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Susan Bosher, professor of English and director of English as a Second Language (ESL), has spent her career fostering student development through her personal relationships with students and her student-centered initiatives, such as the TESL program and “Digital Storytelling for Immigrant and Refugee Students.” Walk by her office, and you will witness Susan’s dedication to helping multilingual students develop confidence in writing, as she is continually meeting with them individually, generously giving of her time. Integrally connected to this dedicated teaching and mentoring, Susan’s scholarship centers on issues of language diversity and inclusion and has received international recognition. Among many other professional achievements, Susan was the co-recipient of the Bonnie Jean and Joan Kelly Faculty Excellence Award in 2009 for the anthology Transforming Nursing Education: The Culturally Inclusive Environment. She has also received two Carol Easley Denny Awards, two Bush Grants for Diversity and Democracy, and nominations for both the Faculty Excellence in Teaching and Advising Award and the Sr. Amata Miller Catholic Mission in Action Award. Susan’s leadership on behalf of multilingual students has been a living example of our mission and a treasured gift to the St. Kate’s community

Andrew DeBruycker, custodian in the Facilities Management department, has shown remarkable dedication and care for our campus over the years. He started working nights in Mendel and then worked in the Visual Arts Building for several years, and is now currently servicing the residence halls. Andy is best known for his time working in the Visual Arts building, where he was an integral part of the team keeping classrooms clean and ready for students' creativity. Over the years Andy has become a well-respected and important part of the custodial team, and his years of service are a testament to his dedication and hard work.

Roy Oren, lead custodian in the Facilities Management department, demonstrates his hard work and dedication every day. Roy started working at St. Kate’s in Mendel on the night crew. He quickly moved up to a project custodian and has been in his current position as lead custodian for the day crew for the past 18 years. Roy is very well known and respected on campus for his friendly demeanor and quick service. It doesn’t matter if it’s a cleaning concern or furniture reorganization — Roy is there with a smile, a few jokes, and quick and efficient work. Roy’s service to the University has been truly impressive and appreciated. His dedication and commitment to the job are second to none and we are fortunate to have him as a part of the facilities team.

Kristine Haertl, professor of occupational therapy, is a well-respected member of the occupational therapy community and received the honor of induction into the American Occupational Therapy Association Roster of Fellows in 2012. Her expertise within the department and the profession is in addressing the occupational needs of individuals with mental health concerns and adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities. She is well-published in these areas both nationally and internationally. During her time at St. ��������, Kristine has served as faculty representative for our Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA) for over a decade and supported a group of students within that organization to charter a chapter of the Coalition of Occupational Therapy Advocates of Diversity (COTAD) here at St. Kate's. In addition to her roles within the occupational therapy department, Kristine has served the University in many areas, mostly notably as a member of the CORE committee and teaching The Reflective Woman consistently over the last 15 years. Students appreciate her energy and content expertise in the classroom as reflected in her nominations for the University Teaching and Advising Award four times during her tenure at St. Kate's.

David Skelton, public safety supervisor, is a vital member of the University and the Public Safety team. When David started his St. Kate’s career, he was a contracted officer and then stayed on when the University transitioned to proprietary security. This means that David has been here since the inception of the current Public Safety department. David has been a part of many major projects and events in his time at St. Kate’s. Throughout his many years, he has served as an officer, coordinator, interim assistant director, and now currently as a Public Safety supervisor. David has been and is a constant and a rock for the department. He is responsible and critical to department operations and other duties that, while not always immediately seen, would be disruptive if not accomplished. His calm demeanor, service-minded attitude, and persistence demonstrates the best of Public Safety. Daily, he lives the mission and vision of both the department and the University. David’s dedication to the University and the department are evident by both his longevity and his contributions to the history and the growth of the Public Safety department. This dedication and hard work, including processes he has developed, helped lay foundations to the department and will lead the University and Public Safety department to future success. David, thank you for your years of dedicated service, the calm presence, work ethic, and humor you bring each day, and for exemplifying the best of the University and that Public Safety has to offer the community.

