. She invited a certain priest to apply to be pastor of the parish. He turned her down because he was going to become pastor of the Basilica of St. Mary. The priest? Father Dennis Dease, who would next become president of St. Thomas.

“Over the next 18 or so years, he turned me down to be his secretary no less than three times,” Hunter said. “I recognized a ‘good thing’ 25 years ago, and I haven’t changed my mind.”

Was she disappointed he never hired her as his secretary? “Not anymore,” Hunter said. “I never would have gotten to work for Father Malone – and he’s terrific!”

Hunter and her husband of 42 years, Ned, are parents to two adult children and live in Inver Grove Heights.

Barb Dunker receives Staff Council Appreciation Award

Congratulations to Barb Dunker, who received the 2009 Staff Council Appreciation Award at this year's Staff Appreciation Breakfast on March 31. The award is presented annually to an hourly staff member "in recognition for living and promoting the mission of the University of St Thomas." Previous award recipients are Mary Jean Loomis (2006), Mary Kay O'Rourke (2007), and Pat Alexander (2008).

On behalf of the UST community, NESC extends its gratitude to Dunker for everything that she has done to promote the mission of the university and for being a role model in her effort to "educate students to be morally responsible leaders who think critically, act wisely and work skillfully to advance the common good."

Pat Alexander receives Staff Council Appreciation Award

From the Non-Exempt Staff Council (NESC)

Congratulations to Pat Alexander, who received 2008 Staff Council
Appreciation Award at this year's Staff Appreciation Breakfast on
April 15. The award is presented annually to an hourly staff member
"in recognition for living and promoting the mission of the
University of St. Thomas." Previous award recipients are Mary Jean
Loomis (2006) and Mary Kay O'Rourke (2007).

Alexander has been a member of the St. Thomas community for nine
years, working in both the Luann Dummer Center for Women and
the Center for Faculty Development. In her acceptance remarks at
the Staff Appreciation breakfast, Pat thanked her colleagues and
friends for making St. Thomas a very special place to work: "I have
discovered that we have a very dedicated group of people connected
with St. Thomas. You are loyal, hard-working and committed to the
mission of the university and your actions are reflected not only in
your service on the campus but to the community in general."

Outside of St. Thomas, Alexander is an active member of Hamline
United Methodist Church and serves as the chair of the Church and
Society Committee, the active service outlet for the church, which
works with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Paint-a-
Thon, and the Dorothy Day Center.

Susan Anderson-Benson, who works in the Center for Senior
Citizens' Education, nominated Alexander: " Pat was the first person
outside of my department that I met when I arrived at UST … . When
[Pat] learned I was a knitter, she invited me to join the campus Yarn
Tamers group, which I did once I was settled into my position."
Anderson specifically noted how Alexander's leadership of Yarn

Tamers promotes the university's mission: by promoting interaction
and support between the faculty, staff and students as they work on
personal and group projects; by continually reaching out to others
both within out outside the UST community to join Yarn Tamers;
and by choosing an annual cause for the group to support with their
knitting and crocheting handiwork. Anderson-Benson also said she
has appreciated "Pat's skillful coordination of events under the
women's center's auspices."

On behalf of the UST community, NESC extends its gratitude to
Alexander for everything that she has done to promote the mission of
the university and for being a role model in her effort to "educate
students to be morally responsible leaders who think critically, act
wisely and work skillfully to advance the common good."

Mary Kay O'Rourke receives Staff Council Appreciation Award

From the Non-Exempt Staff Council

Congratulations to Mary Kay O'Rourke, recipient of the 2007 Staff Council Appreciation Award. The award was presented at the staff appreciation breakfast on April 17. This award is presented annually to an hourly staff member who lives and promotes the mission of the University of St. Thomas.

O'Rourke, program coordinator for the John A. Ryan Institute for Catholic Social Thought, started at St. Thomas in August 1999 as an administrative assistant for Catholic Studies. For several years she also worked as circulation manager for the journal Logos.

Kathy Fell nominated O'Rourke for this award. In her nomination statement, Fell recognized some of the things that O'Rourke does within the St. Thomas community: "As coordinator of the Ryan Institute conference in October in Rome, her attention to the needs of all those participating was appreciated and acknowledged by the over 250 people attending from all over the world."

Fell also recognized O'Rourke's volunteerism in her parish church and the local community, from supporting a children's orphanage in Cuernavaca, Mexico, to assisting the Latino scholarship students by establishing a support group for Hispanic women who are new to the country and need empathy in their adjustment to a new culture. In addition to several other volunteer activities, O'Rourke served on the board of the Guadalupana Residence, a residence for Hispanic people in transition.

The following also were nominated for the Staff Council Appreciation Award:

• Lois Dament, Communication Studies
• Mary Dunn, Dean of Students Office
• Helen Hunter, Office of Mission
• Julie Kimlinger, O’Shaughnessy-Frey Library Center
• Sherrie Maze, Office of the Executive Vice President/Chief Academic Officer
• Sue Wagner, College of Business

Mary Jean Loomis receives Staff Council Appreciation Award

From the Non-Exempt Staff Council

Congratulations to Mary Jean Loomis, recipient of the 2006 Staff Council Appreciation Award. The award was presented to Loomis at the Staff Appreciation Breakfast April 5. This is the first year this award was presented. In the years to come, it will be presented annually to an hourly staff member “in recognition for living and promoting the mission of the University of St. Thomas.”

Loomis has been a member of the St. Thomas community for 26 years. For more than 24 years she was an administrative assistant for seven different directors or associate deans in the College of Business. In 2004, she started working part time as the administrative assistant for the executive director in Alumni and Constituent Relations. In her acceptance remarks at the Staff Appreciation breakfast, Loomis noted how appropriate it was to receive this award during "Gratitude Week" an expressed her appreciation for everyone in the UST community, stating "what a blessing it was" in her life. Loomis concluded her talk with a quote from Mother Teresa.

Three UST community members nominated Loomis for this award. In her nomination statement, Helen Hunter noted that: "[Mary Jean Loomis] is one of those people who does the little things that make the world and St. Thomas a better place." Marie Klein concluded her nomination statement with: "Mary Jean's personal dedication to the truth as well as her gratitude for belonging to the UST community makes her a perfect candidate for this award." Barb Dunker nominated Loomis because: "There is no one who is a better 'ambassador' for this institution... who better to create and leave our alums and other constituents with a positive, good feeling about UST."

In addition to Loomis, the following staff members were nominated:

• Linda Lee Borovansky, University Relations
• Lois Dament, Communication Studies Department
• Mary Denker, Dean of Students Office
• Genean (Dede) Hering, Switchboard
• Helen Hunter, Office of Mission
• Julie Kimlinger, O’Shaughnessy-Frey Library Center
• Mary Kay O’Rourke, John A. Ryan Institute
• Sue Wagner, College of Business
• Jennifer Wake, Campus Life

On behalf of the UST community, the Staff Council extends its gratitude to Loomis and all of the award nominees for everything that they do to promote the mission of the university and for being a role model in its effort to "... educate students to be morally responsible leaders who think critically, act wisely and work skillfully to advance the common good."