Faculty Profiles

Our faculty are active researchers, writers and speakers; many of them internationally known for their contributions toward the advancement of their fields of study. But, most of all, they're passionate, caring teachers.

  • Aimee Sever-Hall, MA

    Assistant Professor, ASL & Interpreting

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  • Alan Bode, MA

    Associate Professor, Radiology

    I have been a faculty member at St. Kate's since 1993. I have taught Radiation Exposure I, Exposure II, and Radiation Biology. I served as program director from 1993 until 2017.
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  • Allison Adrian, PhD

    Associate Professor, Music; Director of Competitive Fellowships.

    Dr. Allison Adrian specializes in ethnomusicology and musicology. She studied economics, music, and Spanish during her undergraduate years. Before pursuing a graduate degree, she worked as a technology consultant, an AmeriCorps volunteer, and a group leader for high school students studying abroad.

    She obtained her master’s degree at UCLA in ethnomusicology, focusing on Basque American vocal music. She moved to the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities to pursue her doctoral research with Mirjana Lausevic (1966–2007). Her dissertation examined music in 20 different Lutheran congregations in the Twin Cities made up of recent immigrants and refugees from Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

  • Allison Scheel, MSW, LGSW

    MSW Director of Field Education and Assistant Professor

    Allison Scheel is the MSW Field Director in Social Work Department. She joined the St. Catherine University BSW Social Work Department in April 2019 as the BSW Director of Field Education. She has 25 years of experience in the social work field engaging in community-building practice work as a program manager at Goodwill Easter Seals and Neighborhood House agencies. She worked in the research department at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs overseeing local and national studies. She currently teaches MSW Foundation Field Seminar courses. She is on the East Side Health and Well-Being Collaboration Committee which serves to create innovative and culturally responsive programs.

  • Alvin P. Akibar, PhD

    Assistant Professor, Psychology

    Dr. Alvin P. Akibar studies relationships between identity (race/ethnicity, LGBTQ+), social experiences (discrimination, support) and health, particularly during the transition from adolescence to adulthood.
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  • Alyssa Farrell MS, OTR/L

    Assistant Professor, Academic Fieldwork Coordinator, OTA Online

    Alyssa Farrell works at St. Catherine University as an Assistant Professor and Academic Fieldwork Coordinator in the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program.

    Alyssa has been a practicing OT since 2009. She graduated with a Master's of Science degree in Occupational Therapy in 2009 from Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, MI.

    For the first 7 years of her career, she worked in various acute care hospital settings focusing her research on early mobilization in the ICU. She transitioned into an outpatient pediatric clinic in December 2015 until December 2019 before accepting a full time Assistant Professor position at St. Catherine University in December 2019.

  • Ambria Crusan, PhD, RD, LD

    Assistant Professor, Exercise Science and Nutrition, Nutrition Science, Dietetics

    Ambria started teaching at St. Kate's in 2017. After working as a Clinical Dietitian for 4 years, she pursued her PhD and a career in academia. She is a Registered Dietitian passionate about nutrition assessment, diet quality, and obesity-related inflammation. Her current research is focused on carotenoids and markers of adiposity in population samples. Ambria is involved in many Interprofessional Education (IPE) opportunities as she hopes to promote the field of dietetics in these settings and finds high value in IPE collaboration for students.
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  • Amy Bowers, MSN, RN

    Assistant Professor, Nursing

    Amy M. Bowers MSN, RN is an Assistant Professor of Nursing in the Baccalaureate Day Program at St. Catherine.  She obtained a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center and a Master’s degree in Nursing Education from St. Catherine University.  Amy’s clinical background covers various areas of nursing including work in Medical Surgical, Emergency Department, Post-Partum, Newborn Nursery, Birthing and Lactation Education, Long term care, Pharmacy medication audits.  Her teaching interests include Education for Mothers and children concerning what it takes to thrive in their situation in life and care of medical and surgical adults with a focus on women.

  • Amy Hamlin, PhD

    Associate Professor , Art and Art History

    Amy K. Hamlin is an Associate Professor in the Department of Art and Art History, where she teaches across the art history curriculum. Hamlin holds a PhD in art history from the Institute of Fine Arts at New York University, an MA in art history from Williams College, and a BA in art history from Vassar College. She is the author of essays on the work of Max Beckmann, Jasper Johns, William H. Johnson, and Kara Walker. In 2014, she cofounded with Karen J. Leader the project Art History That, which aims to curate, crowdsource, and collaborate on the future of art history. Between 2016 and 2019, she served as the inaugural Alberta Huber, CSJ, Endowed Chair in the Liberal Arts and Director of the Evaleen Neufeld Initiative in the Liberal Arts.

  • Amy Hilden, PhD

    Associate Professor, Philosophy

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  • Amy M. Shaw, MLIS, MM

    Head of Archives and Special Collections / Associate Professor, Library

    I became Head of Archives and Special Collections in 2019, my 25th year at St. Kate's. (Prior positions included Systems Librarian and Performing Arts Librarian.) The Archives and Special Collections department encompasses historical university records, manuscript collections, rare books, and several thousand physical objects. My research and creative activity reflect the archivist's interest in primary sources as well as my subject area of music. In the field of music, I am particularly interested in the history of musical instruments and in the traditional music of the Nordic countries, Ireland, Scotland, and Canada.

  • Ana Hawkins, MBA

    Adjunct Faculty, Master of Business Administration

    Ana Hawkins received her MBA from the Carlson School of Management with Honors. She comes to St. Catherine University with over 15 years in business, both in consulting and in strategy and marketing, with specific experience in industrial and healthcare markets leading innovation projects and launching them to the market. She is particularly proud of bringing an innovating product in Healthcare to the market called 3M™ Cavilon™ Advanced Skin Protectant from early stages to launch. Ana enjoys the passion and energy the students bring to the class and their interest in learning.
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  • Anaya Mitra, PhD, MPH

    Associate Professor, Psychology

    Anaya is associate professor of psychology at St. Catherine University. Her area of specialization is biological psychology and she received her doctorate from the University of Florida. Her doctoral work examined the impact of maternal obesity on fetal development, using a rodent model. She also holds a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Florida. Her master’s thesis examined smoking cessation outcomes at the local public health department, following dissemination of information regarding the adverse effects of smoking on one’s health and on one’s wallet. Following her doctoral work, she did a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Minnesota and the Veterans Administration Medical Center.

  • Andrea Kalis, PhD

    Assistant Professor, Biology

    I am interested in how genes regulate the development of specific cell fates in the model system C. elegans. My current research focuses on how Hox genes and their TALE co-factors regulate neuronal identity of male-specific ventral cord neurons. With this research project, I collaborate with undergraduate student researchers and include aspects of the project in upper-level Biology courses that I teach.
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  • Andrea Olson, PhD

    Professor, Psychology

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  • Andrea Toft

    Assistant Professor, Nursing

    Andrea has worked as a Critical Care Float Pool RN at the University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital since 2016. In 2016, Andrea completed her Master's Degree in Nursing through Marquette University. She began teaching at St. Catherine University the fall of 2019 in the Baccalaureate Degree Program for the College for Women. During her time at St. Catherine University she has taught in the Pediatric courses, in both the classroom and clinical settings along with Nursing care of Individuals and families in the classroom and lab setting.
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  • Angela Ekwonye, PhD, CPH

    Assistant Professor, Public Health

    Angela Ekwonye obtained her undergraduate degree in Biology and Education from University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, her master's degree in Microbiology and PhD in Health Sciences. She has taught at different levels of education and recently helped designed and developed the undergraduate Public Health program at Franklin Pierce University, New Hampshire. Her research interest focuses on understanding how spiritual and religious practices relate to mental health, personal, and academic success.
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  • Annalisa Jordan, PhD

    Assistant Professor, Chemistry

    Doctor of Philosophy – Chemistry (2012)
    The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
    Dissertation Title: Chemical Investigations of Endophytic and Fungicolous Fungi
    Bachelor of Arts – Biochemistry (2004)
    College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University, Saint Joseph, MN
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  • Anne Maloney, PhD

    Associate Professor, Philosophy

    Anne M. Maloney received her Ph.D. in Philosophy from Marquette University in 1988. She is currently an Associate Professor of Philosophy at St. Catherine University in St. Paul, MN. Her areas of specialization include Philosophy of Women, Ethics, Philosophy and Literature, Philosophy of Religion, and Existentialism. She has published articles in Crisis Magazine, Human Life Review, and The Journal of Prolife Feminism. Also, she has contributed chapters to two books dealing with abortion and social ethics: Living With Contradictions: Controversies in Feminist Social Ethics, edited by Alison Jaggar, and Catholicism and Abortion: A New Generation of Catholic Response.

  • Anne Weyandt

    Associate Professor, Education

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  • Anne Williams-Wengerd, MS

    Assistant Professor, Psychology

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  • Anthony Molaro, PhD, MLIS

    Associate Professor, MLIS Program

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  • Anupama Pasricha, PhD

    Department Chair/Professor, Fashion Design and Merchandising

    Personal evaluation and reflection deepens my sense of consciousness towards the mission and vision of St. Catherine University and the realization that I have embodied this mission and vision. St. Catherine University has given me inspiration, the opportunity to work with wonderful people, and helped me grow and flourish as an individual, educator, researcher, and servant leader. This growth has enabled me to bring forth progressive influence on my students, colleagues, and community. It has brought me bliss, triumph, and an empowerment to continue the journey. I am so proud of the diversity of our students, their aesthetics, inspirations, and designs which are shaped by the innovative curriculum we teach.

  • Arturo Sesma, PhD

    Associate Professor, Psychology

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  • Ashley McFarlane, PhD

    Assistant Professor, Economics and Political Science

  • Ashley Singh, MS

    Assistant Professor, Nursing

    While earning my undergraduate nursing degree at SDSU I received a scholarships to study abroad in Sweden and study world maternal and child issues. I also obtained a degree in Spanish while attending SDSU where I received another scholarship to study Spanish in Mexico. After graduating, I worked on a medical unit at Avera St. Luke's, a rural hospital in Aberdeen, South Dakota. I was able to cross-train to pediatrics, surgical and outpatient units. I then accepted an RN position at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota on the bone marrow transplant unit.
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  • Beaudelaine Pierre, PhD

    Assistant Professor, Women's Studies

  • Beth Cunniff, MSN, RN, CNP, CNE

    Assistant Professor, Nursing

    Beth Cunniff is an assistant professor of nursing at St. Catherine University in the Baccalaureate Degree Program - College for Adults. She holds a BSN degree from Creighton University, an MSN-NP degree with a focus on Children with Special Healthcare Needs from the University of Minnesota, and an MSN-NE degree from St. Catherine University. Beth is currently a PhD student with a focus in Nursing Education at the University of Northern Colorado. Special areas of interest include pediatrics, curriculum design and evaluation, and simulation.
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  • Beth Meighan-Palanivel MA, BSN, CCAP

    Assistant Professor, Nursing

    Beth completed her BSN at Allen College in Waterloo, Iowa in 2008. In 2013, she received her MA in Holistic Health Studies from St. Catherine University. Beth has served on the Board of the Minnesota Holistic Nurses Association (one of the largest and oldest chapters of the American Holistic Nurses Association) since 2014. Additionally, Beth is a Certified Clinical Aromatherapy Practitioner (CCAP) and has training Healing Touch, Therapeutic Touch and Reiki. In 2020, Beth was awarded the Daisy Award for Extraordinary Nursing Faculty.
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  • Bethany Rahn, MFA

    Assistant Professor, Art & Art History

  • Bethsabe Huaman Andia, PhD

    Assistant Professor, International Languages and Literature

    I am originally from Lima, Peru, where I studied Literature. I graduated from the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos (UNMS) with a dissertation about the Peruvian poet Blanca Varela. I continued with the study of poetry among Peruvian female poets from 1980's generation in a comparative research with Mexican female poets of the same generation. I graduated from El Colegio de Mexico (Colmex) with a dissertation about Coral Bracho and Rocío Silva Santisteban. I had the opportunity to add more female poets to the comparative study during a year at Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM).

  • Brenda Ellingboe, MAOL, PhD

    Adjunct Faculty, Organizational Leadership

    Dr. Brenda Ellingboe has 14 years of experience teaching English to multilingual students. In December 2012, she was one of 20 recipients to win Teacher of the Year in a nationwide, annual competition from the ELS/Berlitz Company. As an MAOL graduate (2005), she has a passion for encouraging the heart and enjoys serving as the writing coach for Foundations of Leadership and Ethics, the first course in the program. She loves that MAOL is an interdisciplinary program that is also cross-culturally aware of differences in our society today. It is a leadership program that is willing to change with the times and is flexible and adaptable to grow in the future.

  • Brian Jonart, PT, NCS

    Assistant Professor, Physical Therapist Assistant Program

    As a practicing PT and Assistant Professor, I continue to be excited, challenged, and grateful to be in the PT profession. I spend my time as a faculty member in St. Catherine University's PTA program and the Acute Rehab Unit at M Heath Fairview. My primary practice/teaching areas are Neuro/Orthopedic rehab. I also have a passion for health and wellness for the general population, healthcare provider, and patients with chronic medical conditions.
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  • Bridget Sabatke, MS, NIC-Master, EIPA 4.0, QMHI-S

    Assistant Professor, ASL and Interpreting

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  • Candalee Hill MS, MAOL, RN, CNE-cl

    Assistant Professor, Nursing

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  • Carey Winkler, MSW, DSW, LICSW

    Assistant Professor, Social Work

    I am passionate about co-creating transformative learning experiences that engage us all in growing, leading, and healing. Inspired by the words of the late Senator Paul Wellstone who said, "We all do better when we all do better," I am called to work towards all people being seen, heard, and felt in the world.
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  • Carol Chase, MFA

    Associate Professor, Art and Art History

    I am an artist that loves to teach. I teach all things two-dimensional here in the Art and Art History department at St. Kate's: drawing, painting and design.
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  • Carol Geisler, PhD, RN

    Associate Professor, Master of Arts in Holistic Health Studies

    I have been teaching and serving as the Research Coordinator in the Master of Arts in Holistic Health Studies since 2004 and have guided over 250 graduate students in completing a Master's thesis of their own choosing. Personally, I have been interested in the interconnections between mind, body, and spirit since I was a young child. My life journey has taken me on an interesting and ever-evolving path where I have studied nursing, counseling, psychology, spirituality, energy healing, plants as medicine, soul purpose, ritual, death & dying, meditation, collaboration, and research as part of my own lifelong integrative health journey.

  • Carol Mager, MS

    Assistant Professor, Apparel, Merchandising & Design

    I am an unconventional instructor. I worked in the fashion industry for 20+ years before coming to love teaching! I have designed and made industrial patterns for womenswear, menswear, and outerwear. My specialty is production quality pattern making, grading, and curating student collections. The courses I teach are: Apparel Construction & Analysis, Patternmaking, Draping & Creative Design, Collection Development, and Capstone Collection. I love working with individual students and helping them grow their talents. Teaching and designing are my passions!
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  • Caroline Krafft, PhD

    Associate Professor of Economics

    Caroline Krafft is an economist specializing in development economics, primarily labor, education, health, and inequality in the Middle East and North Africa. She collaborates with St. Kate’s students, international non-governmental organizations, and a global network of scholars in her research. Current projects include work on early childhood development, labor market dynamics, life course transitions, human capital accumulation, and fertility. Caroline teaches courses in economics and statistics, and serves as the program director for the Women and International Development major. She is particularly interested in how economics can help societies understand and address social issues, and is writing a textbook on that topic.

  • Carrie Marzolf, MSPA, PA-C

    Assistant Professor, Physician Assistant Studies

    Carrie Marzolf joined the St. Catherine University Physician Assistant Program in 2018. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a Bachelor of Science degree in Life Science Communications in 2002. She received her Master of Physician Assistant Studies from the University of New England in 2007. Her clinical experience is primarily in hospital medicine.

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  • Cassandra Donahue

    Assistant Professor, Radiation Therapy

    As the Clinical Coordinator for the radiation therapy program, I am passionate about educating and mentoring students to become high quality radiation therapists. I take pride in what I do because I know that at the completion of our program, our students are well prepared for a rewarding career in radiation oncology.
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  • Catherine Graeve, PhD

    Associate Professor, Nursing

    Catherine Graeve is an Associate Professor in the College for Adults. She has taught global health, community health, mental health, and holistic care of the older adult. Catherine also works as a Hospice Nurse. She has nursing experience in public health, oncology, bone marrow transplant and hospice. She is currently a mentor for the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments (ANHE). She is on the policy committee for the Minnesota Cancer Alliance. Catherine has also worked as a community liaison for a research effort to better understand how environmental factors affect health beginning before birth.

  • Catherine M. Kelly, PhD

    Associate Professor, Education

    Catherine M. Kelly, Associate Professor of Education at St. Catherine University, teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in literacy methods and children's literature, content area literacy, research methods, and assessment in addition to supervising practicum and student teaching experiences. Her research interests focus on effective preparation of and induction for elementary teachers particularly for diverse school contexts. She holds current Minnesota teaching licenses in Elementary Education K-6, Reading K-12, and English as a Second Language K-12.
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  • Catherine Sullivan, PhD

    Associate Professor, Occupational Therapy

    Dr. Sullivan is a tenured Associate Professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy. Her past and present teaching areas have included Kinesiology, Neuroscience, Research and Gerontology. Her primary areas of research, practice and advocacy are in gerontology, with a focus on safe mobility within the home and the community, and on promoting quality of life through continued participation in the arts and other valued occupations. Her recent projects have focused on statewide initiatives to improve older driver safety and transition to alternative community mobility options. She also has an ongoing partnership with Rebuilding Together Twin Cities to develop and implement assessments and interventions to improve safety within the home for low income homeowners.

  • Chris Purfeerst, MA, RN

    Assistant Professor, Nursing

    Chris Purfeerst has been a faculty member of the nursing program since January of 2008, and prior to that as an adjunct clinical instructor beginning in 2003. She has taught in several nursing fundamentals and clinical courses in the department, most recently in N3800 & N3810, and has practice expertise in adult medical-surgical nursing. She has ten years of experience working as a RN at the University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview hospital on an adult medicine unit (2002-2012). She has been recognized as a Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) specializing in knowledge, skill, and excellence in practice (2012-2017).

