Six Women Scholars Awarded Tenure at St. Catherine University in St. Paul, Minnesota

St. Catherine University in St. Paul, Minnesota, where undergraduate residential education is reserved for women, has awarded tenure to seven faculty members. Of these, six are women.

Kristine West was promoted to associate professor of economics. Her primary fields of interest are labor economics, program evaluation, and the economics of education. Dr. West is a summa cum laude graduate of Macalester College in St. Paul, where she majored in economics. She holds a Ph.D. in applied economics from the University of Minnesota.

Kim N. Ha of the department of chemistry and biochemistry was promoted and granted tenure. Her research is focused on the role of structural dynamics in the mechanism of action in proteins. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemistry and a Ph.D. in biochemistry, all from the University of Minnesota.

Kelly Gage was promoted to associate professor of apparel, merchandising and design. She is an expert in Afro-Brazilian slave dress and curates the history of dress collection at the university. Dr. Gage is a graduate of Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. She holds a master’s degree in art history from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, and a Ph.D. in design, housing and apparel from the University of Minnesota.

Mary Hearst, an associate professor and the program director for the department of public health at the university was granted tenure. Her research focuses on health disparities and family-based childhood obesity interventions. Dr. Hearst is a graduate of the University of Minnesota, where she majored in occupational therapy. She holds a master of public health degree and a Ph.D. in epidemiology from the School of Public Health at the University of Minnesota.

Lisa Martin was promoted to associate professor of nursing and granted tenure. Dr. Martin began her academic career at the University of Minnesota as a research assistant with the Center for Adolescent Nursing. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Augsburg College in Minneapolis and a master’s degree in nursing administration and Ph.D. in nursing from the University of Minnesota. Earlier, she worked as a public health nurse in the Twin Cities area.

Catherine Kelley was promoted to associate professor of education. Her research and teaching is focused on the preparation of teachers for elementary education. Dr. Kelley is a graduate of Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, where she majored in elementary education. She earned a master’s degree in education at Saint Mary’s University in Winona, Minnesota, and a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction from the University of Minnesota.