1. education
2. graduate school
3. college

Building the
Next Generation
of Scientists
A New Vision for Science
Excellence in the 21st Century
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
S
aint Mary’s University of Minnesota, a Lasallian
Catholic university grounded in a reverence for
life, creation and the natural world, is renewing
its commitment to the advancement of science and
technology through forming ethical, innovative and
solutions-based science leaders. It is a compelling
vision designed to inspire a new generation of bold
scientists, medical professionals and educators
hungry to impact the world in relevant ways.
“The interdisciplinary nature
of the education that I
received at Saint Mary’s is the
cornerstone of my profession
as a speech scientist, which
regularly requires me to
draw on my knowledge of
computer science, linguistics,
statistics and biology. I credit
Saint Mary’s for preparing
me to meet this challenge.”
TANIYA MISHRA ‘01, PH.D.
Dr. Mishra is a senior researcher
at AT&T Labs Research where she
develops speech, language and
media technologies to give people
with disabilities more independence,
privacy and autonomy. During her
undergraduate experience she
participated in an internship at the
Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.
Ph.D. Oregon Health and Science
University, Engineering
B.A. Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota,
Mathematics, Computer Science
Through its undergraduate and
graduate programs, Saint Mary’s
University will build, nurture and
cultivate a community of innovators that collaborate across science
disciplines within the university and
its partners, and it will encourage
courageous scientific risk-taking
in the promotion of promising
endeavors. With institutional and
philanthropic partners, graduate and
undergraduate students will have
access to premier laboratory and
research facilities and state-of-the-art
space that fosters collaborative science learning, research and practice.
Saint Mary’s University of
Minnesota will be committed
to preparing its students for
the following three domains:
• Professional school in the
medical fields and graduate
school in science research and
environmental sciences.
• Healthcare fields and professions.
• Science, Technology, Engineering,
and Mathematics (STEM)
education at the K-12 levels.
Preparing students for
professional school in the
medical fields and graduate
school in science research
and environmental sciences
Accelerating innovation through
interdisciplinary cooperation in
science disciplines of biology,
chemistry, mathematics and statistics, physics, as well as psychology
and emerging technologies, drive
the vision of 21st-century science
at Saint Mary’s. Pre-professional
programs, such as pre-med, enjoy a
long tradition and stellar reputation
in successfully preparing students
for advanced programs. Saint Mary’s
will seek out and secure strategic
partnerships with research facilities,
clinical sites, and graduate schools
that bring together students,
scientists and health care professionals to address the complex areas
of global concern. This integration
will provide the relevant training and
practical experience that will make
Saint Mary’s graduates among the
best prepared and most competitive.
Saint Mary’s, located in the bluffs
of the Upper Mississippi River with
its associated watersheds, wetlands,
forests, and prairies, will be a
regional and national destination in
the preparation of environmental
scientists. Saint Mary’s undergraduate and graduate students will
tackle difficult problems through
the lens of ecological and biological
discovery and invention. They will
acquire expertise in the cutting
edge integration of geographic
information systems in scientific
endeavors, and the university will
be a national leader in spatially
based environmental resource
analysis and global mapping.
Preparation for healthcare
fields and professions
Saint Mary’s University of
Minnesota’s campuses in the Twin
Cities and Winona are situated
within one of the fastest growing
medical corridors in the United
States. Saint Mary’s will be known
nationally for the preparation of
undergraduate and graduate students
for successful practice in healthcare
fields and professions. Students of
the Graduate School of Health and
Human Services will be led by expert
faculty-practitioners through leading
edge methodologies and technology
that open new areas for inquiry and
drive a dynamic curriculum that
meet the ongoing needs of society.
Preparation for teacher
education in science, technology,
engineering and mathematics
(STEM) at the K-12 levels
As a modern expression of its
Lasallian heritage, the Saint Mary’s
undergraduate and graduate schools
of education will be a leader at all
levels in educating highly competent
teacher-scientists, sensitive and
equipped to address the cultural
realities facing students. Saint
Mary’s will be a leader in advancing
STEM education by employing
active, collaborative, project-based
teaching methods that create more
effective, meaningful and successful
models for science education.
“Much of my personal success is the result of the
invaluable summer research opportunities
I took advantage of as a student at Saint
Mary’s. We sponsor current internship
collaborations with R&D Systems and Saint
Mary’s so that today’s students can gain from
the same exceptional and practical experience.”
ROGER LUCAS ‘65, PH.D.
