College of Saint Benedict Commencement Speakers
CSB Class of 2025 Commencement Celebration
Document Type
Presentation
Publication Date
5-17-2025
Abstract
Clemens Field House, S.L. Haehn Campus Center
College of Saint Benedict
St. Joseph, MN
Angela Jerabek, a 1990 College of Saint Benedict graduate and executive director of the BARR (Building Assets, Reducing Risks) Center, delivered the Saint Benedict's commencement address the graduating class of 355 undergraduate women and 13 nursing master’s and doctoral graduates.
Angela Jerabek, who received her bachelor’s degree from CSB in education, began her career in education as a licensed K-12 teacher and secondary school counselor. She developed the BARR Model over 25 years ago and has expanded it from one school in the Midwest to more than 350 schools throughout the U.S., serving over 400,000 students. Every single school participating in BARR has reported improved student outcomes, from increased math and reading scores, to decreased absenteeism and behavior incidences.
Jerabek has published five books and several op-eds and articles in various publications. Often looked to for her expertise, Jerabek has been featured in USA Today, National Public Radio and CNBC.
In 2024, she was awarded the prestigious James Bryant Conant Award – one of three awards that the Education Commission of the States (ECS) presents each year to celebrate outstanding commitment to public education.
In 2021, Jerabek was selected as the Thomas B. Fordham Institute’s National “Wisest Wonk,” a contest designed to generate conversation surrounding critical issues within education reform.
In the fall of 2020, she was awarded the Donald McNeely Center Social Entrepreneur of the Year by CSB and SJU.
Nominated by her peers, Lydia Mattern, a graduating theology major from Fargo, North Dakota, was selected to provide the CSB student commencement address.
Creative Commons License
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Recommended Citation
Matthews, LeAnne; Gonzalez, Cindy; Bruess, Brian; Mattern, Lydia; Jerabek, Angela; Ice, Richard; Peterson, Jennifer; Johnson, Elizabeth; Taus Dumdie, Rochelle; and Rose, Karen, "CSB Class of 2025 Commencement Celebration" (2025). College of Saint Benedict Commencement Speakers. 5.
https://digitalcommons.csbsju.edu/commencement_csb/5