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Meet Saint Ben's Alumnae
The College of Saint Benedict's Alumnae are the most interesting women in the world! Regardless of profession, our Alumnae are commited to their families, careers and communities. Enjoy learning more about these amazing women.
Meet the 2009-2010 Alumnae Board Members
Education
Diana Lam '69
“Your life should not be determined by your zip code,” Diana Lam ’69 once told the Christian Science Monitor. READ FULL PROFILE.
Entertainment
Pam Woods '74
I taught for almost 30 years and was a weekend entertainer. I thought I would never make a living as an entertainer, so teaching provided income while I did what my heart desired on stage. I’m still a teacher, but I’m also a professional performer. I use all the skills of a teacher to pull and draw out audiences. READ FULL PROFILE.
Entrepreneurship
Deirdre Chione McCarrell Otis ‘00
Stay at Home Mom and owner of Deirdre’s Boutique where she sells used children’s clothing on Ebay.
Deirdre is the mother of 7 children – 3 are adopted and 4 are biological. James (8), Sailorann (6), John-Luke (6), Michael (5), Nathaniel (4), Mark (2) and Daisy (1). She is a stay-at-home mom AND runs Deirdre’s Boutique –selling used children’s clothing online. READ FULL PROFILE
Kristin Kopp '93
Feeling out of touch? Frustrated? Confused by others? Lace up and walk a little while in their shoes. READ FULL PROFILE.
Fundraising
Sarah Mechtenberg ’99- Winter 2009 magazine
Communication Liaison between the UAC-CP and the Carmen Pampa Fund
In my current role, I vow to… share the story of the Unidad Academica Campesina de Carmen Pampa (UAC-CP), a College in rural Bolivia dedicated to educating young people in the rural areas. READ FULL PROFILE 
Diane Paulson Swanson '88
In my current role, I vow to work to advance to outreach of CHA to serve children-at-risk within our community. READ FULL PROFILE
Government
Kelly Scanlan ‘94 - Outreach Director (environment and transportation issues)
Senator Amy Klobuchar – State office
Kelly Scanlan is the Outreach Director on Environment and Transportations issues for Senator Amy Klobuchar’s State Office. READ FULL PROFILE
April Southwick '94
Describe your work... I specialize in advising and defending governmental entities on issues of constitutional law and civil rights. Much of my work involves First Amendment claims, in particular, freedom of speech challenges brought by adult businesses resisting regulations imposed on them by cities. READ FULL PROFILE
Barbara Erlandson '87
Describe your work... I enjoy working with individuals and families from around the world who are seeking temporary and permanent status in the United States. This includes helping people apply for a variety of nonimmigrant and immigrant visas and helping seek relief from deportation. READ FULL PROFILE
Rebecca Altermatt '88
Q: In what profession might you:
• Handle paper money printed during the Civil War?
• Hold the habit of a seminarian known to be a healer – and possibly a nominee for sainthood?
• Curate relics in a religious collection?
• Handle fossils millions of years old?
• Work with papers chewed on by rodents?
• Interview Ross Perot?
A: In Rebecca Altermatt’s profession: archivist. READ FULL PROFILE
Insurance
Gregor Nelson ’04 - Underwriter, San Francisco
Please describe your work: I am in the business of selecting and pricing risk. Everybody does this on a daily basis without recognizing it as “underwriting.” READ FULL PROFILE
Marlys Hauser Schmitt ‘85 - Corporate Insurance Manager/Consultant
Expense Reduction Analysts – based in California
Marlys recently began working for Expense Reduction Analysts, working from her home in Hastings. She is a parent/step-parent to 4 boys and 2 girls and is currently a volunteer on the Alumnae Council for the College of Saint Benedict. READ FULL PROFILE
Law
Elizabeth Hayden ’68 – District Court Judge
Please describe your current work. In my current role I vow to maintain the integrity of the office of District Court Judge and to give each case my thoughtful consideration after listening respectfully and attentively to those appearing before me. READ FULL PROFILE
Joan Knothe Stein '72 - Prosecutor
Describe your work... I specialize in economic crimes and am assigned to the Fraud Task Force—which is made up of Secret Service agents, police officers, postal inspectors and DA staff. Mostly I see embezzlements, counterfeit currency and identity theft cases. READ FULL PROFILE
Media
Erika Edberg Manternach ’98 - TV News Anchor
Please describe your work: My job as a television news anchor is to think about what our viewers want to know as they get out of bed and get ready for work or get the kids on their way to school. First order of business: What happened since they went to bed? Secondly: What’s going to happen in the day ahead. READ FULL PROFILE
Medical
Anne Malloy Wolff ‘97 - Rheumatologist
Please describe your work: As a rheumatologist, I am a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of adult rheumatic disease such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren’s, vasculitis, psoriatic arthritis and gout. Many diseases I treat stem from problems with the immune system and affect the muscles, bones, skin, and other organ systems. READ FULL PROFILE
Suzette Sutherland '84
One of the main reasons Suzette Sutherland decided to specialize in female urology and pelvic health was her true passion for empowering women through education about their bodies and health. Suzette stresses to women that they need to realize the impact their own personal health has on the well-being of their families and broader communities. “As women, we are natural nurturers and caretakers; we are hard-wired to take care of others. But we can’t play those important roles in our families and communities unless we maintain our own personal health. READ FULL PROFILE.
Psychology
Mary E. Olk '82
Sole Proprietor, Mary Olk & Associates. I work as a Personal and Professional Development Coach
What have you been doing since you left Saint Ben’s? I went to graduate school in upstate New York right out of college. I received my Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology and became a psychologist. I moved back to Minnesota when I married a Johnny (Michael Miller, ’82). READ FULL PROFILE
Public Policy
Kimberly Switlick Prose ’99 - Public Health Specialist
What drives you? / Why are you passionate about this field? I am driven by seeing inequities. In fact, as I write this, I am sitting in Delhi, where this morning in the paper there was a story about a woman who had gone to a hospital because she was in labor. The hospital denied her access to the hospital because she didn’t have a slip from a doctor and the money to pay for the delivery. READ FULL PROFILE
Science
Karin A. Remington, ’85 - Director, Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology,
National Institute of General Medical Sciences, NIH
One sentence summary of what you do: our Center provides grant funding to academic researchers for projects that bring computer science and mathematical tools to biological research. READ FULL PROFILE
Laura Torborg Kakach 1983 - Senior Scientist
One sentence summary of what you do: At Kingfisher Biotech, Inc. I clone genes and express the proteins they encode to be used to develop research tools for the veterinary research market. We are part of a USDA grant - one of the first of its kind - to make reagents for veterinary research. READ FULL PROFILE
Dr. Lisa M. Lust ‘90 - Senior Research Scientist
Honeywell International
Dr. Lisa Lust is a Senior Research Scientist at Honeywell International. Her expertise is in the areas of electromagnetic analysis, RF design, and integration. READ FULL PROFILE
Stephanie Eckerman '98 - Forensic Scientist
Describe Your Work... It is my responsibility to compare bullets and cartridge cases test fired from firearms to the bullets and cartridge cases found at a crime scene or removed from a victim’s body. We use a sophisticated comparison microscope that allows us to look at two items of evidence simultaneously.
READ FULL PROFILE
Joyce Statz '69
In the 1960s, Joyce Statz ’69 was given clear direction on her future: the only thing girls can do with a math degree is teach. “I won’t,” Joyce thought. “I’ll do something different.” READ FULL PROFILE.
Mindi Kvaal Anderson '01
What is your current job title and role?
I am a project engineer for a wind company called enXco. Our small office of seven is based out of northeast Minneapolis. As the lone engineer on our staff, I get my hands on everything engineering related that we encounter. READ FULL PROFILE.
Nikki Bauerly '00
Nikki Bauerly ’00 has seen more than her share of frostbitten feet. After four years in medical school at Des Moines University and three years in surgical training, Nikki is just finishing her chief residency at Hennepin County Medical Center. READ FULL PROFILE.
Sports
Glen Werner Roseboom '93
It’s not all fun and games for Glen Werner Roseboom ’93, director of the United States Olympic Center in Colorado Springs.There’s middle-of-the-night phone calls from international Olympic hopefuls wanting time in the aquatic center. READ FULL PROFILE.
Institutional Advancement
College of Saint Benedict
St. Joseph, MN 56374
(320) 363-5682
(800) 648-3468