Paige Dobberstein ’20 looks at her time at the College of Saint Benedict like a launching pad … one that provided her the propulsion needed to reach the professional heights to which she has already ascended.
“That campus is such a special environment,” said Dobberstein, a 2020 graduate who went on to law school at the University of St. Thomas and is now completing a one-year clerkship with the Minnesota Court of Appeals before beginning as an incoming associate at Minneapolis law firm Faegre, Drinker, Biddle and Reath.
“The faculty and alumni all want to see you grow and succeed. They want you to see all that’s possible for you. That’s a mission that gets instilled in you as a student and you take it with you into the real world after you graduate. You want to succeed, then help the next generation grow and succeed the way you were able to.”
Women’s History Month offers a time to reflect on the contributions and impact trailblazers of the past have made in all aspects of American life – from government, society and science to arts, entertainment and culture.
But it also provides a chance to recognize and highlight the next generation of change-makers … those like Dobberstein, who was a global business leadership major at CSB when she took a course in business law from Julie Fisk, an attorney for 15 years before becoming a professor.
“I always had the desire to go to law school, but that class showed me how my global business degree might intersect with where I wanted to end up in my career,” said Dobberstein, who said the bond she formed with Fisk has extended well past graduation.
“She’s been so important as a mentor with all the advice and assistance she’s given me over the years. I’m a first-generation law student and the first in my family to become an attorney. She’s a former attorney herself and she’s been there with support and guidance as I’ve navigated every step in my legal journey.”
It’s a journey Dobberstein said has been much easier because of the broad educational background she received at CSB.
“It really set me up for success,” she said. “I wouldn’t be where I am now without it. Thanks to the liberal arts background, I developed so many skills I apply every day in my current job. Things like critical thinking, writing and communication. Saint Ben’s and Saint John’s do such a good job of exposing students to diverse ideas and perspectives. I was able to study abroad in London, for example, and complete an international internship.
“That’s something a lot of my other classmates in law school hadn’t experienced. The opportunities and education I got at CSB really gave me a leg up.”
Nomin Angarag ’18
Another leg up for CSB and SJU graduates is the vast Bennie/Johnnie network. It’s a bountiful and broad source of contacts, mentorship and professional opportunities.
“There’s been a Bennie or Johnnie connection to every job I’ve gotten,” said Nomin Angarag, a 2018 graduate who is now a vice president for U.S. Bank based in New York.
“Everyone at these schools is so committed to seeing you succeed, and that extends to the alumni with whom you come in contact in the world outside. I’ve seen the way Bennies and Johnnies go out of their way to help you.”
For Angarag, one of those valuable contacts was Terry Dolan, the vice chair and chief administration officer for U.S. Bank who died in a plane crash just under a year ago. The two first met when she was a student trustee and he was serving on the school’s board of trustees.
“He became such a significant mentor and changed my life,” she recalled.
It was Dolan who advised her when she took her first job out of college as the mission revenue director for the nonprofit Friends of Global Market in Minneapolis, and when she was seeking a career change in 2021, it was Dolan who was instrumental in bringing her to U.S. Bank.
“He was the one who opened the door for me at the bank and shaped my life,” said Angarag, a graduate of North Hollywood (California) High School who was born in Mongolia before her mom immigrated to the U.S.
“His mentorship had a profound impact on the trajectory of my life.”
Valerie Doze ’21
Mentorship was also a big part of the CSB experience for 2021 graduate Valerie Doze, who credits the professors she had as an undergraduate with helping refine her long-held passion of combining science and policy.
“I was so fortunate to have many professors who had a positive impact on my experience at CSB and SJU, and who helped inspire me to pursue my future career,” said Doze, a 2020 Truman Scholar who is now pursuing a master’s degree in public affairs at Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA). “Dr. Christi Siver was my Introduction to International Relations professor during my second semester, and she encouraged me to combine my interest in science with policy. She truly opened my eyes to the field of science policy, as well as environmental and climate policy, which I continue to pursue today.
“Dr. Corrie Grosse was also instrumental in introducing me to climate justice, which continues to be a central driver of the work I aim to do. The German department professors, especially Dr. Kurt Hollender and Dr. Brooke Kreitinger, have been amazing mentors who helped me as I pursued a Fulbright in Germany, as well as continued to tie German language and culture into my career. Dr. Jen Schaefer, my biochemistry thesis advisor, also inspired me to pursue research and continued to help me in my academic career.
