Archive Posts
-
South Africa to St. Thomas: Why This Fashion Entrepreneur Pursues an MBA
Business & LawBorn in Botswana and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa, Jessica Khupe ‘26 MBA has family ties to the University of St. Thomas dating back to the early 1990s. Her uncle, Dr. Keith Bothongo ’92, earned both his MBA and master’s in international management degrees at St. Thomas before founding Bothongo Group in Sandton, South Africa,…
-
President's Sunday Reflection: A Tale of Two Photos
People & CultureI saw a photo on Wednesday that I know I’ll never forget. Maybe you saw it too; it was taken by a Star Tribune photographer. A mom is sprinting barefoot down the middle of the street, her shoes in her hands, toward Annunciation Church. Desperate to find her child, terrified that she’ll never hold her… -
Sticker Shock on a Stick: St. Thomas Students Track Inflation at State Fair
In the NewsAt the Great Minnesota Get-Together, it’s not just the food that’s fried; wallets are feeling the heat too. University of St. Thomas students created the first-ever “On a Stick Index” to track State Fair inflation. The inaugural project, modeled after the Consumer Price Index (CPI), revealed how much more Minnesota fairgoers are paying for iconic… -
Life at St. Thomas: Summer
PhotosLife at St. Thomas is an ongoing feature highlighting the images that capture what daily life on campus is like. Check out some of the images from University of St. Thomas photographers taken during summer 2025. -
Why This Nutrition Program Teaches Guilt-Free Eating
Humans of St. ThomasFood guilt doesn’t belong at the dinner table nor in the classroom. That’s the philosophy driving Amber Roy’s work at the University of St. Thomas. A registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) and senior clinical professor, Roy is the nutrition program director for the Department of Health and Exercise Science. She teaches students to focus on overall… -
Can AI Prevent the Next Bridge Collapse? This St. Thomas Professor Has the Answer
Artificial IntelligenceAs Minnesota marks 18 years since the I-35W bridge collapsed in August 2007, a new study led by University of St. Thomas Professor John Abraham shows how artificial intelligence (AI) could help engineers prevent similar tragedies in the future. The study, co-authored with researchers in Iran - which is among the top five countries in… -
In Our Prayers: Michael E. Dougherty ’66
In Our PrayersThe University of St. Thomas community mourns the passing of Michael Emmett Dougherty ’66, an alumnus, trustee, visionary philanthropist and founding benefactor of Dougherty Family College (DFC). He died Aug. 10, 2025. Together with his wife Kathy and their family, he established Dougherty Family College at the University of St. Thomas to create a pathway… -
From the Gutter Up: How A Young Entrepreneur Grew His Business
Business & LawMichael Fafinski ’25 is an enterprising young man. The University of St. Thomas alumnus who majored in entrepreneurship, launched a landscaping company at age 16. Now, at age 23, he owns a gutter installation business with plans to grow through acquisitions. “I am going to sell this business in a decade or so and leverage… -
How A Love of Storytelling Led to a Dream Job Before Graduation
People & CultureHope Hansen ’24, a University of St. Thomas alumna who double majored in strategic communication and communication studies, has a longtime passion to feed her creative side. It started with dance lessons at age four, leading to years of competitive dance, teaching and judging dance, and landing as choreographer for musical theater camps in her… -
Reclaiming Roots: How This Student’s Hidden Past Is Shaping Her Future
Center for the Common GoodMorgan Whiting ’26 lights up when she meets someone new. She smiles, makes eye contact, and is excited to hear their story. The University of St. Thomas senior’s ability to build an immediate connection comes in handy as the leader of Students for Justice and Peace, an advocacy organization working for equity and justice for all…