Archive Posts
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St. Thomas Celebrates $25.5 Million Gift to Benefit the Liberal Arts and Athletics
Philanthropy in ActionA major gift is set to help advance interdisciplinary and intercultural education – as well as the future of athletics – at Minnesota’s largest private university and newest NCAA Division I program. The University of St. Thomas announced the anonymous $25.5 million gift on May 14 at a campuswide celebration. More than half of the…
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A New Generation of Tommie Filmmakers Blends Art and Entrepreneurship
Arts & HumanitiesAva Justin blends in with the crowd of students crossing the quad during the day on the University of St. Thomas St. Paul campus. But Justin is uniquely accomplished for a first-year student. She arrived at St. Thomas to major in business and minor in film after already starring in, co-writing and producing a feature… -
In Celebrating Emily Dickinson: Alone, We Shall Not Be
Tommie ExpertsOn the first day of my Emily Dickinson seminars, I always ask students what they’ve heard about the poet. The answers are often the same: she wore white dresses, her poems are all about death, and she never left her house. That last point usually leads to speculation about Dickinson’s mental health, followed by nods… -
From St. Thomas to Spotify: The Value of Networking
AlumniWhen Scott Henkemeyer ’97 steps into a content strategy meeting at Spotify, there’s a good chance at some point that day he’ll be serenaded by a mashup of bubblegum pop, indie rock and punk. That mix is not mandatory listening at headquarters but appears on his Spotify playlist, which contains throwbacks he listened to in… -
An ‘Amen’ to Empathy: Finding Power in Understanding the ‘Other’
University NewsRabbi Sharon Brous, a co-founder and lead rabbi of the IKAR Jewish congregation in Los Angeles, has some ideas for people who are feeling disconnected, isolated, and polarized: Be brave with your pain, and brave when you meet people who are hurting (or who have hurt you). Be present. Seek encounter. And make time for… -
Innovation Scholars Present Research to NASA
Business & LawFour students from various majors came together to gain hands-on experience working on technology for NASA. Through the Innovation Scholars program, students Olivia Keller ’26, Sam Mahannah ’26, Ilham Mohamud ’27 and Breanna Ranglall ’26 presented on how NASA should use its new technology. The group was led by Luke Nilles, an MBA student, along… -
St. Thomas Music Course Reaches Through the Generations
ArtsTommies enrolled in MUSC 230: Music of the United States, taught by Professor Sarah Schmalenberger, had the unique opportunity fall semester to engage in an intergenerational collaboration with residents at Episcopal Homes, a senior living community in St. Paul. This experiential learning partnership, part of the Academic Community Engagement (ACE) initiative at the University of… -
Dr. Obasesam Okoi Appointed to the Editorial Board of the Journal of Peace Education
Professional NotesDr. Obasesam Okoi, an assistant professor in the department of Justice and Society Studies, has been appointed to the editorial board of the esteemed Journal of Peace Education. His distinguished scholarship in peace and conflict studies, with a strong regional focus on Africa, will further the journal’s commitment to advancing critical discussions on peace education,… -
Philosophy Professor Awarded a National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship
Professional NotesDr. Gloria Frost, a professor of philosophy at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota, was awarded a National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) fellowship for the 2025-26 academic year. Her project is called “Divine and Created Causation in Medieval Philosophy” and will culminate in a book about medieval debates about how God’s causation of… -
English Professor Publishes Research on Reprinting History of the Brontë Sisters’ Poems
Professional NotesThe article, “A Reprinting History of the Brontës’ Poetry, 1850-1899,” by University of St. Thomas English Professor Alexis Easley, has been published in The Edinburgh Companion to the Brontës and the Arts, edited by Deborah Wynne and Amber K. Regis; Edinburgh University Press, 2025. Easley’s research found that despite poor initial sales, books of poetry…