Damon Klaphake, assistant professor of biology, is a well-respected member of the biology department, and before entering this department, was a member of the St. Kate’s Minneapolis campus Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) department. As a core member of LAS, he developed and taught numerous science courses, and mentored associate degree students in developing successful study skills and the confidence necessary to complete healthcare degrees. As a testament to his teaching prowess, Damon received a 2017 St. Kate’s Excellence in Teaching and Advising Award. One long-time colleague stated, “Damon is a teacher through and through. He understands how students best learn, and he provides every opportunity for success in his courses.” Another colleague added, “Damon crafts vivid analogies and stories to help students understand complex processes and patiently responds to every question thrown at him. He is truly a master teacher.” In addition, Damon has a strong record of University service, serving as the program director for LAS during the final years of the Minneapolis campus. His steady leadership and attention to detail were instrumental in the successful merger of the two campuses. Damon is a humble, kind, and trusted colleague. His careful, critical approach to information-gathering and problem-solving makes him a valued team member. One colleague noted, “St. Kate’s is fortunate to have such a teacher and colleague devote twenty-five years to student success.”   

Angela Stanco, associate director of admissions, has been a steady rock for the College for Adults admission office for the last 25 years. She has been responsible for growing one of the largest populations in our College for Adults, the RN-to-BSN program. Very frequently admissions will receive notes or emails those students send in, expressing how thankful they are to have Angela as their admission counselor. No one takes more time with each student to make sure all of their questions and concerns are satisfied. Angela is in touch with the nursing marketplace and has made many program change suggestions over the years that have kept the program thriving. The RN-to-BSN market is one of the most competitive markets in all of higher education; public, private, and for-profit schools all have this program competing for our students. It is Angela's personal touch and relationship building that has kept St. �������� competitive in this market. She is a shining example of the University's mission of serving the dear neighbor. We are so fortunate to have Angela and all the talents she has brought to St. Kate's over the years.

Jean Omodt, associate professor of biology, is a key member of St. Kate's human anatomy and physiology team. With her background as a practicing physical therapist, Jean brings critical clinical expertise to the course. Students admire her deep knowledge of healthcare, and appreciate her dedication and warmth as a teacher. Jean has also contributed significantly to faculty governance, having served multiple terms on the School of Humanities, Arts, and Sciences School Curriculum Committee, and before that, on the Educational Policies Committee. In addition, Jean is a clinical scholar who works with inter-professional teams to improve patient care and presents this work in numerous forums. Her colleagues appreciate her desire to help students succeed and to contribute to communities within and beyond the campus gates. 

Robin Lukes, associate professor, joined the Liberal Arts and Science (LAS) department in 1992. She has taught various courses in critical studies, human rights, power and social change, and health justice. She served as the LAS program director from 1996 to 2006 and again in 2015. Robin was awarded the Sr. Anne Joachim Moore award in 1998. She has served on numerous committees, led the assessment and AD core curriculum revisions, and always puts AD students at the heart of everything she does. Robin has mentored many of our department’s new faculty by modeling, guiding, and creating opportunities for junior faculty to lead. She exemplifies lifelong learning, always keeping current on educational practices and technology. During her sabbatical, she learned how to code and develop apps to be able to create an app that supports student writing through the use of the R-T-W method. She is student-centered with a focus on social justice and equity, which is evident in her work on curriculum and pedagogy, institutional policies and procedures, and interactions with students, staff, and faculty.

