1986 Spring Saint Benedict's Today

              O'Connell named next president of Saint Benedict's 

tive vice president and as a member of with St. John's, the strength and compe�by Connie Cross. the President's Staff since 1984. Other tence of our faculty, the new library, the 
director of public information positions at the college include director of progress of our athletic program with the planning (1979-84); director of alumnae, support of our new gym, and particularly parent relations and annual fund director the recruitment of fine students that are 
Herman J. Ratelle, chair of the CSB (1974-77); chair of the theater and dance looking for a tradition of academic excel�board of trustees, announced March 7 department (1954-74); and various teach�lence in a Catholic higher educational that S. Colman O'Connell, OSB, will be ing positions. She also taught at Pierz setting," she said. 
the next CSB president, effective July 1. 
Memorial High School, Pierz, Minn., 
O'Connell has co-authored articles and O'Connell replaces S. Emmanuel Renner (1952-53), and at Cathedral High School, book chapters with Robert T. Blackburn who is resigning after seven years as St. Cloud (1950-52). 
from the University of Michigan, Annpresident. 
"The mission of the College of Saint Arbor, a nationally known researcher A native of Roberts, Wise., O'Connell Benedict offers a liberal arts education to on faculty issues. She was elected to the graduated from CSB in 1950 in English women in a Catholic, Benedictine setting. national Catholic honor society, Delta and speech. She received a masters of The complexities of our society creates Epsilon Sigma. She has also been a con�fine arts in 1954 in English and theater a need for this kind of education," sultant for institutions on higher educa�from Catholic University of America, 
O'Connell said. tion and guest speaker for local, regional Washington, D.C., and a doctorate and national groups and conferences. 
"We will continue to build on ourin higher education in 1979 from the strengths of the present -the heritage O'Connell will be inaugurated Saturday, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. 
of Benedictine values, the joint core September 13. 
O'Connell has served as CSB's execu�curriculum and other cooperative ventures 
Address Correction Requested 
Non�Proftt Organtzatton U S POSTAGE 
PAID 
PERMIT NO 9 Satnt Joseph. MN 
Saint Benedict's Today
a newsletter for alumnae and friends of the Colleqe of Sa1nt Bened1ct Spring 1986 
Six-week tour of East Asia leads alum to career 
by Anne Mattison, 
CSB '86. Minneapolis. Minn. 
If six weeks sounds like too short a 
time to change someone's life, talk to 
Mary Voight, CSB '80, and she'll tell 
you differently. 

It was a six-week tour of Hong Kong 
and the People's Republic of China that 
prompted Mary to fall in love with the 
region and eventually pursue a career 
in East Asian studies and U.S.-China 
relations. 

In January Mary became the director 
of public relations for the China Trade 
Center in Boston. With her liberal arts 
education, her business experience and 
her knowledge of East Asia, she is well�
qualified for her role as a liaison between 
the Boston community and the real estate 
management and minority entrepreneurs 
of the first Asian-themed office and re�
tail complex in the nation. The position 
allows Mary to do the two things she 
loves best: work with people and provide 
information about China. 

Originally from Morris, Minn., Mary 
was a liberal studies major with an inter�
national business minor when she learned 
that one of her business professors, 
Dr. Ali Hakam, was directing a study 
tour of China during the summer of 
1979. Mary decided to join the group, 
but, as she recalls, it was more out of 
an interest in travel than in China. 

Despite "serious culture shock" the 
first few days, Mary quickly became 
fascinated with the region during four 
weeks of courses at the Chinese Univer�
sity of Hong Kong and a two-week tour 

dictine sisters from the convent in were married in Hong Kong in the spring periods during the day, and, with a of the People's Republic of China. Al�St. Joseph. Under the request of Pope of 1983 before returning to the States Chinese population about five times though it is difficult to pinpoint exactly 
Pius XI in 1925, the Benedictine order and settling in Boston. that of the United States, the learning what intrigued her about China, Mary 
established the first Catholic university to live in close proximity with others. 

returned to Minnesota wanting to know Mary was in Minnesota last January
in Beijing. They moved to Taipei in 1948 

more. to speak to S. Baulu's "China: Past and Mary emphasizes that it is neither con�
and are currently teaching at the national Present" students. Her recollections of structive nor realistic to pity or make a Mary became a student worker for university. 
China are enthusiastic but realistic. She value judgement about China on the basis S. Baulu Kuan, CSB associate professor When Mary returned to Minneapolis, remembers the friendliness and generosity of the Chinese's lifestyle. Like any wayof art, and took every Asian course she she found a job at the University of of the Chinese people and their willing�of life it has advantages and disadvan�could get into, amassing an East Asian Minnesota. There she met her future ness to help her, as well as the beautiful tages, say Mary, and she feels the Chinese Studies minor along the way. 
husband, Peter Leung, a Hong Kong landscapes and incredibly rich history of have taught her some of the benefits ofAfter graduation, Mary went back 
native who was attending the U. In 1982, their country. simple living. 
to Asia to study Mandarin Chinese in they decided to travel together to China, She also remembers the relative stark�Taipei, Taiwan. While there Mary was 
where Mary would study Mandarin at the ness of life in Beijing, the heat and hot Mary Voightable to enjoy the hospitality of Bene-Beijing Language Institute. She and Peter 
water that were only available for short to page 3