Our Commitment to Welcoming All | University of St. Thomas - Minnesota

Our Commitment to Welcoming All | University of St. Thomas - Minnesota
About
Our Commitment to Welcoming All
Our Commitment to Welcoming All
Living Our Mission for a Just and Equitable Society
Our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion is rooted in our Catholic identity at St. Thomas. Archbishop John Ireland founded the University of St. Thomas for immigrants who weren't welcomed elsewhere. Our convictions call us to protect and enhance the dignity of every human and to work for a more just and equitable society. We strive to be a university characterized by radical hospitality and are steadfast in our commitment to embedding a shared sense of belonging where all feel welcomed.
The university's internal work on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is coordinated through the
Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (ODEI)
. ODEI ensures that our work within the university to make St. Thomas more inclusive happens at all levels and includes everyone. By using data and stories to measure progress and experiences, and by transparently communicating across the university, ODEI helps campus culture continuously become more diverse and welcoming. In addition,
Student Diversity and Inclusion Services (SDIS)
directly supports students by offering programming that promotes diversity and social justice awareness and working to create an inclusive and welcoming environment for all students.
At the same time, St. Thomas is working outside of our walls to achieve social justice and dismantle inequities in the broader community through the
Racial Justice Initiative
. Through a distinctive focus on historical recovery, the Initiative creates opportunities in partnership with local leaders and groups for critical conversations and actions around racial justice.
Diversity, equity and inclusion are indispensable to academic excellence and the holistic development of our students. Our university community includes and welcomes people of diverse races, ethnicities, geographic origins, gender identities, ages, socioeconomic backgrounds, sexual orientations, religions, political perspectives, work experiences, physical and intellectual abilities, financial means, and all other characteristics as protected by applicable laws.
University of St. Thomas Land Acknowledgment
Resources and Support for:
All Faiths
Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)
First-Generation College Students
International Initiatives
LGBTQIA+ Community
Students with Disabilities
Undocumented Students
Veterans
Women
Office for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
The Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion develops and articulates the St. Thomas goals around fostering a diverse and inclusive campus community by working collaboratively with students, faculty, staff and administrators.
Office for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Racial Justice Initiative
The Racial Justice Initiative, led by Dr. Yohuru Williams, facilitates research, explores opportunities for community engagement, and sponsors critical conversations focused on history, race, and obstacles to progress, with a strong focus on the external community.
Racial Justice Initiative
Highlighted Priorities
Dougherty Family College
Opened in 2017, Dougherty Family College offers an associate degree designed to propel students towards success and provide a smooth transition to a four-year college. This two-year college program is for inspired students who want to obtain a four-year college degree and face financial or social obstacles on the way to their goal.
About Dougherty Family College
Student Diversity and Inclusion Services (SDIS)
SDIS promotes diversity and social justice awareness for all students through personal interactions, leadership and training opportunities, and various sponsored and co-sponsored educational programs. We aim to ensure equitable retention and graduation rates, and to maintain an inclusive and welcoming environment for all.
Student Diversity and Inclusion Services
News from St. Thomas
March 12, 2026
St. Thomas Awarded for Growth of Davis UWC International Scholars
Originally hailing from Paraguay, Merardo Pezoa '29 enjoyed singing in the choir as a United World Colleges high school upperclassman in Wales, United Kingdom. Now, enrolled at the University of St. Thomas as a film studies major, Pezoa sings in the St. Thomas choir. "Choir has been part of my entire life, and having the…
The post St. Thomas Awarded for Growth of Davis UWC International Scholars appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.
February 18, 2026
Tales from the Archives: First St. Thomas Black Faculty and Staff Members
In 1926, historian Carter G. Woodson launched Negro History Week, laying the foundation for a national movement to recognize and celebrate the achievements of Black Americans. Fifty years later, in 1976, President Gerald Ford formally designated February the national commemoration of Black History Month. A century after Woodson’s original call, the University of St. Thomas…
The post Tales from the Archives: First St. Thomas Black Faculty and Staff Members appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.
December 18, 2025
From Rondo Classrooms to Entrepreneurs, $12.3M Gift Expands St. Thomas’ Impact
Enabling human flourishing is at the heart of the University of St. Thomas’ partnerships with underserved communities. Now, thanks to a gift from Twin Cities philanthropists Gary and Pat Sauer, Minnesota’s largest private university is expanding efforts to support those communities by strengthening pathways to economic mobility and enhancing educational resources for local K-12 students.…
The post From Rondo Classrooms to Entrepreneurs, $12.3M Gift Expands St. Thomas’ Impact appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.
November 13, 2025
Friendships Flourish in Interfaith Spaces
A nearly filled room at the University of St. Thomas buzzed with conversation as three students sat at a long table in the front. They took turns sharing similarities about the importance of religious diversity at a university rooted in Catholic social teaching. Their only difference was their faith. One was Catholic, one Jewish and…
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October 22, 2025
Resident Advisors Help Students Find Community at St. Thomas
On a crisp fall evening outside Grace Residence Hall, dozens of students sprinted across the quad in a game of capture the flag. Over pizza and snow cones, strangers became neighbors. For senior Tabetha Bowes, now in her third year as a resident advisor, this is why she keeps returning to the role. “It’s so…
The post Resident Advisors Help Students Find Community at St. Thomas appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.
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