Meet our new 2026 -27 full -time faculty!
Jorge Barrera -Rojas . Law
J.S.D., University of Notre Dame Law School LL.M, specializing in Public Interest Law and Policy, University of California- Los Angeles, School of Law LL.B., Universidad de Chile, School of Law Coming to UST from: I am coming to St. Thomas from Yale Law School, where I was an Olin-Searle Fellow and Associate Research Scholar. Before Yale, I was a Visiting Assistant Professor at Notre Dame Law School. Interests: My scholarship focuses on constitutional law, comparative constitutional law, education law, federalism, and international human rights law. I am particularly interested in how constitutional structures and institutions shape educational rights and policy, as well as in comparative approaches to constitutional design.
What are you passionate about?
“Above all, my family—my wife and our three children. I am also passionate about teaching and mentoring students and understanding how legal institutions develop across different countries and traditions.”
Travis Beckerle . Mechanical Engineering
Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities B.S. in Physics, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Coming to UST from: University of Minnesota, Mechanical Engineering PhD Program
Interests: Teaching Mechanical Engineering
What are you passionate about?
“Teaching”
Katie Berry . Marketing
M.P.P. Concentration in Organizational Strategic Communications, University of Minnesota B.A. in Communication Studies and Financial Management, University of St. Thomas Coming to UST from: Coming from industry as a marketer, have been a UST adjunct and now a clinical faculty Interests: Digital marketing, AI and business ethics, AI and business governance, AI and marketing
What are you passionate about?
“Family, hiking, reading, being outdoors.”
Will Carlson . Social Work
Ph.D. in Social Work, University of Minnesota M.S.W. in Social Work, University of Minnesota B.S. Psychology, University of Minnesota
Coming to UST from: PhD Program at the University of Minnesota School of Social Work Interests: Implementation of evidence-based treatments for psychological trauma; Refugee and Asylee Newcomers; Resilience
What are you passionate about? “Cooking, camping, triathlons, reading, travel”
Rick Fair . Law
J.D. Texas A&M University School of Law
M.A. Cert. in Homeland Security and Privacy Law, Texas A&M University
M.A. in Texas Legal History and Jurisprudence, Baylor University
B.A in History and Political Science, Baylor University
Coming to UST from: Indiana University - Bloomington; Lecturer in Business Law and Ethics Interests: My scholarship explores how Constitutional Law, Administrative Law, and Financial Regulation adapt to technological and institutional disruption, with a particular emphasis on decentralized finance, digital assets, AI infrastructure, federalism, and legal history. What are you passionate about? “Understanding how we can create and apply law to better allocate authority, responsibility, and protection for vulnerable groups, particularly when institutions fail to keep pace with disruptive technological change.”
Emily Ferrise . Management
M.A. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology & Human Resources Management, Appalachian State University M.S. in Leadership & Organizational Change, Pfeiffer University B.S. in Psychology, Wingate University Coming to UST from: Clemson University and a prior career in humanitarian aid
Interests: Organizational Behavior and Human Resources
What are you passionate about? “Reading, spending time with family, and exploring Minnesota.”
Mindi Gowen . Graduate School of Professional Psychology
Ph.D in Counseling Psychology, University of Missouri – Kansas City
M.S. in Clinical Psychology, Missouri State University
B.S. in Psychology and English, Texas Christian University
Coming to UST from: I am coming from NorthWestArkansas Community College, where I was a psychology faculty member. I have previously working in the VA and taught psychology graduate student and psychiatry residents. Interests: Qualitative research, community-based action research, refugees and immigrants, particularly refugee and immigrant women
What are you passionate about?
“Professional: advocating for graduate student well-being, interdisciplinary collaboration and research. Personal: Travel, reading, coffee, friendships, getting outside, my golden retriever Maple.”
David Harrison . Physics
Ph.D. in Physics, University of Minnesota – Twin Cities B.A. in Physics, St. John’s University Coming to UST from: Industry (Qolab, a quantum computing startup)
Interests: Quantum Computing & Sensing
What are you passionate about?
