Archive Posts
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In the News: Patricia Conde-Brooks on Hispanic Heritage Month
Diversity, Equity and InclusionPatricia Conde-Brooks, executive director of campus inclusion and community at the University of St. Thomas, recently joined WCCO Radio to talk about the importance of inclusion as we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. From the story: “Latinos are here to stay in Minnesota. Right now, we make up about 6% of the population in the state…
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Racial Justice Initiative: Leading Critical Conversations
Racial Justice InitiativeWhen the Racial Justice Initiative (RJI) was founded at the University of St. Thomas in summer 2020, a new lane for powerful and engaging work toward racial justice emerged in the Twin Cities. With a clear and unique vision, its founder, Dr. Yohuru Williams, champions historical recovery as the foundation for revealing the “six degrees… -
Policing MSP: Student Researchers Uncover Truth in Name of Racial Justice
Diversity, Equity and InclusionThe Racial Justice Initiative at the University of St. Thomas is examining the history of policing in Minneapolis and St. Paul, and the legacy of injustices experienced by Black, Indigenous and Latino communities. Behind the scenes, four St. Thomas students delved into newspaper archives and police and court records to outline the stories that come… -
New President Is All In
President's OfficePresident Rob Vischer commits to cultivating truth, beauty and goodness for the University of St. Thomas. When a 10-year-old Robert K. Vischer moved with his mother and siblings from Muscatine, Iowa, to greater Chicago in 1980, his world expanded. At the same time, as he tells it, he still lived a rather sheltered life. “I… -
A Champion for Race and Equity
Diversity, Equity and InclusionDr. Paola Ehrmantraut, the Endowed Chair in the Humanities and director of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, has had a busy year. It’s no wonder her faculty peers at St. Thomas selected her as the 2022-23 St. Thomas Professor of the Year – an honor that recognizes excellence in teaching, scholarship and service. As faculty… -
Ernie Owens: A Builder of Community
Diversity, Equity and InclusionIf 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 Path They Chose: Two Chief Diversity Officers Took the Road Less Traveled
Diversity, Equity and InclusionU.S. Bank’s Greg Cunningham and Best Buy’s Amelia Williams Hardy have a few things in common. They are both chief diversity officers, or CDOs, at Minneapolis-based Fortune 500 companies. They both obtained a bachelor’s degree from a historically Black university before securing their MBA elsewhere. And both sit on advisory boards at the University of… -
Making a Difference: Meet Our DEI Fellows
Diversity, Equity and InclusionWith 297 strategic priorities on the Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion to-do list, ODEI Associate Vice President for Inclusive Excellence Kha Yang can’t check them all off alone. “To be more inclusive happens at all levels and includes everyone – faculty, staff, as well as students,” she said. Approximately 40 ODEI Fellows and Ambassadors… -
Diverse Voices Walking Together
Diversity, Equity and InclusionAs scholars of Latin America, Professors Paola Ehrmantraut and Kari Zimmerman are passionate about an interdisciplinary project they developed approximately three years ago that uplifts immigrant voices while showcasing student research. Walking Together, a digital research hub officially launched at the University of St. Thomas in August 2021, is designed to celebrate the history of… -
President’s Letter: Committed to DEI
Diversity, Equity and InclusionIn the months since being named president, I have been asked numerous times about my top goals. While it’s still early in my tenure, there are a few goals that I consider immutable and vital to our mission as a Catholic institution. One of those is our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. At St.…