Brother William visits ESL students

Brother William came to the Center for International Students to visit the ESL students on Friday, March 23.

Brother William, Mary Fox present at Lasallian Institute

Brother President William Mann and Mary Catherine Fox, Ph.D., professor of interdisciplinary studies were invited to present the Capstone experience of the Lasallian Leadership Institute (LLI) for the United States Toronto Region of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. The Capstone weekend culminates three years of Lasallian study for each cohort.

Over the last month, Brother William and Dr. Fox presented to the Midwest District LLI cohort March 12-14 in Illinois, the Long Island -New England, New York and Baltimore District cohort March 19-21 in Pennsylvania, and the California, New Orleans-Santa Fe District cohort March 26-28 in California.

The focus of Brother William’s and Dr. Fox’s joint presentation utilized metaphor as a tool for both reflecting upon our lived reality and creating new structures for our collective future — our Lasallian home — “together and by association.”

Nearly 200 participants attended the Capstone weekend experiences. Attendees represented diverse Lasallian ministries including university, middle and secondary schools and social service agencies. Brother Visitors from the districts, councilors from the international Institute and secretaries of international Lasallian commissions joined district cohorts in the Capstone weekend experience.

Brother William schedules roundtable, town hall meetings

Brother President William Mann is inviting the university community to participate in discussions about institutional priorities.

During the week of Nov. 17, he will host round-table discussions on planning with four constituent groups: faculty, staff and administrators, students, and parents and alumni. Invitations have been sent to 40 individuals from each of these groups to meet on the Winona and Twin Cities campuses.

These small gatherings will be followed by two town-hall meetings, one on the Winona campus and one on the Twin Cities campus, where all members of the Saint Mary’s community will be welcome to contribute insights on the proposed priorities. These town-hall meetings are scheduled as follows:

Town Hall Meeting, Twin Cities campus:
Monday, Nov. 24
PAN building Alumni Room
3:30-5 p.m.

Town Hall Meeting, Winona campus
Thursday, Nov. 20
Salvi Lecture Hall
3:30-5 p.m.

Following these roundtable sessions and town hall meetings, Brother William will finalize a set of priorities which will then be used to guide operational planning for the university over the next several years.

Brother William schedules roundtable, town hall meetings

Brother President William Mann is inviting the university community to participate in discussions about institutional priorities.

During the week of Nov. 17, he will host round-table discussions on planning with four constituent groups: faculty, staff and administrators, students, and parents and alumni. Invitations have been sent to 40 individuals from each of these groups to meet on the Winona and Twin Cities campuses.

These small gatherings will be followed by two town-hall meetings, one on the Winona campus and one on the Twin Cities campus, where all members of the Saint Mary’s community will be welcome to contribute insights on the proposed priorities. These town-hall meetings are scheduled as follows:

Town Hall Meeting, Twin Cities campus:
Monday, Nov. 24
PAN building Alumni Room
3:30-5 p.m.

Town Hall Meeting, Winona campus
Thursday, Nov. 20
Salvi Lecture Hall
3:30-5 p.m.

Following these roundtable sessions and town hall meetings, Brother William will finalize a set of priorities which will then be used to guide operational planning for the university over the next several years.

Brother William Mann inaugurated as 13th president

Saint Mary’s inaugurated its 13th president, Brother William Mann, FSC, in front of a crowd of 1,200 on Friday, Sept. 26.

The university’s website now features a link to photos, video and other information about the event. Go to the web homepage, www.smumn.edu, and click on the graphic or the link at the top.

Classes cancelled in honor of Brother William’s inauguration

All classes are cancelled on Sept. 26, so that faculty, staff and students are able to attend inauguration festivities. Mass will begin at 10 a.m. in the chapel.

Lunch will be served in the Toner Student Center, starting at 11:45 a.m.; faculty and staff will be dining upstairs. Robing begins at 1 p.m. The convocation begins at 2 p.m. in the gym, and will be followed by a reception in the fieldhouse.

Call Deb Nahrgang, Ext. 6966 or dnahrgan@smumn.edu, with questions.

Classes cancelled in honor of Brother William’s inauguration

All classes are cancelled on Sept. 26, so that faculty, staff and students are able to attend inauguration festivities. Mass will begin at 10 a.m. in the chapel.

Lunch will be served in the Toner Student Center, starting at 11:45 a.m.; faculty and staff will be dining upstairs. Robing begins at 1 p.m. The convocation begins at 2 p.m. in the gym, and will be followed by a reception in the fieldhouse.

Call Deb Nahrgang, Ext. 6966 or dnahrgan@smumn.edu, with questions. For more details, go to www.smumn.edu/inauguration.

Brother William’s inauguration nears; celebration is Sept. 26

All faculty, staff and students are invited to the inauguration of Brother President William Mann, FSC, on Friday, Sept. 26. All faculty and staff are reminded to turn in their RSVPs, so that catering accommodations can be made. For more information about the day’s events, go to www.smumn.edu/inauguration.

Additional information will be coming soon. Call Deb Nahrgang, Ext. 6966 or dnahrgan@smumn.edu, with questions.

Brother William’s inauguration nears; celebration is Sept. 26

All faculty, staff and students are invited to the inauguration of Brother President William Mann, FSC, on Friday, Sept. 26. All faculty and staff are reminded to turn in their RSVPs, so that catering accommodations can be made. For more information about the day’s events, go to www.smumn.edu/inauguration.

Additional information will be coming soon. Call Deb Nahrgang, Ext. 6966 or dnahrgan@smumn.edu, with questions.