“Teaching and learning physics; disc golf.”
Bojan Hoover . Music, Film, Creative Enterprise
Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Learning, Concentration in Music Education, University of St. Thomas M.A. in Scoring for Film and Visual Media, Dublin Institute of Technology B.F.A. in Music Education and Music Performance, University of Minnesota – Twin Cities Coming to UST from: Recently graduated in the spring of 2026 with a doctorate in education from the University of St. Thomas.
Interests: Music, music education, marching band
What are you passionate about?
“Composing music and traveling with my family.”
Amir Hussain .
Center for Microgrid Research Ph.D. in Power Engineering, University of Houston M.Tech. in Power and Control, Indian Institute of Technology B.Tech. in Electrical Engineering, MNNIT
Coming to UST from: Research Professor
Interests: Microgrid Research
What are you passionate about?
“Microgrid Research”
David Hwang . Finance
Ph.D. in Finance, Louisiana State University M.S. in Economics, University of Nebraska B.S. in Economics, University of Seoul
Coming to UST from: Teaching finance at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Interests: My scholarly interests include financial intermediaries, corporate governance, securities litigation, political corruption, and credit risk.
What are you passionate about?
“I’m passionate about spending time outdoors with my family—we love road trips and camping—and I’ve always been working on a personal writing project exploring themes of calling and purpose.”
Patrick Jamar . Emerging Media
Ph.D. in Advertising, University of Texas- Austin M.A. in Advertising, Michigan State University B.B.A. in Marketing, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Prior to UST: I graduated with my Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin and was a Postdoctoral Research Associate and Lecturing Professor in the Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communications at Texas A&M University, teaching and conducting research in new media, advertising, and public relations courses. Interests: My research interests examine how new media and technology intersect with environmental (sustainability) and risk communication, using quantitative (experimental design and surveys) and qualitative (interviews and focus groups) research methods. I also have and enjoy working with nonprofit organizations to address environmental concerns.
What are you passionate about?
“In my free time, I enjoy hiking, camping, painting, and thrift shopping. “
Jiwon Kang . Nursing
Ph. D. in Nursing, Korea University College of Nursing M.S. in Nursing, Korea University College of Nursing B.S. in Nursing, Korea University College of Nursing
Coming to UST from: I am coming from the University of Minnesota Extension, where I worked as a Postdoctoral Research Associate on the Applied Research and Evaluation (ARE) Team. My work focused on program evaluation, community-based research. Interests: Nursing informatics, program evaluation, and nursing education.
What are you passionate about? “Nursing education and home decorating.”
Hwayoung Kim . Management
Ph.D. in International Management Studies, University of Texas at Dallas M.S. in Business Administration, Hanyang University B.A. in Chinese Studies, Hanyang University
Prior to UST: Ph.D Program in Naveen Jindal School of Management at the University of Texas at Dallas Interests: My scholarly interests focus on temporal dynamics, expatriate experiences, and cognitive bias. I am specifically interested in how people, organizations, and relationships change over time, and how individuals’ own biases shape the way they interpret those changes.
What are you passionate about?
“Cooking and watching sports games.”
Yeeun Kim . Psychology
Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology, Arizona State University M.A. in Psychology, Sogang University B.A. in Education and English Language Education, Korea University Coming to UST from: I am coming to St. Thomas from the Counseling Psychology Ph.D. program at Arizona State University. During my final year of doctoral training, I completed a year-long predoctoral internship at Colorado State University Health Network, where I worked as a psychology intern providing counseling services and supporting the mental health and well-being of university students. Interests: My research focuses on how discrimination, particularly microaggressions, influences mental health and on identifying factors that can help mitigate these effects. I am interested in understanding how social systems and culture shape psychological well-being and how we can promote resilience and flourishing.
What are you passionate about?
“I am passionate about discovering great coffee shops and bakeries. Recently, I have been discovering my love of drawing. I also enjoy exploring parks and trails with my toddler.”
