MAI CHONG XIONG ’12

MINNESOTA’S FIRST HMONG COUNTY COMMISSIONER

In January, Mai Chong Xiong ’12 was sworn in as the first Hmong county commissioner in Minnesota history, and the first Asian American elected to the Ramsey County board.

Mai Chong majored in political science at Saint Ben’s and served an internship with former Senator Al Franken. “My dream job was to be a staffer for someone in Congress or the U.S. Senate, but I ended up in local government,” she says. “I found it’s a place where I can get a lot of things done. You can get past the partisanship you find at other levels and do something solid on the issues together.”

Mai Chong represents District 6, the Greater East Side, Payne-Phalen, Conway, Dayton’s Bluff, Battle Creek and Highwood neighborhoods of the state capital. She won the election with 50% of the vote (7,993 ballots), compared to 48.6% for her opponent, Ying Vang-Pao (7,780). There also were 160 votes for write-in candidates.

Mai Chong graduated from Roseville Area High School but was unsure about college until she learned of Saint Ben’s through association with the Girls International Forum, a St. Paul non-profit organization that prepares girls to raise their voices in community government. The executive director, Zora Radosevich ’77, encouraged Mai Chong to check out the school, even writing letters of recommendation and once bringing her to campus for a visit. With scholarship assistance through the Intercultural Leadership Education and Development program, Mai Chong was able to get the best financial aid package at Saint Ben’s. She served on the student senate and followed her older brother as a first-generation college graduate.

Mai Chong, who was endorsed by Rep. Betty McCollum and St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter, raised more through her campaign ($130,000) than any other county commissioner candidate – and more than $50,000 above her opponent.

“I had quite a few Bennies and Johnnies who contributed,” she says. “Some of them heard about it and were cheering me on from afar. There’s a network of support there – including some of the faculty from the political science department, and that meant so much to me – that I can always tap into.”

She says she wouldn’t rule out running for higher office someday, but doesn’t believe she’ll stray far from her home. “I see my future in community organizing,” Mai Chong says. “I want to effectively change the lives of people who are struggling. The big issue I ran on was housing, and in college I was quoted in a student newsletter about how my one hope for someday was housing for all. That has always been near and dear to me because of the experience that I had (growing up). So many of our community members struggle privately, but we as a community can decide whether people will be housed and get the basic necessities or not.”

She views listening and asking questions as other skills she values most. “My message to the Bennies and Johnnies who are in college or will be in future generations is to be curious and courageous,” Mai Chong says. “We can make the world a better place.”

First-year residence hall

Corona

Favorite class

First-Year Seminar with Dr. Pamela Bacon

Favorite professor

Dr. Claire Haeg

Favorite Bennie memory

There were too many! But if I had to pick one it would definitely be spending time with the Bennies with whom I am still in touch today.

Milestones

1961 Judith Koll Healey is the author of King’s Bishop: A Fictional History, published through Calumet Press, Dec. ’22.

1981 Barbara Edwards Farley was named the chair for the Council of Independent Colleges Board of Directors, Washington, D.C., Oct. ’22.

1988 Sandra Thull Barner was hired as a clinical psychologist to conduct court ordered psychological evaluations and provide expert testimony at CNI Inc., Dallas, Aug. ’22.

1990 Amy Wesley was appointed as a commissioner of the Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools, Philadelphia, Nov. ’22.

1993 Kathryn Kucienski Ciesla was elected village president of Northbrook, Illinois, April ’21.

2001 Kristi Kubista-Hovis was promoted to director of resources, office of credit union resources and expansion at the National Credit Union Administration (Alexandria, Virginia), May ’22.

2005 Heather Parker Plumski of Stearns Bank (St. Cloud) was named 2022 CFO of the Year by Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, Nov. ’22.

2006 Julie Haberle Schomer was promoted to executive director of A Home for A Day, a senior living provider in St. Cloud, Minnesota, that offers residents adult day care, Jan. ’23.

2007 Susie Jacoby Zieger is currently serving as the 98th president of the Junior League of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Dec. ’22.

2008

LAURIE WESTMAN HUOTARI has been named office managing partner for the Minneapolis office of Stoel Rives – a leading U.S. corporate and litigation law firm, Jan. ’23.

1996 Lori Zahrbock is the new executive director of the Boys & Girls Club of Barron County in Rice Lake, Wisconsin, Oct. ’22.

1997 Stephanie Sack Roder & Ryan Roder (SJU ’97) are the new owners of Thomsens Garden Center in St. Joseph, Minnesota, Oct. ’22.

