Congratulations to Metro State University's Spring Emeriti honorees. The following individuals have demonstrated continued dedication to Metro State and a willingness to go above and beyond. They leave powerful legacies of service and selflessness, and we ask you to join us in thanking them for their contributions to the university and in wishing them each a joyful, fulfilling retirement.
Rebecca Atchison—Staff Emerita
Jodi Bantley—Staff Emerita
Jodi Bantley joined the Institute for Community Engagement and Scholarship at Metro State University in 2010 and currently serves as associate director for Civic and Community Partnerships. She has assisted students and faculty to integrate community-based experiences into teaching, learning, and research; facilitated partnerships that simultaneously advance community priorities and Metro State’s anchor mission and commitment to equity and inclusion such as the GROW-IT Center, East Side Employment xChange, and a Cybersecurity Stacked Certificate training program customized for Asian-heritage residents; promoted civic education and democratic action, including voter participation; and convened or supported numerous public university forums on current issues. Bantley is dedicated to reclaiming higher education’s public purpose—that is, to create a more equitable society—and is inspired in doing so by the stories, brilliance and tenacity of Metro State students/alumni, colleagues, and community leaders. For nearly 30 years prior, Bantley worked in local community change organizations, including Voices For Racial Justice, Casa de Esperanza, Hamline Midway Coalition, and the Higher Education Consortium for Urban Affairs, empowering individuals and diverse communities to address pressing issues in the Twin Cities region.
Barbara Beltrand—Professor Emerita
Barbara A. Beltrand, MLS, MBA, CPA began her work journey doing “book work” in her father’s business. Not being a numbers person, she graduated from Macalester College with a double major in English and Anthropology, and quite naturally moved into a master’s program in library science. With a dearth of librarian employment opportunities, she worked at a socialist-feminist publishing house and quite unnaturally (remember, not a numbers person) moved into a master’s program in accounting. Many years working in audit firms as a licensed CPA in Massachusetts and Minnesota and always a teacher (adjunct at Northeastern in Boston, Massachusetts and a community faculty member at Metro State) led her to working as a full-time academic. She is deeply indebted to her first accounting teacher who kindly mentored her into the accounting profession and asked her to teach “Accounting 101” before she sat for the CPA Exam. She is savoring teaching her last course with a great group of hardworking students.
Beltrand has been active in the Inter Faculty Organization (IFO) Faculty Association (FA) as a college convener, treasurer, secretary, grievance officer, and was appointed to and served as chair of the university’s academic affairs and academic appeals committees, as well as serving on many other committees with cherished colleagues. She is currently the statewide IFO treasurer and formerly served on the Negotiating team. She has served on the Peer Review Committee at the MN Society of CPAs since 2002 and has a small audit/accounting practice, both of which will continue into retirement.
Finally, she wishes to deeply acknowledge her beloved colleagues in Metro State’s administration, the IFO staff, and faculty colleagues from across the entire university who are friends for life.
Thomas Boylan—Staff Emeritus
Thomas Boylan grew up in Madison, Wisconsin, and attended the University of Wisconsin Madison for 2.5 unsuccessful semesters before taking a break in his education. He finally earned his bachelor’s degree in social work and sociology in 1997 from the University of Wisconsin La Crosse, and in 2003 completed his masters in clinical social work from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee.
Boylan's life in Minnesota began when he was hired by the Saint Paul Veterans Center in 2004 as a Readjustment counselor, providing therapy to combat veterans. He joined the TRIO Student Support Services program in March 2010 to recruit veterans into the TRIO program and worked closely with the coordinator of veteran services in order to align them with resources and helped start the first student veteran’s organization on campus. Boylan was instrumental in the planning and opening of the Veteran’s Center, Vet Center Grand Opening, Vet Center Appreciation Event, and provided back up support for Vet Center in the coordinator's extended absence.
During Boylan's tenure, he has walked with Metro State in the Cinco de Mayo, Rondo Day, and Gay Pride parades on several occasions, and volunteered for 20 commencements. He was a member of the 2011–2012 Luoma Leadership Academy, a charter member of the Diversity Learning Task Force, and co-chaired the Global Food, Fashion, and Awards Celebration held at the Midtown Global Market. Boylan was also a member of the planning committee for the Baobab Conference 2011: Becoming Authentic in Education and Community. His involvement in university, student services, and the Minnesota State Association of Administrative and Service Faculty union was truly outstanding, encompassing committee work, training development and delivery, equity and inclusion work, and leadership positions both at Metro State and beyond.
