Campaign Co-Chair: Pat Ryan '75

When Pat Ryan ’75 arrived at St. Thomas, it was an all-male college where many students commuted. More than five decades later, the campus, its academic offerings and the make-up of the student body have changed. What remains the same – mission, values and ethical formation – is what sets St. Thomas apart from other universities.

Ryan has seen this evolution from several vantage points: as a finance undergraduate student, chairman of Ryan Companies, past chair of the law school advisory board, trustee and former chair of the Board of Trustees. Now, as a co-chair, along with his wife Ann, of Be Brilliant. Be Bold. The Campaign for St. Thomas, he is a witness to how far St. Thomas has come and where it needs to go.

Compared to the days of an all-male college, today’s students bring a broader range of backgrounds and experiences to campus, he said, along with a stronger awareness of the world around them.

“There’s a social awareness that exists on this campus,” Ryan said. “And I would say there’s more of a heart.”

While much has changed, the university’s Catholic identity remains central. For Ryan, that identity lets St. Thomas be confident in its history and traditions while also a place where people of many faiths and backgrounds can feel at home.

“Catholicism defines St. Thomas, and we are also catholic - universal and welcoming,” he said.

From “no” to belief

Ryan’s history with the School of Law illustrates how a clear mission can change hearts and minds. When first asked to serve on its advisory board, Ryan declined. A lawyer by training, he questioned whether Minnesota needed another law school.

“It took me a while to believe in it,” he acknowledged. What persuaded him was how the School of Law was built from its mission. Twenty-five years later, its growth and national reputation prove what a sustained focus on mission and values can accomplish.

That perspective also shapes Ryan’s invitation to alumni. Connection can take many forms: sharing their St. Thomas experience, introducing others to the university, connecting graduates to job opportunities and students to internships, and helping people understand there is more to St. Thomas than an excellent education.

“Have them communicate what St. Thomas has done for them in their life, which has made their life better,” he said. One conversation can lead to another opportunity. “It creates a ripple effect”,

For Ryan, the campaign invites alumni to recall the St. Thomas they knew, and to take a fresh look at it today. It is a call to be catholic in the fullest sense – in union with the whole world - helping more people see what St. Thomas is accomplishing.