Archive Posts
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St. Thomas Day Spotlights Six Tommie Honorees
AlumniOn St. Thomas Day May 6, the University of St. Thomas recognized and celebrated Tommies who are sparking meaningful change in the world as they live and extend the St. Thomas mission. These Tommies are making an incredible impact on campus, in the local communities, across the country and around the world. The 2026 recipients…
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A Wellness Club Helps Students GLOW
Humans of St. ThomasAbby Hutchinson ’26, co-founder of the student group Girls Living Out Wellness (GLOW), still remembers touring the University of St. Thomas for the first time. “I found myself comparing every school to the University of St. Thomas,” she said. Hutchinson immediately felt a sense of belonging that stayed with her, even as she formed one… -
Augie Stewart '26: Committed to the Common Good
Humans of St. ThomasAugie Stewart '26 moved more than a thousand miles to attend the University of St. Thomas because of its commitment to help students serve the common good. Originally from suburban Phoenix, Stewart first heard about St. Thomas from his godfather, who is an alum. The university was also attractive to him because of the work… -
2026 Tommie Award Winner: Helping Everyone Feel at Home
Humans of St. ThomasWhether Rachel Obeakemhe Theophilus is mentoring 40 first-year residents as R.A. of Dowling Residence Hall, organizing gatherings, or simply stopping to say hello between classes, she moves across the University of St. Thomas with a quiet but intentional purpose of making sure people feel seen. She is the student who remembers your name, checks in… -
Now a Medtronic Engineer, Alum Matthew Jerrard ’21 Inspires Tommies
Humans of St. ThomasMatthew Jerrard ’21 knew by early middle school he wanted to study computer science. He discovered this by creating CraftBukkit servers in the sandbox video game Minecraft, which is simply customizing gameplay to create a unique experience. “I knew from that point on I was going into software engineering,” said Jerrard, who majored in computer… -
DFC Faculty Profile: A Mission Toward Social Justice
People & CulturePortraits displayed on the walls of Dr. Tanden Brekke’s office show his family and civil rights activists, including Dolores Huerta, Ella Baker, Gandhi, Fannie Lou Hamer, Howard Thurman, Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. “They’re all people who did really, really powerful things, believed in themselves, believed in the people around them, understood the… -
A Nurse Educator on Resilience, Patient Care and the Future of Health
Humans of St. ThomasDr. Vane Gichana, a Susan S. Morrison School of Nursing faculty member at the University of St. Thomas, encourages her students to build small, intentional habits like journaling. She regularly writes in a gratitude journal herself. It’s a form of self-care that reflects her broader belief in holistic care and well-being. That perspective shapes how… -
AI Isn’t Optional. Neither Is Critical Thinking, Says St. Thomas Professor
Artificial IntelligenceOne way many people use artificial intelligence is also the least useful: Ask it to write something – a speech, a term paper or a corporate statement – and copy-paste whatever the chatbot kicks back into your document without much review. “You learn nothing,” said Tom Feeney, associate professor of philosophy in the College of… -
Brad von Bank '95: Investing in Opportunity and Community
AlumniFor Brad von Bank '95, choosing St. Thomas for his bachelor's degree was about more than proximity, it was about purpose. “I was committed to play football and baseball, and St. Thomas had a great reputation in the business community,” he said. “It offered a faith-based education and felt like home.” Now serving on the… -
Madam President: Ilham Mohamud Leads St. Thomas Undergraduates With Purpose
Humans of St. ThomasWhen Ilham Mohamud was elected president of the Undergraduate Student Government in spring 2025, the moment marked far more than a historic first for the University of St. Thomas. As the university’s first Black Muslim woman to hold the office, Mohamud’s leadership had begun long before her name appeared on a ballot. The senior from…