Archive Posts
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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…
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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… -
The Innovator’s Mindset: Dr. Kundan Nepal and the Future of Engineering
Humans of St. ThomasSchool of Engineering Professor Kundan Nepal sits in the data visualization studio by a 32-foot curved LCD panel that displays 3-D graphics. His students at the University of St. Thomas don goggles to immerse themselves with interactive images, examining engineering structures as if they were right in front of them. Dr. Nepal said watching students… -
Reimagining Schools for Teacher Flourishing: Q&A with Dean Amy Smith
Health & EducationUnder the leadership of Dr. Amy F. Smith, dean of the School of Education at the University of St. Thomas, the school is deepening community partnerships, strengthening educator preparation, and rethinking how K-12 schools can be designed to better support both teachers and students. Smith looks to one question posed by the Next Education Workforce at… -
A New Kind of Coffee on Campus, and the Student Behind It
People & CultureGeorge Dannecker '28 didn't come to the University of St. Thomas looking for a business opportunity. He had already found one at the finish line of a trail race on the east coast. Now, the sophomore marketing and entrepreneurship major is bringing that discovery to campus, proving that entrepreneurial thinking can thrive anywhere, even 1,500… -
From Scholarship to Global Impact: Alumna's Education Travels Far
People & CultureAs Caitlyn Gomez Schaeffer ’11, a proud University of St. Thomas alumna, reflects on her transformative years at St. Thomas, she credits the university for being the foundation of her life and career trajectory. Gomez chose St. Thomas because it offered her the opportunity to move away from home and challenge herself in ways that…