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Just three years after graduating from ��ɫӰ�� with a Bachelor of Arts in Theology and Women’s Studies, Nancy JP Anderson ‘01 experienced a massive life change. On July 18, 2004, Anderson lost her husband, Bill Anderson, who served as president of Midwest Sign & Screen Printing Supply Co. for over 40 years. Just two months later, Anderson was elected as CEO of the corporation in her husband’s place. 

Anderson was uniquely qualified for the role due to her service for over two decades on the company’s board of directors, and her thoughtful leadership over the next two decades brought Midwest to new successes, as well as new branch locations. In 2008, Anderson initiated and implemented a strategic plan to carry Midwest through the economic downturn, and in 2013, the company was ranked as the fifth largest woman-owned business in the Twin Cities by revenue. 

These achievements earned Anderson recognition within the Twin Cities business community and beyond, including her induction into the Minnesota Women Business Owners’ Hall of Fame in 2017. Upon her retirement, the company boasted ten locations throughout the region, as well as an even more impressive ranking as the fifth largest woman-owned company in the entire state of Minnesota.

Through it all, Anderson maintained a powerful sense of connection to her education — specifically to the ��ɫӰ�� mission of educating women to lead and influence. The same year that she was honored by the Minnesota Women Business Owners’ Hall of Fame, Anderson graduated once more from St. Kate’s, this time with a Master of Arts in Theology and Spirituality.

What kept her coming back? “I support ��ɫӰ�� because of its mission,” says Anderson. “We as women become authoritative in and through our knowledge, and are encouraged at St. Kate’s to pursue positions of leadership in all areas of society. I am such an ardent supporter because I learned firsthand at this University how to find, and then use, my voice both in the public realm and in my private life.”

As a first-generation international student, Kadiatu Kaya ’24 attributes her success at ��ɫӰ�� to generous scholarships, extraordinary mentorship from professors, and the powerful science community in Mendel. 

In the Liberian school system, Kaya received very little lab experience. The moment she began taking classes in Mendel, that changed — and so did Kaya herself. As she created chemical reactions firsthand and practiced handling and experimenting with substances that were once purely theoretical, Kaya unlocked a passion for chemistry that both surprised and empowered her.

Armed with this passion, Kaya set to work. Like many students, Kaya required extensive access to lab resources in order to get accustomed to equipment and safety procedures, as well as to complete her classroom assignments and research projects. Fortunately, the academic community in Mendel was ready to provide everything Kaya needed and more. 

“In Mendel, curiosity and commitment are rewarded,” says Kaya. “The professors are extremely helpful, always keeping their doors open for students. For international students like me, this makes a huge difference because it gives us a home away from home.” 

At St. Kate’s, chemistry and biology professors keep their offices in Mendel so that they can be available to students as they work to understand complex concepts, find research and funding opportunities, and manage the demands of pursuing a STEM degree. Additionally, labs are kept open to students after class and on weekends so that students like Kaya can access the resources they need whenever they need them. Everything in Mendel is designed to support the specific demands of studying science, from top-notch lab equipment to the software and programs installed on the building’s computers. In fact, STEM students at St. Kate’s view Mendel as a one-stop shop for almost all their academic needs. 

Winter, spring, summer, fall — Gabrielle ������é�Բ⾱���� ‘24 does it all! Since arriving at ��ɫӰ�� in 2020, ������é�Բ⾱���� has made the most of her college experience through non-stop activity in the classroom, in summer and J-term research projects, in her involvement with student services, in her on-campus employment, and in the St. Kate’s community at large.

This fall marks the beginning of ������é�Բ⾱����’s fourth and final year at St. Kate’s, capping off an already exemplary academic career. Among the many roles she has explored throughout her time on campus, ������é�Բ⾱���� currently holds the following: economics research assistant studying growth mindsets at U.S. universities for the National Science Foundation, Antonian Honors candidate, peer mentor with the Center for Intercultural Development (CID), previous Truman Fellowship applicant and current Peace Corps applicant, and founder and president of the Black Student Union.

������é�Բ⾱���� and the Katie Fund

One of ������é�Բ⾱����’s secrets to success is a well-founded understanding of the resources available to her on campus. Like all students at St. Kate’s, ������é�Բ⾱���� benefits from the Katie Fund, which supports student scholarships and areas of greatest need across the University. However, ������é�Բ⾱����’s work at the Digital Engagement Center (DEC) has given her special insight into the many opportunities that the Katie Fund provides to support students as they build their own paths to leadership, community impact, and academic excellence. 

100% of first-time, full-time students at St. Kate’s receive financial aid, and the Katie Fund provides millions of dollars in scholarship funding to our students each year. As she made calls to alumni and donors through the DEC, ������é�Բ⾱���� always started the conversation with financial aid. “When I explained to people the role of the Katie Fund here on campus,” said ������é�Բ⾱����, “I pointed to the two scholarships that made it possible for me to attend St. Kate’s: the Presidential Scholarship and the Venture Scholarship. Without these scholarships, I would not be here.”

This March, Hannah Hausman ’24 celebrated one of the biggest accomplishments yet in their college career. From a pool of over 5,000 college sophomores nationwide, Hausman was one of 1,267 STEM students selected as a 2023 Goldwater Scholar. Established by Congress in 1986 to honor the legacy of Senator Barry Goldwater, the Goldwater Scholarship is known as the most prestigious undergraduate scholarship in the natural sciences, mathematics, and engineering in America. In their successful application, Hausman laid out their plan to pursue a PhD in molecular biology, specializing in biomedical regenerative sciences with a focus on the treatment and prevention of chronic diseases.

The road to Hausman’s latest achievement was paved by their experiences at ��ɫӰ��. In their own words, “My time at St. Kate’s has been marked by extraordinary opportunities to advance my career, develop lifelong skills, and pursue my passion while making a national impact.” 

Hausman first visited campus while still in high school, participating in seminar and discussion-based courses at St. Kate’s through Post-Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO). In these classes, Hausman discovered how empowering the experience of learning surrounded by women could be — it actually felt like they learned material better in this environment than they could in others.

When college decision time arrived during Hausman’s senior year in high school, they narrowed down their final choice to between St. Kate’s and Macalester College. The two institutions share both a strong commitment to social justice and a neighborhood in Saint Paul, located just over a mile apart. However, in addition to its uniquely women-centered culture, St. Kate’s offered Hausman a more generous financial aid package. Upon their acceptance to the University, Housman was awarded a distinguished presidential scholarship providing $34,000 in scholarship funding each year for up to four years. 

Comfort Dondo ’15 knew she wanted to come to the U.S. for college, but that did little to narrow her options for undergraduate education. Out of thousands of institutions across the country, ��ɫӰ�� stood out to Dondo for two reasons: the University’s mission of educating women to lead and influence, and Dew Drop Pond. 

Although the beauty of Dew Drop Pond certainly helped clinch the deal, it was St. Kate’s women-centric vision that captured Dondo’s attention as a young woman deeply interested in the experiences of other women. “It’s not just a place, it’s an experience,” says Dondo. “The mission got me here, but the reality of women serving one another is what kept me here.