St. Thomas Launches Its Largest Campaign to Prepare Tomorrow’s Leaders

ST. PAUL, Minn., Sept. 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The University of St. Thomas publicly launched Be Brilliant. Be Bold. The Campaign for St. Thomas, a $1 billion comprehensive campaign ranking among the largest announced by a U.S. Catholic university.

The campaign has garnered nearly $800 million in commitments from over 20,000 donors – including nearly $350 million for scholarships, its top fundraising priority. The campaign also will invest in faculty and academic excellence and create transformational learning experiences.

“Across industries and sectors, we hear a consistent message from leaders: The world needs the type of graduates St. Thomas produces,” said President Rob Vischer. “They need people who are prepared not only with knowledge and skill, but with the judgment, purpose and moral responsibility to use their gifts to serve others. This campaign is about answering that call.”

The campaign is the largest announced by a Minnesota private college or university and reflects confidence in St. Thomas’ mission to educate graduates who advance the common good.

St. Thomas also announced an $82 million commitment from the Ciresi Walburn Foundation and the Michael V. and Ann C. Ciresi Foundation payable over 10 years. This gift is the university’s largest ever, is one of the largest ever made to a Minnesota college or university, and ranks among the state’s largest-ever investments in student access and support.

This gift will expand the Ciresi Walburn Leadership Fellows scholarship program that serves students with financial need who demonstrate commitment to leadership, service and social justice. In addition to ensuring the program’s long-term future, the gift will establish the Ciresi Walburn Center for Leadership and a center for first-generation college students.

“We created the foundation to serve children and young adults, and over time we learned that education was where we could have the greatest impact,” said Michael V. Ciresi, president and chairman of the Ciresi Walburn Foundation. “This gift to St. Thomas ensures that work will continue in perpetuity. St. Thomas lives its mission to serve the common good, and that mission is our mission.” 

Be Brilliant. Be Bold. is led by volunteer co-chairs Andrew ’82 and Kathleen Cecere, Rory ’86 and Rhonda ’88 O’Neill, and Patrick ’75 and Ann Ryan. Andrew Cecere (former U.S. Bancorp CEO), Rory O’Neill (Castlelake, L.P. executive chair and managing partner) and Patrick Ryan (Ryan Companies US, Inc. chairman) are all members of St. Thomas’ Board of Trustees.

Campaign support has already made significant impact, such as:

• Strengthening innovation through the Schulze School of Entrepreneurship, now ranked among the nation’s top 10 undergraduate entrepreneurship programs.
• Creating pathways through Dougherty Family College for students from historically underrepresented communities to earn four-year degrees.
• Enhancing the university’s partnership with St. Paul Public Schools to prepare future teachers through the Maxfield Collaborative Learning School.
• Strengthening Minnesota’s health care workforce through the Morrison Family College of Health.
• Elevating the student experience through Division I athletics, including the new Lee & Penny Anderson Arena.
• Closing the civil justice gap through the Archbishop Ireland Justice Fellows program by placing recent St. Thomas School of Law graduates with organizations for Minnesotans without legal representation access.
• Advancing interdisciplinary learning through the Schoenecker Center for STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) education.
• Deepening the university’s Catholic mission through renovations at the Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas, and establishing the Iversen Center for Faith to welcome people from all faith traditions.

Be Brilliant. Be Bold. also seeks to inspire over one million acts of engagement – from mentoring students and volunteering to advocacy.

Brant Skogrand, APR
(651) 962-6418 
[email protected]

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

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