
Center for the Common Good
In all we do, we seek to advance the common good.
At the Center for the Common Good, we connect University of St. Thomas students, faculty, and staff with community engagement opportunities so we can understand today’s most pressing social challenges, build mutually-beneficial relationships, and work toward innovative solutions-all for the common good.
When we put our efforts together, we gain a deeper understanding of complex issues, create stronger communities, and become inspired to take action.
Partner with Us
Academic Year Stats
Featured Initiatives

Tommies Together Volunteer Center

VISION

Changemaking for the Common Good

Academic Community Engagement

Civic Engagement, Voter Education and Advocacy

Under-told Stories Project
Additional Initiatives
Tommie Shelf
One University—One Breath
Center for the Common Good News
St. Thomas Students Advocate in Washington, D.C.
Two St. Thomas student leaders, rising senior Maggie Sutton and rising sophomore Augie Stewart, recently attended the first-ever Catholic Relief Services (CRS) National Gathering in Washington, D.C. The multiday event, held June 27-30, included meeting with members of Congress to discuss details of the farm bill that would affect crucial foreign aid in places greatly… The post St. Thomas Students Advocate in Washington, D.C. appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.
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April 27, 2023
University of St. Thomas Student Recognized on 2023 ALL IN Student Voting Honor Roll
Skye Schultz is one of 175 college students recognized for her nonpartisan democratic engagement work in 2022 ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge (ALL IN) has recognized University of St. Thomas student Skye Schultz as part of the 2023 ALL IN Student Voting Honor Roll. The ALL IN Student Voting Honor Roll awards college students doing… The post University of St. Thomas Student Recognized on 2023 ALL IN Student Voting Honor Roll appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.
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April 19, 2023
St. Thomas Presidential Volunteer Award Winners Embody Commitment to the Common Good
The University of St. Thomas President’s Office is proud to recognize the recipients of the 2023 Presidential Volunteer Awards. These awards honor quality contributions to civic and community engagement efforts by students, faculty, staff and organizations who are a part of the Tommie community. Recipients of the awards embody a commitment to positive social change,… The post St. Thomas Presidential Volunteer Award Winners Embody Commitment to the Common Good appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.
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December 15, 2022
Dr. Ernie Owens: Building a New Generation of Diverse Leaders
If you spend more than a few minutes with Dr. Ernie Owens, be prepared to talk motorcycles. The Opus College of Business professor attended his first motorcycle convention in 2001. Since then, he’s not only learned how to ride, but he’s also spent countless hours tinkering away, building antique bikes in his garage. “And that’s… The post Dr. Ernie Owens: Building a New Generation of Diverse Leaders appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.
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December 13, 2022
How the St. Thomas Shelter Crew Met the Pope
While all University of St. Thomas students have the option to travel to Rome, where the Minnesota school has another campus, it’s not every day that one of them makes the trip to Italy and gets to meet the pope. However, that’s what happened for Taylor Fox, a junior who became involved with the institution’s… The post How the St. Thomas Shelter Crew Met the Pope appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.
Leadership and Staff

Dr. Theresa Ricke-Kiely

Dustin Killpack

Kelly Sardon-Garrity

Manuela Hill-Muñoz

Teri Mueller Dorn
About the Center for the Common Good
Memberships and Affiliations
- Carnegie Classification
- Minnesota Alliance for Volunteer Advancement (MAVA)
- Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action (ARNOVA)
- Contemplative Mind in Society
- International Association for Research on Service-Learning and Community Engagement (IARSLCE)
- Place-Based Justice Network
- Uniservitate Community-Engaged Scholar-Practitioner Network (CESPN)