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Your knowledge, experience and expertise can help students thrive. From supporting them as they decide to come to SCSU to mentoring them as they navigate their next career step.
Chantal Oechsle was inspired to go back to school after working in her community.
From sergeant, to student, to teacher; life has come full circle for Nicholas Lengyel.
Shriyans Pradhan is not only president of St. Cloud State University’s Student Government Association, but a productive member of the SCSU community and a perfect representation of what it means to be a Husky.
Dr. Lisa Fournier has had a storied career in business, leadership and education. Now an MBA career and leadership development coach with St. Cloud State University, she has been everything from a business founder and chief operating officer, to an implementer, consultant and professor.
Making connections and building relationships is a cornerstone of teaching. That’s what Dr. J. Scott Baker works to demonstrate for his students each day — sometimes dressed as Lumière, a “Bridgerton” character, a Care Bear, or one of the other 200-plus costumes at his disposal.
Music has always been a constant in Adam Welle’s life, through the ups and the downs. He might even go as far as saying music saved him on more than one occasion.
When Huskies track and field and cross country head coach Gabrielle “Elle” Brown first visited St. Cloud State University, she knew she was home.
No matter the outcome on Election Day, the next mayor of St. Cloud will be another St. Cloud State University graduate.
A connection with St. Cloud State University that started during the second wave of the women’s movement will last for generations to come, if Catharine Van Nostrand has anything to say about it.
St. Cloud State University alumnus Nolan Newberg first started creating social media content when he was 13, and never stopped. In fact, Newberg and friend Joe Doerrer turned it into a career.
Kayla Stielow’s love for history has been a central theme throughout her academic and professional careers.
CJ Breen never wanted to give up playing baseball, but when the time came to consider career options, he found the next best thing.
Sarah Drake first visited the continent of Africa in 2011. Her experiences meeting the women and children in the village of Tiébélé, Burkina Faso in West Africa would ultimately inspire the St. Cloud State University alumna to start the nonprofit herARTS in Action.
Eunice Adjei has made it her mission to empower immigrant, ethnic and underserved communities. She said she started developing that passion during her time studying at St. Cloud State University, and it fits perfectly with her role as director of multicultural services at St. Cloud Financial Credit Union.
The Husky pack has a new leader.
Dr. Larry Dietz was named interim president of St. Cloud State University on April 17, 2024, and assumed his responsibilities on July 1, 2024.
As refugees and children of immigrants, Gao Lee and Saengmany Ratsabout know what it's like to be uprooted from their homelands. They said like the coffee plant — which is now grown all over the world and has thrived in new environments, refugees and immigrants create community wherever they put down roots.
Dr. Heather Brown started as director of St. Cloud State University’s Women’s Center in July 2023, but her career in social justice started much earlier.
Jestine Ware is an editor and writer by trade. While she first made her mark writing children’s books that centered around historically underrepresented communities, she now also uses her skills to advocate for those in her own community.
For Andy Roeser, coaching hockey is a way to give children, teenagers and young adults tools and skills to help them build upon going forward.
Everyone has a right to be heard.
Christina Steele grew up watching her cousin struggle to be understood by those around him. It drew her to a career dedicated to those in the autism community.
While he started out in the business world, St. Cloud State University alumnus Drew Bunkers said working in education is his true calling.
In the late-1960s Dr. Michael and Diane Smerdon were two St. Cloud State University students — one studying physics and mathematics, and the other elementary education. One night they met through mutual friends.
The rest is history.
For Dr. Roz Tsai, a passion for learning led her to not just St. Cloud State University, but the United States as a whole.
Joe Nayquonabe has spent his career reimagining and reinventing how American Indian tribal economies grow and prosper, and he’s just getting started.
Seal Dwyer’s mission is to give hope and healing a home in central Minnesota. Through Seal Dwyer Counseling LLC, that mission is accomplished for many in the LGBTQ community every day.
The year 2020 was one of change for most of the world.
For St. Cloud State University alumna Jenny Neuharth, it was literally life-altering.
While her St. Cloud State University chapter is coming to a close, the future is nothing but bright for Kara Cowell.
The Huskies swim and dive team standout and SCSU Women’s Center champion will graduate with a major in biomedical science, a minor in gender and women’s studies, and a certificate in feminist leadership on May 3.