Brother William’s inauguration set for Sept. 26; RSVPs due

All faculty, staff and students are invited to the inauguration of Brother President William Mann, FSC, on Friday, Sept. 26. All faculty and staff are reminded to turn in their RSVPs by Sept. 1, so that catering accommodations can be made. For more information, go to www.smumn.edu/inauguration.

Save the date for next inauguration, Sept. 26

The presidential inauguration for Brother William Mann has been set for Sept. 26 on the Winona campus. Mark your calendars and adjust your schedules accordingly. Classes will be cancelled on that date so that all faculty, staff and students can enjoy the day.

Additionally, a public Winona welcome has been set for Brother William on Wednesday, June 18.

Plan ahead for these community celebrations in honor of our 13th president.

Alumni Association welcomes Brother William Mann

The following letter was written to Brother William Mann on behalf of the Alumni Association Board of Directors:

“On behalf of the Alumni Association Board of Directors, congratulations on your new position as our president and welcome to Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota!
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“Throughout your journey over the years, you have had to make many career decisions that not only impacted your own life but the lives of many others. Whenever one makes these decisions, it is only natural to wonder, ‘What does the future hold for me and for others with this decision?’ The answer to this question as it pertains to Saint Mary’s is actually pretty simple.

“You will enjoy the spirit, creativity, dedication, and loyalty of a community of people that truly feel blessed to call Saint Mary’s their ‘home away from home.’ You will enjoy the attitude of a community that says, ‘We may be small, but we’ll go toe to toe with anybody!’ You will enjoy the pride of a community that never settles for just anything. You will enjoy the friendship of a community that looks after their own brothers and sisters. You will enjoy seeing the immediate impact of your leadership on the faces of people every day.

“And finally, you will enjoy having us, the Alumni Association Board of Directors, as your ‘go to’ group to accomplish the things that need to be accomplished for this great institution that we are so very proud to be a part of.

“We’re can’t wait to get started moving forward with you! —The Alumni Association Board of Directors: Bill Herzog ’70, president; Doug Luebbe ’81; Nate Semsch ’04; John Domanico ’77, president-elect; Grace McNamara ’77; Matthew Sheasby ’88; Jim Hoey ’74; Debbie Monahan ’98; Angela Steger ’76; Pam Joachim ’77; Molly Murphy ’97; Dr. Tim Tyre ’69; Elizabeth Kinsella ’93; Bo Rettig ’77; Bill Van Meter ’71; Meg Richtman ’97, executive director; and Joe Sweeney ’81, vice president for development & alumni relations.

Brother William Mann named 13th president of Saint Mary's University

Brother William Mann, FSC, D.Min.

The Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota Board of Trustees announced Thursday, Dec. 13, that Brother William Mann, FSC, D.Min., has been named the 13th president of the university. Mann will begin his term of office on June 1, 2008.

Mann, 60, is the former Vicar General of the De La Salle Christian Brothers. As Vicar General, he was the second-highest officer of the international Catholic teaching order that comprises 5,300 Christian Brothers, working in association with 73,000 lay educators to operate 930 schools and universities serving 900,000 students in 82 countries.
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Chancellor Brother Louis DeThomasis, FSC, Ph.D., has led Saint Mary’s University this past year during the national search for a new president. DeThomasis reassumed the duties of president in February, 2007, after previously serving Saint Mary’s for 21 years in that capacity.

DeThomasis said “Saint Mary’s is so fortunate to have as its new president an internationally recognized educational leader. Brother William Mann is also a renowned Lasallian scholar, who will enhance our vision and mission as a Lasallian institution of higher education.”

DeThomasis added that Mann’s “vast international experience will advance our efforts to bring global education to our students. His experience with multicultural, diverse populations allows him to offer a unique gift to our university setting, and brings a new dimension to the intellectual and spiritual life of students and faculty.”

“We are delighted with the international reputation and stature of our new president,” said Michael Meagher, chairman of the Saint Mary’s Board of Trustees. “The board was impressed with his wisdom, sensitivity, and obvious commitment and dedication to education.”

Mann has spent almost 30 years traveling around the country and the world as a leader in the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, and as a guiding force in the evolution of the Lasallian educational global network.

“I am excited at the opportunity to focus my experience and passion for the Lasallian educational mission at Saint Mary’s University,” Mann said. He noted that “the many facets of Saint Mary’s are interesting and inspiring, and I believe the university is well-positioned to continue doing great good” within the society of the 21st century.

Mann served in Rome from 2000-07 as Vicar General, a leader with far-ranging responsibilities within the international governance structure of the De La Salle Christian Brothers.

A native of New York City, Mann joined the Christian Brothers in 1965. He began his career as an English and religion teacher, working from 1970-79 at two Christian Brother high schools in New York and Rhode Island. He then held positions directing Christian Brother formation for the Long Island-New England Province and USA/Toronto Region, and from 1990-96 he was International Secretary of Formation in Rome. He later served as Delegate Superior for India, and as Provincial for the LI-NE Province, which operates 10 educational institutions in New York City and Rhode Island.

Mann has also been an organizer, member, delegate and presenter for numerous Lasallian commissions and symposiums. He was a member of the boards of several Christian Brother schools in New York and Rhode Island, and he served on the Saint Mary’s Board of Trustees from 1996-2001.

Mann is a noted scholar and writer on the life and teachings of John Baptist de La Salle, founder of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools and the patron saint of educators. He has authored and edited numerous publications examining De La Salle’s writings and spirituality, putting them into context for Lasallian educators in today’s world.

Mann’s educational background includes a B.A. in English Literature from The Catholic University of America, an M.A. in Liberal Studies - Literature from State University of New York at Stony Brook, an M.A. in Spirituality from Salve Regina University, and a Doctor of Ministry degree in Family Ministry from Colgate Rochester Divinity School.