Notable Alumnae & Awards

Clogs and tator tot hotdish. These two things stand out for Amelia Busse Cheever '87, when she recalls her arrival at Saint Ben's from Pittsburg, Pennsylvania in the 1980s. All shock value aside, Amelia says the 80s were a great time to be a punk rock-loving theater major in Central Minnesota. "With no cell phones and only two television channels, the arts were blossoming on campus," she says. "Music, theater and art were what we did. The punk rock counter culture atmosphere was exploding." The current wave of culture and the liberal arts education at Saint Ben's were the perfect combination to prepare her for a career in theater. After graduation, Amelia assisted with costume production at various theaters and eventually landed at the Guthrie Theater - the largest stage in Minnesota - where she worked alongside renowned designers, actors and directors. In spring 2012, Amelia returned home to Saint Ben's to share her experiences in the classroom. She currently teaches a theater audience class and will teach a class in spring 2013 on the connection between music and fashion. Amelia says the hands-on experiences at Saint Ben's sparked her passion for a lifetime in the performing arts. "The engaging professors and exciting performances challenged me to want to learn more." From the front of the classroom, she wants to show students of all disciplines that a background in theater can provide a variety of life skills. "Theater majors make the best lawyers."

Anne Oberman '82 returned home to Saint Ben's in 2005 as the controller in the Business Office, where she oversees daily operations in the areas of accounting and finance for the college. In 2011, Anne was nominated and selected to join the inaugural class of the Council of Independent Colleges' Leadership Academy. The year-long program was designed to elevate individuals to leadership positions in higher education. Throughout the program, Anne participated in conferences, analyzed case studies and compiled monthly reports. She worked closely with her mentors from on and off campus, including CSB President MaryAnn Baenninger, to learn the ins and outs of various leadership positions in higher education. Anne was invited to present at the closing conference where she discussed college finances and budgeting. As for returning to Saint Ben's, Anne says it's like being with family. "The opportunity to "come home" to CSB to further my career allowed me to see the college from a completely different perspective than as a student."

Political science and peace studies graduate Kristina (Tina) Seslija '10 returned home to Bosnia and Herzegovina, where she strives to empower women through local farm projects. As the director of EkoMozaik Ltd., Kristina oversees the greenhouse and farming project that provides jobs for women in the underdeveloped and highly unemployed community of Sekovici. Here, women do not share equal rights with men, and for many of the women, this is their first paying job. The women grow lavender which attracts bees to produce honey. This spring, the farm will produce honey, vegetables, and flowers, and it will add fruits for the first time. EkoMozaik had its first CSB/SJU student intern in summer 2011. Kristina hopes that more students and members of the CSB/SJU community will visit to see how U.S. aid dollars are being used abroad. "Saint Ben's focus on sustainability and community has influenced me and this project. It is rewarding to see the positive impact on the women involved and the entire community."