The Student Success Center is excited to start the 2026-2027 Academic Year fully staffed and ready to support students, faculty, and staff at Saint Mary’s! Student Success supports students at the Winona campus and within the School of Graduate and Professional Programs.
At the Winona campus, we are happy to provide support services that compliment the academic experience, such as tutoring, first generation student support, writing services, academic support and coaching, early alert, new student experience programming, and student policy and retention support.
The main Student Success Center is located on the Winona campus, in the basement of Griffin Hall and the Hendrickson Center. Staff offices reside in Griffin 70 and we also have four study lounges (HC15, HC17, and HC19) for broad student use, including a brand new First Generation Lounge (HC24)!
As an extension of the Student Success Center, writing support, peer mentoring and peer tutoring are offered by Learning Services. Writing support is located in the Learning Hub on the main floor of Saint Mary’s Hall (SM103), directly across from the Office of Campus Ministry. Students can drop in or make an appointment through Penji. Peer tutors and peer mentors are available by appointment through Penji.
All appointments at the Winona Campus Student Success Center can be booked through Penji!
At the School of Graduate and Professional Programs (SGPP), Student Success offers writing services to all students. Our professional writing offers in person appointments in the Writing Center in LaSalle Hall, Room 128, as well as virtual appointments via zoom, phone call, or consultation. Appointments can be made on the Writing Center website for SGPP students.
New this year, Student Success is piloting online Statistics tutoring for students at SGPP, based on prior demand from program directors and former students. If you would like to offer statistics tutoring services to your class, or are a student interested in refreshing your statistics ability, please contact the Director of Learning Services, Joe Justman (jjustman@smumn.edu).
Meet the Student Success Staff!
Tricia Dobrient, M.Ed.
Senior Director of Student Success
Tricia is excited to be entering her seventh year here at Saint Mary’s! As the Senior Director of Student Success, Tricia truly enjoys connecting with students, creating opportunities for holistic development, and being involved on campus. With previous experience in student orientation, university union marketing, art education and therapy, and event planning and a Masters of Educational Policy and Leadership from Marquette University, Tricia brings a unique perspective to the role that combines building a supportive student experience with finding opportunities to be creative, collaborative, and intentional with partnerships across campus. Tricia is the chair of the Undergraduate Retention Committee, oversees the day-to-day operations of the Student Success Center, manages a variety of student processes for the Winona campus, including Readmission, University Withdrawal, and Leave of Absence, and co-chairs the Behavioral Intervention Team, while also supporting individual student academic concerns as they arise.
Joe Justman, M.A.
Director of Learning Services
Joe Justman is the Director of Learning Services. He oversees the Writing Centers in Winona and Minneapolis as well as Peer Tutoring and Peer Mentoring in Winona. Joe earned his undergraduate degree in history and special education certificate from Winona State University and Master’s of Instruction from Saint Mary’s University. Prior to working at Saint Mary’s, Joe served as the Director of the Winona Area Humane Society while also substitute teaching. For six years, he was a full time teacher and coach for the Wabasha-Kellogg and then Lewiston-Altura school districts. He taught Special Education and World History. 2026-2027 will be Joe’s fifth academic year at Saint Mary’s. His office is Griffin Hall 70A.
Graciela Bureman, Ed.D.
Director of First Generation Initiative
Dr. Graciela Berumen serves as the Director of the First-Generation Initiative at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. Driven by a deep personal passion and lived experience, she leads with an asset-based framework focused on student success, community-centered college access, and family engagement. Prior to her role at Saint Mary’s, Dr. Berumen built a rich background in higher education at Kansas State University and Washburn University, serving in leadership roles across recruitment, retention, global education outreach, student engagement, and college access. A dedicated educator and scholar-practitioner, she holds a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Curriculum and Instruction, a Master of Arts in Second Language Acquisition, and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish, all from Kansas State University. Her work centers on dismantling institutional barriers and celebrating the unique community cultural wealth of first-generation scholars, families and communities.
Alex Urquhart, M.A.
Writing Center Consultant – SGPP
Alex Urquhart has 16 years of experience working in graduate-student focused writing centers. During that time, he has been privileged to assist students through class assignments, dissertations, and the publication process. He has instructed writing-intensive classes at Macalester College, the University of Minnesota, and Saint Mary’s. Recently, he has worked to help students and faculty navigate the complex academic and ethical issues of AI and academic writing. He is a published author, book editor, and avid volleyball player.