  • Christina Anderson, PT, DPT

    Director of Clinical Education, Associate Professor, Doctor of Physical Therapy Program

    Christina Anderson joined the DPT faculty in 2013 as Assistant Professor and Director of Clinical Education. She is a graduate of the Physical Therapy Program at St. Catherine University, receiving her Master of Physical Therapy degree in 2001 and returning to complete her transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy degree in 2010. She holds a bachelor’s degree from St. Olaf College. Dr. Anderson is currently pursuing an EdD degree from Bethel University.

    Dr. Anderson practiced clinically for 12 years in the areas of acute care, home care, and geriatrics. She has worked closely with DPT students in various capacities including ICE Clinical Faculty, Clinical Instructor, Site Coordinator of Clinical Education, and now as the Director of Clinical Education.

  • Christine "Tina" Kraft, MA, COTA/L

    Assistant Professor, OTA

    Tina Kraft is Assistant Professor in the Online OTA Program. She has an Associates of Science in Occupational Therapy Assistant and a Bachelors of Healthcare Administration from the University of Southern Indiana, and a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from South University. Her primary course teaching covers introductions to the profession, professional skills and behaviors, treatment in psychosocial arenas and healthcare management. Her scholarship has focused on Collaborative Models of clinical learning and addressing spirituality in the profession.
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  • Christopher Jordan, PhD

    Assistant Professor, Chemistry

  • Christopher Ross, PhD

    Assistant Professor, Mathematics

    Specialist in Combinatorial Probability
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  • Claire Bischoff, PhD

    Assistant Professor, Theology

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  • Colleen Carpenter, PhD

    Professor, Theology and Women's Studies

    Carondelet Scholar
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  • Cort Cieminski, PT, PhD, ATC, LAT

    Program Director, Professor, Doctor of Physical Therapy Program

    Dr. Cort Cieminski, PT, PhD, LAT is a professor and Program Director in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at St. Catherine University. He is a graduate of the University of North Dakota, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Therapy in 1988. He received a Master of Science degree in Exercise and Sports Studies from Boise State University in 1992 and his PhD in Rehabilitation Science, with an emphasis in biomechanics, in 2007 from the University of Minnesota. He is also a Certified Athletic Trainer and is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association, National Athletic Trainer’s Association, and the International Society of Biomechanics.

  • Craig Kage, PT, DPT

    Assistant Professor, Physical Therapy

    Craig Kage, PT, DPT is an assistant professor at St. Catherine University in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 2008 (Bachelor of Science - Kinesiology) and 2011 (Doctor of Physical Therapy). He is currently a PhD candidate in the Rehabilitation Science program at the University of Minnesota with a research focus in cervical spine kinematics. He is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association and the American Society of Biomechanics. Dr. Kage's scholarship is in the area of spine biomechanics and he has presented his research at local and national conferences.

  • Craig Roger, MBA

    Associate Professor & Chair, Business Administration

    Professor Roger currently serves as chair of the undergraduate business department and teaches primarily in accounting and business analytics. Professor Roger worked professionally in both accounting roles and systems analyst roles prior to starting his 30-year teaching career, completing the most recent 20 years at St. Kate's.
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  • Cuc Kim Vu, MS

    Assistant Professor, Biology

    Cuc Kim Vu has taught at St. Catherine University since 2000. She teaches various biology courses (Anatomy and Physiology, Human Disease, and Microbiology), foundational courses (math, study skills, computer skills), and inter-professional courses (Core Integrated Learning, CIL). Her area of research is in biology education, with a focus on equity and inclusion in STEM Education. One of Cuc Kim Vu's current projects is on Critical Skills Integration (CSI-StKate's) with General Anatomy and Physiology.
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  • Cynthia Bailey Manns

    Professional Faculty, Spiritual Direction Coordinator, Theology

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  • Cynthia Dols Finn, MN, DNP, PHN, CNE, AHN-BC, CHTP/A

    Associate Professor of Nursing

    Cynthia is faculty in the College for Adults Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing (BSN CFA), Masters of Science in Nursing Entry Level (MSNEL) and the Doctor of Nursing Program (DNP).  She is an Associate Professor at St. Catherine University and has been on the nursing faculty since fall 1999. She assisted in the development of a Unitary Human Caring Science BSN curriculum, which includes integrative and cultural healthcare curricular components. She is active in promoting healthy learning environments built upon safe interpersonal behaviors. She completed her Doctor of Nursing Practice at St. Catherine University.

  • Cynthia Graham

    Assistant Professor, Library

    Cindy Graham is a health sciences librarian, working with students and faculty. In this capacity, she builds collections of books, journals, and electronic resources to meet the needs of health sciences programs. Cindy's research interests include health sciences collection management and conducting and teaching students to conduct systematic reviews. She has a BA in Architectural Studies, an MA in Library and Information Science, and most recently, an MA in Holistic Health Studies.
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  • Cynthia Norton, PhD

    Professor of Biology and Women's Studies; Director of Collaborative Undergraduate Research

    Cindy Norton is an evolutionary biologist with broad interests in the intersections of ecology, evolution and behavior. She studies reproduction, growth, and development of the freshwater snail Planorbella (Helisoma) trivolvis as a model for understanding the life history, reproductive biology and behavior of hermaphrodites. Students actively collaborate in all aspects of the research – from conception of projects, data collection and analysis to presentation at both local and national conferences. Dr. Norton has been a faculty member at St. Kate’s since 1990, teaching courses in both Biology and Women’s Studies including: Foundations of Biology I, Evolutionary Biology, Animal Behavior, Biology of Women, and Foundations of Women’s Studies, as well the interdisciplinary collaboration Discovering the History of Evolutionary Thought: Darwin in Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands during January.

  • Damon Klaphake, MS

    Assistant Professor, Liberal Arts and Sciences

    I have taught Human Anatomy and Physiology, Human Disease, Human Ecology, Microbiology, Chemistry, College Study Skills, Transcultural Communication, and Dosage Calculations Math at St. Catherine University since 1997. I am a member of the Biology Department and primarily teach courses to students in the College for Adults.
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  • Daniel Williams, PhD

    Associate Professor, Sociology

    Daniel Williams is associate professor in the Department of Sociology, and affiliate faculty in Critical Studies of Race and Ethnicity and Women's Studies. Professor Williams' work examines constructions of race, ethnicity and nation from a comparative and intersectional perspective, with a focus on contemporary Germany/Europe and the U.S., as well as the African Diaspora. He research topics include racial identity and categorization, neighborhoods and inequality, immigration and citizenship, and qualitative/ethnographic methods.
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  • Darla Coss, OTD, OTR/L, CHT

    Assistant Professor, Occupational Therapy

    Darla joined the OCTH department at St. Catherine University full time in August of 2016. In addition to clinical expertise in areas of hand therapy and industrial rehabilitation, Darla has spent the past few years exploring the effects a cancer diagnosis has on one’s ability to participate fully in life. She is an active member and educator at Gilda’s Club Twin Cities, helping those living with cancer-related issues like fatigue and cognitive changes return to the activities they want and need to do.
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  • Daron E Janzen, PhD

    Professor, Chemistry

    Daron Janzen is a Professor and Carondelet Scholar in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. He received his Ph.D. in the area of Inorganic chemistry. He routinely teaches General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry laboratory courses, and Advanced Inorganic Chemistry. Professor Janzen’s research foci include coordination chemistry and organometallic chemistry, X-ray crystallography, green chemistry, materials chemistry, and laboratory curriculum development. All of his scholarship involves collaborative undergraduate research, with students at St. Kate’s as well as numerous faculty and students from other Primarily Undergraduate Institutions.

  • David Chapman, PT, PhD

    Professor, Doctor of Physical Therapy Program

    Dr. David Chapman, PT, Ph.D. is an associate professor and Co-Chair of the IRB at St. Catherine University. He is a graduate of the University of Iowa where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in exercise science and secondary education in 1980. He received a Master of Science degree in Physical Education/Adapted Physical Education with an emphasis in measurement from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale in 1984. He completed his doctor of philosophy degree at Indiana University in Human Performance and Developmental Psychology in 1999 as well as his physical therapy degree in 2000.

  • David Lesniaski, DMA, MLS

    Associate Professor, Library and Information Science

    I came to St. Catherine University in 2004 from St. Olaf College where, as a member of the library faculty, I served in several different positions, including Co-College Librarian, Collection Development Librarian, and Catalog Librarian during my 15-year career there. I also had a Fulbright grant to travel to Greece in 1995 to help with the development of a research-level music library in Athens. Before I arrived at St. Olaf I had several short-term positions in many different libraries, including the University of Minnesota (where I cataloged Polish and Ukrainian archival material), the Minnesota Senate Index, and Minneapolis Public Library.

  • Dawn Quigley, PhD

    Associate Professor, Education

    Dawn Quigley, Ph.D. is an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe. Her scholarship uses Indigenous Research Methodology as she studies models of teacher education in how to include respectful Native American curriculum into P-12 classrooms. Dr. Quigley is also an author of children's books focused on contemporary Native American stories.

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  • Deborah Churchill, RN, MA

    Associate Professor, Liberal Arts & Sciences

    Currently my work at St. Kates involves teaching of critical literacy skills (reading & writing) within the core course, The Reflective Woman/The Reflective Life. I teach these courses in a variety of formats: face-to-face, hybrid, and fully online. Additionally, with my background in Nursing, I work with students in Anatomy & Physiology to master the lecture and lab content.
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  • Deborah Madanayake, PT, JD, GCS, CLT, CEEAA

    Assistant Professor, Physical Therapy

    Deborah Madanayake is a 1986 graduate of the College of St. Scholastica with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Physical Therapy. She is certified as a Geriatric Clinical Specialist through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. Deborah earned a Juris Doctor degree from William Mitchell College of Law in 2005. She holds certifications as a lymphedema therapist and an exercise expert for aging adults. She is continuing her lifelong education as a student in the Doctor of Bioethics program at Loyola University. Deborah joined the DPT faculty in 2006 where she teaches course content in geriatric physical therapy, ethics, legal issues, and practice management.

  • Deborah St. Anthony, DNP, MEd, BSN, RN, AGCNS-BC

    Assistant Professor, Nursing

    I started my teaching career at The College of St. Catherine Minneapolis in the Associate Degree Nursing Program. Since then I have been in nursing education for 29 years and completed a DNP degree from the University of Minnesota in May, 2020. I am Board Certified as an Advanced Practice Adult/Geriatric Clinical Nurse Specialist, AGCNS-BC. I am a new Assistant Profession in the Department of Nursing in the College for Adults. I am happy to be back and feel like I have come back home!
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  • Debra Huntley

    Assistant Professor, Psychology

    I am a licensed clinical psychologist with over 30 years of teaching at colleges and universities as a full-time professor.
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  • Deep Shikha

    Professor, Economics and Political Science

    Deep Shikha, Ph.D. is Professor of Economics at St. Catherine University. Previously, she served as the associate dean for the School of Business and Leadership, Economics Department Chair, coordinator for the Center for Women, Economic Justice, and Public Policy. Her major fields of expertise are in financial economics, resource economics, gender economics, and quantitative business analysis. She has several workshop/presentations to her credit, and has authored/co-authored several articles. Recently, she has presented several workshops on the global financial climate. Dr. Shikha has almost 35 years experience, primarily in the area of education.

  • Diane Fittipaldi, MBA, EdD.

    MBA Program Director, Assistant Professor, Business Administration

    Diane Fittipaldi, MBA, EdD. joined St. Catherine University in 2015 and serves as the Director of the MBA Program and Assistant Professor. As a practitioner and an academic, Dr. Fittipaldi brings a rare blend of experience to our students giving them not only an understanding of theory but also the ways theory comes to life in practice. She completed my MBA from the University of Michigan in 1982 and spent 30 years in business, initially as a brand manager for General Mills and later as an advertising executive for two of the world's largest advertising agencies,BBDO and the McCann World group.

  • Dorothea Hansmeyer, MS

    Assistant Professor, Nursing

    I earned my Masters in Nursing Leadership at St. Catherine University. This pilot program was a collaborative venture between the Masters of Organizational Leadership (MAOL) and the Nurse Educator departments. I was interested in learning from both of these educational departments in order to challenge myself as a leader and educator. I strive to align my professional beliefs with my personal MAOL Leadership Credo. These are based on my five core beliefs: 1. Listen with an open mind 2. Be Curious 3. Speak from your own voice 4. Be patient with your journey. I strive to treat people with dignity and respect, develop cooperative relationships, follow through on promises and commitments, praise people for a job well done and actively listen to diverse points of view.

  • Edie Wasyliszyn, MBA, CPA

    Assistant Professor, Accounting

    Edie Wasyliszyn teaches accounting in the College for Women and the College for Adults. She brings over 20 years of experience in business including management, public/ private/governmental/not for profit accounting. She has been teaching in higher education since 2011 and maintains an active CPA license in the State of Minnesota. She holds undergraduate degrees in accounting and social work and a graduate degree in business.
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  • Ekaterina N Kadnikova, PhD

    Assistant Professor, Chemistry

    Research interests
    ·        Chemical education; student engagement in organic chemistry courses.
    ·        Bioorganic chemistry, enantioselective catalysis, dynamic kinetic resolution, biocatalysis.
    ·        Microwave-assisted enzymatic reactions.
    ·        Polymer synthesis, enzymatic polymerization; hybrid organic-inorganic materials.
     
    Teaching experience
    In the last 17 years I have been a college faculty teaching various chemistry courses:

    Most often I taught Organic Chemistry I, Organic Chemistry II, Elementary Organic Chemistry (BA/MD program), Survey of Organic Chemistry (agriculture program), as well as Bio-Organic Chemistry, Polymer Chemistry, and Advanced Theoretical Organic Chemistry.

  • Elizabeth A. Whalen (Ring-Whalen)

    Assistant Professor, Education; Director, National Center for STEM Elementary Education (NCSEE)

    Elizabeth A. Ring-Whalen is an Assistant Professor of Education at St. Catherine University in St. Paul, MN and the director of the National Center for STEM in Elementary Education (NCSEE.) She holds a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction - STEM Education from the University of Minnesota. Her research focuses on STEM education: what this looks like in PreK-12 classrooms and the exploration of teachers’ beliefs of integrated STEM as well as how these beliefs influence teachers’ practices and student achievement in the classroom. Alongside this research, she has worked to explore the attitudes and beliefs teachers hold about cultural diversity and teaching culturally diverse students.

  • Elizabeth Brondos Fry, PhD

    Assistant Professor, Statistics

    Elizabeth Brondos Fry, PhD, Assistant Professor of Statistics, teaches undergraduate courses in statistics and data science in the Department of Mathematical Sciences. She has developed and taught courses incorporating community-engaged learning, including work with "Welcoming the Dear Neighbor?" and "Mapping Prejudice". Her research interests focus on statistics education, including curriculum development and evaluation, assessment of statistical learning, and instructor practices and beliefs. She has served as an Advanced Placement (AP) Statistics reader since 2012, evaluating the free response portion of the AP Statistics exam.

  • Elizabeth M Allen, PhD, MPH

    Assistant Professor, Public Health

    Dr. Elizabeth Allen holds a master’s degree in environmental health and a PhD in environmental epidemiology. In addition, she completed a post-doctoral fellowship focused on community engaged research methods to advance health equity and justice. Dr. Allen collaborates with students, international non-governmental organizations, and a global network of scholars in her research. Her work focuses on the impact of the environment on social, emotional, physical health.  Current projects include work on community health volunteer models, women’s empowerment in Peru, climate change, and social justice focused education.

  • Emily Asch, MLIS

    Director, Library and Archives

    Emily Asch, MLIS joined St. Catherine University in 2008 as the Head of Technical Services. In 2014 she became the Director of Libraries and Archives. Her vision for the library is to be a space supporting and providing for interdisciplinary dialogue through our resources, physical space, virtual presence, services, and staff. Student success is the primary focus of our work in the library, through research support, providing resources and tools in person and online, as well as services and teaching. Emily has been in academic libraries for 22 years and has a strong collections and systems background, but has had the privilege of supporting all parts of an academic library and is passionate about students and faculty succeeding in all academic and scholarly endeavors.

  • Emily Blanchard West, PhD

    Professor, History

    I've taught at St. Kate's since 2005, and I am the general editor of the Journal of Indo-European Studies. My complete cv is available here.

    I've been fortunate in finding that students engage well with my research and interests. My academic work is primarily concerned with the shared Indo-European inheritance in the Greek and Sanskrit epics, and my "Classical Mythology" course gives me many opportunities to talk about the classical narratives I've published on. I also teach Hindu mythology in my J-term course on history and Hindu myth in Nepal. The rest of my teaching focuses on the history and culture of the classical world in courses like "Ancient Greece," "Ancient Rome," and "Women in Greece and Rome" and a regular course on literature from the ancient world in translation.

  • Emily W. Nowak PhD, RN, CNE

    Director- Nurse Educator Concentration and Associate Professor: Nursing

    Professor Nowak is the Program Director for the Nurse Educator concentration and an Associate Professor in the Department of Nursing. She joined the St. Catherine University community in 2009 after completing a PhD at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. As an undergraduate alum of the baccalaureate nursing program, Professor Nowak fully embraces the St. Catherine mission and values. Her work at St. Catherine has largely focused on developing and implementing nursing curriculum to reflect the rapidly changing landscapes of healthcare and education. Professor Nowak is passionate about nurturing nurse educators to learn the art of integrating new and dynamic approaches to undergraduate nursing education while holding close the St. Catherine traditions of clinical and educational excellence, leadership, social justice, and community-based learning.