Jami Lercher . Music, Film, & Creative Enterprise
D.M.A. in Choral Conducting, University of Miami M.A. in Music, University of Wales – Bangor, UK B.A. in Music Education, Iowa State University
Prior to UST: Associate Professor of Choral Music Education at the Baldwin Wallace Conservatory in Cleveland, Ohio Interests: Women in Music, Creativity in the Choral Classroom, Appalachian Music, Curricular Alignment What are you passionate about? “Being a part of a singing community, cheering for my daughter and her teammates in synchronized skating, and traveling and learning about the world.”
Paul Mackie . Social Work
Ph.D. in Social Work, University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work M.S.W. in Social Work, George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Washington University B.S. in Psychology and Economics, Northern Michigan University Coming to UST from: Former faculty and administrator at Minnesota State University, Mankato
Interests: Rural behavior health, social work ethics, community
What are you passionate about?
“Rural behavioral health.”
Rachael McGraw . Nursing
Doctor of Nursing Practice, St. Catherine University M.S. in Nursing Education, St. Catherine University B.S. in Nursing, St. Catherine University B.S. in Midwifery, Birthingway College of Midwifery
Prior to UST: Coordinator of the MN Maternal Mortality Review Committee at MN Department of Health and teaching in the Master’s Entry Level pre-licensure nursing program at St. Catherine’s University. Interests: My scholarly work addresses ethical and care-giving issues using simulation. I hope to expand my scholarly portfolio in alignment with my work with the maternal child health population. What are you passionate about? “High-quality nursing, teaching, trauma informed care, anti-racist pedagogy, backyard chickens, big water, photography, and my family .
Juan Ramos . Law – Clinical Education J.D., Stanford Law School M.P.P., University of Michigan B.A. in Economics, Harvard University
Prior to UST: Attorney in Private Practice & Adjunct Professor of Law at Southwestern Law School
Interests: General Business Law & Business Transactions
What are you passionate about? “Sunrises and birds singing at the crack of dawn.”
Debra Shapiro . Law
J.D., The University of Iowa College of Law B.A. in Psychology, University of Iowa
Coming to UST from: Law School
Interests: Professional Responsibility and Student Success
What are you passionate about?
“Student success.”
Clayton Schultz . Finance
M.B.A. in Financial Management and Strategy, University of Minnesota B.A. in International Business and German Language, University of St. Thomas Prior to UST: I am joining UST after 25 years in the management consulting and corporate finance world. Interests: I am interested in behavioral finance and the alignment of capital with mission and purpose. What are you passionate about? “I am interested in inner work/personal development, the arts, and spirituality.
Joseph Singleton . Law – Clinical Education
J.D., Wake Forest University School of Law M.A. in Humanities, Musicology and Film Theory, University of Chicago B.A. in Music Education and Instrumental Education, Northern Kentucky University Coming to UST from: Health Law & Policy Fellow, Wake Forest University School of Law Interests: Medical-Legal Partnership Clinics, Health Law, Public Health Law, Medical Malpractice Law, Life Sciences What are you passionate about? “Cinema and film. (My wife and I own over 3500 physical movies!)”
Riley Sohail . Psychology
Ph.D. in Social Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles M.A. in Social Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles B.A. in Psychology, Sociology, and Gender Health, University of Michigan
Coming to UST from: Research Associate at Loyola Marymount University
Interests: Identities, Discrimination, and Solidarity
What are you passionate about? “Teaching, enjoying nature, and reading a good book.”
Kaushik Tekur Venkata . English
Ph.D. in English, Binghamton University M.A. in English, University of Hyderabad B.A. in English Language and Literature, Madras Christian College Prior to UST: Visiting Assistant Professor at Colby College Interests: 18 th and 19 th century anglophone writing, literary forms, and policing
Xinxin Zhang . Finance
Ph.D. in Finance, University of South Carolina M.S. in Finance, Case Western Reserve University B.S. in Finance, Sichuan University
Prior to UST: Assistant Professor of Finance
Interests: Private Equity, Fixed Income
What are you passionate about? “Traveling.”
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