1998 Elaine Garbe was promoted to director of constituent engagement and annual giving at George Washington University, Dec. ’22.

2000 Jennifer Lohse is a new executive leader of Aware Recovery Care, which provides innovative in-home addiction treatment services, Oct. ’22.

TENA RYTEL MONSON was elected to the Arden Hills (Minnesota) City Council, where she will serve a four-year term, Nov. ’22.

2009 Nicole Sand is president of her family’s company, Sand Companies, Inc. (Waite Park, Minnesota).

2010 Christin Tomy made her Perpetual Profession of Vows to the Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters of Wisconsin, May ’22.

2012 Mai Chong Xiong is the first Asian American and Hmong American elected to the Ramsey County Board, St. Paul, Nov. ’22. (Read more on page 26.)

2013 Kelly Butorac graduated with a master of library and information science degree from St. Catherine University, Dec. ’22.

Hudda Ibrahim published Imrah’s First 100 Words, a bilingual book introducing readers to a vocabulary in both English and Somali, Dec. ’22.

2013 Kristen Beste Tschida received the President’s Award from the Association of Minnesota Emergency Management for her work as professional development chair, St. Cloud, Minnesota, Sept. ’22. 2017

LISA PERUNOVICH is an associate attorney with Faegre Drinker, a firm which provides legal and consulting services to businesses.

2022 Abby Kaluza is executive assistant to U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer, Washington, D.C., Sept. ’22.

Marriages

2009 Alyssa Weyrauch to Rex Kvasager, June ’22

2010 Allyson Klenke to Ashley Pattain, July ’22

2011 Caitlyn Borys to Richard Schwantes, June ’22

2012 Hannah Mortenson to Joshua Solomon, June ’22

2013 Alicia Johnson to Justin Ostendorf ’14, Feb. ’22

Jocelyn Norman to Patrick Regan, Sept. ’22

Melissa Shelendich to Robert Craft, June ’22

2014 Colleen Bouchard to Justin Rumpza, Sept. ’21

2015 Laura Brandes to John Satzinger, Sept. ’21

Brianna Granby to Gregory Robertson, July ’22

Xia Lee to Brandon Firkus, Aug. ’21

Jenna Maus to Roman Simmons, Sept. ’21

Madeline Norgaard to John Morrison, Sept. ’21

Share your key moments and milestones with your classmates and friends. Email us at csbalumnae@csbsju.edu KEEP