Steven B. Creason—Professor Emeritus
Steve Creason is an attorney who has taught at Metro State University since 1992. He became a full-time faculty member in 2002 and received tenure in 2006. He has served as a program coordinator, department chair, MMIS graduate program chair and on the IFO executive committee. He has conducted research and worked as professional consultant in information technology. He has consulted with companies such as MnDOT, FreddieMac, Allianz, Carlson Wagonlit, and MHealth Fairview. He has extensive experience in technical controls, PCI, data privacy and security, and compliance matters. He also has knowledge in HIPAA, SOX, GLB, FINRA, and SEC data compliance issues.
Prior to becoming a faculty member and independent consultant, Creason was a technical architect at Accenture working in the utilities and telecommunications practice groups.
Pauline Danforth—Advisor Emerita
Pauline Danforth, PhD in American studies from the University of Minnesota, has worked at Metro State University for 24 years in these positions: director of American Indian Student Services (1998-2002), TRIO Student Support Services director (2002-2006), and academic advisor in the College of Arts and Sciences which became the College of Sciences (2006-2023).
In Spring 2020, Danforth received the Carol C. Ryan Excellence in Advising Award.
She is a community faculty in the College of Liberal Arts Ethnic Studies Department and has taught various American Indian-focused courses since 2007.
Enrolled on the White Earth Reservation, she has been active on the American Indian Advisory Committee to the President and she represents Metro State on the Twin Cities American Indian Graduation Event, serving as chairperson since 1998, an annual event that honors American Indian college graduates.
Cynthia DeVore—Staff Emerita
Cynthia DeVore, MA (she/her/hers), began her professional connection with Metro State University when in 2005 she was hired as sole employee in and director of institutional effectiveness, research, and planning at Inver Hills Community College. Upon hearing of a vacancy at Metro State, DeVore applied for and was hired as a research analyst in 2008. DeVore advanced to the role of director of institutional research in 2011. Later in her career she served as assistant director of institutional research following organizational restructurings.
DeVore approached her work by three guiding principles: there are artifacts of every decision made and every process completed, data and processes are inherently connected, and every time a process is touched, that process should be made more efficient, known, and understood. These principles enabled the successful delivery of some of the university’s most challenging reporting and data analysis tasks such as the Instructional cost study, the distribution and auditing of the three federal COVID-era financial support grant programs for post-secondary students (CARES, CRRSSA, and ARP), and providing data for the intensive continuous improvement pathway for regional accreditation.
Each assignment provided DeVore the opportunity to add to her knowledge of the data structures used by MinnState, to the extent that she leaves with a depth of knowledge that is almost unmatched in the system and is routinely relied upon by people across the university. As much as DeVore was fiercely devoted to using data to find the truths held within, she was as dedicated to lessening others’ frustration over their ability to find their own answers within the data.
While some might say that she makes everything look easy, DeVore attributes this to her being able to apply her greatest gifts and talents every day she has worked at Metro State University.
Kamal Elbasher—Director Emeritus
Kamal Elbasher has more than 23 years of professional experience in US higher education, with extensive experience in student services with emphasis on managing international programs including students’ recruitment, retention, and advising students on academic, immigration, cross-cultural, financial, and personal issues.
Elbasher is a first-generation immigrant from Sudan. He came to Iowa State University in 1989 on scholarship from the World Bank, where he earned his Master’s and PhD in 1991 and 1996 respectively. His first job was an international student advisor at the office of International Student and Scholars Services at Iowa Sate University. In 2007, he joined Metro Sate University as ISS director.
Elbasher's first responsibility at Metro State was to establish the ISS office to serve international students enrolled at Metro State. There were about 25 international students enrolled at that time, a number that has grown to more than 300 active international students at Metro State today.
Elbasher provides leadership, vision, and supervision for day-to-day operation of ISS, providing advising services to international students regarding admissions to Metro State, federal regulations, international student orientation, academic advising, crisis management and intervention, cross cultural programming, resources available at Metro State, and much more. He is an active member of the National Association for International Educators (NAFSA), Minnesota International Educators (MIE), and the Study Minnesota Group.
Dotty Farley—Staff Emerita
Dotty Farley is a Senior Community Faculty Member in the College of Management. She was named Staff Emerita in February of 2023 in light of her approaching retirement in June 2023 from her position as University Web Content Director for the IT Operations and Solutions Architecture Office.
