Archive Posts
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Faculty and Staff Offer LGBTQIA+ Book and Film Recommendations
Diversity, Equity and InclusionTo celebrate LGBT History Month, the Newsroom asked some members of the St. Thomas LGBTQIA+ and Allies Faculty and Staff Association for book and film recommendations to help provide the university community some diverse perspectives. Here are their thoughts. Boys and Oil by Taylor Brorby (2022) The book Boys and Oil: Growing Up Gay in…
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Truth, Healing and Indigenous Peoples Day
Faith and MissionAs we approach Indigenous Peoples Day on Oct. 10, Father Chris Collins, vice president for Mission at the University of St. Thomas, held a conversation with Maka Black Elk from the Red Cloud Indian School on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota about the “culture of encounter.” Collins used to work on the reservation and… -
St. Thomas Shows Support for Jewish Community
Faith and MissionAs students prepare to return to college campuses across the country, they’ll meet others from many faiths and cultures. The University of St. Thomas strives to be welcoming to people of all faiths. As a result, several university leaders came together to sign a statement of support for Jewish students, colleagues and neighbors. The statement… -
The REAL Program: Creating Pathways for Underrepresented Students
Diversity, Equity and InclusionEach summer on the University of St. Thomas campus, a group of 16 incoming students put on a talent show. The show is a hidden gem – it’s low-budget and barely advertised. Some years, you’ll catch poetry and singing. In others, improv or rapping. While certainly entertaining, for these fledgling college performers, the experience is… -
Community Visibility Inspires AAPI Tommies
Diversity, Equity and InclusionAs we wrap up the month of May, we also wrap up Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month. It’s a time to reflect on the contributions and achievements of a group of people – our neighbors, friends, coworkers, family – who Kha Yang, Associate Vice President for Inclusive Excellence in the Office… -
President Julie Sullivan’s Legacy Fuels St. Thomas’ Momentum
People & CultureFrom the start, Dr. Julie Sullivan, was bound to make history at the University of St. Thomas. Appointed the first lay person and woman president of Minnesota’s largest private university, Sullivan’s nine-year tenure is defined by historic milestones. On June 1, Sullivan steps down as St. Thomas president and again makes history when she becomes… -
Making 'Good Trouble': Nkechukw Akpati Awarded New Racial Justice Scholarship
Diversity, Equity and InclusionNkechukw Akpati dreams of making a career out of using his own voice. Drawn to the idea of hosting his own talk show, Akpati loves to entertain. But before getting his name on a marquee, he’s working hard to lift up the voices of others. “When you come from a school where you’re in the… -
Professor Kevin Henderson on Leading DEI Reform at St. Thomas
Diversity, Equity and InclusionKevin Henderson has seen an opportunity to influence diversity, equity and inclusion at the University of St. Thomas through his leadership role as a professor in the Opus College of Business. “The culture needs to change. I’m trying to help make that change happen to eliminate all the ‘isms’ that exist out there, so we… -
ThreeSixty Journalism Marks 20 Years Mentoring Budding Journalists
St. Thomas 2025In classrooms just off St. Paul’s Cretin Avenue, high school students piece together sound bites and interview notes they will transform into published work, marking them as journalists – broadcast or print, depending on the workshop. Participants in the ThreeSixty Journalism program have been coming to the St. Thomas campus for 20 years, learning an… -
Tommie Experts: Associate Chaplain Dr. Sadaf Shier Discusses Ramadan
Faith and MissionDuring the month of Ramadan, which begins this year on the evening of April 2, Muslims begin 30 days of fasting from sunrise to sundown. However, fasting during Ramadan is much more than just not eating and not drinking for 14 to 15 hours each day, said University of St. Thomas Associate Chaplain Sadaf Shier,…