St. Thomas University Graduate School

Hello, Thank you for reaching out! If Dr. Min has indicated that it’s still possible to get started, then we may still have an opportunity. I’ve looped in Graduate Services on this email to confirm whether there are any remaining spots in the class. If space is available, we’ll need to move forward quickly. The application should be submitted as soon as possible, along with your official transcripts, resume, and essay. If gathering those materials will take too much time, I recommend we plan for a Spring 2026 start (February intake). Thanks again, and please let me know how you'd like to proceed!

"This program has helped me become comfortable having uncomfortable conversations and advocating for change within our agency and not just in the community we serve. It has given me new language and resources to present needed DEI related changes to both my team and to my executive management colleagues, backing up messaging with research."

How has St. Thomas shaped or impacted you? St. Thomas has allowed me to strengthen my leadership skills while not being in a leadership role. My program has provided me with strong professors to guide me through my leadership journey. St. Thomas allowed me to succeed while being my authentic self. What is something that you learned about yourself during your time at St. Thomas? I learned where my strengths lie. Earning a degree in educational leadership at a young age, I was very ambitious to be the best at all parts of my program. Throughout my two years in the program, I discovered where both my own strengths and my peers' strengths complimented each other. I learned from their expertise, and I learned that I had my own expertise to offer. What is your degree and how do you see it impacting your career? I earned a Master's degree in Educational Leadership and Administration. I plan to utilize this as I grow as an educator, teacher leader, and hopefully, one day, school leader. Despite this last year being my second full year of teaching, I have been able to make deeper connections with my building leadership, take a stronger role in my learning groups, and strengthen my teaching skills. Like Dr. Grambow told me, the first three years of your teaching career are the most pivotal for growth. My degree at UST has helped ensure I experience high levels of positive growth during those first three years. What advice would you give to future St. Thomas students? You cannot do anything impactful if you don't take ownership of your learning. Discovering and maintaining your authentic self is the best way to succeed in your education. Tell us about a pivotal moment you had from a particular class or professor and why that moment/memory will stay with you. My first course was with Dr. Dave Grambow, and the course was offered to me as a direct study. Being new to the program and young, I was nervous about how I would perform in this setting. But Dr. Grambow's welcoming nature, wisdom, and guiding hand helped set the stage for my strong academic career at UST. I constantly reference the work we completed and the book he wrote in my professional interactions.

Post-graduation plans: Continue in my position as a 6 - 12 instrumental music director How has St. Thomas shaped or impacted you? When I decided to go back to school for my master's I needed a program that was delivered online, as I have a young child at home and work full time as a teacher. I found exactly what I needed at St. Thomas. Without the ability to attend classes via Zoom, I would not have been able to get an advanced degree. The program itself (MA in Ed. Leadership and Administration) has had a profound and positive impact on my skills as a leader in the classroom and in my school. What is your degree and how do you see it impacting your career? My degree is a master's in educational leadership and administration. I do not have immediate plans to seek a position as a school administrator, but I have gained a much better understanding of the different elements behind the scenes of a school that enable it to operate each day, and my skills as a leader in the classroom and out have greatly improved with what I have learned in this program. Tell us about a pivotal moment you had from a particular class or professor and why that moment/memory will stay with you. There is not one single moment that sticks out, but rather the overall approach to the program. The majority of my classes were taught by people who are actively in the field of educational leadership. My professors were principals, district curriculum coordinators, assistant superintendents, Minnesota Department of Education administrators, and more. They were able to offer real world applications for curricula based on their own lived experiences, which made the courses more meaningful than if we had simply learned about and discussed theories.