Nathan Titman, Ph.D.
Writing Center Consultant – SGPP
Nathan Titman holds a Ph.D. in American Studies from the University of Iowa, and has over 20 years of teaching experience in higher education. He has served as a Writing Consultant at St. Mary’s University since 2022, and also teaches writing courses in the DBA, EDD, HA, and MPY programs.
Molly Lohnes, M.A.
Writing Center Consultant – Winona
After earning a BS and MA and teaching at Iowa State University, Molly Lohnes came to SMU in 1995 to teach ESL in the De La Salle Language Institute. Even though the language institute no longer exists, people have been kind enough to find her otherpositions over the years. In addition to teaching at the language institute, she taught for the English and Communications departments, and she worked for the Academic Skills Center (which is now the Student Success Center) and the Writing Center. During her time here, she earned BAs in French and Spanish from SMU. She retired from teaching in December of 2025 but continues to work in the Writing Center part time.
Julio Perea
Assistant Director of First Generation Initiative
Julio Perea has served at SMUMN for one year and eight months, initially onboarding as the Student Success Specialist for First-Gen Students before stepping into his current role as Assistant Director of the First Generation Initiative. An alumnus of the Countdown to College program, former recipient of the FGI Scholarship, and current M.A. candidate in Educational Leadership at SGPP, Julio now leads the planning and execution of the Countdown to College program and provides culturally responsive advising and mentorship for FGI scholars and any other first-generation undergraduates at SMUMN.
Fernanda Gutierrez
Student Success Specialist for First Generation Students
Fernanda Gutierrez is a proud graduate of the First-Generation Initiative (FGI) program and now serves as the newest Student Success Specialist for First-Generation Students. As a first-generation college graduate, she understands the unique challenges and opportunities students encounter and is passionate about helping them thrive. During her time as a student, Fernanda co-founded Por La Cultura, a Latino community organization dedicated to celebrating culture, fostering belonging, and increasing cultural awareness across campus. Her passion for advocacy and student success ultimately brought her back to the program that helped shape her own journey. Fernanda is committed to empowering first-generation students by creating meaningful connections, providing holistic support, and helping them build confidence as they navigate their college experience.
Katie Pierpont, M.A.
Coordinator of New Student Experience
Katie Pierpont serves as the Coordinator of New Student Experience at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. A Saint Mary’s alumna, Katie earned her B.A. in Biology in 2023 and her M.A. in Education in 2025. She is currently pursuing a Graduate Certificate in Project Management, with an expected completion date of October 2026.In her role, Katie hires and trains the university’s Orientation Leaders and plans and executes new student programming, including New Student Orientation and Registration (NSOR), Welcome Weekend, First Five Weeks, Winter Welcome, and SnowDaze. She also serves on the Early Alert Committee and as a member of the Title IX team. Katie has worked professionally at Saint Mary’s for three years. Her office is located in the Student Success Center (GR70I).
Jose Lavariega
Coordinator of Academic Support and Advising
José Lavariega serves as the Coordinator of Academic Support and Advising at the Student Success Center of Saint Mary’s University. In this role, he is committed to helping students navigate their academic journeys by providing them with the resources they need to succeed. José holds a degree in Theology from the University of Dubuque, where he discovered his passion for education and leadership. He has a background in working with students at UD, as well as in church ministries and public schools. As a first-generation college graduate, José draws inspiration from his family roots and values the traditions and experiences that shaped his upbringing. In his free time, he enjoys traveling with his wife and two dogs, trying new foods, and exploring arts and culture. He can often be found engaging with music or taking photos with his camera.
Tyler Piel, M.S.
Student Retention Specialist
Tyler Peil serves as a Retention Specialist in the Student Success Center at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. In this role, he manages the Early Alert system and works with students to support their academic success, persistence, and overall college experience. Tyler is passionate about helping students navigate challenges, connect with campus resources, and build the skills and confidence they need to succeed. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Individualized Studies with a focus in Social Justice from Winona State University and a Master of Science in Education in Leadership Education. Tyler is also a Certified Academic Coach.
