Mary Frances Skala named 'Alum of Month' for April 2009

Mary Frances Skala has been named Alum of the Month for April 2009 at The College of St. Scholastica.

The Alum of the Month designation recognizes alumni who are role models to current students and an inspiration to St. Scholastica alumni.

Skala graduated from St. Scholastica with a bachelor's degree in chemistry in 1972. She received her Juris Doctorate from Hamline University School of Law in 1983.

She is an attorney at Fryberger, Buchanan, Smith & Frederick, P.A., in Duluth, where she works primarily in the areas of public finance and municipal law. She also acts as general counsel to a number of municipal corporations.

She is currently board chair of the Benedictine Health System and a member of the board of Essentia Health.

Skala is grateful for the Benedictine values she learned at St. Scholastica. "One of the reasons I am involved with the Benedictine Health System is that I feel in some small way it returns to the Sisters some of what they gave me," she said.

Her husband, Dan Kaminski; her sister, Annie Skala Hagen; and her brother-in-law, John Hagen, also attended St. Scholastica.