I was a transfer student. People have this idea that you need to attend a four-year university to have the ultimate college experience, but it was a fantastic decision for me. I started at a community college, raised my GPA and had time to figure out what I was passionate about.
What I love is speaking to people! I have this knack for public speaking and building connections. I didn't even know communication was a major. But when I transferred to St. Kate’s, I fell in love with it. It was probably the best decision I made.
For me, education was the most important thing. I wanted a school where I knew my voice would be heard. I felt at a coed college, I wouldn’t be able to speak up as much. That’s why I picked an all-women’s college. It’s not old-fashioned at all. The things they’re teaching in classes are the most forward-thinking things ever.
My transition into the university was great. I had this energy and drive to get super involved in clubs and organizations and had such a fun time. Eventually, I even became the transfer student coordinator! We have designated people who help transfer students have a seamless experience. Just because you transfer in doesn’t mean you’re getting any less opportunities, it’s just whether or not you take them.
Now I work for a tech company as a sales account manager. I wanted to sell something I knew was making an impact, where I could build on relationships. I manage about 50 accounts and I love it. It's crazy how I ended up here. I was one of the frontline interns who started at 3M during the pandemic. At the end of my internship, I had five offers from 3M in different states. Within 24 hours, they went into a hiring freeze and all offers were revoked. That sent me into kind of a spiral.
I ran into a friend who was going through this program. I was interested in organizational development and she told me about the information session. I liked St. Kate’s program because it was more about self-growth. I knew from my Peace Corps experience that I still had growing to do.
My passion is service. I’d like to do something internationally related. The world has billions of people, but we’re all connected in some way. What we do affects somebody somewhere else. I think we have a sense of responsibility not just here, but around the world. One day, I would like to have my own NGO, or non-government organization.
I was in the Peace Corps fellowship program. My thesis topic is Tibetan American Women in Leadership. In our existing system, we lack representation in women leaders. That’s our current state of reality. The goal is to understand the roots of marginal communities. Having the right guidance and support around you is so important because a thesis takes a lot of time.
St. Kate’s has given me more confidence to lead and a voice to represent as a minority student. It’s helped me grow into my role at work. Having knowledge has pushed me into exploring other positions. Growth makes you feel more prepared. I can definitely sense the support from my peers and that it’s a strong network. A network has its own power that is limitless.
In class, I was surprised the discussions were just as rich as the materials. My peers had a lot of amazing experiences I could listen to and learn from. Many women were already in leadership roles in their work. The person sitting right next to me was telling these amazing stories! Hearing their theories plus real life experiences was great.
Cathy Brennan is a 1970 St. Kate’s alumna and a member of University’s Campaign Cabinet. She majored in occupational therapy and has been engaged in the field for 51 years, recently retiring from multiple leadership roles at the .
Brennan held many positions during her occupational therapy career, and many therapists and patients have benefited from her advocacy for the profession. She became engaged in both state and federal advocacy and developed the peer review system for the Minnesota Occupational Therapy Association, working with insurance companies to bring fairness to the review process. Brennan has received numerous awards in her field, was co-chair of the 2012 Opus Prize, which St. Catherine University spearheaded that year, and was honored to receive the St. Kate’s Alumni Award in 2013.
“I initially became engaged with students from St. Kate’s as they were completing their practice internships,” she said. “I found that St. Kate’s students were ‘a cut above’ in how they sought to further their education. They understood that therapy was more than just teaching daily living skills. The importance of becoming compassionate leaders with cultural competency in the growing field of occupational therapy was also a significant piece of their learning.” Brennan also served as an adjunct faculty member for the University, teaching courses when occupational therapy faculty members were on sabbatical. She also earned a master’s degree in instructional design from the University of St. Thomas.
Minda Suchan is a 1995 St. Catherine University alumna and a member of the University’s Board of Trustees. She is at the top of her professional field, serving as the executive officer and vice president of geointelligence for MDA, Canada’s largest space technology developer and manufacturer.
Suchan double-majored in chemistry and mathematics at St. Kate’s, then earned a doctoral degree in chemistry at the University of Southern California. “But it was my liberal arts background that best prepared me for the leadership challenges I face today,” she said, citing her Katie LEAD-team experience, her collaborative Honors course, and campus conversations about women in leadership as valuable foundational elements for her career.