Nancy Dyson has spent almost her entire adult life working with the homeless to make their lives easier in some way, whether making community meals, handing out supplies, offering a mobile shower service or starting the St. Cloud chapter of Laundry Love.
One fateful trip to Kenya changed Lynn Younglove’s life forever, but it also changed the lives of nearly 50 girls living in one of the world’s largest slums.
Well, nearly 50 girls so far.
Making students feel valued and empowered is a daily goal for Landen Parkin.
The St. Cloud State University alumnus is an English language arts teacher and affinity group coordinator for Burnsville High School. Originally teaching ninth grade classes on English, acting and film studies when he first started with the school district, Parkin said his current role is the perfect fit.
Tarra Grammenos has been in the Deaf Community for over half of her life, and has built a career out of helping people feel seen and heard in the justice system.
The St. Cloud State University alumna first started taking American Sign Language classes in high school. She now works as a Minnesota court-certified ASL/English interpreter, largely in the Minnesota court system.
Hodan Omar has built a career out of supporting others.
An educational outreach coordinator with St. Cloud Area School District 742, the St. Cloud State University alumna works to connect underserved individuals with the resources they need, whether it’s in school or out in the community.
From St. Cloud State University, to the NHL and beyond, it has been quite the journey for Bret Hedican.
In 2002, Marit Ortega was looking to take a break from school. She had just earned her degree in biology from St. Cloud State University and moved from part-time to full-time work at the Tri-County Humane Society to gain some more experience before attending veterinary school.
Twenty-two years later, she’s now the executive director.
For Dr. Christopher Lehman, to teach and research history is to find the humanity in generations past.
Art in some form or another has always been central in Mary Bruno’s life.
As a child she helped her father wash screens from his silk screen printing classes and visited his classrooms. When her dad started acquiring more letterpress equipment and built a studio onto their family’s one-car garage, Bruno could usually be found in that same studio with her dad, and would one day make it her own.
Courage is a characteristic that speaks through actions.
Sakina, a 2021 graduate of St. Cloud State University, has displayed it throughout her entire life. It took courage to attend university in her home country of Afghanistan, a path often not supported for women.
Jim Eisenreich went decades without answers for why he felt the way he did. Why did he make noises or movements he didn’t want to make, drawing attention to himself that he didn’t want? Why did the symptoms only get worse the more he tried to control them?
What started as a part-time job in high school became a lifelong passion for Kelsey Bean.
Owner of The Chocolate Ox, a candy and ice cream shop with two locations in Nisswa, Bean was first hired to work summers and weekends at the store when she was 15 years old. She never stopped.
Dick Bremer didn’t grow up dreaming about becoming a sports broadcaster someday.
But that dream came true anyway.
Investing in the community leads to a brighter future for everyone.
That’s what Clare and Brandon Richards hope to achieve through their startup Impacks, a tech-powered company that simplifies back-to-school shopping by partnering with schools across the nation to give parents a streamlined way to buy school supplies online.
For the last few centuries, humans have been too much of a driving force behind climate change, primarily through the burning of fossil fuels.
SCSU alumna Dr. Tashiana Osborne is working to change that.
While he may have reached viral stardom over the summer for his Keurig impression, Devon Bowker is much more interested in science and nature.
Comedian and SCSU alumnus C Willi Myles returned to his alma mater to perform for the community in Ritsche Auditorium. It was a happy homecoming.
Thanks to SCSU alums Nic and Paige Dowd and their Dowd’s Crowd sensory kits, many families with sensory sensitivities are now able to enjoy the thrill of attending a hockey game together.
Something incredible is going on at Annandale Art & Textile Center, and a St. Cloud State University alumna is helping to facilitate it.
For alumna Leah Neidecker, St. Cloud State University served as a launching pad for her career in helping physicians save lives. While it wasn’t the first university she attended, she’s thankful it’s where she ended up.
Your knowledge, experience and expertise can help students thrive. From supporting them as they decide to come to SCSU to mentoring them as they navigate their next career step.
Keep up-to-date with the latest news and research from the University, connect with local alumni and attend events, workshops and seminars.
Whether you are making a difference in your community, bringing about change to your industry or shaping the lives of those around you. We want to hear from you.