Kay Tweeten, department chair and professor of biology, has defined for students and faculty alike what it means to be a teacher, learner, and scholar of biology. She has been departmental chair twice – once from 1992 to 2002, and again more recently — Endowed Professor in the Sciences from 2003 to 2006, and winner of both the Faculty Teaching and Advising Award and the inaugural Myser Family Excellence in Faculty Mentoring Award. Kay’s many contributions to the biology department and the University stem from her egalitarian and transparent leadership style — balancing boldness with reflection — and her respectful and wise mentoring. She is a consummate scientist and creative problem-solver: she makes things, fixes equipment, and wields a circular saw to great effect. She has an impressive range of expertise, having taught microbiology, molecular and cellular biology, immunology, and many topical seminar courses exploring the leading edge of science. Through an NSF grant in the early 1990's, Kay helped structure St. Kate’s foundational biology courses around team research experiences, and continues to embed novel research projects into her upper-level lab courses. She is an internationally acknowledged expert on Lumbriculus reproduction; her lab has pioneered our understanding of the prevalence of sexual reproduction in this worm as well as discovering which proteins are expressed under various conditions. Kay’s history with student collaborators is a showcase for the synergies that result from the teacher-scholar model of discovery.

Gay Varecka, associate professor of nursing, is a dedicated leader and expert nurse educator in our graduate nursing programs. Gay exemplifies the mission of St. �������� and is an advocate for keeping that mission at the heart of our curriculum. Graduating Katie nurse practitioners is Gay’s passion. She has taught nursing for 50 years, with 35 of those years here at St. Kate’s. During that time, she has served on and chaired UCAP in addition to providing many contributions to the department. Currently, she is the track coordinator for the adult-gero NP program. Gay is a member of the American Nurses Association, Minnesota Nurses Association, the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties, and Sigma, the nursing honors society. For Gay, teaching nursing goes hand-in-hand with meaningful clinical work, and she balances her teaching with her expert clinical practice as an NP at Hennepin Health Brooklyn Center Clinic. She routinely precepts St. Kate’s students and participates in ongoing quality improvement projects with students, bridging both of her roles. Gay is a fierce advocate for recruiting, supporting, and nurturing a diverse NP workforce; for health equity; and for applying healthcare to care for the dear neighbor without distinction. Our students shine because of her teaching, and our faculty are grateful to work alongside her.

Anne Maloney, department chair and associate professor of philosophy, joined the faculty thirty-five years ago, and there has not been one moment since that day that she has not shared her deep and relentless passion for philosophy, for life, and for sharing that passion with her students. Her commitment to the strength of philosophical inquiry, of critical thinking, of the never-ending process of becoming more of who we are to be in the world, has not waned, not one bit, and Anne expects the same from her students. She has always stood up for the centrality of the student, as the location of new contributions to truth and the beliefs that will guide their actions, throughout their lives. Anne’s commitments to the community and to society also center on her scholarship, which always starts from the place of questions that arise within reflection on her own life and the places where illumination is called for. Anne has made so many of our lives at St. Kate’s better. She is a genuine gift to this community.

Paulette Nash, custodian in the facilities management department, has a passion for taking the best possible care for all of St. Kate’s students and staff, and her years of service are testament to her dedication and commitment to the University. She has spent most of her career cleaning in the resident hall St. Mary's. She is so well liked and respected that you can’t step foot in the building without hearing about something she has done or how appreciated her work is.

Janet Marinelli, assistant professor of holistic health, is the founding program director of the Holistic Health Studies program. She put her creative mind and pioneering spirit toward the conceptualization and creation of the Holistic Health Studies program in 1984. She has been a holder of the flame for 38 years, first as program director and now as faculty member. Janet is a master teacher and much loved by her students. She brings the creative arts and transformative practice into her pedagogy and creates a powerful learning experience in the classroom. She designed an innovative graduate level energy healing course and has translated that to online learning.  Her philosophy draws from the holistic paradigm, adult learning theory, transformative learning theory, and St. ��������’s commitment to student-centered learning and social justice. Janet values collaborative research and has played a key role in facilitating research groups for presentations and papers at multiple international conferences. Her current cutting edge research agenda is to study client experiences of virtual energy healing. Janet has provided extensive service to the Holistic Health Studies program in multiple capacities including advising students and keeping the program on the edge of new paradigms for learning and healing.