“These unique St. Kate’s experiences positioned me for success, beyond just the need for academic knowledge, which is why I continue to support St. Catherine University today.”
A strong supporter of the Katie Fund priority of LEAD & INFLUENCE: The Campaign for the Next Level of Excellence, Suchan appreciates “the direct impact my campaign contributions can make on both students and the campus.” The wide range of support that the Katie Fund provides is important to her:
“I have been a recipient of St. Catherine alumnae scholarships, and I recognize how important this was to my ability to access higher education, as well as gain a global perspective. The faculty were very impactful on how I thought about leadership and my place in the world, and I will always remember St. Catherine’s beautiful campus being the true deciding factor in choosing which university to attend — the scent of lilacs still brings me back to campus. I still remember fondly Mendel Hall and the many science courses I took there, as well every Sunday playing flute in Our Lady of Victory Chapel. I am truly grateful for my experience at St. Catherine, which has brought me far in my career, and I find it very satisfying to be able to give back today.”
I actually studied literature for my undergrad because I’m interested in words and storytelling. My dad said, ‘Do your undergrad in whatever you’re interested in. Even if it’s basket weaving.’ Then he heard my choice and said, ‘What are you going to do with a degree in literature?!’ The idea of getting an MBA came much later for me. But an MBA dedicated to that sphere—storytelling—is what got me interested in Integrated Marketing Communications.
It was a combination of personal experience and recommendations from those around me that made me choose St. Kate’s. I liked the idea of an all-women’s program focusing on empowering women to have strong voices and to stand in that female power. Its focus on women, social justice, and creating a dynamic learning environment was exactly what I needed. St. Kate’s was a treasure of an experience.
The admissions team was very good about sending ideas for grants and scholarships and I took advantage of those. I applied for a women’s leadership scholarship and got it. I received a leadership scholarship for women of color as well.
A lot of the students around me were strong women—very intelligent and always wanting to do better. The quality of work was super high. They are ladies who want to make a difference in the world.
My professors were awesome. Because my job at Medtronic was in the integrated marketing communications vein, it intersected with my projects, and I was able to bring value to them through my MBA courses. We did a brand audit in class. I chose Medtronic and was able to provide my learnings to the Medtronic brand team. They used some of my research! It was amazing to be committed to this company and bring value through my continued education. It was a beautiful mix of education and my day job. I ended up getting a job promotion last year and I do think it was from connecting my MBA program work with my Medtronic work.
Morgan Batiste-Simms, a biochemistry major from Houston, Texas, transferred to St. Kate’s from Normandale Community College as a sophomore. She is currently president of the Chemistry Club and plans to apply to MD/PhD programs as she continues her path in science. Her goal is to earn a PhD in biochemistry and specialize in a surgical field.
Her goal — along with the goals of the 2,000-plus STEM students on campus — is why St. Kate’s is embracing an effort to develop more BIPOC women leaders in science. Titled “Expanding HERizons,” the goal is tied to the campaign priority of upgrading Mendel’s spaces and facilities. Batiste-Simms articulated the visible-yet-invisible obstacles she has faced already on her path at a Town Hall event that St. Kate’s hosted last fall: “ ... being in high school, in a co-ed class. I was extremely intimidated because I was one of the only girls in my chemistry class or in my physics class. In the back of my mind was always the fact that I'm female. Being at St. Kate’s, everyone is female ... so when I’m in lab, I'm focused on being a good scientist, not a good female scientist. It’s such a liberating feeling.”
Considering her own career prospects, Batiste-Simms would choose a path that would help minimize the obstacles that women of color in STEM fields face by working in the field of academic medicine. “While I would still be a practicing physician, being in academic medicine means I would be teaching, and thus influencing, students. Being in academic medicine means purposefully taking on a leadership/influential role,” she said. “It is my hope to influence colleagues and future students about the importance and awareness of social justice. It permeates all areas of life, especially healthcare. It is important to teach relatability, patience, and understanding in what tend to be the most vulnerable instances in people's lives.”