College of Saint Mary

We are pleased to announce that College of Saint Mary & Clark University are our newest Bee Campus USA affiliates! We can't wait to support you in creating bee-friendly habitat and raising awareness around the importance of pollinators! 🌿

"What I've learned at CSM can be applied in any setting. As an occupational therapist, I'm looking at the whole person." 💙

For Lillie O'Connor, a recent College of Saint Mary - Occupational Therapy Doctorate graduate, her passion for caring for others and desire to meet people where they are led her to a fieldwork experience providing occupational therapy to people who have experienced homelessness.

“These individuals experience many barriers that are outside of themselves. My role is to listen, be kind and caring, and share valuable life skills that can address their mental health and social barriers,” she says.

During her final fieldwork, Lillie worked in transitional housing facilities in Rochester, MN, as their first occupational therapist, helping residents build skills for independent living—offering guidance in stress management, budgeting, home cooking, job reentry, and more.

Read more ➡️ https://www.csm.edu/news/occupational-therapy-student-addresses-complex-needs-of-people-who-have-experienced-homelessness/

Excellence lives here. This past academic year, CSM recognized the promotions and extended contracts for faculty members.

Four esteemed faculty achieved the rank of full professor, a distinction representing unparalleled expertise and leadership in their fields.
🔹Melanie Felton, director of the early childhood education program, professor of education
🔹Anne Mejia-Downs, professor of physical therapy
🔹Adebimpe Obembe, professor of occupational therapy
🔹Mary Smith, professor of occupational therapy

Eleven faculty were promoted from assistant to associate professor, marking years of impactful teaching, mentorship, and scholarship.
🔹Molly Brost, associate professor of English
🔹Nicole Chipy, associate professor of occupational therapy
🔹Monica Dial, associate professor of physical therapy
🔹Edar Alejandro Garavito, associate professor of physical therapy
🔹Beth Minton, director of the Master of Science in Organizational Leadership program, associate professor of business
🔹Susanne Miller, director of the legal studies program, associate professor of legal studies
🔹Kelly Murphy, associate professor of mathematics
🔹Jesus Ramirez, director of the world languages program, associate professor of Spanish
🔹Megan Ray, director of undergraduate nursing, associate professor of nursing
🔹Shannon Richardson, associate professor of physical therapy
🔹Nipaporn Somyoo, associate professor of physical therapy

Read more ➡️ https://www.csm.edu/news/faculty-awarded-promotions-extended-contracts/

What makes CSM special? The people who pour everything into making it feel like home.

Over the past 17 years, Leroy Peters, the assistant director of facilities, has been one of those remarkable individuals here at College of Saint Mary.

For him, caring for the campus and the people who live and work here has always been more than just a job.

“For nearly two decades, Leroy has been a pillar of the CSM community, from students to faculty, to staff and the Sisters of Mercy, he has in some way made a positive impact on their lives,” says Dan Spargen, director of facilities. “His loving demeanor and get-it-done attitude will not be forgotten any time soon. It is rare to find such a caring and driven person all wrapped up into one individual.”

His kindness allowed him to develop close bonds with many of the Sisters of Mercy, and CSM faculty, staff and students.

“If you’re kind to someone, they’ll remember that. You can change someone’s life just by being kind. Even many years later, they’ll remember it,” Leroy says. “I always try to be kind.”

His hard work behind the scenes ensured students had a place to call home, and his kindness and compassion reminded us all what living out our values looks like.

Join us in wishing Leroy a happy retirement. Read the full story ➡️ https://www.csm.edu/news/peters-helped-make-csm-feel-like-home-for-nearly-20-years/

This Memorial Day, we pause to honor those who served our country with bravery and heart, remembering their heroic sacrifices for our freedom.

“For the past two years, I’ve had the privilege of being a face of College of Saint Mary through marketing, content creation and campus storytelling.”

Jocelyn Esquivel Hernandez, a recent , earned her Bachelor of Science in Business, with minors in both art and Spanish.🎓

She has been a key piece in the University’s marketing department as a work-study, sharing that “Experiencing the College from both a student and marketing perspective allowed me to capture the moments, connections, and community that make CSM so special.”

Beyond her work in marketing, during her time here, she was involved in the student organization Latinas Empowering Others (LEO).

“My favorite part of CSM has been the people who made it feel like home. Through friendships, supportive professors, and my work in marketing, I was pushed to try new things and take on leadership opportunities. This environment helped me grow into a more confident version of myself,” she says.

Looking ahead, Jocelyn aspires to own her own business one day and has post-grad plans to launch her career in marketing.

“I will always be grateful for the opportunity to represent a place that pushed me outside of my comfort zone and gave me the confidence to grow as both a leader and creative professional.”

Best of luck, Jocelyn!💙

Katie Freeman, a recent , earned her Bachelor of Science in Business with a concentration in Digital Marketing. 🎓

During her time here, she was a student-athlete on the Flames golf team and contributed as a leader for Spirit of Service Day.

"College of Saint Mary has given me the opportunity to develop and hone my skills and has also allowed me to grow as a person," she says. "Coming into college I was very quiet and introverted, but my professors and the faculty at CSM did a really great job of making sure they took the time to get to know me, so that I felt comfortable and was able to get out of my shell."

Over the past year, Katie interned at Walnut Media USA, gaining hands-on marketing experience. From creating gameday graphics for high school sports to filming courtside content for the Omaha Supernovas, she immersed herself in the Omaha Metro community while building her professional network.

"The combination of my academic experience and internship has helped me build a strong portfolio that I am excited to continue growing."

Now preparing for her next steps, she is in the interview and application process, but plans to travel before launching her career.

Best of luck, Katie! 🥳