In her more than 39 years of commitment to student learning and achievement, Farley has been a staple of Metro State University, starting when “the university without walls officed out of the Metro Square Building in downtown Saint Paul. She has been a part of this journey from the beginning.
Over her decades-long career at the university, Farley has taught several Management Information Systems courses. She has been an integral part of the university’s web team undertaking four website redesigns. Her early career included work in the university’s Registrar’s office and in Marketing and Communication. She has worked under the leadership of 10 of the 13 university presidents.
Farley graduated from the Luoma Leadership Academy in 2009. She has also held various union positions in AFCSCME, MAPE, and MSUAASF, holding a position on the MAPE contract negotiations team in 2008. She also has many years of volunteering at Metro State with Commencement, MN State Fair Booths, community outreach as a Meals on Wheels delivery person and many others over the years. She attended many work-related conferences for continued professional development.
Farley earned a BS from Metro State in 2005 with a major in Management Information Systems, and an MS in Technical Communication in 2008.
Farley’s commitment to supporting students both inside the classroom and on campus has always gone above and beyond, with students frequently stopping by to say “hi” and also ask questions unrelated to their coursework because she knew the answers. Her colleagues have also claimed she was always our “go-to” person due to her many years of experience and knowledge at Metro State and if she didn’t know the answer, she would find out who did.
In her own lifelong learning, Farley plans to continue to be an active participant at Metro State through community engagement.
Russell Fraenkel—Staff Emeritus
Russell Fraenkel began work with the Minnesota State IT Center of Excellence in 2010 and soon thereafter was hired as the director of IT Career Pathways and Partnerships. He's grateful for the support he received from his Metro State and IT Center colleagues to enthusiastically perform his role. He'll always feel blessed to have landed such impactful work. He loved collaborating with community-based organizations, Minnesota businesses, and passionate individuals to guide high school students to pursue IT education and career readiness experiences. He's especially proud of efforts to diversify the talent pool encouraging more students to envision and achieve their dreams to become successful technologists.
He was the first in his large family to acquire a college degree (U of M) igniting a passion to pursue a Master's degree (University of St. Thomas) in community education. He came to appreciate the huge difference an education makes to lift people from poverty to power. He spent 30+ years working in many Minnesota school districts and communities supporting people of all ages to realize their personal potential, while strengthening the community. This career direction was influenced by the support he received in the south Minneapolis neighborhood that raised him, his siblings, and his friends.
He continues to spend time leading workforce development efforts. He treasures the added freedom that retirement affords him to spend precious time with his wife Rebecca, his children Vanessa and Evan, and his beautiful grandchildren Olive and Levi. He loves to golf, walk, practice yoga, cheer on Minnesota sports teams, and do home improvement projects.
Stanley Hatcher—Advisor Emeritus
Stanley J. Hatcher has been a colleague at Metro State University for the past 16 years. He has recently retired from the College of Individualized Studies as an academic advisor. In his previous position at Metro State University, he was the African/African American Student Services coordinator and retention specialist.
Before joining Metro State University in 2007, Stanley worked at Minneapolis Community and Technical College for 16 years, in a diverse range of positions.
As MSUAASF union member representing Metro State he served three terms on the Executive Committee as Member at Large, representing the university on contract negotiations and serving on the Nellie Stone Johnson Scholarship Committee. During his career Hatcher received the Carol C. Ryan Excellence in Advising Award 2014–2015, Diversity Leadership Award 2017, and the Donna Blacker Award Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Advising 2019–2020.
He holds a Masters of Arts degree in Health and Human Services Administration from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota and a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the College of Individualized Studies at Metro State.
Hatcher lives by the motto: If I could assist college students in acquiring the life and learning skills necessary to achieve their own personal, academic, and career success; then those students would be able to pass that knowledge on to the next generation. One of Hatcher’s favorite quotes describes his passion: “We’re all destined to leave some kind of mark. I really believe that. We’re all meant to walk a certain path at a certain time in a certain direction for a certain purpose. I believe that too. But we miss our marks from time to time, and without a certain push to the right direction we might never find that path we were meant to follow.”—Denzel Washington, “A Hand to Guide Me”
Laura Jensen—Staff Emerita
Laura Jensen was raised on the east side of Saint Paul, born at St. John's Hospital at the site that is now New Main. She graduated from the University of Minnesota with a BA in Russian area studies, with unofficial minors in geology and American Indian studies. Her first job after college was working for the Higher Education Assistance Foundation dealing with student loans.
