The University of St. Thomas School of Law honored Christy Botts ’98, ’11 J.D. and Carmeann Foster ’08, ’12 J.D./MSW with its Alumna Achievement Award at the 2024 Alumnae Brunch on Nov. 2. Botts and Foster are co-founders of Rebound, Inc., a Twin Cities nonprofit that seeks to partner with the community to address the… The post 2024 Law Alumna Award Recipients: Christy Botts and Carmeann Foster appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.
Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Living Our Mission for a Just and Equitable Society
Our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion is rooted in our Catholic identity at St. Thomas. Archbishop John Ireland founded the University of St. Thomas for immigrants who weren't welcomed elsewhere. Our convictions call us to protect and enhance the dignity of every human and to work for a more just and equitable society. We strive to be a university characterized by radical hospitality and are steadfast in our commitment to embedding a shared sense of belonging where all feel welcomed.
The university's internal work on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is coordinated through the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (ODEI). ODEI ensures that our work within the university to make St. Thomas more inclusive happens at all levels and includes everyone. By using data and stories to measure progress and experiences, and by transparently communicating across the university, ODEI helps campus culture continuously become more diverse and welcoming. In addition, Student Diversity and Inclusion Services (SDIS) directly supports students by offering programming that promotes diversity and social justice awareness and working to create an inclusive and welcoming environment for all students.
At the same time, St. Thomas is working outside of our walls to achieve social justice and dismantle inequities in the broader community through the Racial Justice Initiative. Through a distinctive focus on historical recovery, the Initiative creates opportunities in partnership with local leaders and groups for critical conversations and actions around racial justice.
Diversity, equity and inclusion are indispensable to academic excellence and the holistic development of our students. Our university community includes and welcomes people of diverse races, ethnicities, geographic origins, gender identities, ages, socioeconomic backgrounds, sexual orientations, religions, work experiences, physical and intellectual abilities, financial means, and all other characteristics as protected by applicable laws.
Resources and Support for:
Office for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Racial Justice Initiative
Highlighted Priorities
Dougherty Family College
Opened in 2017, Dougherty Family College offers an associate degree designed to propel students towards success and provide a smooth transition to a four-year college. This two-year college program is for inspired students who want to obtain a four-year college degree and face financial or social obstacles on the way to their goal.
Student Diversity and Inclusion Services (SDIS)
SDIS promotes diversity and social justice awareness for all students through personal interactions, leadership and training opportunities, and various sponsored and co-sponsored educational programs. We aim to ensure the retention and graduation rates of students of color are equitable, and to maintain an inclusive and welcoming environment for all.
Committee to Establish Principles on Renaming
In May 2021, the Committee finalized its Report on Principles for Renaming, which provides a coherent set of principles to use when considering the renaming of a building, program, or other asset at the University.
News from St. Thomas
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October 31, 2024
Pastor Tony Lowden, who also served in the Trump administration, talked about faith, helping others, and rising above partisanship at a University of St. Thomas Finding Forward event. To help people of all political persuasions find common ground, Pastor Tony Lowden, who has served both Democrats and Republicans, including with the Trump administration, offered a… The post Finding Forward: Amid Political Division, President Carter’s Pastor Offers Hope appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.
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August 6, 2024
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz recently appointed Dr. Tanya Gladney, an associate professor and law enforcement program coordinator in the Sociology and Criminal Justice Department at University of St. Thomas, to a second term on the Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training. The four-year term, effective as of July, will expire in January 2028. The… The post Walz Reappoints Tanya Gladney to Minnesota Peace Officer Board appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.
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June 25, 2024
U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith of Minnesota, as well as Congresswoman Betty McCollum from the state’s Fourth District, announced in June that they helped secure more than $1.1 million in federal funding for the School of Education and Dougherty Family College at the University of St. Thomas and the South St. Paul School… The post St. Thomas Receives $1.1M in Funding to Support Educating Diverse K-12 STEM Teachers appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.
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June 3, 2024
When first-year student Nadia Khumbah received an email to apply to the Linkages Mentor Program, she knew she wanted to right away. As an international student from Cameroon, Khumbah was nervous about feeling a sense of belonging and finding community so far from home. Since the program is designed for students typically underrepresented at the… The post Linkages Mentor Program Provides Support to First-Year Students appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.