Winter 2023-24 Digital Magazine

Welcome to St. Thomas Magazine Winter 2023-24

Dear St. Thomas community,

In this edition of St. Thomas Magazine, we bring you an inspiring profile of Professor John Abraham, an incredible Tommie in the School of Engineering who is a highly regarded global expert on climate change and energy consumption. He even practices a low carbon footprint from how he powers his home to the sustainable design projects he oversees in Africa.

We also highlight some St. Thomas milestones, including the 100th anniversary of the Economics Department's first graduating class, the 30th anniversary of Catholic Studies and the 15th anniversary of the Fowler Business Concept Challenge, sponsored by alumnus Ron Fowler '66. You'll also see where St. Thomas is headed through an impactful story about the Mission of the Engineer course.

We hope you enjoy this digital journey as much as we enjoyed creating this selection!

At Home in Economics: A Department's 100 Years of Impact

Economics Department Collage
Nisha Kimber '24 refuses to limit future Nisha Kimber. The Maple Grove, Minnesota, native believes in keeping her career options open. And so, halfway through her collegiate career at the University of St. Thomas, Kimber was finding it particularly hard to declare a major. She found an ingenious solution in the office of Professor Monica…
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Related content:

An Economics Legend Turns 100 Alongside Department

Professor Emeritus Demos Hadjiyanis, who retired from his full-time position in 1990, turned 100 on Dec. 1, 2023. The milestone birthday came as the Department of Economics celebrated its own 100th graduating class. Read how he and three other professors, Theodor Brauer, Franz Mueller and Mohamed Selim, contributed to the strength of the department. Read more

Fowler Business Concept Challenge Celebrates 15 Years of Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Promo for Fowler Business Concept Challenge
Glittering purple, silver and white decorate the James B. Woulfe Alumni Hall. Decorated with flowers, balloons and refreshments, the hall is bustling with people. Students from multiple disciplines across the University of St. Thomas are center stage as they participate in the 15th annual Fowler Business Concept Challenge, a celebration of innovation. The bright-eyed students,…
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Mission of the Engineer Course Teaches Faith, Reason

Michael Naughton teaching a class.
Two University of St. Thomas leaders teaching a new interdisciplinary course hope it will become one of the university's signature offerings. Director of the Center for Catholic Studies Michael Naughton and School of Engineering Dean Don Weinkauf are co-teaching Mission of the Engineer. Students in the course learn and reflect on a variety of topics…
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What Powers John Abraham? The Answer May Be in His Backyard

John Abraham with dog
University of St. Thomas engineering professor John Abraham, a globally known expert on climate change, is on a quest to make the world a better place. That quest begins in his very own backyard. When Abraham invites visitors into his south Minneapolis backyard, guests may first notice the large vegetable garden. But after looking up, they'll find themselves immersed in a…
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Celebrating a Century: Alumni Recall Nazareth Hall

Nazareth Hall.
Nazareth Hall Preparatory Seminary is the essential prequel to the story of Saint John Vianney College Seminary at the University of St. Thomas. How could we celebrate 100 years of college seminary formation in this archdiocese without acknowledging where the first 47 years quietly took place along the beautiful shores of Lake Johanna, north of…
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Do you know any incredible Tommies? graphic
There are many incredible Tommies at St. Thomas. Whether they are current faculty, staff, students or alumni, if you know an Incredible Tommie we should feature in a future edition, use this form to recommend them. We especially are interested in individuals who have significantly transformed communities and the world at large.

Life at St. Thomas: 2023 Photos of the Year

Family celebrate and take photos on the quad in front of a 2023 letters after the College of Arts and Sciences Commencement Ceremony in the AARC Field House on May 20, 2023, in St. Paul.
Each year, St. Thomas photographers select a variety of images to highlight from the past 12 months. In 2023, staff photographers Mark Brown and Brandon Woller '17 took over 10,000 images at events, in classrooms and throughout the St. Thomas community. The images that follow highlight some of our favorite photos, moments and highlights from…
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Fr Jaspers recites last rites
Father Andrew Jaspers '13, an alumnus and an adjunct faculty member in the University of St. Thomas Philosophy Department, became a hospital chaplain when the pandemic began. He has brought the work he has done as a hospital chaplain to the classroom, where he discusses ethical issues and human nature. In his The Person and The Good classes, Jaspers has found that the questions people ask in the hospital at the end of life or when they're battling a serious illness are similar to the ultimate questions posed in his class. Read more
President Rob Vischer and Dr. Phil Esten '95 Named to TCB 100 List

Breaking Barriers: First-Generation Students Find Support, Belonging at St. Thomas

Schulze Innovation Scholars Impress Executives at U.S. Bank

Teaching Photography to Veterans Improves Entrepreneurship Professor's Outlook on Life

Read other stories in St. Thomas Magazine online.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Christmas Tree lighting with Tommie in ASC
Tommie and President Rob Vischer light the Christmas tree in the Anderson Student Center on Nov. 29, 2023, in St. Paul. (Brandon Woller '17 / University of St. Thomas)

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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