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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St. Thomas Names New CFO and VP for Business Affairs
Professional NotesThe University of St. Thomas has announced Wade Holmberg ’09 MA as its new chief financial officer and vice president for business affairs. Holmberg is a familiar face at St. Thomas, having worked at the university as associate vice president for finance and controller from 2023-25. He will assume the role in May when longtime… -
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… -
Dr. Lisa Abendroth Named Endowed Professor in Marketing Innovation
Professional NotesDr. Lisa Abendroth has been named as the inaugural Hoffman Melrose Toro Endowed Professorship in Marketing Innovation at the University of St. Thomas' Opus College of Business. This new endowed professorship recognizes a distinguished faculty member who exemplifies excellence in teaching, a passion for pedagogical innovation, and a commitment to advancing ethical and innovative thinking… -
Under-Told Stories Project Nominated for Peabody and Emmy Awards
Professional NotesTwo projects produced by The Under-Told Stories Project, a collaboration between PBS and the University of St. Thomas, have been nominated for the News Emmy and Peabody awards. The Under-Told Stories Project is run by St. Thomas employees Fred de Sam Lazaro and Simeon Lancaster '17. "We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to tell… -
In Our Prayers: Susan S. Morrison
In Our PrayersSusan Schmid Morrison, a longtime University of St. Thomas benefactor, passed away on March 31 surrounded by family. She was 86. Sue Morrison cared deeply about the success of St. Thomas and its students. She and her husband, John, who has served on the university’s Board of Trustees since 1996, devoted more than 30 years… -
Marc Lore and Vik Uppal on Risk, Reinvention and Rebuilding
University NewsWhen he was 4 years old, Marc Lore didn’t say he wanted to be a CEO. He said he wanted to be a farmer. That was because “they grow stuff from nothing.” It was a child’s answer, but also, in hindsight, a blueprint for the person who would become the serial entrepreneur who founded the… -
St. Thomas Names Mandy Pearson as Women's Basketball Head Coach
AthleticsAfter a national search, University of St. Thomas announced that Mandy Pearson will serve as the next head coach of the women's basketball program at the University of St. Thomas. Pearson. "I am absolutely thrilled to welcome Mandy to St. Paul and the University of St. Thomas," Vice President and Director of Athletics Dr. Phil Esten said.… -
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… -
Schulze School of Entrepreneurship Receives USASBE Model Program Award
Professional NotesThe University of St. Thomas’s Schulze School of Entrepreneurship has been named the 2026 USASBE Model Program Award winner for Large Institutions, the highest honor presented by the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship. The award recognizes universities that demonstrate sustained excellence in entrepreneurship education while providing students meaningful opportunities to develop entrepreneurial…