“All of these professors have continued to be some of my closest mentors, giving advice long after I graduated.”
Doze said the liberal arts background she got during her time at CSB paved the way for her future endeavors.
“Having a liberal arts education is an incredible way to expand your worldview,” she said. “In addition to the strong academic and liberal arts education that CSB offers, their study abroad programs and experiences outside the classroom are just as important. There are incredible faculty, students and resources at CSB and connecting with the community is a wonderful way to make the most of your time on and off campus.”
Erynn Schroeder ’15
That’s a sentiment shared by plenty of other recent graduates, including Erynn Schroeder, who was torn on a major when choosing a college.
“I enjoyed both physics and psychology,” said the 2015 CSB graduate, who is now a transportation engineering professional with Ayres Associates in Madison, Wisconsin. “Through the MapCores program, I got to choose both a school (CSB) and a major (physics) while still pursuing a liberal arts degree and taking several psych classes. I’m now a civil engineer working mostly on roadway and sidewalk design. I’ve found that this field provides a great combination of physics, math and psychology.
“Everything we design will be used by humans, so taking into account their preferences and abilities is very important.”
That balance between specialization and a broader focus on the humanities is one Schroeder said was easy to strike at CSB.
“My study of physics, math and psychology prepared me well for the civil engineering master’s program I attended at (the University of Wisconsin), and for being an engineer (where I often use) soft skills,” Schroeder said, such as writing, public speaking and breaking down complex topics for public consumption.
“In my time at Saint Ben’s, I was also able to study abroad in Greece and Rome,” they continued. “Being there showed me a different organization of transportation structure and helped me recognize the need for coordinated systems that work for pedestrians – people in cars, trains, on bikes, etc.”
Marina Cruz ’20
Marina Cruz is another recent graduate who said the opportunities and education she received at CSB opened the door to new outlooks and different ways of thinking.
“The liberal arts education piece forced me to take classes I wouldn’t have necessarily taken and that allowed me the chance to explore different areas,” said Cruz, a 2020 graduate who majored in global business leadership and Hispanic studies before going on to law school and is now an associate attorney with Felhaber Larson in Minneapolis.
“It forced me out of my comfort zone and allowed me to be open to different pathways than what I had my mind set on originally.”
Cruz, a Brainerd High School graduate, was originally looking to go someplace bigger, but applied to CSB to make her grandfather happy.
“He was a Johnnie and always wanted one of his grandkids to consider CSB or SJU,” she recalled. “I originally wanted to get a lot further away from home, but I applied here to make him happy. I had originally sent in a deposit to attend the University of Puget Sound in Washington. But one of the admissions reps at CSB and SJU, Sarah Simpson, was from my hometown. I talked to her a couple of times and she told me there was a professor she’d like me to come to campus and meet.”
That professor turned out to be Steve Schwarz of the global business leadership department. He told Cruz about the Entrepreneur Scholars program, which provides students from any major the opportunity to develop and implement a business venture of their own. He also took her to Clemens Perk, the on-campus coffee shop she’d end up managing during her time on campus.
“There were so many opportunities to do different things at CSB,” she said. “Chances to gain leadership and project management skills in a safe environment, as well as chances to connect with so many people – from other students to faculty to alums.”
Adri Warden ’22
For Adri Warden, CSB was also the place she learned to find her voice.
The 2022 graduate was an indigenous research assistant under sociology professor Ted Gordon. She played a big part in developing the Land Acknowledgement Statement that has been adopted by the CSB and SJU campus communities and also served as the manager of student activities at CSB for three years.
Those experiences serve her well in her current role as administrative services manager for the Indian Health Board of Minneapolis.
“Being able to learn how to effectively communicate not only with my fellow students, but with those more senior than I am, was so valuable,” said Warden, a nutrition major.
So were the mentors Warden found on campus.
“I went through so many life changes in college,” she said. “I lost my mother (Debra, who passed away after a battle with esophageal cancer at age 56) within days of the start of my freshman year. “Trish Doran was my boss in student activities and provided me with a shoulder to cry on. Sister Sharon Nohner would always make time to check in on me. She came to my mother’s funeral when I was just starting at CSB, and she was waiting on the steps outside after I graduated to support and acknowledge me.
“Then there was Ted Gordon, who was our advisor with the Indigenous Student Association and our biggest supporter and rock star. He went out of his way to support Native students. He saw how powerful and instrumental we could be on our own and let us take the wheel. He trusted us and allowed us to develop skills we still use today.”