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��ɫӰ��’s unique approach to mission is faculty-driven, collaborative, and integrative. The three components of the St. Catherine mission — Catholic, Women, and Liberal Arts — spring from St. Catherine’s founders, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. In 1905, their vision was an institution that educated women to “do all of which woman is capable and which will most benefit the dear neighbor.”

This vision continues to evolve as St. Catherine prepares a new generation of women to take their place as leaders in a world that needs them. Three endowed chairs have been established to ensure that mission permeates the University's curricular and co-curricular offerings.

Endowed Chair in Catholic Identity

Sharon Howell, CSJ

Sharon serves as the director of the Center for Spirituality and Social Justice at St. Kate's and the Endowed Chair in Catholic Identity. As a Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet, she brings a love for academia, the church, and serving others to St. Kate’s.

Sister Sharon holds a BS in biology/chemistry from Xavier University, and an MA in pastoral studies from the University of St. Thomas. Before taking her vows in 1985, she was a chemist for 3M, Control Data, and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. From 1995-2004, she served on the Board of Trustees for St. Kate's.

Endowed Chair in Women's Education

Sarah Rand, PhD

As the Endowed Mission Chair for Women's Education, Sarah will advocate for women's leadership and career development as crucial components of St. Kate's mission of educating women to lead and influence. In this capacity, she will support the entire St. Kate's community to become effective, ethical, and inclusive leaders and educators. 

Sarah is associate professor in the Department of Business Administration, where she teaches courses in leadership, management, and marketing. She completed her PhD in organizational leadership, policy, and development at the University of Minnesota, and has extensive experience partnering with organizations to create and implement strategies to develop and advance women leaders.

Sarah played a key role in developing the Katie Leadership Impact program, which provides St. Kate's students scholarships, applied learning experiences, mentoring, and paid internships focusing on leadership and career development. 

Endowed Chair in the Liberal Arts

Todd Deutsch, MFA 

Todd's work as the Endowed Mission Chair in the Liberal Arts will focus on advocacy for the liberal arts as central to St. Kate's mission of educating women to lead and influence. He teaches in the Department of Art and Art History, and is a believer in the inherent interdisciplinary nature of the liberal arts, seeing them as tools of curiosity and imagination that help us become the leaders we were meant to be. 

Todd earned his MFA from Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. His photographs have been exhibited nationally and internationally. His work has appeared in Real Simple (U.S.), New Scientist (United Kingdom), Nido (Germany), Vision Magazine (China), and others, and are also included in public and private collections at the Walker Art Center, the Museum of Contemporary Photography, and the Portland Museum. A monograph of his work entitled, "Gamers", was published in 2008 by FP Editions, Brescia, Italy. Selections also appeared in Gamescenes: Art in the Age of Videogames, Johan & Levi, Milan. 

Each position is funded by an endowment that supports programming. The endowed chairs are collaborating to initiate, plan, and coordinate faculty and staff development opportunities.

We are grateful to the following benefactors who made gifts of $25,000 or more for the endowed mission chairs and program funds: