For Sue Schulzetenberg Gully ’04, the College of Saint Benedict has always felt like home. Growing up just 30 miles away in Melrose, she was surrounded by Bennie role models—from family members to connections with the Benedictine sisters. A fifth visit to campus with her religion class sealed her dream. “I remember walking around the monastery and just feeling like, ‘This is it. I’m going to college here,’” she recalls.
Determined to turn that vision into reality, Sue threw herself into her studies and earned scholarships to attend Saint Ben’s. Her deep sense of belonging only grew once she arrived on campus. As a first-year, she lived in Brian Hall through the Explore Program, an early career discernment initiative. Her roommate from Bangladesh opened the door to a vibrant international community. “Right from the start, I had friends from Japan, Kenya, the Middle East, Trinidad,” she says. “It completely broadened my view of the world.”
Sue entered Saint Ben’s with a clear goal: to double major in English and psychology. “That was the plan from the beginning,” she says. “I’ve always loved writing, and I’ve always been fascinated by people.” Guided by both her academic interests and meaningful relationships, Sue found encouragement from faculty and the Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict. Her Benedictine Friend, Sister Lisa Rose, remains a trusted mentor and friend to this day. Professors like Sister Eva and Sister Mara nurtured Sue’s confidence and helped her see a future in writing. “They truly believed in me,” she says. “That made all the difference.”
Sue made the most of her time at Saint Ben’s, immersing herself in campus life. She joined the AKS Service Sorority, served as editor of Studio One, and spent four years on the staff of The Record, eventually becoming Arts and Entertainment Editor. “That’s what got me my first job at the Wadena Pioneer Journal,” she says. “I had published clips, knew layout and editing, and had real newsroom experience—thanks to our advisor who came from the field.”
Following graduation, Sue spent nearly a decade in journalism and communications at The Central Minnesota Catholic before transitioning to freelance work—a move that allowed her to better balance her growing family. Today, Sue and her husband, Mike Gully, SJU ’00, are raising five children, ages 2 to 12.
Now, in her role in Institutional Advancement at Saint Ben’s, Sue helps raise funds for scholarships that support the next generation of Bennies. The values that shaped her as a student remain central to her work. “I think about Benedictine hospitality every day—how to make people feel welcome, heard, and at ease,” she says. Her college service trips to Washington, D.C., and Detroit also left a lasting impact. “We were taught, ‘No money, no mission.’ That stuck with me. In fundraising, I get to support a mission I truly believe in.”
For Sue, Saint Ben’s is more than a college—it’s a place she’s returned to time and again. “Even when I graduated, I didn’t want to leave,” she reflects. “It has always felt like a place where I belonged. And now, I get to help others find their home here, too.”