Archive Posts
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Law School Student, Fellowship Program Honored
Business & LawUniversity of St. Thomas School of Law student Emily Hegna and the Archbishop Ireland Justice Fellows program were honored at the 2026 Minnesota Justice Foundation (MJF) Awards Celebration on Sept. 22. The event recognizes members of Minnesota’s legal community for their pro bono and public interest legal work. Emily Hegna, 3L – Outstanding Service Award…
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Landmark Case Leaves Lasting Legacy
Philanthropy in ActionMike Ciresi ’68 and Roberta Walburn turn a historic tobacco settlement into opportunities for generations of St. Thomas students. By 1994, the tobacco industry had spent decades defeating or outlasting smoking lawsuits without paying a dollar in damages. Lawyers Mike Ciresi ’68 and Roberta Walburn chose to confront the industry anyway. They met in the… -
St. Thomas Enrollment Remains Steady, Strong
University NewsThe University of St. Thomas reached its highest undergraduate enrollment in a decade this fall, welcoming 6,784 students as demand for a St. Thomas education remains strong. Total undergraduate enrollment, which includes 6,579 students seeking four-year degrees in addition to the 205 students pursuing two-year degrees at Dougherty Family College (DFC), increased slightly from 6,750… -
The Power of Possibility: Investing in a St. Thomas Education
St. Thomas 2030Gozel Rahymjanova achieved something few women do in the area where she grew up. She traveled more than 6,000 miles from her small village in Turkmenistan, a country bordering Iran and Afghanistan, to pursue a higher education in the United States. “I don’t know anyone in the area I grew up in who studied in… -
St. Thomas Microgrid Expansion Advances Energy Resilience
University NewsAs the nation’s electric grid faces aging infrastructure, cybersecurity threats and growing power demands, the University of St. Thomas has expanded its Center for Microgrid Research (CMR) to study how communities, military installations and businesses can keep electricity flowing when the larger grid is strained or disrupted. “If the grid goes down, or something really… -
More Than Microgrids: Dr. Mahmoud Kabalan Gives Students a Space to Flourish
St. Thomas 2030Dr. Mahmoud Kabalan grew up in Lebanon, where power outages were a regular part of his childhood. Today, he's the Bright.Green Director of the University of St. Thomas Center for Microgrid Research, whose systems have enough capacity to power an estimated 3,000 to 5,000 homes. Under Kabalan’s leadership, the center has grown significantly; recently celebrating… -
The Art of Leading Through Influence
ResearchErnest Owens on people and project management. The new chair of the University of St. Thomas’ faculty has spent more than three decades teaching students at the Opus College of Business to lead – even when they aren’t necessarily in charge. “It's mainly about influence,” said Associate Professor Ernest Owens. “How do I influence people… -
The Grotto: A Sacred Space Restored
University NewsA winding path now forms a loop through the Grotto on the University of St. Thomas south campus, passing new Stations of the Cross, native plantings and stone steps beneath a canopy of trees. This fall, St. Thomas and The Saint Paul Seminary completed a major restoration of the historic space, repairing an aging landscape… -
Kari Rusch-Curl Named New Dean of Students
Professional NotesThe University of St. Thomas has named Kari Rusch-Curl as its new Dean of Students, effective Oct. 5. The appointment brings Rusch-Curl back to St. Thomas, where she previously served as an area director, managing women’s residence halls from 2005 to 2008. Rusch-Curl has more than 20 years of progressive leadership experience advancing student success,… -
Arthur Brooks on Finding Happiness and Meaning in a Distracted World
University NewsSuccess doesn't always bring happiness. But bestselling author and scholar Arthur Brooks, who studies the science of happiness, says understanding happiness requires looking beyond how we feel at any given moment. "Happiness isn't a feeling any more than the smell of turkey is Thanksgiving dinner," Brooks said. "The smell of the turkey is evidence of…