146,943
impact hours contributed
36% increase from 2022-2023
Center for the Common Good
In all we do, we seek to advance the common good.
At the Center for the Common Good, we connect University of St. Thomas students, faculty, and staff with community engagement opportunities so we can understand today’s most pressing social challenges, build mutually-beneficial relationships, and work toward innovative solutions-all for the common good.
When we put our efforts together, we gain a deeper understanding of complex issues, create stronger communities, and become inspired to take action.
Partner with Us
We partner with nonprofits, schools, and government initiatives to create mutually-beneficial opportunities in the community.
2023-2024
Academic Year Stats
420
community partner organizations
60
community-engaged courses
4,259
unique student participants contributing their unique talents and time to our community
46
Tommies received the National Presidential Volunteer Service Award
282
Co-curricular Changemaking Community Events
Featured Initiatives
Tommies Together Volunteer Center
Discover opportunities to address inequities, environmental and other issues by partnering with community organizations.
VISION
VISION works to effect positive social change in St. Thomas, national, and global communities. We believe this change can happen when there is an opportunity for a relationship between these communities.
Changemaking for the Common Good
Make a positive societal impact, whether as an individual or part of a larger whole, that can ignite positive change in our community.
Academic Community Engagement
Examine the systems and theories that relate to complex social challenges in collaboration with community organizations.
Civic Engagement, Voter Education and Advocacy
As members of the Civic Engagement, Voter Education and Advocacy (CEVEA) task force, voter education, voter registration and getting out to vote continues to be a cornerstone of our work.
Under-told Stories Project
The Under-told Stories Project uses high-quality video storytelling to help students understand and engage with the pressing global issues of our time, to “make the foreign less foreign.”
Additional Initiatives
Tommie Shelf
Tommie Shelf addresses food insecurity on our campus and in our community through partnerships with the Center for the Common Good, the Dean of Students Office, and key community partners Keystone Community Services, Good in the ‘Hood, and Second Harvest Heartland.
One University—One Breath
This collaboration with the Project for Mindfulness & Contemplation (PMC) aims to deepen awareness of ourselves and our community so we’re better prepared to cultivate a more just and compassionate society.
Constructive Dialogue-Reduce the Rancor
This partnership with Braver Angels Minnesota’s Reduce the Rancor campaign fosters respectful dialogue, bridging differences to create a more inclusive and understanding community.
Center for the Common Good News
February 12, 2025
During this J-Term, a group of University of St. Thomas students traveled to Quito, Ecuador, to volunteer at Centro Una Familia de Familias through the university’s VISION program. The center, a nonprofit organization, supports families holistically by providing education, health care, legal assistance, and employment opportunities. Through volunteering and cultural immersion, students witnessed firsthand the… The post St. Thomas Students Witness Community and Resilience During VISION Trip to Ecuador appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.
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December 10, 2024
At the University of St. Thomas, undergraduate business students eager to master the art of negotiation had a chance to develop those skills while learning about food insecurity. In fall 2024, students enrolled in the MGMT 394: Negotiating with Positive Influence course worked on developing negotiation fundraising strategies and marketing campaigns for Nourish Food Shelf… The post Management Course Teaches Negotiating With Positive Influence appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.
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December 6, 2024
On a rainy, overcast day in November, the Keystone Foodmobile turns in from Cleveland Avenue to park in front of the Iversen Center for Faith at the University of St. Thomas. It is the first Tuesday of the month and the bus is loaded with food that is ready to be distributed to campus and… The post Tommie Shelf Program Celebrates 5 Years appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.
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October 18, 2024
Amid election season, National Voter Education Week at St. Thomas highlighted the importance of civic engagement through a series of events Oct. 7-11 designed to foster political awareness, dialogue, and voter education. The week’s programming, which brought together students, faculty, staff and civic leaders, emphasized the value of informed participation in democracy, the complexities of… The post Building Civic Awareness and Dialogue at St. Thomas appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.
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September 10, 2024
The Civic Engagement, Voter Education, and Advocacy (CEVEA) task force at the University of St. Thomas is spearheading a comprehensive civic engagement campaign this fall, aimed at fostering a culture of active citizenship across the campus community. “Democracy only works with an informed and engaged citizenry,” said Dr. Rob Aspholm, the CEVEA faculty liaison and… The post Empowering Voters at St. Thomas: CEVEA’s Commitment to Civic Engagement appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.
Leadership and Staff
Dustin Killpack
Associate Director
dustinkillpack@stthomas.edu
(651) 962-5262
Kelly Sardon-Garrity
Associate Director
garr0033@stthomas.edu
(651) 962-5381
Manuela Hill-Muñoz
Director of Innovation and Changemaking
muno0009@stthomas.edu
(651) 962-6149
Teri Mueller Dorn
Senior Program Manager
teri.mueller@stthomas.edu
651-962-6341
About the Center for the Common Good
We believe learning is a catalyst for personal and social transformation. When we work collaboratively with community partners to understand today’s greatest challenges, we become more deeply informed on how to make a positive social change and advance the common good.