Senator Mary Kunesh (41, DFL), St. Catherine University 
A member of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL), Mary Kunesh is one of the few Native American members of the Minnesota Legislature. Her path as a Katie meandered, but in meaningful ways that helped her connect her voice to her calling to bring the light of truth to the hidden tragedy of murdered and missing indigenous women. Her family’s life lessons, combined with her St. Kate’s education, gave Kunesh the foundation she needed to create a path of meaningful work – first as a teacher in Robbinsdale Area Schools, and later as a member of Minnesota’s House of Representatives, where she passed the first-ever bill to establish a “”Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women”” task force. She also helped increase the amount of Minnesota Family Investment Program grants – the first increase made in over 30 years. It is work grounded in her connections to the community, such as her time as a member and chair of the New Brighton Parks, Recreation and Environmental Commission. Kunesh was born in Saint Paul and raised in Sartell. Her mother is an enrolled member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. She started her St. Kate’s career right out of high school, but put her degree on hold after 18 months. It was 16 years, three children, and a lot of wonderful life experiences later that she received her teaching degree from St. Kate’s.