Jensen started in the Financial Aid Office at Metro State in 1991 as the financial aid assistant and advanced over the years to associate director. She is now enjoying traveling, beading, jewelry making, and spending time with family and friends.
Katherine Johnson—Professor Emerita
Katherine Johnson began her career at Metro State first as a community faculty member and now, after teaching statistics for 12.5 years, is retiring as an associate professor of statistics. Johnson has always been focused on continuous improvement and innovation. Her work integrating technological and pedagogical innovations has benefited many graduates.
During her tenure Johnson helped develop the statistics minor and data science major for the university. She has collaborated with her colleagues in making the major successful. Coming to Metro State from private industry, Johnson understood the importance of ensuring that students are prepared for future employment. Her work helping to develop an internship program for mathematics/data science students and the development of a statistical consulting course has enabled students to have realistic experiences with applications of mathematics and statistics. The consulting course has not only impacted mathematics and data science students, but students from other programs as well. In addition, her pedagogical work incorporating writing into her courses has provided students with a foundation for communicating effectively in their future jobs.
In addition to program development and teaching, Johnson has been active in helping other programs at the university. She created a graduate level biostatistics course for the School of Nursing and worked with nursing students in the design of their final research projects by including them as clients in the consulting course. This collaboration has benefitted both nursing and statistics students. Johnson was also a member of the Human Subjects Review Board for five years. As chair, she led the change to electronic submissions for research studies conducted by Metro State faculty and staff. The change not only simplified the submission and approval process, but made it possible to efficiently track the research being done at the university.
In retirement, Johnson plans to follow her belief in continuous learning. To start, she is interested in taking classes in painting and ceramics. She also plans to volunteer helping students in elementary and secondary schools with reading and mathematics. Johnson will always be grateful to Metropolitan State and its students for allowing her to teach and to touch so many lives.
Elizabeth Keeler—Staff Emerita
Elizabeth Keeler was a library technician at Metro State and had the joy of seeing student's faces light up when understanding of whatever they were struggling to master occurred. It was the best part of her job. Keeler's long term retirement bucket list seems to be modified daily but currently includes wanting to learn how to snowshoe, and hoping to take a Mediterranean cruise in addition to the daily joys of lunching with friends, doing jigsaw puzzles, gardening, and traveling both near and far.
Nantawan Lewis—Professor Emerita
Dr. Nantawan Lewis is professor of Ethnic and Religious Studies, Department of Ethnic and Religious Studies, Metropolitan State University, and coordinator of the Faculty of Color Mentorship Program (2017 to present). Professor Lewis teaches in the areas of comparative ethnic studies, Asian American studies, and race and religion. In 1995, she served as the principle author of a proposal to establish the Ethnic Studies program, and developed the first comparative ethnic studies course in the program. The Ethic Studies program offers courses for a major and minor in core comparative ethnic studies. All courses in its program meet the Racial Issues Graduation Requirement at the university.
Professor Lewis’ research and publications focus on issues of violence against women of color, Asian and Asian/North American women and race and religion. She is the editor of "Revolution of Spirit" and co-editor of "Sisters Struggling in the Spirit," and "Remembering Conquest: Feminist/Womanist Perspectives on Religion, Colonization and Sexual Violence." Professor Lewis has also published several articles on religion, sex trafficking of Asian women, and sexual violence against Asian and Asian American women.
Throughout her tenure, Professor Lewis has been actively involved in equity, inclusion and anti-racism efforts at the university serving and providing leadership on various university committees to address equity, inclusion, and anti-racism. She was the recipient of the 2014 University Council Anti-Racism and Diversity Leadership Award, and the Anti-Racism Leadership Team Legacy Award.
Professor Lewis served as co-chair of the Equity and Diversity Committee of Metropolitan State Faculty Association from 2017 to 2021, was a co-chair of Metropolitan State University Equity and Inclusion Council (AY17–19). She was a co-convener to develop the Metropolitan State University Faculty Association five-year equity and inclusion plan. She is the principle founding member of the Faculty of Color Mentorship Program which is a faculty of color led effort on recruitment and retention of faculty of color. Professor Lewis currently serves as the coordinator of the Faculty of Color Mentorship Program, and the Multi-Campus Faculty of Color Mentorship Program Grant.