2015

2016

2016 Makenzie Krause to Jacob Lanthier, Oct. ’22

Jordan Marshall to Patrick Heavens, Sept. ’21

Beth Richmond to Michael Torborg, March ’22

Jill Valerius to Timothy Belrose, Aug. ’22

Afton Windsperger to Tyler Dick ’16, Dec. ’22

2017 Raina Quinnell to Samuel Ferguson ’17, Oct. ’22

Mariah Rathmanner to Parker Anderson ’17, Oct. ’22

Elizabeth Schneider to Andrew Mascharka, Aug. ’22

2018 Zoe Boehmer to Collin Szabla, Sept. ’22

Shannon Downes to Adam Hoffman, July ’22

Kali Frederickson to Zachary Templin ’17, May ’22

Taylor Kainz to Matthew Krutzig, Oct. ’21

Hannah Lendino to Austin Barrett, Sept. ’22

Emma Zvanovec to Joseph Wattenhofer ’17, Nov. ’22

2019 Chevelle Palomino to Nicholas Kazmierczak ’19, June ’22

2020 Rachael Gronstal to Luke Johnston, July ’22

Madeline Hester to Samuel Bares, Oct. ’22

Rebecca Johnson to Adam Hensley, Oct. ’22

Madelyn Konsor to Ryan Strelow ’20, April ’22

Kalli Kuhlmann to William Funk, Sept. ’22

Sydney Robillard to Daniel Gerhz ’20, April ’22

ALYSSA KRAUSE TO AARON EGGERUD, OCT. ’22

Rachel Linhardt to Zach Kamp, Sept. ’22

2022 Erin Narloch to Sam Stuber, Oct. ’22

BIRTHS / ADOPTIONS

2004 Catherine Gregor Nelson & David Eddie, boy, Blake, Nov. ’22

Heidi Anderson Symons & Tyler Symons, boy, Axel, April ’22

2006 Emily Stenberg Brown & Trampes Brown, girl, Ada, Aug. ’22

2007 Kiersten Gjerstad Dolan & Andrew Dolan, boy, William, May ’22

Susan Jacoby Ziegler & Zach Ziegler, boy, David, Aug. ’22

2009 Erica Marsyla Benney & Adam Benney ’09, girl, Chloe, Sept. ’22

2010 Alissa Burg Gunderson & Nicholas Gunderson ’09, girl, Vivian, Dec. ’22

Lisa Marthaler Hellem & Aaron Hellem ’10, girl, Charlie, Aug. ’22

KELSEY GUSTAFSON SUTER & SEAN SUTER ’10, BOY, LOGAN, SEPT. ’22

Lindsay Havlik Wessels & Benjamin Wessels ’10, boy, Brooks, July ’22

2011

KATIE WINDSCHITL BROSLMA & MATTHEW BROSLMA ’11, GIRL, CECILIA, AUG. ’22

Danielle Karp Lilly & Andrew Lilly ’11, boy, Calvin, Jan. ’22

Molly Noel Madson & Zachary Madson ’11, girl, Millie, July ’22

2012

TAYLOR SCHMIDT BURNS & JOHN BURNS ’12, GIRL, ELOISA, SEPT. ’22

Kelsey Rose Deutz & Parker Deutz ’12, girl, Marie, Dec. ’22

Nicole Johnson Ferguson & Samuel Ferguson, boy, Owen, Aug. ’22

Katie Elmquist Grausam & Andrew Grausam ’11, girl, Emma, June ’22

Stephanie Kaplan Mahoney & Colin Mahoney, twin boys, Finn & Mason, Oct. ’22

Kathleen Lutz Nestingen & Sam Nestingen, girl, Faye, Dec. ’22

Jennifer Josephs O’Leary & Travis O’Leary, boy, Oliver, Oct. ’22

2013 Julia Bedford Buermann & Shawn Buermann ’10, boy, Gabriel, Sept. ’22

Katherine Brown Massopust & Devin Massopust ’13, boy, Ellis, Aug. ’22

Andrea Tobias Mattison & Lars Mattison, girl, Adeline, Dec. ’22

Hannah Dolan Schilling & Eric Schilling ’13, boy, Teddy, April ’22

Christine Schneider Spevacek & Gregory Spevacek, boy, William, Jan. ’23

2014 Lexi Alm Johnson & Jesse Johnson ’14, girl, Alea, April ’22

2015 Sarah DeWitt Greening & Kevin Greening ’15, girl, Blair, Sept. ’22

Jenna Maus Simmons & Roman Simmons, girl, Lucy, June ’22

2016 Alexandra Busch & Andrew Boatman, boy, Auggie, Oct. ’22

Sarah Roehl Schueller & Alex Schueller ’15, girl, Emmersyn, April ’22

2017 Mariah Zamzow Burroughs & Brian Burroughs ’17, girl, Sloane, Oct. ’22

Tess Troyak Reller & Jeremy Reller ’17, girl, Olive, Oct. ’22

2019 Shelby-lyn Schneider Henle & Chad Henle ’12, girl, Sawyer, Nov. ’22

2020 Rebecca Johnson Hensley & Adam Hensley, girl, Jocelyn, March ’22

Let’s start the conversation now, so your voice can carry on through generations. A legacy gift of any size pays exponential returns. It’s an investment in ambitious, promising women – women who will honor your legacy with transformative, world-changing impact. Make a bequest through your will or trust, name CSB as a beneficiary, or establish a charitable gift annuity.

Deaths

1942 Verna Fritsvold Randall, June ’22

1946 Jane Lynch Nolan, March ’21

1947 Ellyn Crahan Kunkel, June ’22

1948 Frances Hynan Baron, Oct. ’22

Eileen Opatz Berger, mother of Julie Berger Engebretson ’84, Jan. ’23

Margaret Beste Kemp, June ’22

Theresa Olsen McDonald, Nov. ’22

Frances Gambrino O’Brian, Sept. ’22

1949 Kathleen O’Driscoll Heying, Nov. ’22

Eileen Schwarzbauer Muelken, mother of Mary Ann van Muelken ’82, Oct. ’22

Elaine Twomey Stramer, Nov. ’22

1951 Rita Malinski Deyo, Nov. ’22

Caroll Brynjolfson Lynch, mother of Danni Lynch ’84, May ’22

1952 Mary Lou Schrank Birk, Oct. ’22

La Vonne Habstritt Danzl, Nov. ’22

Elizabeth Boyer Harthman, mother of Jane Harthman Warrelmann ’78, Suzanne Harthman Andreasen ’82 & Jacqueline Harthman Lunde ’84, Dec. ’22

