Current Company/Organization: Cristo Rey Jesuit High School- Twin Cities
Job Title: Academic Dean for Grade 9
Grad Year: 2015
Major: Sociology/Anthropology major, GWSS Minor
Hometown: St. James, MN
Current City: Minneapolis, MN
What is your first Gustavus memory?
My first memory on campus features my first floor Pittman ladies during orientation. While walking through this hall of strangers with my Greeter, I looked into a random room and introduced someone as my “Dear Friend” having known them for two days. Then later at our floor meeting, I was throwing jokes around with someone else and we called each other “BBH.” Both nicknames stuck and are going ten years strong!
What was your favorite class and/or professor and why?
I have two favorites! One was the Social Impact of Media on Adolescent Girls over J-Term with Sarah Wolter and the other was Women and the Holocaust with Elizabeth Baer. Both stick out because of the brilliant women teaching the course and how engaging the classes were. Both classes left me begging for more information, more readings, and more time in class! Holocaust Studies is a passion of mine and I had to wait two years to take the class because of how long the wait list was. Absolutely worth the wait.
What do you miss most about your time as a student?
I miss the convenience of being on the Hill with friends! I definitely took for granted the ease of being a ten minute walk away from everyone, at most, and not struggling to find time to hang out. Also, I seriously miss Steak Night in the caf on Thursdays!
What brought you to campus the last time you visited?
I was back on campus in early September 2020 for First-Year move in to help my youngest brother start his Gustie career!
How has your Gustavus experience most impacted your life beyond the Hill?
Life at Gustavus taught me how to learn, to continuously seek knowledge and growth, and to be an engaged citizen of whatever space I occupy. The exposure to new ideas and the people I met at Gustavus helped me build the foundation I use to define my identity and values. Also, if it hadn’t been for my semester in Rome, I never would have discovered my love of gelato and Neapolitan pizza!
What do you most enjoy about being a Gustie alum?
I enjoy seeing the reach that Gustavus has beyond the Hill, where people go and what they do. I can’t help but feel pride when I see “Gustavus Class of __” in someone’s bio. The inherent feeling of connection when I see someone in Gustie gear or see a Gustavus sticker on a car when I’m not expecting it keeps Gustavus constantly on my mind!