June 4, 2025 Newsletter

Featured

Student Trainers Gain Real Coaching Experience in St. Thomas Wellness Program

Anika Elvrum lifting weights with Dr. Adam Korak spotting.
The Wellness Coaching and Personal Training Program, a collaboration between the Center for Well-Being and the Department of Health and Exercise Science (HES) in the Morrison Family College of Health, is reshaping how students build healthy habits by combining physical fitness training with motivational support.
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New Trustees Appointed: Lisa Shannon and Brett Keith

New Trustees Lisa Shannon and Brett Keith
St. Thomas welcomes two distinguished leaders to its Board of Trustees: Lisa Shannon, president and CEO of Allina Health, and Brett Keith '94, co-founder and managing partner of Rockwood Equity Partners.
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Bob Shoemake Found His Calling With Older Learners

Bob Showmake
As retiring director of the Selim Center for Lifelong Learning at St. Thomas, Bob Shoemake proved he is one of the most thoughtful leaders in the field. He learned that the role was more than his job; it was his calling.
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More News

Welcome New Senior Associate Athletics Director

Julie Manning joined the Tommie Athletics Department on June 2 as senior associate athletics director and senior women's administrator (SWA). She brings over 25 years of experience to the position, with the previous nine years at the University of Minnesota.
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Dr. Bryana French Named Chair of Graduate School of Professional Psychology

Bryana French Portrait
At the start of the 2025-26 fiscal year, Dr. Bryana French will become chair of the Graduate School of Professional Psychology at the Morrison Family College of Health. She recently served as associate chair, where she worked closely with outgoing chair Dr. Christopher Vye.
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Law Alumni Receive Honors

Law Alumni Honors
Several University of St. Thomas School of Law graduates have recently been recognized with awards and elected to lead as president of their professional organizations.
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Upcoming Events

June 17: Echoes of Juneteenth – An RJI MasterClass

Dr. Yohuru Williams, founding director of the Racial Justice Initiative, will discuss the importance of historical recovery as he examines the Age of Unfinished Business and how it impacted Juneteenth.
Learn more

Nominate an Inspiring Tommie by June 30

Tommie Award Nominations
We invite you to nominate an alum by June 30 for a St. Thomas Day 2026 award, our university's highest honor recognizing outstanding contributions and service. Honorees will be celebrated during the annual St. Thomas Day celebration on May 6, 2026, receiving one of the following awards: Distinguished Alumnus/Alumna Award; Humanitarian Award; Monsignor James Lavin Award; Spirit of St. Thomas Award.

Your nominations help St. Thomas tell the stories of Tommies who are making a meaningful difference and inspiring others to do the same.
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Seen Around St. Thomas

On a recent rainy day in the Twin Cities, the statue of Harry G. McNeely Jr. outside of McNeely Hall, gets a little damp. (Brandon Woller '17/University of St. Thomas)

In the News

John Abraham, Catherine Grant, Mark Osler and Steve Cole.
Media Highlights:

John Abraham, mechanical engineering professor at the School of Engineering, recently joined WCCO Radio to discuss climate science and how Minnesota could export energy from wind and solar.

Catherine Grant, greenhouse and medicinal garden manager, spoke with MPR News about the best ways to set yourself up for a successful summer garden.

MPR News interviewed School of Law Professor Mark Osler about the prison sentences for convicted human smugglers after an Indian family's deaths on the Canada-U.S. border.

The Bachelor of Arts in music business degree at the University of St. Thomas was recently highlighted in a U.S. News & World Report article explaining how music business and management programs offer a mix of the creative and commercial aspects of the music industry.

Read more St. Thomas "In the News" stories.

Know of anything or anyone interesting around the university that would make for a good Newsroom feature story? Let us know at news@stthomas.edu.

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