Catholic Higher Education

GHR’s founders were passionate about the importance of quality higher education. They relished the foundational experience they had in attending Catholic universities and wanted others to experience the same.

Today, we honor their legacy through long-term commitments to their alma maters so these institutions can thrive for generations to come.

Partner Spotlights

UST Opus College of Business

GHR Foundation’s support for the Opus College of Business focuses on three strategic priorities: student success, strategic growth, and operational excellence. This partnership positions the College to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving educational and business landscape, while reinforcing its reputation for academic and professional excellence. These advancements aim to create more dynamic, personalized, and future-ready learning environments for students.

For example, Opus is launching innovative experiential learning opportunities, including a new model called “shadowships.” Shadowships are informal experiences where students observe professionals in real-world business settings. These opportunities not only provide insight into potential career paths but also foster valuable networking connections between students, alumni, and employers.

GHR Fellows

The GHR Fellows Program at the University of St. Thomas offers a transformational experience for high-achieving students pursuing careers in business. This prestigious program provides a four-year, full-tuition scholarship and a rich array of leadership development opportunities. Fellows become part of a close-knit cohort and benefit from personalized career coaching, global exposure through a J-Term study abroad, and direct access to influential business and community leaders.

Inspired by Gerry’s legacy, the program is grounded in the Four Pillars that shaped his life as a visionary entrepreneur and civic leader. Through service-learning, social entrepreneurship, and immersive professional experiences, Fellows graduate prepared to lead with purpose and create lasting value in their communities and industries.

St. Catherine University

We help advance the fields of healthcare through enhancing academic pathways in the Health Sciences and School of Nursing, while deepening relationships with clinical partners and local communities. GHR’s grant prioritizes innovative, sustainable projects that support student and faculty recruitment, retention, and degree completion. We foster student learning by strengthening degree pathways and integrating technology into experiential learning opportunities.

GHR helps address critical workforce challenges in healthcare by supporting the evolving needs of health and nursing students and the community. For example, GHR supports expanded clinical partnerships, scholarships for rural health placements, and growth of Scrubs Camp—a healthcare career pipeline program for high school students—in collaboration with the MN State HealthForce Center of Excellence.

Marquette University

GHR Foundation supports the Opus College of Engineering as it responds to rapid shifts in education and technology, with a strong focus on integrating innovation into student learning. Faculty are reimagining the undergraduate curriculum to shape engineers who lead with purpose, while students benefit from state-of-the-art labs that foster collaboration and hands-on exploration. The Opus College is also innovating how it supports mid-career engineers by responding to industry through specialized training as the field evolves.

Artificial Intelligence in engineering is changing the way problems are solved, designs are optimized, and systems are built. GHR’s funding helps Opus College develop custom AI tools for personalized learning, advance research in machine learning, and support faculty in adopting values-based approaches to AI in the classroom, preparing students to meet the challenges of tomorrow.