Deborah Matthias-Anderson—Professor Emerita
A nurse educator for 30 years, Matthias-Anderson spent the last 15 of those years teaching in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Metropolitan State University. A psychiatric-mental health nurse by specialty area, she taught this nursing content to students across pre-licensure and RN to BSN students and advocated taking students to community sites to provide nursing care to clients with psychiatric disorders. Her primary research interest is the topic of substance use disorders among nurses. Matthias-Anderson has been an actively engaged volunteer and educator with the Minnesota Nurses Peer Support Network (NPSN), the statewide nonprofit nursing organization dedicated to supporting nurses in recovery from substance use disorders, including their professional work re-entry. She resides in Woodbury with her husband, Mark.
John Schneider—Professor Emeritus
John Schneider's ten years of oncology training began at Purdue University, then London’s Imperial Cancer Research Fund Labs, and finished at University of Minnesota’s Institute of Human Genetics. Along the way he trained both as a National Cancer Fellow and a Histopathology Fellow. This makes his wheelhouse everything molecular and genetic inside a cell. This is reflected in the list of the courses he commonly taught: Genetics, Cell Biology and Histology, Molecular Biology, Cancer Biology, and summer crawfish research.
For fun, over the last 30 years, Schneider’s been involved in nearly every aspect of fisheries management within the state of Minnesota. From serving on the DNR’s Budget Oversight Committees, the U of M’s Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center’s Advisory Board, to various leadership roles in Minnesota’s conservation community. He also hosted a decade long summer research project on the effects of the Rusty Crawfish invasion on the aquatic plant and zoo/phytoplankton communities of Lake Vermillion.
Francis Schweigert—Professor Emeritus
Francis J. “Frank” Schweigert is completing his 17th year at Metro State University where he served ten years as a professor in the College of Management teaching in and co-directing the Master’s Program in Public and Nonprofit Administration, four years as inaugural dean of the College of Community Studies and Public Affairs, and three years as a professor in the Philosophy Department in the College of Liberal Arts. Prior to coming to Metro State, Schweigert worked for the Northwest Area Foundation as a community liaison and director of evaluation and research in regional economic development. Earlier in his career, he served Twin Cities area churches as a parish administrator and director of religious education. Overall, he has provided fifty years of professional service in nonprofit organizations as a staff person or as a director or officer on nonprofit governing boards and has served as a volunteer mediator and circle keeper in dispute resolution and restorative justice since 1996.
Schweigert earned his doctorate in educational policy and administration from the University of Minnesota in 1997, focusing on the social and philosophical foundations of education, and has published numerous articles and chapters on public ethics, evaluation, leadership, and restorative justice. His recent book, "Business Ethics Education and the Pragmatic Pursuit of the Good," was published by Springer Media in 2016.
Originally from a small farm in north central Wisconsin, Schweigert was brought to Saint Paul on a scholarship to Macalester College. Shortly after graduating, he and Kathleen Lewandowski (of Saint Paul) married and reared four children, all of whom now make their homes in the Twin Cities: Benedict, Susan, Joseph, and Walken.
Carolyn Whitson—Professor Emerita
Carolyn Whitson taught at Metro State for 27 years in the Literature and Language Department, as well as in the departments of Gender Studies and Media Studies. She also helped found and chaired for several years the IFO FA Distance Learning/Intellectual Property Committee. She is honored to be the recipient of this year's Metro State Excellence in Teaching award. Her next life is as a public intellectual (www.pilgrimtothepast.com) and a professional photographer.
Gayle Yamry—Staff Emerita
Gayle Yamry is an alumnus of Metro State University, achieving her bachelor’s degree Magna Cum Laude in individualized studies with minors in industrial and organizational psychology, human resources management, and project management. She also has held licensure in cosmetology management and cosmetology instruction.
For the past 33 years, Yamry has worked in post-secondary education instruction, compliance management, and financial aid, helping students achieve their goals, navigating, and gaining access to financial assistance needed to make dreams reality. She has proudly worked at Heinen’s Hair Styling, Regency Beauty Institutes, Hamline University, Century College, and the last thirteen years dedicated to students at Metro State University.
Yamry has been an active member of the Minnesota Association of Financial Aid Administrators, MAFAA since 1992, and has participated in and chaired many committees, was elected treasurer, and served two terms as elected president. As a member of MAFAA, she found wonderful colleagues, mentors, and friends.
In retirement Yamry plans spending time tending to her flowers, enjoying family, travel, and volunteering in her community.