  • Erica Alley, PhD

    Associate Professor, ASL and Interpreting

    Erica Alley, Ph.D., NIC-Advanced, holds her degree in ASL/English Interpreting Research and Pedagogy from Gallaudet University. Erica has published and presented on the topics of video relay service, video remote interpreting, and interpretations of job interviews with deaf job applicants. Erica serves as the Program Director for the Master of Arts in Interpreting Studies and Communication Equity (MAISCE).
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  • Erick Agrimson, MS

    Associate Professor, Physics

    Professor Agrimson uses high altitude weather balloons as a delivery method to send up payload boxes with varied instrumentation to study near space. St. Kate’s has had balloons reach altitudes of up to 35,000 meters (~115,000 feet) depending on the size of balloon used and payload mass. One of the current projects involving collaborative undergraduate researchers is the study of the Regener-Pfotzer (R-P) maxima to study galactic cosmic ray showers. Agrimson holds a BS (with a concentration in space physics) from Augsburg College, an MS from the University of Iowa and has completed advanced coursework toward a PhD in plasma physics.

  • Francine Conley, PhD

    Professor, International Languages and Literature

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  • Gabrielle Filip-Crawford, PhD

    Assistant Professor, Psychology

    As a social psychologist, Gabrielle Filip-Crawford's work explores the ways in which we navigate our social world. How do we decide who to sit next to on the bus, trust to watch our children, or allow to borrow money? The ways in which we distinguish friend from foe or opportunity from threat shape how we perceive and act toward others. Gabrielle is especially interested in how these processes play out in various groups, including lesbians and gay men and people with mental illness. Her work also explores the concealability and visibility of sexual orientation, and the implications of this for both person perception processes and LGBT physical and mental health.

  • Gay M. Varecka, PhD, APRN, CNP

    Assistant Professor, Nursing

    Gay M. Varecka, PhD., APRN, CNP is an Assistant Professor of Nursing in the DNP program. She obtained a B.S in Nursing from D'Youville College, an M.S in Nursing from the State University of New York, and a Ph.D in Higher Education Administration and Policy from the University of Minnesota. Gay also completed a post-doctoral certification as an Adult Nurse Practioner. She has more than 25 years of experience in both Family Practice and Internal Medicine managing the care of underserved patients with complex, chronic health problems from ages 16 to the elderly in Hennepin Health System. This is a safety net hospital with the mission of ‘transforming the health of our community with exceptional care without exception’.

  • Gayla Aguilar, OTD, MS, OTR/L

    Assistant Professor, Occupational Therapy Assistant

    Dr. Gayla Aguilar, OTD, MS, OTR/L received her Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio (UTHSCSA) in 1995, a Master of Science degree in Psychology from Walden University in 2019, a Doctor of Occupational Therapy Degree with a specialty in pediatrics from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professional in Provo, UT in 2010. She is certified in Sensory Integration through the University of Southern California and Western Psychological Services. As a lifelong learner, Dr. Aguilar is pursuing a Ph.D. in Health Psychology.

  • Gina Mancini-Samuelson, PhD

    Professor, Chemistry

    Professor Gina Mancini-Samuelson earned her Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Minnesota. She has been teaching at St. Catherine University since 1996 where her primary teaching responsibilities are the analytical chemistry courses and the general chemistry for health sciences course. In 2008 she was recognized for outstanding teaching through the Teaching Excellence Award sponsored by the Myser Family Foundation, a great honor as nomination for this award comes from St. Catherine University alumna. She has directed over 20 undergraduate research projects ranging from analytical chemistry and materials science to environmental science.

  • Gloria V. Nathanson, AuD

    Assistant Professor, ASL and Interpreting

    Dr. Gloria Nathanson, AuD is a Professor in the ASL/Interpreting Department at St. Catherine University, Minnesota. Her Bachelor of Science degree is in Language Development with emphasis on those with Hearing Loss. Her doctoral degree is in Audiology. She works primarily with adult second language learning students and with Deaf and Hard of Hearing children. She has been part of the Deaf Family Mentor program for over 5 years. She has an interdisciplinary certificate in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Infants, Toddlers and their Families: Collaboration and Leadership from Gallaudet University.

  • Grace Gao, PhD, DNP, RN-BC, LHIT-HP, RWJF Future of Nursing Scholar Alumni

    Associate Professor, Department of Nursing

    Grace Gao earned her DNP degree in Nursing Informatics and Integrative Health, and PhD in Nursing from University of Minnesota. In addition, Grace is a public health nurse and ANCC certified Informatics Nurse. Grace has worked in a variety of roles in both public and private sectors across extensive health care settings, including case manager in home care, care plan coordinator in long-term care, staff nurse in hospital, nurse educator in the academic setting, and clinical informatics specialist and consultant.

    Grace’s nursing experiences showcase expertise in public health, nursing informatics, and integrative health.

  • Gretchen Moen, DNP

    Assistant Professor, Nursing

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  • Gwendolyn (Gwen) Short, DNP, MSN, MPH

    Associate Professor & DNP Programs Director, Nursing

    Gwen is an Associate Professor and NP Programs Director at St. Catherine University. She holds a Doctor of Nurse Practice (DNP) degree from the University of Kentucky, where she was a member of the nation's inaugural DNP cohort. She also holds a Master's of Science in Nursing (MSN) from the University of Kentucky, Master's in Public Health (MPH) from the University of Minnesota, and Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from the University of Virginia. She has had multiple clinical positions, and currently works as a family nurse practitioner at the Peoples' Center and Clinical Services in Minneapolis, MN.

  • Habiba Ibrahim, PhD

    Assistant Professor

  • Hannah Y. Oldenburg, EdD, OTR/L, BCPR

    Assistant Professor, Occupational Therapy

    Hannah Oldenburg, EdD, OTR/L, BCPR is an assistant professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy at St. Catherine University.  She teaches courses primarily in evidence based practice, adult rehabilitation, program evaluation, and educational methods in both entry-level masters and doctoral degree tracks. She facilitates problem based learning sessions and advises students in preparation for entry-level doctoral capstone projects.

    Since 2013, Hannah's clinical practice has been at Mayo Clinic- Rochester in the acute care practice delivering occupational therapy services to clientele having orthopedic, general medicine, cardiopulmonary, and trauma related acute or chronic conditions.

  • Heather Carroll, MLIS

    Adjunct Faculty

  • Heather Johnson, MS

    Assistant Professor, Occupational Therapy Assistant

    Heather "Beth" Johnson obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Rehabilitation Studies in 2002 and her Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy in 2007. She is currently enrolled in a Post Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate with an expected graduation date of May 2022. She began working as an occupational therapist (OT) in 2007 in a skilled nursing facility. In 2014, she obtained my first position in academia as an OTA program director. She completed the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) re-accreditation requirements for that program. In 2015, Beth was offered the opportunity to become the founding program director of an OTA program in Las Vegas, Nevada.

  • Heather KT Bidinger, MMS, PA-C, DFAAPA

    Founding Program Director, Assistant Professor, Physician Assistant Studies Program

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  • Hella Cohen, PhD

    Associate Professor, English

    Hella Cohen specializes in postcolonial literature and theory, Anglophone global writing, and Israel-Palestine studies. She teaches courses cross-listed with Critical Studies of Race and Ethnicity, and Women's Studies. She studied English and Political Science as an undergraduate, and obtained her masters degree in English and American literature thereafter. As a doctoral student, her primary concentration was modern and contemporary literature of the Commonwealth and liberated British colonies, and her secondary concentration was eighteenth- and nineteenth-century British imperialist literature.

  • Hilda Soko, DNP

    Assistant Professor, Nursing

    Hilda Soko is an assistant professor of nursing at St. Catherine University in the Baccalaureate Degree Program - College for Adults. She holds an Associate of Nursing degree from St. Catherine University, BSN degree from Metrostate University, MSN-Nurse Educator degree from St. Catherine University, and a DNP in Transcultural Nursing Leadership from Augsburg University. Before coming to the US, Hilda was a Nurse/Midwife in her birth country Malawi. She has experience in mental health (geriatric psychiatry). Hilda also works as a Psych Nurse at Mercy hospital (Unity campus).
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  • Holly Clynch, PT, DPT, MA

    Professor, Physical Therapist Assistant

    Faculty member at St. Catherine University since 1998, PTA program director since 2015. Currently also serving as president of the Minnesota Physical Therapy Association. Teaching/scholarship interests include regulatory issues, leadership, and geriatric physical therapy.
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  • Holman Tse, PhD

    Assistant Professor, English & International Languages

    I began my position as Assistant Professor of English and Language Studies at St Kate in Fall 2019. My research focuses on sound change and language contact. How do the sound systems of languages vary and how do they change over time. What role does language contact (ex: bilingualism and multilingualism) play? Courses I will be teaching at St. Kate include Language in Society, World Englishes, Writing in the Digital Age, Linguistics, Language and Power, and College Writing. Previous courses I have taught (at the University of Pittsburgh) include Introduction to Linguistics, Phonetics/Phonology, Historical Linguistics, and Language Variation and Change.

  • Hugo Klaers, DPT, OCS

    Assistant Professor, Physical Therapy

    Dr. Hugo Klaers, DPT, OCS is an assistant professor in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at St. Catherine University. He is a graduate of the University of Minnesota, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology in 2010. He received a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from St. Catherine University in 2014, and completed the Fairview Health Services Orthopedic Physical Therapy residency program in 2015. He became a board-certified specialist in orthopedic physical therapy in 2016. He is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association. Dr. Klaers has journal publications in the area of the athletic shoulder, has taught continuing education courses for local physical therapists and other allied health professionals, and has presented at the APTA's national annual conference.

  • Hui Wilcox, PhD

    Professor, Sociology

    Born and raised in a rapidly changing China, Hui Wilcox received her Ph.D. in Sociology in 2004 from the University of Minnesota. Since then, she has been teaching at St. Catherine University and dancing/researching with Ananya Dance Theatre, a Twin Cities-based dance company based that has built a transnational women-of-color feminist contemporary dance aesthetics. Her research has been focused on sociology of dance especially in connection to immigrant identities, race/ethnicity, multiculturalism, and transnational feminism. She has also published research in critical food studies, feminist pedagogy/epistemology, and East African cultural studies.

  • Jacqueline Parr, MS

    Assitant Professor, Apparel, Merchandising, and Design

    Jacqueline Parr is an Assistant Professor at St. Catherine University in the Apparel, Merchandising and Design program. In addition, she is completing her Ph.D at The University of Minnesota in Retail Merchandising and Consumer Studies. Prior to her current position, Jacqueline received her Masters in Merchandising from the University of North Texas and Bachelors in Fashion Merchandising from Texas Christian University. Her professional experience includes positions held at Neiman Marcus as an Assistant Buyer in Men’s Couture Clothing and as a vendor account manager for Wal-mart Accessories.

  • James Johanning, MPAS, PA-C

    Assistant Professor, Physician Assistant Studies

    Professor James Johanning, MPAS, PA-C is an assistant professor at St. Catherine University in the Physician Assistant Program, a graduate degree path in the Henrietta Schmoll School of Health. Johanning added St. Catherine University to his resume in May 2019 after celebrating his 20-year career anniversary as a Certified Physician Assistant. In addition to general medicine, his areas of expertise include all subspecialties of orthopedics and orthopedic surgery. Johanning's experience in general orthopedics, sports medicine, spine surgery and hand surgery -- highlights of his syllabi -- are also shared as part of his teaching and training experience at a variety of continuing medical education conferences.

  • James Wollack, PhD

    Associate Professor, Chemistry

    Dr. Wollack’s research spans several areas including green chemistry, non-natural enzyme substrates, click chemistry, and bioconjugation reactions. Since starting at St. Kate’s in 2010 he has involved over 25 students in these projects funded by the Research Corporation for Scientific Advancement, NSF, and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. While at St. Kate’s he has co-authored five research articles and two editions of a test bank for the textbook Organic Chemistry: Principals and Mechanisms. In 2013 he facilitated St. Catherine becoming an inaugural signer of the national green chemistry commitment.

  • Jane Carroll, PhD

    Professor, History

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  • Jane Savage

    Admin Assist/Onboarding Spec.

  • Janet Dahlem, MA

    Associate Professor, Holistic Health Studies

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  • Janet Marinelli, MS

    Assistant Professor, Holistic Health Studies

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  • Janie Felder-Walker, MBA

    Adjunct Faculty, Master of Business Administration

    Janie Felder-Walker comes to St. Catherine University with over 20 years of experience in the disciplines of retail and consumer healthcare, international business, and human capital. Her range of experience also includes consulting, new business development, healthcare, pharmacy, health plan, P&L, financial and pricing work. Janie earned her MBA at St. Catherine University with a concentration in Healthcare and her undergraduate degree from University of Minnesota-Twin Cities with a BS in Human Resources/Capital Development. Janie is particularly proud of building private label products and insourcing pharmacy and medical services in healthcare as well as developing innovative healthcare products for her clients.

  • Jayne Sparks, MS, RN, CNE, CCM

    Assistant Professor, Nursing

    I am a two-time graduate of St. Kate's and have been teaching in the RN to BSN section of the Department of Nursing since 2013. The focus of my teaching is community health nursing and nursing leadership.
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  • Jaynie Bjornaraa, PT, PhD, MPH, SCS, ATC, LAT, CSCS

    Anatomy Lab Director, Professor, Doctor of Physical Therapy Program

    Jaynie Bjornaraa is a graduate of the UW–Madison where she received a BS in Physical Therapy in 1984. She received an Advanced MS from the UNC–Chapel Hill in 1992 as well as an MPH in Health Services Administration from San Diego State University in 1998. Jaynie also received her PhD in Rehabilitation Science at the University of Minnesota in 2008. She is board certified from the APTA as a Sports Clinical Specialist and is a Certified Athletic Trainer and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist as well. Dr. Bjornaraa has more than 35 years of experience within Sports Medicine and Orthopedics settings.

  • Jean Omodt, DPT, MHS, PT

    Associate Professor, Biology

    I have treated patients as a physical therapist for more than 25 years, primarily working in Minnesota but also in California and Missouri. I have extensive experience treating patients in a variety of settings including acute care (hospital), long term care, home care, and outpatient. I attended graduate school at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri where I received a Master of Health Science in Physical Therapy degree. After graduating in 1992, I accepted a full-time teaching position at St. Catherine University, where I helped develop the Master of Physical Therapy (MPT) Program.

  • Jeanne Bailey, PhD

    Adjunct Faculty, Organizational Leadership

    Dr. Jeanne Bailey is the founder of Convergence Consulting Partners. She brings with her 25 years of experience leading as a nonprofit CEO, teaching scientists and engineers to be leaders, and serving as a “thinking partner” for health center re-strategy and change. Dr. Bailey has been teaching for 12 years, and in 2021 was received the “Teacher of the Year” award given at St. Catherine University. She teaches Foundations of Leadership and Ethics and Advanced Principles of Leadership and Ethics in MAOL. She enjoys helping students develop a solid ability to translate theory into practice, as well as discover and apply their strengths and insights to make a difference in the world.

  • Jeff Johnson, PhD

    Associate Dean of the School of Humanities, Arts, and Sciences & Associate Professor of Philosophy

    Jeff Johnson's teaching and research engages issues in food ethics, environmental ethics, and animal ethics more boradly along with non-Eurocentric philosophical traditions (like Indigenous philosophies, Asian philosophies, and more). Jeff's graduate work engaged issues in philosophy of language and perception, ordinary language philosophy, and Wittgenstein. While he still teaches a couple of classes per year, Jeff transitioned into his current role as Associate Dean of the School of Humanities, Arts, & Sciences in June of 2020.

    Jeff first started teaching in the St. Kate's Philosophy Department as an adjunct back in 2003.

  • Jennifer Andrews-Gonzaga, PA-C

    Assistant Professor, Physician Assistant Studies

    Jennifer is a clinical coordinator at the Physician Assistant Program at St. Catherine University. Her clinical background also includes a 16 year history of working at both Regions and Hudson Emergency Departments. In 2018, she switched her clinical practice to OB-GYN with MetroPartners. She enjoys having her clinical year PA students with her in the hospital. She is also working on her Master's in Holistic Health, and is enjoying her coursework, as an excellent adjunct to her clinical practice. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family.
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  • Jennifer Biggs, PT, PhD, MPH, CWS

    Associate Professor, Doctor of Physical Therapy Program

    Dr. Biggs is a graduate of the UW-Madison where she received a BS in Physical Therapy in 1997.  She received an MPH in Public Health Administration in 2002 and a PhD in Health Services Research in 2016, both from the School of Public Health at the University of Minnesota.  She is also a Clinical Wound Specialist through the American Board of Wound Management and continues to practice clinically in this specialty area.  Dr. Biggs teaches course content in acute care, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation and wound management.  She also coordinates service learning within the DPT curriculum.  Dr. Biggs’ research interests include service delivery models in physical therapy and community based participatory research.

  • Jennifer Downs Man, PhD

    Associate Professor, History

    I am a Chinese historian with a research focus on the early modern period. I teach an introductory courses on East Asia, a series of three courses covering the entire scope of Chinese history from the Neolithic period to the present, an upper division course on women in Asia, and topics courses, such as Panda Diplomacy. My research, which explores famine policy and ideas about famine, focuses on the dynamic interaction between state institutions and rural society in Ming dynasty China (1368-1644). My work combines institutional and social history. The study of famine policy provides a way of exploring power relationships within local communities, how local elites interacted with the state apparatus, how interactions were affected during times of systemic stress, and how all of these relationships changed over time.

  • Jennifer Hutson PhD, OTR/L, ATP

    Assistant Professor, Occupational Therapy

    Jennifer Hutson is an assistant professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy at St. Catherine University.  She teaches courses primarily in assistive technology and adult rehabilitation in both day and hybrid formats.  She facilitates problem based learning sessions and advises students on research based Master's projects, covering topics of twenty-four hour postural care, seating and positioning for wheeled mobility as well as nighttime positioning.   Since 2002, Jennifer's clinical practice has been at Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare in the area of assistive technology, primarily seating and positioning.

