“I love being a student at Trinity because of the wonderful faculty members. Each individual and unique class I take is paired with an equally individual and unique teacher. The passion they have for their subjects influences me every day. They inspire me to work harder and show me the beauty in all areas of study. Their enthusiasm for learning is contagious, and I am grateful for every single one of them!”
Trinity Student
Beth Schmitz ’01
Head of School
B.A. Mathematics, minor in Music and Statistics, University of Minnesota-Morris, 2005. Trinity School at River Ridge, 2005-present.
Patrick Murphy
Associate Head of School
Ed.S. Educational Administration, University of St. Thomas, 1992; M.A. Educational Administration, University of St. Thomas, 1985; B.A. Education, Central Florida University, 1975; Faculty: St. Raphael School, 1979-1983; Principal; St. Bridget’s School, 1984-1990. National Endowment for the Humanities Grant to study Machiavelli, 1993. Trinity School at River Ridge, 1990-present.
Jessica Bowden ’99
Dean of Girls
B.A. Biology, St. Olaf College, 2003. Trinity School at River Ridge, 2003-2007, 2021-present.
Dominic Bulger ’17
Dean of Boys
B.A. Music, Hillsdale College, 2021. Trinity School at River Ridge, 2021-present.
Penny Arndt
B.A. Psychology, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, 1987. National Endowment for the Humanities Grant to study Machiavelli, 1995. Trinity School at River Ridge, 1987-2020, 2023-present.
Joseph Baumgarn
B.A. Biblical/Theological Studies, minor in History, Bethel University, 2024. Trinity School at River Ridge, 2024-present
Jon Beane
Ph.D. Philosophy, University of Notre Dame, 1993; B.A. Philosophy, Roosevelt University, 1986. Trinity School at River Ridge, 1997-2007; Rhodora J. Donahue Academy of Ave Maria, Ave Maria, FL, 2007-2015; Chesterton Academy of the Holy Family, Downers Grove, IL, 2015-2017; Kingswood Academy, Darien, IL, 2017-2018; Trinity School at River Ridge, 2018-present.
Elisa Berry Fonseca
M.F.A., Sculpture, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, 2012; M.A.R., Religion and the Arts, Yale Divinity School and Yale Institute of Sacred Music; B.A., Studio Arts and Religious Studies, French minor, Macalester College, 2005. Teaching Assistant, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, 2009-2012; Adjunct Instructor of Art History, Pfeiffer University, Charlotte NC, 2013-2018; Trinity School at River Ridge, 2024-present.
Margaret Berns
B.S. English, French minor, Moorhead State University, 1994. Trinity School at River Ridge, 2021-present.
Beth Bulger
M.A. English Literature with a minor in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL), University of Minnesota, 1980. B.A. English, St. Patrick’s College at Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, 1975. Trinity School at River Ridge, 2018-2020, 2023-present.
Beth Gothmann
B.A. Music Education, Augsburg College, Minneapolis, 1984. Richfield Public Schools, 1987-1988; Morristown Public Schools, 1985-1987; Trinity School at River Ridge, 2017-present.
Stephen Harris
M.A. Classical and Near-Eastern Studies, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, 2019. M.A.R. in Biblical Studies, Cincinnati Christian University, 2014. B.A. Counseling and Human Services, Lindsey Wilson College, 2010. A.A. Liberal Arts and Certificate of Religious Studies, Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, 2009. Cincinnati Christian University, 2012-2014; University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, 2017-2019; Trinity School at River Ridge, 2023-present.
Tyler Herndon
M.T.S. History of Christianity, University of Notre Dame, 2020; B.A. English, Hillsdale College, 2014. Trinity School at River Ridge, 2015-2018 and 2020-present.
Marc LeMaire
B.A. Fine Arts, minor in Biology, Houghton College, 2011. Trinity School at River Ridge, 2023-present.
Bradley Lindberg
B.A. Latin, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, 2006. Trinity School at River Ridge, 2010-present.
Anne Nicklaus
Graduate Studies in Catholic Studies, University of St. Thomas, 2022-present. Certificate, National Catholic Bioethics Center, 2018-2019. Graduate Studies in Theology, Philosophy, Church History, Scripture and Prayer, Saint Paul Seminary School of Divinity, 2013-2016. Certificate, Catechetical Institute, 2012-2014. Certificate, Phoenix Institute, Notre Dame, 1993. B.A. Music and Education, Bethel University, 1989. Osseo Area Schools, 1989-1992; St. Bridget’s School, 1992-1995; Sacred Heart School, 1995-1996; Trinity School at River Ridge 2023-present.
Anna Payne ’16
B.A. English, Hillsdale College, 2020. Trinity School at River Ridge, 2020-present.
Jennifer Pintozzi
B.A. Mathematics, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, 1989. Trinity School at Greenlawn, 1990-1996; Trinity School River Ridge, 1996-present.
Claire Rubio (Trinity School at Meadow View ’16)
B.A. Applied Mathematics, University of St. Thomas, 2020. Trinity School at River Ridge, 2020-present.
Maria Schwartz
Ph.D. Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 2009; B.A. Natural Science, College of Saint Benedict, 2004. Adjunct Assistant Professor of Biology, College of Saint Benedict/Saint John’s University, 2010-2012; Trinity School at River Ridge, 2023-present.
Kristina Singleton ’02
B.A. History, University of Notre Dame, 2006. Trinity School at River Ridge, 2008-2010, 2022-present.
John Stauble ’98
Director of IT
B.A. Catholic Studies and Philosophy, University of St. Thomas, 2002. Trinity School at River Ridge, 2002-present.
Lisette Stetson
B.A. Drama, Franciscan University of Steubenville, 2015. Children’s Theater Workshop Coordinator in Gaming, Austria, 2013; Chesterton Academy, 2016; Virginia Children’s Theater, 2018-2023, Trinity School at River Ridge, 2023-present.
Michael Stetson
B.A. Drama, Franciscan University of Steubenville, 2015. Trinity School at River Ridge, 2023-present.
Jacob Theis ’18
B.S. Electrical Engineering, minor in Physics and Catholic Studies, University of St. Thomas, 2022. Trinity School at River Ridge, 2023-present.
Michael Wacker ’99
B.S. Mathematics with a supplementary major in Philosophy, University of Notre Dame, 2003. Trinity School at River Ridge, 2003-2006, 2023-present.
Thomas Wilkin ’18
B.A. Theology, Philosophy Co-Major, Benedictine College, 2022. Trinity School at River Ridge, 2024-present.
Featured Faculty Member
Mrs. Jessica Bowden
Mrs. Bowden teaches biology and chemistry.
What do you love about being a teacher? It is wonderful to watch a student’s curiosity, questions, and understanding progress as she is exposed to material that perhaps she had never previously considered or pursued. In biology for example, fairly frequently a student will approach the first dissection with a great deal of hesitation only to end the year asking why we only do seven dissections!
What are some of your academic interests and how did you develop them? In college, I had the opportunity to participate in an Environmental Studies Program that took place primarily in and around the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. The time there ignited an interest in exploring the relationships between species and their environment and recognizing that my current understanding of these interactions is only scratching the surface.
What are some of your hobbies and personal pursuits? My husband and I have four sons, and their activities currently keep us on the move for much of our free time. I also enjoy DIY projects, road trips and time spent on the water.