Dr. Lucas is a founding partner and board member of
Envoy Medical Corporation which developed the world’s
first and only fully implantable hearing restoration device.
He is also founder, vice chairman and chief scientific
adviser to the board of TECHNE Corporation. He was
recognized in 2012 as a distinguished alumnus of Saint
Mary’s University for his many achievements.
Ph.D. Illinois Institute of Technology, Physiology/Biochemistry
B.A. Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, Biology
“In biology, we learn that a species must be
adaptable to thrive, and starting a science
career has been no different. From the small,
subatomic level of research at a particle
accelerator, to work in breast cancer detection,
to the large, broad scale of being a general
family practice physician, Saint Mary’s has
given me the interdisciplinary education and
skills to be resilient and happy.”
AMANDA WEINMANN ‘07, M.D.
Dr. Weinmann is currently a resident at the University of
Minnesota St. Joseph’s Hospital Family Medicine program.
During her career at Saint Mary’s, she participated in
the Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship (SULI)
program at Fermilab and the Summer Undergraduate
Research Fellowship program at the University of Notre
Dame. She also worked as a post-doctoral research fellow
at Mayo Clinic.
M.D., University of Minnesota Medical School
B.A. Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota,
Biophysics, Engineering Physics
“It has been 21 years since my graduation from the Health and Human Services
Administration program at Saint Mary’s, and I still call upon my experience and
learning—from the rich content of my coursework, to the wise and experienced
professors and my supportive colleagues in my cohort. It has made a difference
in how I lead and has without question, been very impactful in my career growth
and success.”
KATHY WILDE M’92, R.N., M.A.
Wilde is currently the Chief Nursing Officer at Hennepin County Medical Center, the largest public
hospital in the state of Minnesota. As CNO, she is responsible for enhancing the effectiveness
of patient care, mentoring, managing, and performing everything from operations to budget
evaluations. She is a respected member of the senior management team.
M.A. Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, Health Services Administration
B.A. Metropolitan State University, Nursing Administration
“The science programs at Saint Mary’s are truly hands-on; you are immersed in
interactive learning from day one. The small class sizes allow for close interaction
with the professors and among students, which builds critical thinking, teamwork,
and interpersonal skills that are so important in today’s workforce. Also, Saint Mary’s
science faculty encourages interdisciplinary studies, which allowed me to double-major
and to do summer research on a grant from the U.S. Department of the Interior.”
BRIAN PADDEN ‘94, PH.D.
Dr. Padden is a distinguished leader in the pharmaceutical industry, having received the President’s
Award from Abbott Laboratories in 2009. He is currently the global project manager at AbbVie for
several drug lines, responsible for drug discovery, preclinical development, clinical development, and
marketed products.
Ph.D. University of Minnesota–Twin Cities, Chemistry
Certificate, Loyola University School of Business, Project Management
B.A. Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, Physics and Chemistry
“When I graduated with my B.A., I felt confident in my abilities because the
faculty connected concepts to real-world problem-solving in every environmental
biology course, rather than assuming those skills would be learned on the job
or in an internship. I was able to build on those early successes and develop an
internationally recognized research program in ecological restoration that in many
ways is still inspired by my undergraduate experience at Saint Mary’s University.”
SUSAN (GRETZ ‘81) GALATOWITSCH, PH.D.
Dr. Galatowitsch is professor and head of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology at the
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. Her work focuses on bringing a true understanding of
ecological processes to the practice of ecological restoration.
Ph.D. Iowa State University, Ecology, Evolutionary Biology
M.S. University of Minnesota, Botany
B.A. Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, Environmental Biology
“Obtaining a B.A. in biology from Saint Mary’s did not just give me a ‘science education’
— I left with scientific knowledge, a love of discovery, the gift of self-directed learning,
and the framework of a value-centered education. All of these factors prepared me
for the subsequent steps in my life, leading to academic, professional, and personal
growth.”
MICHAEL LINDEN ‘98, M.D., Ph.D.
Dr. Linden is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Hematopathology within the University of
Minnesota Medical School. In addition, he is the Assistant Director of the Special Hematology Laboratory.
Dr. Linden has a strong interest in plasma cell and other hematopoietic neoplasms and enjoys research
that applies his clinical skills to improving clinical laboratory diagnoses and predicting clinical outcomes.
Residency and Fellowship, University of Washington Medical Center, Hematopathology
M.D., Ph.D. University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
B.A. Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, Biology