Dougherty Family College | University of St. Thomas - Minnesota

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Dougherty Family College provides students with the academic, personal and financial support to earn an associate degree and a clear pathway to achieve a four-year college degree.

DFC provides you the support you need to achieve your college dreams and become extraordinary leaders. You do not have to walk this college journey alone, we are family.

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Dougherty Family College News

April 30, 2026

In the News: Buffy Smith on Keeping College Within Reach

Buffy Smith, dean of Dougherty Family College at the University of St. Thomas, spoke with WCCO Radio about rising tuition costs and the barriers they create for many families. Smith emphasized Dougherty Family College’s commitment to affordability and the importance of keeping higher education accessible, particularly for first-generation and lower-income students. From the conversation: Smith:… The post In the News: Buffy Smith on Keeping College Within Reach appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.

• April 28, 2026

  In the News: Buffy Smith on Mentorship and Student Support

  Buffy Smith, dean of Dougherty Family College at the University of St. Thomas, spoke with Native Roots Radio about how the college supports first-generation students through mentorship, community building and wraparound resources. Smith highlighted the college’s focus on removing structural barriers to higher education while creating a strong sense of belonging and academic support for… The post In the News: Buffy Smith on Mentorship and Student Support appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.

• April 15, 2026

  DFC Faculty Profile: A Mission Toward Social Justice

  Portraits displayed on the walls of Dr. Tanden Brekke’s office show his family and civil rights activists, including Dolores Huerta, Ella Baker, Gandhi, Fannie Lou Hamer, Howard Thurman, Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. “They’re all people who did really, really powerful things, believed in themselves, believed in the people around them, understood the… The post DFC Faculty Profile: A Mission Toward Social Justice appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.

• March 13, 2026

  In the News: Heather Isernhagen on STEM at Dougherty Family College

  Heather Isernhagen, math specialist at Dougherty Family College, a two-year college at the University of St. Thomas, was recently interviewed for an article on the WCCO Radio website. Isernhagen highlighted how science, technology, engineering, and mathematics are implemented into courses at DFC, expanding beyond the liberal arts degree pathway. From the article: For several years,… The post In the News: Heather Isernhagen on STEM at Dougherty Family College appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.

• March 12, 2026

  Rethinking Resilience: Insights from St. Thomas’ Health Equity Series

  Before finishing her dissertation for her Doctor of Education at the University of St. Thomas, Katia Colon-LaCroix used the “control find” feature to search and delete the word “resilience” entirely from her research paper, which examines the measures of success for and by first-generation college students of color. “I didn't do that because I don't… The post Rethinking Resilience: Insights from St. Thomas’ Health Equity Series appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.

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