  • Jessica Miehe, DNP

    Assistant Professor, Nursing

    Dr. Jessica Miehe's nursing career began in 2007 as a float pool nurse serving patients in many clinical areas with an expertise in critical care as emergency response nurse. During that time, she also was a member on the Nursing Practice Council with Allina Health, a nurse union steward, and clinical educator. She developed programs and education to improve potentially-preventable hospital readmissions. Jessica also has experience as a nurse consultant, clinic director, school nurse, and development and director of nursing of a new assisted living facility. Jessica transition into nursing education in 2013, developing clinical innovation and process quality improvement to strengthen education for nursing students.

  • Jessica Scholl, PTA, MA

    Director of Clinical Education and Assistant Professor, Physical Therapist Assistant Program

    I have been with St. Catherine University since 2005. My clinical background is in outpatient orthopedics. In addition to teaching, I serve as the Director of Clinical Education for the Physical Therapist Assistant Program. My areas of scholarship include intraprofessional teaming in physical therapy and leadership.
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  • Jessie Lenarz, PhD

    Associate Professor, Mathematics

    Jessie Lenarz, PhD, Associate Professor of Mathematics at St. Catherine University, teaches all undergraduate mathematics courses from liberal arts math up to senior capstone. Her research interests include combinatorics, history of mathematics, and assessment of mathematics learning. She is currently the moderator for St. Kate's chapter of Pi Mu Epsilon, the mathematics honor society. Dr. Lenarz has served as an AP Calculus Reader since 2006, evaluating the free response portion of the AP Calculus exam.
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  • Jill Campbell, MA, RN, PHN, CNE, CDCES

    Assistant Professor of Nursing

    Jill began her nursing career as a registered nurse on a cardiac care unit at Abbott Northwestern Hospital from 2006 to 2010. In addition to providing patient care, she participated in preceptorship and mentorship roles. In 2010, Jill transitioned to a clinical research role at Children's Minnesota where she developed skill in grant and proposal writing along with subject recruitment, screening, and data collection for several diabetes and endocrine research studies. In 2011, Jill graduated from St. Catherine University with her master's degree in nursing education. With her knowledge from her master's program, Jill became a pediatric diabetes educator at Children's Minnesota where she participated in curriculum development and program management.

  • Jo Treat-Haug

    Assistant Professor, Nursing

    Jo Treat-Haug's professional clinical experience has focused on adult acute care in the medical-surgical setting. She has experience in the Oncology and Orthopedics specialties. She received her Masters of Science in Nursing Education in 2019. He is also certified as a Public Health Nurse. She has been teaching at St. Catherine University since September 2019. She teaches didactic content in 2900 Introduction to Professional Nursing Practice, 2910 Nursing Care of Individuals and Families, and 3281/3282 Pathophysiology, as well as lab in 3800/3810 Application of Nursing Practice and Lab/Simulation in 4010 Care of Complex Patients.

  • Jocelyn Bessette Gorlin, PhD

    Associate Professor, Nursing

    Jocelyn is an associate professor in the Department of Nursing. She has been a pediatric nurse practitioner (PNP) in hematology (bleeding disorders) for over 25 years, first at Boston Children’s Hospital then at the Children’s Hospital Minnesota (CHM). She was one of the first nurse practitioners at Boston Children’s Hospital and was on the forefront of the pediatric AIDS epidemic in the 1980s, caring for children with hemophilia and AIDS.
    Her research interest involves quality of life in families raising a child with severe chronic illness. She coordinated National Public Radio's StoryCorps® Legacy at CHM, where she led a group of healthcare team members to interview families who are raising a child with hemophilia or sickle cell disease.

  • Jocelyn Fenton Stitt, PhD

    Division Chair of the Social Sciences, Associate Professor

    Jocelyn Fenton Stitt is an interdisciplinary scholar trained in women's and critical race studies. She earned her BA in Women's Studies and English from Pomona College, her MLitt in Caribbean cultural studies from the University of Edinburgh (UK), and her PhD in Women's Studies and English from the University of Michigan. Before joining St. Kate, she was Director of Research Development at the Institute for Research on Women and Gender at the University of Michigan, and before that, Associate Professor of Women's Studies at Minnesota State University.

    Her book Dreams of Archives Unfolded: Absence and Caribbean Life Writing (2021) is part of Rutgers University's Critical Caribbean Studies series.

  • John Fleming, PhD

    Associate Professor, Occupational Therapy

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  • John Pellegrini, PhD

    Professor, Biology

    Dr. Pellegrini joined the Biology Department in 1994. He teaches Human Anatomy & Physiology and Biopsychology, and he coteaches interdisciplinary courses on anatomy, art, and the history of medicine. His current research examines endurance in pediatric cancer survivors. He is also one of the faculty mentors for the Mayo Innovation Scholars Program.
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  • John Schmitt, PT, PhD

    Professor; IRB Co-Chair

    Dr. John Schmitt received a Bachelor of Science from Central College in Pella, Iowa, followed by an M.S. in Organic Chemistry and a Graduate Certificate in Physical Therapy from the University of Iowa. After practicing outpatient orthopaedic physical therapy for 11 years, he returned to graduate school and was awarded a PhD in Rehabilitation Science from the University of Minnesota in December, 2002. He is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association and has been active in outpatient orthopedic physical therapy practice since 1986. He has a certification in manual therapy from the Institute of Physical Therapy in St. Augustine, FL.

    Dr. Schmitt joined the faculty at St. Catherine University in 2001.

  • Jonathan Duellman PT, DPT

    Assistant Professor, Physical Therapy Assistant

    Dr. Jonathan Duellman, PT, DPT, is a professor in the Physical Therapist Assistant Program at St. Catherine University. He is a graduate of St. John’s University of Minnesota receiving his undergraduate degree in Psychology. He received his Doctorate of Physical Therapy in Omaha, NE at Creighton University. Upon graduation, Dr. Duellman completed an orthopedic residency at Creighton University before returning to Minnesota for clinical practice. He received board-certified specialist in orthopedic physical therapy in 2017. He is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association within the Orthopedic and Sports Sections.

  • Joshua Guggenheimer, PhD

    Associate Professor, Exercise Sciences

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  • Joyce Brettner, DNP, MAHS, RN-BC (Previous Surname Rudenick)

    Assistant Professor, Nursing

    Joyce Brettner, DNP, MAHS, RN-BC. Dr. Brettner has a BS in Nursing from Bethel University, MA in Holistic Health Studies from St. Catherine University, and Doctor of Nursing Practice degree with a specialty in nursing informatics from the University of Minnesota. She completed the Veterans Administration Quality Scholars (VAQS) 2-year, post-doctoral fellowship at the Minneapolis VA Healthcare Center in October 2021. VAQS is a multi-site, interprofessional, Federal fellowship program that has been developing quality leaders for over 20 years. She is board certified in nursing informatics through the American Nurse Credentialing Center.

  • Joyce Perkins

    Associate Professor

  • Joyce Yukawa, PhD

    Program Director & Associate Professor, Master of Library and Information Science Program

    Joyce Yukawa is the Program Director and Associate Professor in the MLIS Program of St. Catherine University. She has taught introduction to LIS, reference and information services, research methods, internet fundamentals and design, information literacy instruction, social networking technologies, human information behavior, web usability/accessibility, and older adults and the web. Her teaching, research, presentations, and service draw upon interests in the blending of face-to-face and online interaction in librarianship and professional development, with a particular focus on social learning and service learning within communities of practice.

  • Judy Rognli, NP-PPC

    Assistant Professor, Nursing

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  • Julie D. Bass, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA

    Professor, Occupational Therapy

    Dr. Julie D. Bass, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, is Professor and past Chair of the Department of Occupational Therapy and the Founding Director of the Public Health Program in the Henrietta Schmoll School of Health at St. Catherine University. Dr. Bass also served as the Director of Research at the American Occupational Therapy Foundation. Dr. Bass is an established and well-published scholar who has been a frequent presenter at national and international conferences and an invited member on several AOTA task force committees. Her areas of expertise include population health and health disparities, program development and evaluation, statistics and research methods, educational methods and emerging areas of practice for occupational therapy.

  • Julie Mumm, DHEd, CHES

    Associate Professor, Public Health

    My primary teaching areas are the community health worker (CHW) certificate and concentration courses, the health promotion and education concentration and the public health practicum course. My research interest is around the CHW role and scope of practice. I have also worked on a lice education program with elementary schools in a local school district. I have an active role in the Minnesota CHW Alliance and am co-chair of the Education Committee. I am also active in the CHW section of the American Public Health Association and is a member of the CHW Section Policy Committee and Education y Capacity Committee at the national level.

  • Julie Nelsen, MBA, Ph.D.

    Associate Professor, Business Administration

    Julie Beckel Nelsen, MBA, Ph.D., is the primary Business-to-Business Sales and the Healthcare Sales faculty member, but in addition to sales courses, she also teaches marketing, management, and general business as an Associate Professor in the Business Administration Department. Her teaching priority is to create a strong connection between the classroom and the workplace. She does this by bringing the business world to her classroom through speakers, work-world examples, role plays and other hands-on learning opportunities. She is excited to be a part of preparing students for successful and rewarding careers.

  • Juliette Lapeyrouse-Cherry, PhD

    Assistant Professor, English

    Juliette Lapeyrouse-Cherry is an Assistant Professor of English in the Department of English and International Languages at St. Catherine University. Her research interests include rhetorics of extraction on the US Gulf Coast and pedagogy at the intersection of writing studies and the emergent environmental humanities. She teaches courses in digital composition, environmental literature, and in the interdisciplinary Core curriculum.
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  • Justin Small, EdD

    Department Chair, Assistant Professor, ASL and Interpreting

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  • Kabo Yang, MAOL

    Adjunct Faculty, Organizational Leadership

    Kabo Yang is a Strategic Services Senior Consultant at Propel Nonprofits and former Executive Director of the Minnesota Women’s Consortium. She brings a community leadership perspective, as well as her perspective as a woman of color and former refugee, to her teaching. She helps students leverage their core values and identities as strengths and assets to their leadership. As an MAOL graduate, she loves that students genuinely care about others and use their knowledge, experience, and power to advance equity. She’s taught Foundations of Leadership and Ethics, Leading Teams, and Advanced Practice in Change Leadership.

  • Kara Koschmann, PhD, APRN, CPNP-PC

    Associate Professor, Nursing; Program Director, BSN-DNP: NP Program

    Kara teaches in the BSN-DNP: Nurse Practitioner program where she is also the program director. She is a pediatric nurse practitioner by training. Kara earned her bachelor's degree in nursing from Valparaiso University in Indiana and her master's of science in nursing of children at Saint Louis University, in St. Louis, Missouri. Her PhD in Nursing is from the University of Minnesota. She is a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Future of Nursing Scholar. Her dissertation research study was titled, "Urban, low-income, African American Well-Child Care: Parent and Provider Experiences and Expectations.

  • Karen Loewenson, MA

    Assistant Professor, Nursing

    I have been a member of the St Catherine University faculty since 2010. I have taught in the baccalaureate degree nursing program and now teach in the master's degree entry-level nursing concentration. The focus areas of my classroom and clinical teaching include pediatrics, family health, community/public health, and leadership. Prior to coming to St Kate's, I was a school nurse for St. Paul Public Schools and a staff nurse for a county health department children's clinic. Until 2019, I also maintained a casual staff nurse position on the neonatal intensive care unit at the University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital.

  • Karen M Sames, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA

    Professor, Occupational Therapy

    Karen M Sames, OTD, MBA, OTR/L, FAOTA started teaching at St. Kate's in 1995. Karen primarily teaches content related to foundational knowledge of occupational science and occupational therapy, management of occupational therapy services, entrepreneurship, and political influences on occupational therapy practice. Karen takes an active role in advocating for the profession of occupational therapy through her leadership of the Government Affairs Committee of the Minnesota Occupational Therapy Association. She is active in the American Occupational Therapy Association, currently serving on the Board of Directors as Treasurer.

  • Kari A. Hartwig, DrPH

    Associate Professor, Masters in Public Health in Global Health

    Kari Hartwig’s public health and international development training have shaped her interests in gender analysis of health disparities, structural inequalities in health systems, organizational capacity and sustainability, and community-based participatory research. She has worked on a number of research and evaluation projects in eastern and southern Africa and southeast Asia in addition to urban communities in the United States. Recent projects include a study of refugee women, resilience and gardening, a qualitative impact evaluation of a community based organization in Minnesota supporting low-income families and individuals emerging from homelessness, and assessing burnout among Minnesota physician assistants.

  • Kate Larson, MPAS, PA-C

    Assistant Professor, Physician Assistant Studies

    Kate Larson graduated from the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology in 2009. She received her Master of Physician Assistant Studies from Marquette University in 2013. She joined the St. Catherine University Physician Assistant Program as an Assistant Professor in 2019. Her areas of clinical experience include Women's Health, Family Medicine, and Urgent Care. She continues to practice Family Medicine in the South Metro, with a special interest in acute care.
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  • Katelyn Brady, OTD, OTR/L

    Assistant Professor, Academic Fieldwork Coordinator

    Katelyn Brady, OTD, OTR/L is an assistant professor in the occupational therapy department at St Catherine University since 2019. She serves as the academic fieldwork coordinator for the occupational therapy program in which she coordinates student clinical experiences with community partners. Katelyn has practiced in a variety of areas of occupational therapy, most recently in adult acute care and acute rehabilitation. Katelyn is passionate about best practice with student clinical education, inter professional education, and neurological rehabilitation, specifically cognition and upper extremity rehabilitation.

  • Katherine Campbell, PhD

    Assistant Professor, Interprofessional Education Department; Director, Women's Health Integrative Research (WHIR) Center; Co-Director, Katies for Aging Research and Equity (KARE) Program

    Dr. Campbell has a PhD in Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics from Mayo Graduate School. Her research interests include regenerative medicine, modes of emotional support for mothers and families, and student persistence in MSTEM research fields. She is actively conducting collaborative research in the areas of (1) parental support for families of children with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, (2) the role of mentorship support for couples experiencing infertility, and (3) the impact of research education programs on MSTEM student persistence into graduate school. In her role as WHIR Center director, she is engaged in collaborative projects with local women founders of early-stage femtech companies.

  • Katherine Curran, PhD

    Adjunct Faculty, Organizational Leadership

    Dr. Katherine Curran has 29 years of industry experience as a consultant and small business founder and owner.  She works with individuals and organizations as a change consultant, executive coach, and constellation facilitator. Most recently, she co-launched the Minnesota Center for Systemic Constellations. She has taught in the MAOL program since 2006, helping students lead and influence by finding their own internal leader and compass. She loves seeing students light up and become empowered when they find this and begin to lead from their unique, sacred point of view. She has taught Foundations of Ethics and Leadership; Power and Leadership; Organizations as Cultural, Social, and Political Structures; Research Proposal; and Leading Organizational Change.

  • Katherine Tolcser, MA, RN

    Assistant Professor, Nursing

    Katherine has worked as a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit RN at the University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital since 2008. In 2012, Katherine completed her Master's Degree in Nursing Education through St. Catherine University. She began teaching at St. Catherine University the following fall in 2013 in the Baccalaureate Degree Program for the College for Women. During her time at St. Catherine University she has primarily taught in Pathophysiology and Pediatric courses, in both the classroom and clinical settings.
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  • Kathleen Bell EdD, RN, PHN

    Associate Professor, Nursing

    It is my honor and pleasure to work with the nursing students in various programs at St. Catherine University. My role involves teaching with the BSN, MSNL, Nurse Educator, and DNP students. As a healthcare educational leader with over 20 years of experience in higher education, I possess an expansive knowledge of course and program development and assessment, leadership with supervisory experience, internal and external partnership and alliance initiatives, diverse team building, fiscal responsibility with institutional and grant budgets, nursing and healthcare accreditation, and a diligent dedication to meeting the needs of students, faculty, administration, and stakeholders.

  • Kathleen Matuska PhD, MPH, OTR/L FAOTA

    Tenured Professor, Occupational Therapy

    I have extensive clinical experience in the area of physical rehabilitation, with particular expertise in multiple sclerosis and fatigue management. My interest in strategies that enable meaningful, productive living despite the functional consequences of chronic illness or disability is complemented by my research in life balance. I am the co-developer of a life balance model, a public health concept that considers activity patterns of everyday lifestyles and their relationship to physical health and psychological well-being. For my dissertation research, I validated a conceptual model and developed a measure of lifestyle called the Life Balance Inventory (LBI).

  • Kathleen Tweeten, PhD

    Professor, Carondelet Scholar, Biology

    Kay Tweeten is a professor of biology at St. Catherine University. Her courses in molecular biology, cell biology, and immunology feature problem-based learning, case studies, and student-designed research projects. She has collaborated with numerous students in her research laboratory on cellular and molecular analysis of regeneration, degrowth, sexual reproduction, and ploidy levels in populations of the freshwater annelid, Lumbriculus. She involves students in experimental design, data collection and interpretation, and dissemination of results. The research environment provided allows students autonomy in their thinking and helps them explore their potentials as scientists.

  • Kathryn Molitor, MA, RN, CHSE

    Assistant Professor, Nursing

    Katie Molitor currently works at St. Catherine University as an Assistant Professor of Nursing. She completed her MA at St. Catherine University in 2010 and has been working in nursing education (much of it in simulation education) since that time. She has recently earned a graduate certificate in Healthcare Simulation from Boise State University in June 2019. Katie's specialty areas of practice include teaching and care of childbearing families and simulation learning.

    Katie has facilitated simulation learning with multi-disciplinary teams in the acute care setting at Abbott Northwestern Hospital, and has spent her most recent practice working with nursing students in the University setting.

  • Kathy Keller, MA

    Assistant Professor, Nursing

    My goal is to help motivated students to become RN's that I would trust to care for a loved one, and in the process, I hope to make learning as interesting and non-threatening as possible.
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  • Kathy Thames, MS, RDN

    Assistant Professor, Nutrition and Dietetics

    As an alumnae of St. Kate's Nutrition and Dietetics program, Kathy returned to St. Kate's as faculty in the Fall of 2020. Kathy has over 30 years working as a dietitian in a variety of settings including critical care, wellness and rehab, academic, private practice and culinary training. As the capstone to her career, Kathy brings her practical application skills to the classroom to prepare diverse nutrition and dietetics students as leaders for a variety of professional roles. Kathy's passion is to educate and provide culinary and practical tools to help translate the science of nutrition into food choices.