1952 Ludmila “Mil” Padrnos Voelker, Dec. ’22

1953 Jeanne Guettler Chevalier, Sept. ’22

1954 Charlotte Moore Miller, Oct. ’22

1956 Joan Meyer Walter, Dec. ’22

1958 Thomas McCann ’57, spouse of Patricia Ringius McCann, Nov. ’22

1959 Mary Lentz Lockwood, Oct. ’21

Arbadella “Della” Pauly Theis, Dec. ’22

1960 Maxine Kaiser, Nov. ’22

Gary Klein ’58, spouse of Darnell “Nelli” Zachman Klein; father of Wendy Klein VanRavenswaay ’89 & Jennifer Klein Genereau ’93, Nov. ’22

1962 Joanne Russell Bendick, Oct. ’22

Nannette Dubay Kolbinger, Nov. ’22

Michael Skwira ’61, spouse of Karen Tell Skwira & father of Anne SkwiraBrown ’86, Nov. ’22

1963 Constance Nelson, Oct. ’22

Richard Witucki, spouse of Audrey Schmidtbauer Witucki, Nov. ’22

1964 Edward Villalta, spouse of Mary Ellen Burrock Villalta, Sept. ’22

1965 Genevieve Hoffman, mother of Judith Hoffman Lavinski, Oct. ’22

Rose Scheinost Lawson, June ’22

Sandra Verdeck Redding, Nov. ’22

Joseph Scheinost, spouse of Janet Burg Scheinost, Sept. ’22

1966 David Turch, son of Meridel Lamprecht Turch, Oct. ’22

1967 Anthony Jaros, spouse of Elizabeth Pearo Jaros, Oct. ’22

1968 Steven Linder, spouse of Susan Werner Linder, Dec. ’22

Alene Lowe-Korngable, Nov. ’22

1971 Rita Bester York, Oct. ’22

1976 Suzanne Brascugli, stepparent of Lynn Brascugli Damberg, Lisa Brascugli Murphy ’78 & Beth Brascugli Delima ’80, Sept. ’22

