University of St. Thomas

Like all first-year law students, now 2L Joseph Hillman took a Contracts course during his first semester of law school at the University of St. Thomas. He learned the principles behind how contracts are formed and interpreted. This summer, after his first year of law school, an internship with Norwest Equity Partners gave him the opportunity to see how those principles are put into practice as he worked alongside attorneys on agreements connected to potential investment transactions.

Dr. Aura Wharton-Beck, associate professor in the School of Education at the University of St. Thomas, and her family were honored at the 29th Annual 100 Hispanic Women National, Inc. Gala in New Rochelle, New York. The 100 Hispanic Women National Inc. is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that aims to promote inclusion in government and corporate America and to improve Hispanic representation.

John Abraham, a professor in the University of St. Thomas College of Engineering, spoke with WCCO Radio about Google’s plans to test AI computing infrastructure in space. Abraham discussed whether moving data centers beyond Earth could alleviate concerns about their environmental and resource demands, or whether broader concerns surrounding artificial intelligence go beyond the physical infrastructure. From the conversation: Alix Kendall: OK, so you mentioned there are some upsides and downsides.

John Spry, a finance professor at the University of St. Thomas, spoke with KSTP about St. Paul Park’s proposed 1.8% tax levy increase, one of the lowest proposed increases in the Twin Cities metro. Spry explained how slower spending growth can help cities limit levy increases and how residents’ perceptions of local government services can be reflected in home values. From the story: Washington County also increased the valuation rate of homes there by 4.1%.

Kevin Sauter, a professor emeritus at the University of St. Thomas who specializes in political communication, spoke with KARE 11 about the changing role of political debates as Minnesota’s 2026 campaigns move forward. Sauter discussed how debates can provide voters with side-by-side comparisons of candidates, even as audiences increasingly encounter key moments through social media clips rather than traditional broadcasts.

The University of St. Thomas mourns the loss of former economics professor, Daniel Fairchild, 83, who passed away on Sept. 18, 2026. Dan began his career at the University of St. Thomas in 1976, joining the Economics Department in the College of Arts and Sciences. Over the next 39 years, he taught more than 5,000 students. He was an international macroeconomist whose teaching and scholarship reflected his deep knowledge of and enthusiasm for the field.

Dr. Ali Ling, assistant professor of civil engineering and water expert at the University of St. Thomas, has published findings on the regulation of forever chemicals in water supplies across Europe in Nature Water. Per- and polyfluoroalkyls substances, or PFAS, include substances such as PFOS, PFOA, and TFA and accumulate in our environment and water supplies.

The latest college rankings from U.S. News & World Report brought several gains for the University of St. Thomas, including a new distinction: Minnesota’s top-ranked private university. St. Thomas ranks No. 78 nationally on the publication’s new Top Private Colleges list, the highest among Minnesota private institutions classified as National Universities. The university also remains the state’s No. 1 Best Value, according to the 2026-27 Best Colleges rankings.

When it rained, Percival Everett’s mother would lay newspapers across the floor where the family could soak their wet shoes. Everett remembers his father quipping what remains his favorite pun: “These are the times that dry men’s soles.” Everett, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author who credits his father with helping develop his appreciation for words, was the featured speaker at the University of St. Thomas’ first Finding Forward event of the academic year.

Rachel Moran, a professor at the University of St. Thomas School of Law who studies policing and police accountability, spoke with KARE 11 about the prosecution of ICE agent Christian Castro following a January shooting in north Minneapolis. Moran discussed how rarely federal agents face state prosecution and the complex legal questions involving federal court and immunity that could shape the case.