  • Katie Arnold, MS, OTR/L, CLT

    Assistant Professor, OTA Online Program

    Katie is a registered Occupational Therapist and full-time assistant professor for St. Catherine's University - OTA Online program.

    Katie has a Masters degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse and a Bachelors degree in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse.

    Katie's clinical work experience includes acute care, subacute care, SNF care, outpatient orthopedic therapy services, and industrial rehabilitation. She is a certified lymphedema therapist. Katie also has experience in healthcare management and leadership and is extremely passionate about the profession of occupational therapy.

  • Katie E. Toon, MOT, OTR, CLT, STAR-C

    Assistant Professor, Academic Fieldwork Coordinator, OTA Online

    Katie E. Toon, MOT, OTR, CLT is an Academic Fieldwork Coordinator and assistant professor for the OTA Program at St. Catherine University. She has been practicing occupational therapy since 2010. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Health Science in 2008 and a Master of Occupational Therapy in 2009 from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas. Katie became a Certified Lymphedema Therapist in 2012. She then completed the oncology focused Survivorship Training and Rehab Program in 2013. She began teaching Occupational Therapy Assistant Students in 2015, and became a Program Director at Brown Mackie College in Dallas, Texas in 2016.

  • Katie Mancl

    Assistant Professor

  • Katrice Ziefle, PhD, RN, CNE

    Associate Professor, Nursing

    Katrice Ziefle, PhD, RN, is an Associate Professor of nursing at St. Catherine University. She completed her Masters of Nursing Education at Bethel University and her Doctorate of Nursing Education at Capella University. Dr. Ziefle’s research interests include generational theory and the impact of the environment on learning, specifically civility in nursing. Her teaching experience includes associate degree nursing, entry-level master’s degree nursing and doctor of nursing practice. Dr. Ziefle has a passion for teaching and learning strategies in nursing education and works to engage students at every level.

  • Kelli Nielsen, PT, DPT, NCS

    Assistant Professor, Doctor of Physical Therapy Program

    Kelli Nielsen joined the St Catherine University DPT faculty in 2017 as an assistant professor. She is a graduate of the University of Minnesota with a bachelor of science in kinesiology. She completed her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree at the Mayo School of Health Sciences in Rochester, Minnesota. Dr. Nielsen completed a neurologic residency at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle, WA and became an American Board of Physical Therapy Certified Neurological Clinical Specialist in 2013. Her research interests include acute care safety and postural control.
    Dr. Nielsen teaches course content in neurologic examination & intervention, pulmonary rehab, acute care and complex medical physical therapy.

  • Kellie Agrimson, PhD

    Assistant Professor, Biology Department

    I am passionate about teaching and connecting with my students and hope to incorporate research into their college experience. As a first-generation college graduate, I relate strongly to disadvantaged students and feel that I can effectively combine inclusiveness with high expectations in my teaching practices. My primary research interest is testis development in the field of reproductive biology. In humans, infertility affects twenty percent of all couples and half of cases result from male infertility. Furthermore, twenty-five percent of male infertility cases are determined to be idiopathic, or unexplained.

  • Kia Lee, MSW, LICSW, MBA

    BSW Director of Field Education, Assistant Professor

    I'm passionate about educating, coaching, and guiding students to become social workers who are ready and prepared to take on the world! As a practicing social worker, I understand the importance of preparation and experiences! I enjoy meeting with students and taking on their goals and interests. As a female Hmong social worker, I'm interested in cross-cultural best practices through critical and radical social work from integrated approaches.

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  • Kim N. Ha, PhD

    Associate Professor, Chemistry

    My laboratory is interested in correlating structure-dynamics-function relationships in proteins utilizing an array of biochemical techniques and solution-state NMR spectroscopy. I have extensive expertise in the study of mutations of the cardiac membrane protein phospholamban (PLN), and the adipocyte lipid chaperone fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4). Students in my laboratory develop practical skills in recombinant protein expression, isolation, and characterization.
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  • Kimberley Persons

    Assistant Professor, Occupational Therapy

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  • Kimkesia Morgan, MS, OTR/L

    Assistant Professor/Academic Fieldwork Coordinator, Occupational Therapy Assistant

    Kimkesia has practiced OT for over 19 years with experience in various settings. As the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator for the Pacific region at St. Kate, she brings to this role a passion to inspire and create an environment where professional growth can flourish. One of her proudest achievements while working as a clinician was being chosen to teach her colleagues a new treatment intervention program for stroke patients. Kimkesia says that this is when she believes the teaching bug bit her!

    Kimkesia believes one of the many wonderful things about St. Kate is its commitment to excellence and opportunity.

  • Kjersti Nelson, MS, RN

    Assistant Professor, Nursing

    Kjersti is an Assistant Professor of nursing at St. Catherine University in the Baccalaureate Degree Program - College for Adults. She earned her BSN and MS degrees from the University of Minnesota. Her practical background includes experience in orthopedic and cardiovascular care. Kjersti has an interest in the development of critical thinking in students and new nurses, specifically through the practices of curiosity and questioning. Additional areas of interest include caring science and holistic practice. Kjersti assisted in the development of a Unitary Human Caring Science BSN curriculum at St. Catherine University.

  • Krista Anderson, MSN, RN, CHSE

    Director of Simulation, Henrietta Schmoll School of Health

    Krista Anderson is a Certified Health Care Simulation Educator with over twelve years of experience developing, facilitating, and evaluating healthcare simulation-based methods/techniques. She has experience in leadership and has contributed to the application of simulation-based education modalities for education, assessment and systems integration of healthcare professionals, students, and teams.  Krista is the Director of Simulation for the St. Catherine University Henrietta Schmoll School of Health.  This program is dedicated on creating an IPE Simulation program that will involve 28 Nursing and Health Sciences programs.

  • Krista Ollom-Klein, MA, RN, CNE

    Assistant Professor, Nursing

    Krista Ollom-Klein MA, RN, CNE joined St. Catherine University in 2006 after completing both her Baccalaureate and Master's degrees at the University. She completed her Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) in 2012. She specializes in medical-surgical acute care settings (focusing on neurological, post surgical, and gastroenterology), high fidelity simulations (both at the junior and senior level), and educating in the skill's lab.

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  • Kristen Lillvis, PhD

    Mary Alice Muellerleile Endowed Chair and Professor of English

    Kristen Lillvis is the Muellerleile Endowed Chair and Professor of English at St. Catherine University, where she teaches courses on digital humanities and contemporary American and African American literatures. Her research explores issues of identity in diverse texts across a range of media, including works of electronic literature.
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  • Kristen Maisano, OTD, OTR

    Associate Professor, Occupational Therapy

    Dr. Kristen Leigh Maisano, OTD, OTR/L, CPAM has been practicing occupational therapy since 2005. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in psychology and a Master of Science in occupational therapy in 2005 from Misericordia University, Dallas, Pennsylvania. She completed research in the area of home safety for seniors living in independent communities. This research was published in a peer-reviewed journal as well as shared through a professional presentation at a Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association (POTA) annual conference. Kristen became certified to complete physical agent modalities in 2007, focusing on functional electrical stimulation and ultrasound.

  • Kristin Morris, EdD

    Adjunct Faculty, Organizational Leadership

    Dr. Kristin Morris is CEO & Principal Consultant of Genesis Consulting Services, LLC. She has been teaching adults for 13 years, merging theory and practice to foster a robust learning experience and environment for students. It is important to her to provide a safe space for experiential learning and growth. In her 16 years of leadership experience, she is most proud of winning the Provider of the Year Award for Ramsey County. Dr. Morris is excited to join MAOL for both the people-centered focus of the program and the focus on diverse, inclusive, and equitable leadership.
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  • Kristin Thomanschefsky, PT, DPT, NCS, GCS, CEEAA

    Assistant Professor, Doctor of Physical Therapy Program

    Kristin Thomanschefsky joined the faculty in 2018 with over 30 years of clinical experience in the areas of neurologic and geriatric rehabilitation, acute care, and home care, specializing most recently in movement disorders. She is an ABPTS board-certified clinical specialist in both neurologic and geriatric physical therapy and is a certified exercise expert for aging adults. Kristin received her entry-level education in physical therapy from the College of St. Scholastica and later earned a transitional DPT degree from Regis University in Denver. She is currently working on a PhD in Educational Research.

  • Kristin Tupa, MBA

    Adjunct Faculty, Organizational Leadership

    Kristin Tupa currently works as a sustainability manager at Cargill, Inc. and brings over two decades of experience in a large, global corporation working in agriculture and food. She has worked with customers in the EU, Asia, and South and Central America, as well as with well-known brands in the U.S. like McDonald's and Target. She earned her MBA from the University of Minnesota while working at Cargill, so she understands what it is like to balance work and school. She helps students build confidence in their knowledge, gifts, and talents. She loves the intellectual energy in MAOL courses, which comes from working with students from across business, government, and nonprofit sectors.

  • Kristine Haertl, PhD, ACE, OTR/L, FAOTA

    Professor, Occupational Therapy

    Kristine Haertl, Ph.D., ACE, OTR/L, FAOTA, has been with St. Catherine University since 1997. She loves teaching and outside of the department has taught additional courses in the psychology department and in the CORE. She too has served for a number of years on the CORE Lead committee.
    Within the department, Kristi teaches masters and doctoral courses related to foundations of occupational science, educational methods and practice, sensory-perceptual-cognitive processing, and introductory and advanced mental health practice.

    Kristi has been active in mental health research related to peer-supported mental health housing models and exploration of the nature and efficacy of services at a free standing psychiatric occupational therapy clinic.

  • Kristine Pelatt, PhD

    Associate Professor, Mathematics

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  • Kristine West, PhD

    Endowed Chair in the Sciences; Associate Professor, Economics

    Kristine Lamm West completed her PhD in Applied Economics at the University of Minnesota in 2012. Her primary fields of interest are labor economics, program evaluation, and the economics of education. Recent research projects investigate topics ranging from unions and performance pay to the impact of vision services on student achievement. Her research has been published in The Journal of Human Resources, Industrial Relations, Economics of Education Review, and Education Finance & Policy.
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  • Kurt Olson, PhD

    Associate Professor, Biology

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  • Kyunghye (Konhe) Yoon

    Associate Professor, Master of Library and Information Science Program

    Dr. Konhe Yoon joined St Kate in the Fall of 2012 from the State University of New York at Oswego where she was a faculty in the Information Science Program for 10 years. Konhe’s research and teaching interests include human information interaction in the web-based information systems and digital environment, which encompasses cognitive, linguistic, communicative and shared information seeking and use behaviors. Her research examines user's information meaning represented in various interaction contexts, such as reference interviews or social tagging and folksonomy of users in representing information content on social media.

  • Lacey Rotier, MLIS

    Assistant Professor and School Library Media Coordinator, Library and Information Science

    Lacey Rotier works at St. Catherine University as an Assistant Professor and the School Library Media Program Coordinator in the Library and Information Science Department. Lacey received her Master's of Library and Information Science and K-12 School Library Media license from St. Catherine University. Prior to her position at St. Kate's, she was the Library Media Specialist at Northport Elementary in Robbinsdale Area Schools for seven years. Her professional interests include collaboration, technology integration, and effective instruction.
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  • Lana Prokop, DPT

    Assistant Professor, Exercise Sciences

    Lana Prokop, Assistant Professor of Exercise Sciences, teaches the undergraduate courses of Kinesiology and Biomechanics and Motor Learning and Motor Control. Her interests include gait biomechanics and women's health. Lana is a Board Certified Specialist in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy. Lana enjoys bringing her clinical background to the classroom to help students understand how theory translates to practice.
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  • Lanlan (Lacey) Chu, PhD

    Assistant Professor, Economics

    Lacey Chu completed her Ph.D. in Economics at Texas Tech University in 2017. She joined St. Catherine University in Fall 2020 after working as an assistant professor of economics at Buena Vista University in Iowa. Her primary fields of interest are health economics and industrial organization, focusing on health, aging, care, and gender. Current research projects include cross-national comparison in prevalence and predictors of healthy aging, impacts of informal care on caregivers and recipients, and gender disparities in health and well-being. Her work has been published in journals such as Social Science & Medicine, Journal of Aging and Health, and Energy Economics.

  • Laura Fero, PhD, MSN, RN

    Dean of Nursing - Henrietta Schmoll School of Health

    Laura Fero brings an extensive background in healthcare as both a practitioner and higher education administrator to St. Catherine University. In her role as the dean of nursing in the Henrietta Schmoll School of Health, she is responsible for the growth and sustainability of Minnesota’s oldest nursing program. In addition to managing daily operations and the effectiveness of the nursing program, Fero leads innovation, curriculum design, and interprofessional education, ensuring all nursing graduates are prepared to provide cutting-edge, compassionate, and ethical care to patients. 

    Her research interests include critical thinking skills development for nursing students, nursing career pathways, and supportive health services.

  • Laura Gilchrist, PT, PhD

    Admissions Co-Chair, Professor

    Dr. Gilchrist is a Professor in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program and a Clinical Research Scientist at Children's Hospitals and Clinics. She holds a BA in Biology from Lawrence University, as well as a BS in Physical Therapy and a PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Minnesota. Dr. Gilchrist has an active research program aimed at improving physical function in children and adolescents undergoing treatment for cancer. Her current focus is on investigating chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in this population. She has received both institutional and national awards for her work in this area.

  • Laura Peterson

    Program Director, Assistant Professor, Radiation Therapy

    I worked as a radiation therapist in the Twin Cities area for eleven years and have been teaching since 2001.
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  • Laurel Bidwell, PhD, MSW

    Associate Professor, Social Work

    I am greatly committed to supporting the wellbeing of marginalized children and families. I have a particular interest in evaluation research as a way of ensuring that programs and services are meeting the needs of highly vulnerable families; especially those involved with the child welfare system. I am invested in collaborative, mixed-method, community-based, interdisciplinary research that is built from the ground up. My teaching emphasizes the role of critical thinking and I am interested in pedagogy related to online and blended learning in order to strengthen student access to and engagement with course material.

  • Laurie A. Sieve DNP, RN, PHN, CNE

    Associate Professor, Department of Nursing

    Laurie Sieve, DNP joined St. Catherine University Department of Nursing in 2012. Laurie taught in St. Catherine University's Dual Degree Nursing program from 2012-2017 and since 2017 has been teaching in the Masters of Science in Nursing Entry Level (MSNEL) program. Laurie's area of expertise is mental health, LGBTQI health, family health, community health, and nursing leadership.
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  • Laurie Anderson Sathe, Ed.D.

    Program Director and Associate Professor, Master of Arts in Holistic Health Studies

    Teaching: I teach courses that introduce students to a holistic perspective of health and healing, specifically global and cultural studies that expose students to the interconnections of people across the globe and their approaches to healing. Also, courses that assist students in finding their authentic voices for leadership, connection and social change.
    Research: I am interested in the ways that education can bring about positive change in health and healing. In particular, a holistic transformative pedagogy that integrates the mind, body and spirit in the learning process. I am intrigued by the richness and discoveries available through narrative and listening theories and their application to teaching, healing and connection.

  • Laurie Swabey, PhD

    Professor, ASL and Interpreting

    Laurie Swabey is Professor of Interpreting at St. Catherine University and Director of the CATIE Center where she is the principal investigator on two federally funded projects related to interpreter education. She holds a PhD from the University of Minnesota in Linguistics and her research interests include interpreting pedagogy and healthcare interpreting. Publications include co-edited volumes Advances in Interpreting Research (John Benjamins) and Educating Healthcare Interpreters (Gallaudet University Press). In addition to several book chapters, she has also published in a variety of journals including Interpreting: International Journal of Research and Practice, Translation and Interpreting Studies, Journal of Healthcare Quality, Journal of Interpreting, and International Journal of Interpreter Education.

  • Leso Munala, PhD

    Associate Professor, Public Health

    Dr. Munala's educational background is interdisciplinary in nature. She has a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from The Ohio State University, a Master's in Social Work from the University of Chicago and a Doctorate in Public Health from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Her dissertation examined the factors affecting the quality of services provided to female survivors of sexual violence in Nairobi, Kenya. Her current research foci are in exploring and addressing violence against women in East Africa. This includes the development of policies and interventions for survivors of sexual violence , the elimination of harmful cultural practices against women and improving the quality of post-rape care services.

  • Lisa Borneman

    Assistant Professor

  • Lisa Dutton, PT, PhD

    Dean, Henrietta Schmoll School of Health; Professor, Physical Therapy

    Dutton joined St. Catherine University in 2008. During her tenure here, she has served in a variety of leadership roles, including department chair and program director for physical therapy, associate dean, and most currently as the dean of the Henrietta Schmoll School of Health.
    In 2018, Dutton received the Stanford Award from the Journal of Physical Therapy Education, which recognizes authors of a paper containing the most influential educational ideas. The article, co-authored with Debra Sellheim, PhD, explored how students experience and cope with the differences between their curriculum and clinical practice.

  • Lisa Kiesel, PhD, MSW, LICSW

    Assistant Professor, Social Work

    Lisa Kiesel, MSW, PhD, LICSW earned a PhD in Social Work from the University of Minnesota in 2013, MSW with a focus on children, youth, and families from the University of Washington (Seattle) in 1996, and BS with double majors of Social Work and English from Augsburg College (Minneapolis) in 1993. She joined the faculty as an adjunct instructor in 2012, then as Assistant Professor in 2013, and was recently tenured and promoted to Associate Professor (2019). Kiesel teaches Theory/Practice of Social Work I, Methods of Social Work Research, Social Policy and Program Development, and the Applied Research Seminar.

  • Lisa Rovick, EdD, CO, COMT

    Associate Professor, Interprofessional Education

    Lisa is a faculty member of the Interprofessional Education (IPE) at St. Catherine University who initially came to develop and direct a pioneering Orthoptic program and join the faculty for the Ophthalmic Technician program. She has practiced Orthoptics in a Pediatric Ophthalmology clinic and on several teams providing eye care to children living in poverty in Guatemala.
    Lisa has been an active presenter at national and international eye care meeting since her certification in 1988.

    In the IPE Department, Lisa has developed an interest in how teams develop and is studying ways to help interprofessional student teams rapidly develop cohesiveness and a sense of psychological safety.

  • Lori R. Maxfield. PhD

    Education Program Director, Associate Professor, Education

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  • Lori Winchell, DrPH, MN, CWP

    Associate Professor, Nursing

    Lori Winchell, DrPH, APRN-BC, CWP has been a provider of health and wellness services for over 38 years. She is a certified wellness practitioner through the National Wellness Institute and a licensed Advanced Family Practice Registered Nurse in Minnesota. Lori has extensive background and experience in education, public health, preventative care, health promotion, and disease prevention. She has provided direct patient care to diverse populations in a variety of healthcare settings.
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  • Lucas Pingel, MFA

    Associate Professor, English

    Poet, Critic, Teacher
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  • Marcella (Marcie) J. Myers, PhD

    Professor of Biology, Carondelet Scholar, Biology

    I am a Professor in the Department of Biology at St. Catherine University and a Carondelet Scholar. I work in the areas of physiology and physical anthropology (PhD from UW-Madison), with a particular focus on the locomotor physiology and biomechanics of humans in contemporary as well as early human populations. I am co-PI on a $1.5 M R25 NIA grant called Katies for Aging Research and Equity (KARE), which will prepare diverse students for careers in longevity and aging research. I teach Human & Comparative Physiology, Biology of Longevity & Aging, Measuring Human Locomotion, Human Biology in an Intersectional World, and Sophomore and Senior Seminar.

  • Margret McCue-Enser, PhD

    Associate Professor, Communication Studies

    Margret McCue-Enser teaches and researches gender and rhetoric. She studied Communication and German as an undergraduate.

    She obtained her master's degree at Colorado State University in Speech Communication, focusing on the rhetorical strategies of power feminists. She obtained her doctorate at the University of Iowa where she studied the contemporary gender and rhetoric. She taught as an instructor in the department of Communication Studies while completing her Ph.D. and soon after took a job at Saginaw Valley State University where she earned tenure and promotion to Associate Professor.

  • Mari Ann Graham, MSW, PhD, LISW

    MSW Program Director, Associate Professor

    Mari Ann Graham, MSW, PhD, LISW, joined the St. Catherine University faculty fall 2019 as MSW Program Director and as tenured associate professor. She completed a PhD in Social Welfare from Case Western in 1999, her MSW from the University of Nebraska-Omaha (UNO) in 1983 and her BSW also from UNO in 1979. She also served as MSW Program Director for 6 years and as Interim Chief Diversity Officer while on faculty of the joint program with the University of St. Thomas for 25 years. She taught MSW practice, policy and research courses as well as courses in the DSW Program she helped develop and launch, summer of 2014.

  • Maria Tice, PhD

    Associate Professor, Nursing

    Maria Tice, PhD, RN, PHN, CNE is an Associate Professor at St. Catherine University in the MSNEL program. Dr. Tice earned her MSN in Nursing Education at St. Catherine University and her PhD in Nursing Education at the University of Northern Colorado. Dr. Tice has over 20 years of combined clinical practice in mental health, pediatrics, geriatrics, and as a licensed school nurse; and 7 years as a nurse educator and community/mental health clinical instructor. Dr. Tice’s research interests are in clinical education, developing foundational mental health nursing competencies for all nurses, and intentionality in nursing as a spiritual practice.

  • Marina Mileo Gorzig, PhD

    Assistant Professor, Economics and Political Science

    Marina Gorzig is an applied microeconomist whose research focuses on social inequalities, particularly discrimination in the labor market. She has published her research in economics, data methodology, and public health journals.

    Marina received her PhD in Public Policy from Duke University. Prior to joining St. Catherine University, she worked on data infrastructure at the University of Minnesota. In this role, she created variables that make it easier for researchers to study diverse family types
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  • Mark W. Grenfell, MBA, MS

    Adjunct Faculty, Master of Business Administration

    Mark Grenfell, MBA joined the St. Catherine University's MBA faculty in 2015. He brings to the classroom his 5 years of work experience at General Motors as well as 35 years at 3M, from which he is now retired. He has experience as a technical inventor, program manager, project manager, global business manager, and global lab manager. He also has extensive experience with new product introduction, intellectual property (along with dozens of patents), program and team leadership, and brand marketing. Professor Grenfell is particularly proud of negotiating and implementing a brand licensing agreement for the use of Scotchgard™ on eyeglass lenses, for which the team won a 3M Global Marketing and Sales Professionalism Award.

  • Mary Hearst, PhD

    Professor, Public Health

    My public health experience ranges from local to international, community to academic. I spent several years working at a local health department in a very challenged community. My role included internal functions of grant writing and assessment and external functions of community board and intervention participation related to reducing the effects of racism and social inequities on health. I received my PhD in Epidemiology in 2007, with an emphasis in Social Epidemiology. I spent five years focused on research before joining St. Catherine University.

    Vision
    Equitable and true opportunity for all.

  • Mary Henderson - MBA, Ed.D.

    Professor, Business Administration

    Dr. Mary U. Henderson currently teaches management, leadership, sales, and the Business Practicum courses within the School of Business at St. Catherine University. She is the Faculty Internship Advisor for Business Administration students. Her teaching priority is to bring together theory and application to prepare students for rewarding professional careers.
    Henderson has 18 years of industry experience in buying, marketing, and management. This includes experience as a vice president for a Fortune 500 corporation. Dr. Henderson's scholarship focuses on business ethics and Catholic Social Teaching, leadership, and career preparation.

  • Mary Nienow, PhD, LGSW

    BSW Program Director and Assistant Professor

    Dr. Mary Nienow earned her BSW from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in 1997, her MSW from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, in 2003, and her PhD in Social Work from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, in 2018. Dr. Nienow has over twenty years of experience in research, teaching, advocacy, program coordination, policy development and analysis and community organizing. Dr. Nienow was the co-founder of Grasstops, a nonprofit advocacy organization that assisted nonprofits and small community groups with their policy and advocacy goals. Her extensive practice experience also includes Policy Consultant for Hennepin County Medical Center, Field Director at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Executive Director at Child Care WORKS, and lead researcher on Health and Human Services for the Minnesota Senate DFL Caucus.

  • Mary Sue Ingman, PT, DSc

    Assistant Director of Clinical Education, Associate Professor, Doctor of Physical Therapy Program

    MarySue Ingman is Associate Professor and Assistant Director of Clinical Education in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at St Catherine University in Minneapolis, MN. Her physical therapy Bachelor's Degree as well as her Master of Science Degree are from the University of Minnesota. She received her Doctor of Science degree in Health Promotion and Wellness from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions in 2011. She completed her Health and Wellness Coaching training from Wellcoaches in 2016. Her research interests include the role of physical therapists in health promotion within clinical practice.

  • Mary Thomas, EdD, MBA

    Associate Professor, MBA

    Mary received her BA from St. Catherine University and considers it an honor to be back! After graduating from St. Kate's she continued her education receiving her MBA with focuses in Management and Quantitative Analysis, and later her Doctorate in Leadership. Mary has been teaching higher education on an adjunct basis since 1998, and her industry experience consists of 20 years of leadership in the fitness/wellness industry. Mary's hobbies include exercise, healthy cooking, and writing/blogging about wellness. She also enjoys traveling and takes at least two vacations every year, usually one involving somewhere warm during the winter months.

  • Maryam Becker, MA-HRIR

    Adjunct Faculty, Master of Business Administration

    Maryam Becker, MA-HRIR joined St. Catherine's MBA faculty in 2021. She brings to the classroom 11 years of Human Resources and Leadership experience from Target Corporation. Maryam has experience in recruitment, talent management, performance management, diversity and inclusion, coaching, and mentoring. She has  experience leading executives through ambiguous talent initiatives to hit their business strategies through talent. Maryam's biggest accomplishments have been leading organizational changes and developing talent initiatives in partnership with executives of an organization. Maryam received her Master's degree in Human Resources Industrial Relations from the Carlson School of Management at University of Minnesota and her undergraduate degree in Human Resource Development with an emphasis in Leadership from the College of Human Development at University of Minnesota.

  • Matthew Byrne, PhD, RN, CNE

    Associate Dean for Nursing

    I am passionate about improving the technologies used by nurses and patients in both the clinical and educational contexts. My research focus in in the areas of Nursing Informatics, notably clinical decision support, UX/UI design and workflows. In terms of nursing education my focus is on instructional technology and educational analytics. My clinical "home base" is perianesthesia nursing and I serve as a reviewer and columnist for the Journal of Perianesthesia Nursing, serve on their Ed Board and publish in several perianesthesia texts.
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  • Maureen Wosepka, MS

    Assistant Professor, Nursing

    My work as a nurse and educator is driven by a desire to create healthcare in which all individuals, families and communities are provided with equal and just care, not only while under the roof of a facility, but in the context of their environment, considering all social determinants of health and health disparities. 
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  • Megan Baumler, PhD, RD, LD

    Assistant Professor, Program Director, Nutrition and Dietetics

    As a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) and with a PhD in Nutrition Sciences, I'm passionate about evidence-based nutrition practice and sustainable dietary patterns that promote long term health. I'm most interested in the connection between our gastrointestinal physiology and our health outcomes, nutrition for the older adulthood life stage, and modifiable dietary factors that can improve our long term health.
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  • Megan Kalina, MBA

    Professor, Business Administration

    I am a professor in the Business Administration Department. I currently teach a variety of courses in the department including, Financial Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Intermediate Accounting, and Auditing. I also teach Strategic Leadership in our Masters of Arts in Organizational Leadership program. I teach in all formats - in the class, online and hybrid and enjoy all the formats and all classes!
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  • Meghan Mason, PhD, MPH

    Associate Professor, Public Health

    My research interests are in zoonotic diseases, infections that transfer from animal to human populations, and in the health of marginalized urban populations. My passion for these two topics stemmed from my time in Kenya and Chile during my MPH and PhD programs. Abroad, I am focused on the importance of free-roaming dogs in the transmission of infectious diseases, and the perceptions of the role of these animals in urban communities. In the Twin Cities, I am interested in better understanding the burden of disease in individuals experiencing homelessness. In the classroom, you will primarily find me teaching Biostatistics and Epidemiology.

  • Mehnaz Parvez (aka Geeta Deka), MBBS, MS

    Assistant Professor, Master of Physician Assistant Studies program

    Geeta Deka is an Assistant Professor at St. Catherine University in the Master of Physician Assistant Studies program. She is a Physician and an educator with more than 18 years of experience in hospitals, clinics and educational institutions. She brings in a blend of career experience from India and US. Her clinical background is working as a General Practitioner and as a house surgeon in women’s health & internal medicine. Her research focus is global health, infectious disease and innovative teaching education and is currently  working on a project that is assessing the knowledge, attitude and practice about Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation among nurses in a tertiary hospital of Kohima, the capital city of Nagaland, a northeastern state in India.

  • Merdi Rafiei, PhD

    Assistant Professor, Health Informatics

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  • Merry Richards, MA

    Assistant Professor, Radiography

    I was one of the original faculty members that started the Radiography Program at St. Catherine University in 1993. We were housed in the Minneapolis campus until moving over to St. Paul in 2018. We will be accepting our 58th cohort of students in fall of 2021. With an average of 15 students in each group, I've taught over 800 students become successful radiographers. Many of these graduates are still in contact with me and also serve in leadership roles at our clinical partners.
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  • Michelle Koopman, DNP, RN, CNE, PHN

    Associate Professor, Nursing

    Michelle Koopman, DNP, RN, CNE, PHN joined St. Catherine University in 2015. Her varied nursing experience includes roles as nursing faculty, case manager, nursing supervisor, diabetic educator, and float pool bedside nurse. Working as a float pool nurse involved caring for multiple, diverse patient populations in acute care settings. Professor Koopman currently teaches in the College for Women Baccalaureate Degree Nursing program and serves as a student mentor in the Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) program. Her experiences as a nurse educator include course and level coordination, curriculum development, student mentoring and advising, and didactic, lab and simulation teaching.

  • Milpha Blamo, MNM

    Adjunct Faculty, Organizational Leadership

    Milpha Blamo is the Vice President of Talent and Culture at the Minneapolis Foundation. She has 16 years of field and academic experience in nonprofit management, individual leadership and team development, and human resources (including talent acquisition, training, development, retention, and culture building). She is most proud of bringing industry expertise and thought leadership to nonprofit and advisory boards, including the Forbes Human Resources Council. As a teacher, Milpha’s goal is to help students develop their individual leadership skills and understand how their leadership influences others.

  • Monica Brown, MS

    Mary T. Hill Director of Data Science; Assistant Professor, Mathematics

    Monica is currently serving as the first Mary T. Hill Director of Data Science at St. Catherine University in addition to her role as an assistant professor in the Department of Mathematics. She holds her master's degree in Applied Mathematics (emphasis in Statistics) from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, and is currently engaged in doctoral coursework in Leadership. Monica has been a faculty member at St. Kate's since 2008. She is responsible for the development and implementation of an Interdisciplinary Statistics minor (2015) and a Data Science major (2018) at St. Kate's. Her current work involves establishing a Data Science Institute for the community of St. Catherine University.

  • Monica Rudquist, MFA

    Assistant Professor, Art and Art History

    I am ceramic artist and teach all the ceramics and sculpture classes in the Art and Art History Department.  I am interested in how the arts can build community and create opportunities to learn from one another, to look closely, reflect, and discover connections and new perspectives. 
    I have worked with clay for most of my life, and love sharing my passion with students and others. My own work begins on a potter’s wheel, thrown objects (such as bowls and cylinders) are my starting point—They ground me in the tradition of functional wheel work. Through the process of throwing, altering and abstracting these familiar forms, I re-imagine and reinvent the shapes and the spaces they inhabit.

  • Nan Hoerr, EdD, DNP, RN

    Associate Professor, Nursing

    I began my teaching career at St. Catherine University in January 2013 when hired as adjunct in the Baccalaureate Day Program – College for Women.  I currently serve as the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Program Director with oversight for the post-master DNP and four dual degree + DNP options (Master of Health Informatics, Master of Holistic Studies, Master of Organizational Leadership, and Master of Business Administration).  In addition to my administrative duties, I teach at the graduate level, mentor DNP projects, and serve on St. Catherine University's IRB.  My research interests include public health nursing, DNP education, and the faculty role in developing students' scholarly writing.

  • Nancy A. Heitzeg, PhD

    Endowed Professor in the Sciences (2018-21), Professor of Sociology, Director of Critical Studies of Race and Ethnicity

    Dr. Nancy A. Heitzeg is a Professor of Sociology , Director of the Critical Studies of Race/Ethnicity Program, and Endowed Chair in the Sciences.. Professor Heitzeg writes & presents widely on issues of race, class, gender, & social control with attention to the school to prison pipeline & the prison industrial complex.

    Professor Heitzeg is co- editor of an on-line series, Criminal InJustice, which is devoted to encouraging public education & action on issues of mass incarceration.
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  • Natalie K. Eschenbaum, PhD

    Division Chair, Arts and Humanities; Professor, English

    Natalie K. Eschenbaum earned her B.A. in English (minor in Philosophy) from Tulane University (1997) and her Ph.D. in English from Emory University (2006). Her research focuses on sensation studies and affect theory (specifically the affect of disgust) in early modern English literature. She publishes on Shakespeare and seventeenth-century poets, including Robert Herrick. She was Professor of English, Chair of English, and Chair of Faculty Senate at the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse, through 2020. She began at St. Catherine University as Professor of English and Division Chair of Arts and Humanities (Art/Art History, English/International Language & Literature, History/International Studies, Philosophy, Theology, and Music) in 2020.

  • Nawojka Lesinski, PhD

    Assistant Professor, Economics and Political Science

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  • Nicole Beckmann

    Assistant Professor

  • Nicole Lamb

    Assistant Professor, Physician Assistant Studies

    Nicole Lamb graduated from Marquette University MPAS program in 2009 has been primarily practicing in Emergency Medicine and Primary Care since. Currently Nicole works clinically at Regions Hospital Emergency department, a busy level I trauma center in St. Paul. Here, she previously participated in the education coordination and delivery to PA, NP and medical students and was voted Preceptor of the Year at Regions prior to coming to St. Kate's.

    Additionally, Nicole received her Master's of Public Health from George Washington University in Washington, DC and divided her time working clinically in emergency medicine and developing and running the evaluation for a holistic program focused on veteran health, PTSD and Military Sexual Trauma.

  • Pa Der Vang, PhD, MSW, LICSW

    Associate Professor, Social Work, Mission Chair for the Liberal Arts

    I am currently serving as the Endowed Mission Chair for the Liberal Arts. In this role, I am focused on promoting the liberal arts at St. Kates through professional development, community engagement, and student engagement.

    My teaching centers on the use of theory in generalist social work practice with an emphasis on social justice and empowerment. My research is on the experience of Hmong American immigrants and the acculturation process, especially Hmong Women. I am the editor of Staring Down the Tiger: Stories of Hmong American Women published by the Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2020.

  • Patricia Connors, DMA

    Professor, Music

    Director of Choirs, Department Chair

    Patricia Connors, Director of Choral Activities and Chair of the Department of Music at St. Kate's, conducts the Women's Choir, Femme Vocale, and the St. Catherine Choral Society, as well as providing music direction for the annual musical. She has studied with conducting masters Don V Moses, Julius Herford and Helmuth Rilling. Dr. Connors has served as guest conductor/clinician for choral festivals including the Indiana All State Women's Choir, the Minnesota Community College Honor Choir, Star of the North Chamber Choir Festival, the Drake Choir Festival and the Marquette Chorus Festival.

