Archive Posts
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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…
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Tommies on the Rise: A New Era of National Impact
AthleticsThere are many transition stories in college athletics, but few reflect what the University of St. Thomas has accomplished by completing its unprecedented leap from NCAA Division III to become a fully eligible Division I athletics program. “This was never about just moving up to another division,” said Phil Esten, vice president and director of… -
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… -
Women's Basketball Head Coach Ruth Sinn to Retire After 2025-26 Season
AthleticsA mainstay of University of St. Thomas women's basketball for more than two decades, head coach Ruth Sinn announced she will retire following the 2025-26 season. Sinn, who has spent 25 years with the program as both a player and coach, will be honored and celebrated during the team's final regular-season home game on Feb.… -
New Executive Director Leads Melrose and The Toro Company Center for Principled Leadership
Professional NotesThe University of St. Thomas has named Britt Cruz as executive director of the Melrose and The Toro Company Center for Principled Leadership in the Opus College of Business. Cruz began the role in mid-January and is leading the center’s operations, finances, and strategic direction. Cruz “embraces the common good as a shared responsibility that… -
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… -
In the News: Alum John Schneider '93 Empowers Seattle Seahawks Success
In the NewsUniversity of St. Thomas alumnus John Schneider was recently mentioned in The Seattle Times and The Athletic ahead of Super Bowl LX. During the 2025 season, before the Seattle Seahawks’ NFC Championship win, the Seahawks had a resurgence, a turnaround Schneider attributed to his vision, a focused rebuilding effort, and dynamic play on the field. He also credits… -
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… -
St. Thomas Students Reflect on Civil Rights History
In the NewsUniversity of St. Thomas students who spent J-Term on the We March for Justice Civil Rights Study Trip were interviewed by WJTV and WLBT news media in Canton, Mississippi, during a history tour led by civil rights activist and Canton native Flonzie Brown Wright. During a visit to the Canton Freedom House, students reflected on… -
Professor Puts People at the Center of Data
Humans of St. ThomasData is everywhere. Most people might picture a computer screen and a dense spreadsheet. Amelia McNamara goes beyond that, however. She partnered with the local Lumen Christi Catholic Community on a project that showed her students the real-world applications of data science. The parish specifically wanted to map the mental health needs of its members…