Archive Posts
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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…
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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… -
Tales from the Archives: 10 Gems Revealing St. Thomas History
People & CultureThe University of St. Thomas archives hold fascinating materials that offer a window into the history and evolving story of campus life, academics, and community. These collections preserve the moments, both monumental and everyday, that have shaped the university’s identity. University Archivist Ann Kenne shares 10 of her favorite items from the collections. General ledger,… -
St. Thomas Students Go ‘Beyond the Buzzer’ in Collaboration With Athletics
People & CultureWhen College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Dean Bill Tolman and Vice President and Director of Athletics Phil Esten began discussing opportunities for a collaboration, they knew one thing: They wanted University of St. Thomas students to be at the center of the project. The result is a student-driven series of video shorts called “Beyond… -
Lynx vs. Sky: St. Thomas Alumni Reunite in Chicago for WNBA Matchup
AlumniUniversity of St. Thomas alumni, staff and friends gathered in Chicago on July 14 as the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx faced the Chicago Sky, a team co-owned by St. Thomas Trustee Anne Sempowski Ward. Ward hosted the Chicagoland alumni at Wintrust Arena for an evening of spirited basketball and Tommie camaraderie. "We were so pleased to… -
Guided by Mentors, Driven by Mission: One Tommie Roots Career in Purpose
AlumniEshan Varma ’19, a proud graduate of the University of St. Thomas and member of the Alumni Engagement Board, embodies resilience and a commitment to supporting the next generation. Born and raised in Eagan, Minnesota, Varma’s journey is a testament to his adaptability, ambition, and dedication to the values of community and education. Initially attending… -
St. Thomas Professor Shares Teaching Methods in Germany
People & CultureMuffet Trout, PhD, associate professor in the School of Education and a fellow at the Minnesota Institute of Trauma-Informed Education at the University of St. Thomas, spent the month of June in Germany as an invited international guest lecturer at Technische Universitat Darmstadt (TUD). The relationship with TUD began several years ago, when a German… -
How AI Is Revolutionizing Thermal Sciences – A New Book by a St. Thomas Professor
Artificial IntelligenceArtificial intelligence is literally changing everything - as we watch. To stay at the forefront of this foundational technology, Dr. John Abraham, University of St. Thomas professor of thermal sciences, has co-produced the newly published book "Artificial Intelligence in Heat Transfer." The sixth book in a series, this one brings together world leaders in the field to share… -
In Our Prayers: Dr. Frank B. Wilderson, Jr.
University NewsThe University of St. Thomas community mourns the passing of former Board of Trustee member Dr. Frank Benjamin Wilderson, Jr., a dedicated educator and advocate for justice, who died peacefully on June 17, 2025, at the age of 94. Wilderson served 21 years on the St. Thomas Board of Trustees, beginning in 1998, offering wise…