  • Patricia Finch Guthrie, PhD

    Associate Professor, Interprofessional Education

    Patricia has worked in a variety of staff nurse and leadership positions in nursing ranging from a nurse manager of a progressive cardiovascular unit to the director of education, practice and research at a large acute care organization. Currently, she is working as the Director of Interprofessional Practice, Education, and Research at St. Catherine University. Her scholarship focus is in gerontology and interprofessional teamwork, education, and practice. Patricia teaches a variety of interprofessional courses and experiences. Patricia is one of the co-founders and coordinators of the Interprofessional Evidence-based practice Clinical Scholar Program, a partnership with practice sites within the Twin Cities.

  • Patricia Montalbano, PhD

    Assistant Professor, English

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  • Paul Buttenhoff, MA

    Assistant Professor, Biology

    My name is Paul Buttenhoff and I'm an Assistant Professor in the Biology Department. I received my B.S. in Zoology from the University of Wyoming in 1992 and my Master's degree in Zoology Auburn University in 1996. My research background is in herpetology (the study of amphibians and reptiles). I started here at the University in 1998 as an adjunct instructor and have held the rank of assistant professor since 1999. My primary teaching responsibilities include teaching biology courses.
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  • Paul Greene, PhD

    Associate Professor, Theology

    Paul has lived in Minnesota his whole life, graduating from St John's in Collegeville twice, and Luther Seminary for his terminal degree. He enjoys teaching, photographing sunsets, and relaxing with family and friends in the ebb and flow of Minnesota's seasons. Paul's work interests include Buddhist Christian dialogue, which form the heart of his Master's thesis and doctoral dissertation. He is also captivated by the philosophy of organism and the organic theology that flows from it. His first book, The End of Divine Truthiness: Love, Power, and God, works to deconstruct a number of theological idols that diminish divine love, by constructing a Buddhist-Christian-Taoist doctrine of power that empowers the vast flourishing of the God who is love.

  • Paula Furey, PhD

    Associate Professor, Biology

    I am a freshwater ecologist, with expertise and interests that span phycology (algae), invertebrate biology, taxonomy, biodiversity, and conservation biology. My research centers on the ecology of aquatic ecosystems (lakes, rivers, streams, wetwalls), especially benthic (bottom) communities and algal assemblages. I focus my research on trying to understand what shapes and controls the structure and function of biotic communities and ecosystems, and on using ecology to find better ways to monitor, protect and predict changes in aquatic ecosystems. Visit my lab website: http://drpcfurey.com/
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  • Paula Rabaey, PhD, OTR/L

    Associate Professor, Occupational Therapy

    Dr. Rabaey is an Associate Professor in the OT Graduate Department at St. Catherine University. Her clinical background includes 29 years of experience working with children with disabilities and their families in early intervention, school, clinic, community, and NICU settings. She specializes in feeding and eating difficulties in children with a variety of diagnoses in both the US and in low and middle income countries. She serves on the medical advisory board and as a feeding technical expert for SPOON Foundation (www.spoonfoundation.org) and has traveled internationally to conduct training with caregivers of children with disabilities living without families.

  • Philomena Morrissey Satre

    Adjunct Faculty, Organizational Leadership

    Philomena Morrissey Satre brings 33 years of experience leading in corporations, community nonprofits, and a co-op. She currently serves as Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and External Strategic Partnerships at Land O’Lakes. A highlight of her career includes being asked to co-lead the Twin Cities Diversity and Inclusion Roundtable. Philomena is an MAOL graduate and has taught Leading Organizational Change for seven years, with the goal of supporting students to apply their class-based learning to the workplace. She loves the strategic pillars of the program and embraces the importance of being an ethical, enduring, and effective leader.

  • Rachael McGraw, MSN

    Assistant Professor, Nursing

    Rachael is an Assistant Professor of Nursing at St. Catherine University. She is a nurse educator who infuses her clinical and teaching practices with caring ethics. Rachael has a broad clinical background with many years of experience in maternal child health and a current practice in surgical oncology. Her faculty position is the Graduate College where she focuses on evidence-based teaching strategies. Her scholarship is based on pairing simulation with ethical issues that impact care outcomes and the health care experience. She serves the University through leadership in Anti-Racist Pedagogy Across the Curriculum work with the goal of increasing nursing workforce diversity.

  • Rachel Neiwert, PhD

    Sister Mona Riley Endowed Professorship in Humanities; Associate Professor, History

    My research is in Modern British history, with a particular emphasis on children and education in the British Empire. I am particularly interested in how children understood and interpreted what it meant to be British. I am also engaged in a new research project focused much closer to home, entitled "Welcoming the Dear Neighbor?: A History of Housing Inequality in Ramsey County." This project focuses on understanding the historical context of racial covenants and housing segregation in Ramsey County, Minnesota. My teaching focuses on Modern European history, with a particular emphasis on women's history, the Modern Middle East, and World History.

  • Rafael Cervantes, PhD

    Associate Professor, Communication Studies

    Communication Studies, Electronic Media Studies, Applied Science in Communication Studies (Pre-OT)
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  • Rahul Roy

    Assistant Professor, Biology

    Rahul Roy is a plant biologist focusing on the mechanisms of nectar production in flowering plants and plant root movements. He teaches Foundations of Biology, Environmental Biology, Plant Biology and Research Proposal writing courses at St. Kate's. His lab research (setup in 2020) will focus on the analysis of colorful nectar, dissecting roles of hormones and membrane transporters in nectar production and the morphometry of plant root movement in response to touch and gravity. As a student researcher in the Roy lab you will train in microscopy, genetic, biochemical, cellular and molecular techniques to elucidate pathways that are involved in the above mentioned phenomena.

  • Rebeca Barroso, DNP, MSN, APRN, CNM, FACNM

    Associate Professor, Nursing

    Rebeca is an Associate Professor of Nursing with St. Catherine University in Saint Paul, MN. She is an alumnus of the University of Minnesota, Case Western Reserve University, and Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing. Rebeca teaches in both the nurse practitioner and master's entry level prelicensure programs. She has extensive clinical experience as a nurse-midwife, and has educated and precepted several generations of nurse-midwives throughout the course of a four decade clinical career. As part of a multidisciplinary team, Rebeca served at-risk populations at Seton Catholic Charities Clinic until the closing of the clinic in 2016.

  • Rebecca Berrú Davis, PhD

    Assistant Professor, Theology

    Dr. Rebecca Berrú Davis is Assistant Professor in Theology at St. Catherine University in St. Paul, MN. She earned her degree in the area of Art and Religion with a focus on Latinx and Latin American Theologies at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, CA. She was a Hispanic Theological Initiative Fellow and held a two-year Louisville Institute Post-Doctoral Fellowship at St. John’s University in Collegeville, MN. Rebecca is interested in the intersection of art, faith, and justice as a way to understand the spiritual and religious expressions of those located on the margins of society.

  • Rebecca Busanich, PhD

    Associate Professor, Exercise Sciences

    Dr. Rebecca Busanich is an Associate Professor of Exercise and Sport Studies at St. Catherine University. She holds a Ph.D. in Sport and Exercise Psychology from the University of Iowa (’11), a Master's degree from the University of Oregon (’05), and a Bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan (’03).
     
    Dr. Busanich’s research explores the social and cultural narratives around physical activity, eating and the body and translates her findings to promote healthy/positive eating and physical activity experiences, along with exercise adherence, for underrepresented populations. In exploring these ideas, Dr. Busanich draws upon social constructionist and critical feminist theoretical perspectives and narrative methodologies to further explore the ways in which gender and sociocultural positions impact health behaviors and the meaning-making process underlying these behaviors.

  • Renée (DeVries) Broughten, PhD

    Professor, Interprofessional Education

    Renée (DeVries) Broughten is a professor in the Department of Interprofessional Education. She earned her Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) degree from Northwestern College of Chiropractic and, after four years of clinical practice, returned to pursue a residency in Diagnostic Imaging. She earned her PhD in Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development from the University of Minnesota. Her research explored the impact of trust on the success of collaborations in health care. She is interested in evidence-based clinical practice as she feels that creates a solid foundation for providers from diverse disciplines to engage in interprofessional practice.

  • Renee Colsch, PhD, RN, SCRN, CQ

    Associate Professor, Nursing

    Renee Colsch has a passion and specialty in the area of neuroscience nursing. Her professional experience includes acute care nursing in the intensive care unit, emergency room, and the United States Air Force deployment in Balad Iraq, 2007. She teaches courses in undergraduate and graduate pathophysiology, leadership and serves as a DNP student mentor. She views the teacher as the facilitator of learning. Her teaching focuses on cultural awareness and sensitivity, holistic nursing, bringing technology into the classroom and practice, evidence-based practice, research, learning, and retention.

  • Renee Portmann, EdD

    Respiratory Care Program Director, Associate Professor

    Renee’s career began in the healthcare field as a staff Respiratory Therapist.  After she became a respiratory therapist, she was employed by a large hospital system in Fargo, North Dakota as a clinician/outreach educator, and as a member of the flight team for The Children’s Hospital.  In her last year with the hospital system, she was employed as a Market Strategist for the administrative team.   While in Fargo, she also finished her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in healthcare administration.
     
    When Renee relocated to Denver, she was employed as a clinical liaison for a Long-term Acute Care Hospital (LTACH), worked in hospital and homecare administration, and was respiratory therapy program director for a private school.

  • Robert Connor, PhD, MHA

    Assistant Professor, Business Administration and MBA

    Dr. Connor has a BA with honors from Princeton University, an MHA from Duke University, and a Ph.D. from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to joining the faculty at St. Catherine University, Dr. Connor has been the co-founder of a community health center, an associate director of a teaching hospital, a tenured professor at the University of Minnesota, and the founder and CEO of medical device and wearable technology companies. 
    Dr. Connor has published in Academic Medicine, Health Affairs, Health Care Management Review, Hospital & Health Services Administration, Inquiry, International Journal of the Economics of Business, Journal of Health Economics, Journal of Public Budgeting, Accounting and Financial Management, Managed Care, Medical Care Review, Topics in Health Care Financing, and even Cosmo Magazine.

  • Robin Ann Lukes, J.D.

    Associate Professor, Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS)

    I have been teaching in the associate degree programs since 1992. I have taught courses in the social sciences, as well as interdisciplinary mission courses. I am particularly interested in connecting critical skill outcomes to disciplinary and interdisciplinary learning.
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  • Sally Adams, MBA, CPA (inactive)

    Assistant Professor, Business Administration

    Sally Adams works at St. Catherine University in the School of Business as an assistant accounting professor. She is an enthusiastic educator with over 20 years of teaching experience at the secondary and post-secondary level. She earned both a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and Risk Management and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin -Madison.  Her professional experience includes working as a CPA in both public accounting at Price Waterhouse and litigation support consulting.  She considers financial literacy a vital life skill. She currently sits on the Board for the Minnesota Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy and recently testified before the Minnesota Senate Education Committee regarding Financial Literacy Standards at the high school level.

  • Sandra Kletti, OTD, M.Ed., OTR/L

    Assistant Professor, Occupational Therapy Assistant Online Program

    Sandy has 31 years of experience as a school-based occupational therapist in the Appleton Area School District in the state of Wisconsin. She also worked 4 years in both the mental health and adult rehab settings. Sandy has has 3 years of experience as an adjunct instructor in occupational therapy at the associate and master degree levels before becoming a full-time faculty at St. Catherine University. Sandy has been an assistant professor in the OTA online program since 2016.
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  • Sara Rippie, MS, RNC-OB, IBCLC

    Assistant Professor, Nursing

    Sara teaches nursing in the College for Women program and the Entry-Level Master's program at St. Catherine University. She works with students in the classroom, lab, and simulation settings. Sara also takes students into the acute care clinical setting on medical, surgical, and maternity units of the metro area hospitals.

    Sara has been a registered nurse for more than 20 years and is still in practice at the bedside. Sara's expertise is in maternity nursing care. Sara is also a lactation consultant, and an instructor for the neonatal resuscitation program (NRP).
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  • Sarah Beman, PhD

    Associate Professor, Nursing

    Sarah has taught at St. Catherine University since October of 2006. Sarah is currently nursing faculty teaching primarily in the MSN - Entry Level Program (MSNEL). She specializes in simulation and is the MSNEL Simulation Coordinator. Previous work at St. Kates includes Interim Program Director of the MSNEL Program, Collaborative Practice Site Coordinator between the HSSH and the MDVA, Coordinator and then director of the Associate Degree Nursing Program. Sarah's clinical practice began at Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) on the Cardiac and Renal Unit and then the Newborn Intensive Care Unit.

  • Sarah Hassebroek, EdD

    Assistant Professor, Montessori

    Sarah Hassebroek specializes in Elementary Montessori Education. Before joining St Kate's, she was a classroom teacher for 10 years and taught in the Midwest and in Costa Rica. She was a Literacy Specialist and an Instructional Coach for four additional years. Sarah studied Anthropology and Spanish in her bachelor's program and obtained a MAED at St Kate's in 2006. Sarah studied Educational Policy and Leadership Studies with an emphasis on Equity in Education and Online Learning at the University of Iowa, where she obtained her Education Specialist degree.
    Sarah continues to support the ongoing professional growth for Elementary and Montessori teachers.

  • Sarah Rand, PhD

    Associate Professor, Business Administration

    I have been teaching in the Department of Business Administration at St. Catherine University since 2001. I currently teach a variety of courses in the department including Leadership and influence, Principles of Management, Principles of Marketing, Buyer Behavior and Market Research, Strategic Marketing, Global Business, and Strategic Management. I also co-developed and led a study abroad course called Sustainability through a Business Lens: Exploring People, Planet, and Profits in Chile and a topics course called #MeToo: Sexual Harrassment in the Workplace.

    I grew up in the St. Paul Midway area, just a few miles away from St. Kate's. I received a Bachelor of Arts in Management from Hamline University and later earned an MBA in Management from the University of St. Thomas. I completed my Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership, Policy and Development at the University of Minnesota.

  • Scott Haglund MA Ed, RT(R), LAT, ATC

    Radiography Program Director, Assistant Professor

    Registered Radiologic Technologist
    Certified and MN Licensed, Athletic Trainer
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  • Sean Fitzpatrick, PhD

    Associate Dean, Henrietta Schmoll School of Health

    Dr. Fitzpatrick came to St. Kate's in the Summer of 2020. Prior to that, he was a faculty member at Marian University (WI) where he led the Exercise and Sport Science program and was the Chair of the Allied Health Department. He began his career at John F. Kennedy University as a faculty member in Sport Psychology. Dr. Fitzpatrick has an ongoing research line in graduate student preparation and early career experiences in the field of Sport and Performance Psychology. Additionally, he has presented nationally on assessment issues in higher education and is an active member within the Association for the Assessment of Learning in Higher Education (AALHE).

  • Sharon Doherty

    Professor, Women's Studies

    Dr. Sharon Doherty is Professor of Women’s Studies and Director of the Abigail Quigley McCarthy Center for Women. She also serves as the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet Mission Chair for Women's Education.  Sharon’s focus at St. Kate’s is on students as members of communities within and beyond the university. A cultural anthropologist who anchors her work in intersectional feminist studies, Sharon takes a collaborative and applied scholarship approach at the Center for Women, encouraging faculty, staff, students, and alumnae/i to connect their talents to the St. Kate’s mission.  
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  • Sharon Radd, EdD

    Associate Professor & Program Director, Organizational Leadership

    Sharon Radd is Associate Professor and Program Director in the MA-Organizational Leadership program at St.Catherine University. She is also an Equity Fellow with the Midwest and Plains Equity Assistance Center at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis; the Founder and Lead Consultant of ConsciousPraxis based out of Minneapolis; and a Senior Partner with The 5 Practices Group. With 20+ years of experience in public education as a school administrator, professional development facilitator, and school social worker, Radd holds a BA in Liberal Arts from UW-River Falls; a BS in Social Work and an MS in Educational Leadership from Minnesota State Mankato; and an Ed.

  • Sharyn DeZelar, PhD, MSW, LICSW

    Assistant Professor, Social Work

    Sharyn DeZelar, PhD, MSW, LICSW, joined the St. Catherine University faculty in fall 2019 as a full-time Assistant Professor.  Dr. DeZelar earned a PhD in Social Work in 2018 from the University of MN (Twin Cities) along with a certificate in Disability Policy and Services. She earned her MSW in 2006 from St. Catherine University/University of St. Thomas School of Social Work, and her BSW from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in 1998.  Dr. DeZelar’s research focus is largely related to disabilities, and its intersection with family support, parenting, poverty and child welfare.  She has significant practice experience in housing services, disabilities and mental health.

  • Shelley Rayborn, DNP PHN RN

    Assistant Professor, Nursing

    My background is in emergency nursing and critical care. I am currently working as a clinical educator in a hospital system. My current focus is on research and evidence based practice. I have many unpublished research projects as well as those published with links found below.
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  • Sherry Hemauer

    CNA Program Director, Simulation Specialist, Assistant Professor of Nursing

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  • Sonja Rivers, MAN, RN, PHN

    Assistant Professor of Nursing, Director of the RN-BSN Degree Completion Program Nursing

    I spent the first part of my nursing career working in acute care assuming both clinical and administrative roles. I have always been drawn to education and helping people reach their greatest potential: patients, families, nurses, and now nursing students. I find the transformation rewarding.
    I obtained my Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing from Augsburg University as well as my Master of Arts in Nursing with a focus on Transformational Leadership. I earned my Post-Masters in Nursing Education from Walden University with a focus on online education. Previous research has focused on the role of the charge nurse as a leader, and ethical leadership practices.

  • Sook Lim, PhD

    Associate Professor, Library and Information Science

    Sook Lim is an Associate Professor in Master of Library and Information Science Program at St. Catherine University. She holds a doctorate in library and information studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her research centers on human information behavior concerning user-generated content such as Wikipedia. She has published articles in Information Processing and Management, Information Research, Journal of Association for Information Science and Technology, Journal of Academic Librarianship, Library & Information Science Research & First Monday.
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  • Stacey R. Hurrell, DNP, RN, LSN

    Associate Professor, Nursing

    Stacey joined the nursing faculty at St. Kate's in August of 2019. She has worked in a variety of settings during her nursing career, including acute care (GI surgical, neuro -trauma, collaborative practice), home care, hospice, as a family nurse practitioner and most recently as a school nurse. Nursing interests include: health care literacy and navigation, adolescent health, school-based health centers to increase primary care access, the role of the school nurse as a front-line provider in community health, diabetes care, preventive and maintenance care for the elderly, and the impact of emotional intelligence on teaching effectiveness and nursing student success.

