Archive Posts
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St. Thomas Students Witness Challenges and Hope During Immigration Immersion Trip
Center for the Common GoodDuring J-Term, 11 University of St. Thomas students, accompanied by Manuela Hill-Munoz, director of social justice and changemaking, and history professor Dr. Kari Zimmerman, volunteered for 10 days at the Humanitarian Respite Center (HRC) in McAllen, Texas. They supported the center in its efforts to provide recent immigrants to the U.S. with a safe place…
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Building Connection With Communities One Course at a Time
St. Thomas 2025 - Prepare Educators to Dismantle DisparitiesOn a brisk Wednesday afternoon last December, five University of St. Thomas students gathered at the Catholic Charities Family Service Center in Maplewood, Minnesota, to offer meals to families experiencing homelessness. This experience came about because the students enrolled in a Common Good Community-Engaged course called Diversity and Cultural Competence taught by Dr. Chelda Smith,… -
Reflecting on CEVEA’s Impactful Civic Engagement in the 2023 Local Elections
Center for the Common GoodAs the year draws to a close, the University of St. Thomas Civic Engagement, Voter Education and Advocacy (CEVEA) task force looks back on a transformative year in local civic engagement. Spearheaded by dynamic initiatives like the Voter Ambassadors program and the CEVEA Faculty Ambassadors, along with a series of targeted events, the university has… -
Center for the Common Good Attends World Day of the Poor Conference
Center for the Common GoodUniversity of St. Thomas student Maddy Orr and staff member Manuela Hill-Muñoz recently attended a conference at the Church of the U.N. in New York City to learn about the World Day of the Poor, as established by Pope Francis in 2016. The conference was organized by Catholic Relief Services (CRS, the official international Catholic… -
Opus College of Business Professor Emeritus Publishes Third Edition of Business Economics Book
Professional NotesCambridge University Press recently published the third edition of Dr. Charles M. “Mel” Gray’s co-authored book, The Economics of Art and Culture. Gray is Professor Emeritus of Business Economics in the Opus College of Business and Senior Fellow with the Center for the Common Good. The third edition was delayed by the death of Gray’s original… -
Sister Norma Pimentel Encourages St. Thomas Community to Step Out of Comfort Zone
Faith and MissionSister Norma Pimentel, a dedicated advocate for change, encouraged the University of St. Thomas community to become more compassionate supporters of positive immigration and social change. Living in Texas, Pimentel witnessed the crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border firsthand. When she joined a group of sisters involved in taking care of immigrants in shelters, Pimentel found… -
In the News: Sister Norma Pimentel, the 'Pope's Favorite Nun,' Visits With St. Thomas Students
In the NewsSister Norma Pimentel, Mexican-American nun of the Missionaries of Jesus and the executive director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, recently visited with students at the University of St. Thomas, and - along with St. Thomas senior Maggie Sutton - spoke with KSTP-TV ahead of the on-campus event, deemed "Popping Bubbles." From the story: As… -
St. Thomas Students Advocate in Washington, D.C.
Center for the Common GoodTwo 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… -
University of St. Thomas Student Recognized on 2023 ALL IN Student Voting Honor Roll
Center for the Common GoodSkye 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… -
St. Thomas Presidential Volunteer Award Winners Embody Commitment to the Common Good
Center for the Common GoodThe 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,…