Floyd Graham, father of Margaret Graham Ferguson, Nov. ’22

1977 John Krebsbach ’45, father of Janice Krebsbach Florey, Oct. ’22

Ralph Johnson, spouse of Mary Pumper Johnson, Jan. ’23

1977 Grace Pribyl, mother of Ann Pribyl Mattson, Nov. ’22

Mildred Theisen, mother of Kathrine Theisen Mauser, Jan. ’23

1978 Katherine Gruber, mother of Mary Gruber, OSB, Oct. ’22

Denise LeBert Suess, Sept. ’22

John Undersander, father of Brenda Undersander Weisbrich, Oct. ’22

1979 Arthur Palmer, father of Susan Palmer Jacobson, Nov. ’22

Nancy Starbird, mother of Diane Starbird Malone, Sept. ’22

1980 Mary Gilbert Byrne, Dec. ’22

Judith Theobado, Oct. ’22

Sandra Beaton Walsh, mother of Hannah Walsh ’11, July ’21

1981 Roxann Thoreen, mother of Julie Thoreen Birkedal & Sarah Thoreen ’91, Dec. ’22

Daniel Lanz, father of Laure Lanz Fuerstenberg, Nov. ’22

Rosanne Uschold, Dec. ’22

1983 John Dryer, father of Kathryn “Kitty” Dryer Croston, Dec. ’22

1984 Susan Voss, mother of Theresa Voss, Nov. ’22

1986 Lee Larkey ’61, father of Theresa Larkey Graveen, Dec. ’22

Thomas Shantz, father of Joanne Shantz Schneider, Nov. ’22

1987 Molly Gallagher Carter, Oct. ’22

Patricia Kostelnik, mother of Theresa Kostelnik Johnson, Oct. ’22

Daniel Knofczynski, father of Melissa Knofczynski, Sept. ’22

Roselyn Koenig, mother of Elisabeth Koenig Sweeney, Sept. ’22

1988 Michael Dempsey, father of Jo Beth Dempsey, Kelly Dempsey Dean ’89 & Jill Dempsey Kennedy ’90, Aug. ’22

Gertrude Roers, mother of Maureen Roers Frank, Sept. ’22

William O’Callaghan, father of Catherine O’Callaghan Moritz, June ’22

Mary Jo Hendricks, mother of Mary Kathryn “Kate” Hendricks Reschenberg, Nov. ’22

Aloysius Houdek, father of Patricia Houdek Torborg, Dec. ’22

1989 Mary Quinn, mother of Shannon Quinn Horsager, Jan. ’23

James Rutten ’61, father of Stephanie Rutten Liberko, Nov. ’22

1989 Lois Montague, mother of Mona Baskfield Reynolds, March ’22

Rosemarie Gleason, mother of Jeanne Gleason Schmelzer, Oct. ’22

Patricia Igel, mother of Mary Igel Trudell, Nov. ’22

1990 George Pagnucco, father of Barbara Pagnucco Baumann, Oct. ’22

Judith Rataczak, mother of Sarah Rataczak, Nov. ’22

1991 Joan Hruby, mother of Annette Hruby, Oct. ’22

1992 Elmer Keppers, father of Victoria Keppers Kunkel & Kathleen Keppers Lutgen ’94, Oct. ’22

Jason Liestman, spouse of Pamela Mehle Liestman, Sept. ’22

Edna Weidner, mother of Susan Weidner Pietrowski, Nov. ’22

Taylor Majeres, son of Kirsten Younghans Rossum, Oct. ’22

James Gmeinder, father of Kristen Gmeinder Thompson, Nov. ’22

1993 Mary Jane Gominsky, mother of Sonda Gominsky Binsfeld & Deanna Gominsky Feldewerd ’94, Nov. ’22

Tomorrow’s taking shape right now at Saint Ben’s and we’re clearly excited about it. We’re strategically planning to continue providing a liberal arts education that prepares women to think critically, lead courageously and advocate passionately.

Show your support for our students this spring and we will send you an exclusive Saint Ben’s branded microfiber glasscleaning cloth. Visit givecsb.com today to learn more, make a gift and start seeing the future a little clearer!

FREE GIFT

1993 David Keller ’65, father of Mara Keller Clysdale, Sarah Keller Rowley ’91, & Jennifer Keller ’99, Sept. ’22

Kent Rahne, spouse of Marcia Hare Rahne, Dec. ’22

1994 John Klein, father of Amy Klein, Nov. ’22

Aran O’Brien, spouse of Krista Suchoski O’Brien, Nov. ’22

Williard Schafer, father of Carrie Schafer & Jill Schafer ’96, Jan. ’23

Margaret Sterk, mother of Tracy Sterk, Dec. ’22

1996 Elizabeth Kinney, mother of Cathleen Kinney, Dec. ’22

Robert Zollar, father of Amy Zollar Schwieters & Stacey Zollar Sykora ’99, Oct. ’22

1997 Ronald Schmitz, father of Lisa Schmitz Brennan, Sept. ’22

Maximilian Steininger ’62, father of Anne Steininger Capitani, Oct. ’22

Martha Gniffke, mother of Colleen Gniffke Hardie, Nov. ’22

Carol Zacher, mother of Penny Zacher Oleson & Tiffany Zacher Goettle ’10, Oct. ’22

1997 Michael Price, father of Molly PriceMunson, Nov. ’22

Harvey Woods, father of Kathy Woods, Oct. ’22

1998 Kimberly Engle, mother of Jodi Engle Mouratis, Oct. ’22

Lois Schaefer, mother of Kari Schaefer O’Keefe, Sept. ’22

Irene Head, mother of Abigail Head Schaefer, Sept. ’22

2000 John Miller, father of Erin Miller Ross, Dec. ’22

2001 Cynthia Jarvi, mother of Elizabeth Jarvi Fagen, Mara Jarvi Koolmo ’03, & Breanna Jarvi Bjerketvedt ’06, Nov. ’22

2003 David Tuohy, father of Angela Tuohy Jordahl, Oct. ’22

Gloria Swanson, mother of Kristel Swanson Lastine, Sept. ’22

2004 Kathleen Ziegler, mother of Ruth Ziegler Lucachick, Oct. ’22

William Minnich ’71, father of Teresa Minnich & Kate Minnich ’15, Oct. ’22

2005 Freeman Hatch, father of Johanna Hatch, Sept. ’22

2006 Thurber Spaanem, father of Sarah Spaanem Foehrenbacher, Nov. ’22

Mary Keske, mother of Shaundra Keske Heimermann, Dec. ’22

2009 Michael Tucker, father of Rachel Tucker Blase, Oct. ’22

Sanja Dermanovic, Nov. ’22

Patrick Ruane, father of Mary Ruane Pernula, Dec. ’22

2010 James Beckstrand, father of Allyson Klenke Pattain, Dec. ’22

2016 Adrian Seguin, father of Avery Seguin Harrison, Oct. ’22

2018 Keith Wakefield, father of Leah Wakefield, Dec. ’22

2019 David Hagen ’85, father of Gabrielle Hagen, Nov. ’22

Simon Storkamp, father of Alicia Storkamp & Jessica Storkamp ’22, Sept. ’22