SAINT PAUL, Minn.—A Saint Paul resident has been selected a spring semester Outstanding Student at Metropolitan State University.
Raelene Caswell graduated summa cum laude with a master’s degree in advocacy and political leadership was chosen Outstanding Graduate Student representing the university’s College of Community Studies and Public Affairs. She was one of 1,058 students receiving bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees at Metropolitan State’s 102nd commencement exercises on April 28, 2018, at the Minneapolis Convention Center.
“I chose Metropolitan State so that I could be enroll in the Master of Advocacy and Political Leadership program,” Caswell said. “My goal was to learn about policy and advocacy work, and connect with amazing people that are active in their communities.”
At Metropolitan State, Caswell was active in student life. She was the president of Metropolitan State’s Advocacy and Political Leadership student organizations where she built a network of like-minded community-oriented scholars.
Caswell is also active in her community, playing with the Roseville Community Band and dance with Rince na Chroi. She’s also played with the Center for Irish Music.
Caswell holds a bachelor’s degree from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota. She is a program manager at SafeJourney, a domestic violence program at North Memorial Health in Minneapolis.
“She has helped to revitalize APLS, bringing in new leadership and raising the prominence of the group in our program… She has always been an active volunteer helping out with human needs, said Caswell’s advisor, Adrienne Falcon, MAPL academic director.