  • Stacy M. Husebo, MSW, LICSW

    MSW Director of Field Education, Assistant Professor, Social Work

    Stacy M. Husebo, Assistant Professor, MSW, LICSW, earned her MSW from St. Catherine University/University of St. Thomas in 2002 and her BA in English/Creative Writing from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities in 1989. Husebo joined the joint Social Work program in 2007 as a Clinical Faculty/Instructor, and primarily teaches foundation and clinical field seminars, History and Philosophy of Social Work (MSW), Social Policy (BSW), and MSW clinical electives. She is deeply committed to student-centered learning, as well as, committed to social work practice and field education with a focus on reflective practice, critical questioning, social justice, and the flourishing of human and social well-being.

  • Stephanie Adams, DHSc, OTR/L

    OTA Program Director, Assistant Professor

    Educational Journey-Dr. Adams has four degrees in occupational therapy, first as a COTA in 1994, then she earned a BS in OT in 2000. After being in practice for several years, Dr. Adams returned to school to earn a post-professional MHS OT degree in 2009 and a Doctor of Health Science degree in OT (DHSc) in 2017. Stephanie believes that being a life-long learner helps to keep abreast of best practices for this ever-changing health care profession.
     
    Employment Path-Stephanie worked in a variety of setting including hospitals, outpatient clinics, skilled nursing facilities, home health with geriatric clients and infants.

  • Stephanie de Sam Lazaro, OTD, MA, OTR/L

    Director Graduate Occupational Therapy Programs, Associate Professor, Occupational Therapy

    Stephanie de Sam Lazaro is Director of the Graduate Occupational Therapy (Master of Arts in Occupational Therapy and Doctor of Occupational Therapy) Programs. She primarily teaches courses on occupational therapy's role and process with children, adolescents, and their families. In addition, she teaches courses in human occupation, doctoral orientation, master's projects, and capstone projects. Her scholarship focus is on equitable practices for children, adolescents, and their families with a particular focus on primary care settings and the relationship of oral health to participation in daily activities.

  • Suanne Barthol, DBA

    Adjunct Faculty, Master of Business Administration

    Suanne Barthol comes to St. Catherine University with over 20 years of experience in the insurance industry to include proper casualty, life, and annuities. She has held personal production as well as various leadership roles. She is focused on using technology for process improvements and digitizing the customer services process. Dr. Barthol is particularly proud of working collaboratively across multiple departments to create process improvements that not only make the individual employee work more enjoyable, but also provided an efficiency win for the company. She has completed an RFP process for a divisional initiative that expanded and resulted in a corporate wide initiative and participated in a pilot agile team that resulted in multiple team adoptions across the company.

  • Susan D. Bosher, PhD

    Professor and Director, English as a Second Language

    I received my M.A. in TESOL from Teachers College, Columbia University in 1984 and my PhD in Second Languages and Cultures Education from the University of Minnesota in 1995. From 1984–1986, I taught in the English Program for International Students at University of Minnesota and from 1984–1988 in the Commanding English Program, a 1-year transitional program for high school immigrant youth, at General College, University of Minnesota. As Curriculum Coordinator for the Commanding English Program, from 1988–1992, I was responsible for evaluating and revising the curriculum to focus on content-based academic reading and writing.

  • Susan Hageness, DNP

    Associate Professor, Nursing

    Susan Hageness, DNP, RN, CNE, AHN-BC is an advocate for integrating holistic-focused care and integrative therapies into nursing and interdisciplinary healthcare practice. She currently teaches in the doctorate and baccalaureate degree nursing programs, as well as in the Master of Arts in Holistic Health Studies program. Susan is a Board Certified Advanced Holistic Nurse (AHN-BC), a Certified Nurse Educator (CNE), a Healing Touch Practitioner (HTP), and a Certified Clinical Aromatherapy Practitioner (CCAP).
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  • Susan Martinson, MA RN

    Assistant Professor, Nursing

    I have been at St Catherine University for over 30 years, teaching at various levels in the nursing program. My primary teaching responsibilities have included both didactic and clinical teaching. Most of my clinical experience is in adult medical-surgical nursing, but also have extensive experience in telephone triage. My education includes University of Wisconsin - Madison where I earned a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN) and St Catherine University where I earned a Master's Degree in Nursing, with a focus in Nursing Education. Please feel free to contact me at smmartinson@stkate.edu
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  • Susan Trelstad, MAEd

    Program Director, Assistant Professor, Sonography

    Susan Trelstad is the program director for the Sonography department. She primarily teaches courses on anatomy, physiology, and pathology of the abdomen, as well as scanning labs dedicated to teaching students successful scanning techniques. In addition, she teaches a presonography course on communication in healthcare. Susan is a Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS) and is certified in Abdomen and Obstetrics and Gynecology. Also, she holds a Masters degree in Organizational Leadership.
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  • Suzanne Burke Lehman, DNP, RN, PHN

    Baccalaureate Program Director, College for Women/ Associate Professor of Nursing

    Dr. Suzanne Lehman, DNP, RN, PHN is an Associate Professor and Director of the Baccalaureate Nursing Program in the College for Women Nursing Program at St. Catherine University.  Dr. Lehman has provided healthcare leadership and service in a variety of community, education, and practice settings over her career. She is an appointed member of the Fairview University of Minnesota Medical Center Community Advisory Council and co-founder of the Nursing Diversity Collaborative, a nursing education/practice partnership to increase registered nurse and nursing faculty workforce diversity at St. Catherine University and Minnesota Children’s Hospitals and Clinics.

  • Suzanne Kaback, EdD

    Associate Professor, Education

    I began my teaching career in Maine in 1990, teaching 5th and 6th grades.  I moved to Boston, MA, where I taught 7th grade language arts while earning my Master's degree in Literacy, Language, and Cultural  Studies at Boston University.  From Massachusetts, I moved back to Maine where I taught 5th grade, before leaving the classroom to earn my EdD in Literacy Education from the University of Maine in 2003.  After earning my  doctorate, I was hired as an assistant professor at Elmira College where  I taught for three years before moving to Minnesota and joining the  Education department at St. Catherine University in 2006.

  • Taisha Trotman, COTA/L, MS

    Assistant Professor, Occupational Therapy

    Professor Trotman is a licensed OTA with a passion for mentorship and professional growth! Over the years, she has honed her skills at cultural competence, diversity/bias recognition, and conflict resolution. She's been an OTA educator for 9+ years, and has a clinical background centered on patient care, management/HR duties/Quality Assurance & Control. She has a track record of being an essential part of the university’s management team and instrumental in providing effective solutions that produce immediate impact and contribute to student long-term success.

    Here's a little about her.

  • Taiyon J Coleman, MA, MFA, PhD

    Associate Professor, English Literature & Women's Studies

    Taiyon J Coleman is a poet, essayist, and educator.
     
    She is a Cave Canem and VONA fellow, and her writing has appeared in Bum Rush the Page: A Def Poetry Jam; Riding Shotgun: Women Writing about Their Mothers; The Ringing Ear: Black Poets Lean South ; Blues Vision; How Dare We! Write: A Multicultural Creative Writing Discourse; and What God Is Honored Here: Writing on Miscarriage and Infant Loss by and for Native Women and Women of Color. 
     
    Taiyon’s critical essay, “Disparate Impacts: Living Just Enough for the City,” appears in the bestselling 2016 anthology, A Good Time for the Truth: Race in Minnesota, edited by Sun Yung Shin.

  • Tamara Zurakowski

    Program Director, MSNEL

    I am a second generation nurse educator, and can't remember ever wanting to be anything else. I have spent most of my career working with pre-licensure students, and considering how to best prepare them for the important work of nursing. I am always looking for better ways to nurse, and to educate. I don't think we have designed the perfect nursing education system yet, and I am very interested in exploring innovative models that help students find their passion in nursing, and develop the skills needed to pursue it.

    My clinical background is in community health and gerontologic nursing, and I am a certified gerontologic nurse practitioner.

  • Tami McDonald, PhD

    Associate Professor, Biology

    Tami McDonald is a microbiologist and evolutionary geneticist specializing in the evolution of symbioses in fungi, plants and bacteria. She employs techniques from phylogenetics, genetics, genomics, epigenetics and molecular biology to understand nutrient exchange molecules and pathways. Her work focuses on the transport of nitrogen and carbon between symbiotic partners. Since joining the faculty in 2014, Dr. McDonald has welcomed student collaborators to participate in independent projects related to reconstructing the evolutionary history of a protein family responsible for the transport of ammonium across cell membranes as well as other projects relating to nutrient transport and symbiotic life.

  • Tara Olson

    Professional Faculty, Physician Assistant Studies

    Tara is a clinical coordinator in the Physician Assistant Program at St. Catherine University. Her background includes 17 years of medical practice experience with an emphasis in reconstructive plastic surgery. She is also actively involved in the training of surgical residents from the University of Minnesota across various subspecialties in plastic surgery.
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  • Tarik W Michael MD, RDMS (Abdomen & OB/GYN), RVT

    Assistant Professor, Sonography

    Dr. Tarik W Michael graduated from Kharkov Medical School in 1993 and worked as a Physician for more than 8 years and a Medical Director of a hospital for three years. He then pursued the field of Sonography at Argosy University of Minnesota and Adventist Medical University of Florida. He has worked as a lead Sonographer III at Edina Family Physicians and then at Allina Health Services for 13 years. His credentials are a Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS) in the field of General Abdomen & OB/GYN and also a Registered Vascular Technologist (RVT). He is a member of the professional organizations such as American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) and Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (SDMS).

  • Taviare L. Hawkins, PhD

    Chair for the Math & Sciences Division; Professor of Physics

    Dr. Hawkins oversees the departments of Mathematical Sciences (math, statistics, and computer science), Chemistry, Physics, and Biology. Before joining St Kate’s, she was Professor and Chair of Physics at the University of Wisconsin La Crosse. She completed her graduate work at Syracuse University, where she holds two M.S. degrees (in Computer Science and Physics) and a Ph.D. in Physics. She was a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. She is an experimental biophysicist.

    Dr. Hawkins places great emphasis on teaching and training undergraduates in research. She has trained over 50 undergraduate students and is published with them on the topic in microtubule mechanics.

  • Teresa Cyrus

    Assistant Professor, DNP

    Teresa is an assistant professor in the Department of Nursing and a certified family nurse practitioner. She owns a private practice in geriatrics with two NP partners. She is passionate about the care of seniors and has a special interest in geriatric cognitive disorders and in bringing holistic care to underserved patients.. She also works for a hospice agency in the Twin Cities and has experience in mental health and corrections. Teresa is a proponent of meditation and mindfulness in healthcare and education and is a certified meditation instructor.
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  • Teresa Ripple, EdD

    Associate Professor, Montessori Program Director

    Education: Online Montessori (AM2), Education: for Licensed Educators, Education: Montessori Credential, Education, Early Childhood Education Montessori, Early Childhood Education
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  • Teresa Wickboldt OTD, OTR/L

    Assistant Professor, Occupational Therapy

    Teresa has been practicing as an Occupational Therapist since graduating from Creighton University in Omaha, NE in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Science and Occupational Therapy Doctoral degree. Clinical work includes serving individuals across the lifespan from pediatrics to older adulthood. Practice areas have included inpatient, ICU, pediatric outpatient, TCU, Skilled Nursing, and home based services; wheelchair assessment and home modification assessment as specialty areas. Areas of expertise and passion include older adult rehabilitation where her clinical practice continues on a casual basis with Allina Health Home Care.

  • Terri Grundy, MOT, OTR

    Assistant Professor, Student & Fieldwork Manager, Occupational Therapy

    Terri Grundy, works at St. Catherine Univeristy as the Student Fieldwork Manager in the online OTA program. Terri was hired by St Kate’s as an adjunct professor in 2017and taught a number of courses and labs before being hired as FT faculty in 2020. Terri has over 20 years of experience in school systems as both a clinician and a special education administrator overseeing a number of related service programs and providers including AT, OT, PT, APE, and MT and serving as an advocate for universal design.

    Terri has presented on AT related topics at both local and state AT and OT Association workshops, guest lectured at universities, and has spoken nationally at the Technology for Reading and Learning Disabilities and the Urban Collaborative conferences.

  • Todd Deutsch, MFA

    Professor, Art and Art History

    Todd Deutsch earned his MFA from Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. His photographs have been exhibited nationally and internationally. His work has appeared in Real Simple (US), New Scientist (UK), Nido (Germany), Vision Magazine(China) and others, and is included in private and public collections including the Walker Art Center, the Museum of Contemporary Photography, and the Portland Art Museum. A monograph of his work titled Gamers was published in 2008 by FP Editions, Brescia, Italy. Selections also appeared in Gamescenes: Art in the Age of Videogames, Johan & Levi, Milan.

  • Vane Gichana

    Assistant Professor, Nursing

    Vane Gichana has been an assistant professor at St. Catherine in the School of Nursing since 2019. Previously, she was a professor at Rasmussen College in the School of Nursing since 2015. Currently she teaches Holistic Care of Adults and Foundations of Nursing Holistic Care. She specializes in theory, lab, clinical, and simulation. She serves in the admissions Committee. She received her Master's in Health Care Leadership and Management from Bethel University in 2014. Vane Currently lives in Minnesota and enjoys travelling, reading and meeting new friends.
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  • Vera Stephenson MSN, RN, PHN

    Assistant Professor, Nursing

    Nursing, Nursing: RN-BSN Degree Completion
    Co-Chair on CoFei (committee on faculty equity inclusion) in the Nursing Department

    I have been working at St. Kates since 2013, in the Associate Degree Nursing Program, the College for Adults, and the College for Women. I currently work full time in the RN to BS program fully online. My husband was active duty Army for 21 years (retired in 2013) so I have worked in a variety of areas of Nursing all over the US prior to finding my home at St. Kates including; Med/Surg in Texas and Kansas, Pediatric Rehab in Kentucky, OB in Kansas, Telephone Triage in California, College Health in Colorado, Community Health, Urgent Care, and PACU in MN.

  • Vicki Ericson, DNP

    Associate Professor, Nursing

    Vicki Ericson, DNP, ANP-BC, FNP-BC is an Associate Professor of Nursing in the Doctor of Nursing Practice Program. She obtained a BA and MA degree in nursing from St Catherine University as well as a post baccalaureate certificate as an adult nurse practitioner. She obtained a postmaster’s certificate as a family nurse practitioner from George Washington University and a Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree from the University of Minnesota. She has a strong clinical background as an emergency department nurse practitioner for 22 years. Her teaching interests are on experiential learning and simulation.

  • Vincent Skemp, PhD

    Associate Professor, Theology

    Theology (undergraduate), Theology (MAT)
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  • Virginia Green, OTD, OTR/L

    Assistant Professor, Capstone Coordinator, Level I Fieldwork Coordinator, Occupational Therapy

    Ginny Green, OTD, OTR/L is an assistant professor in the occupational therapy department at St. Catherine University. She serves as the doctoral capstone coordinator for the occupational therapy entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD EL) Program in which she oversees each phase of the student doctoral capstone from development to completion and dissemination. She also serves as the Level I Fieldwork Coordinator for the occupational therapy program in which she coordinates level I student clinical experiences with community partners. Ginny teaches Entering the Profession, Psychological and Social Factors Impacting Performance, Fieldwork Practice Reflection, and Capstone Experience.

  • Viv Ross, PhD

    Associate Professor, Master of Library and Information Science Program

    Viv Ross came to St. Kate's from Florida State University, where in 2008 she completed her dissertation titled The scholarly use of journals offered through the Health Internetwork Access to Research Initiative (HINARI) and Access to Global Online Research in Agriculture (AGORA) programs as suggested by the journal-citing patterns of scholars in the least-developed nations. She earned her MLIS in 2001 from the University of North Texas and then served as Social Sciences Librarian and Electronic Resource Librarian at the State University of New York, Purchase Library.

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  • William Eisele, MBA

    Adjunct Faculty, Master of Business Administration

    William Eisele has taught undergraduate and graduate business students for over 20 years, in both face-to-face and online learning as well as to traditional and adult learners at St. Catherine University. He also has a 40 year career in financial management, first in the commercial banking industry and then in state government administration. William is particularly proud of having been involved in expanding Medicaid coverage to women and children while working as a division budget director in Missouri State government. As a teaching he enjoys seeing students find ways to improve their performance in their current positions - plus seeing ways they are enhancing their future opportunities - by using finance and accounting tools they study and master.

  • William McDonough, STD

    Program Director of Graduate Theology; Professor ;Theology

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  • Yasemin Gunpinar, PhD

    Associate Professor, Education

    Yasemin Gunpinar earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees from the Department of Elementary Mathematics Education in Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey. The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) sponsored her while pursuing her master’s degree. From 2006 to 2008, she taught mathematics in both private and public schools in Turkey. She co-wrote a publication titled "Supporting Lesson Book Including Subject Teaching for All Courses in Elementary 6th Grades". She enjoyed teaching mathematics as much as she enjoyed studying. This feeling influenced her desire to focus on mathematics education as her future career goal.

  • Yongjin Jiang, PhD

    Visiting Professor, Physics

    Prof./Dr. Jiang is a physics educator and condensed matter theorist with some exposure to data science. He was a faculty at Zhejiang Normal University in China, where he taught physics to students of different majors including physics, chemistry, engineering, from 2004 to 2014. During 2015 to 2018 he was a visiting scholar at the University of Minnesota, National Sun Yat-sen University(Taiwan), and some other institutes. His research is to explore physical properties in some novel materials(such as graphene, topological insulator, semiconductor nano-structures, etc) through numerical simulation or/and mathematical analysis.