The Monsma Society

About the Society

The William & Mary Beth Monsma Society was founded in 2018 by faculty members and others who desired to invest in upcoming generations of Christian leaders through estate and other future gifts.

The society exists to recognize, thank, and build community among individuals and families who have made planned gifts to ensure the ongoing connection of Christian faith and knowledge at the University of Minnesota for ages to come.

Today, members support scholarships, named endowments, and key programs—benefiting current and future generations. All individuals who make a planned gift to Anselm House are automatically enrolled.

Have you already included Anselm House in your estate plans? Tell us about your gift! We would love to honor your generosity and welcome you into the Monsma Society.

About William & Mary Beth Monsma

Dr. William Monsma (1942-2015) loved what the worlds of physics and Christian theology revealed about God, and he devoted his life to their integration. His wife, Mary Beth, embraced and sacrificially supported William’s vision for university ministry.

In 1982, with the help and encouragement of university faculty, William and Mary Beth Monsma founded the MacLaurin Institute to promote engagement with Christian truth within the University of Minnesota, among both faculty and students. Together, they laid a foundation of connecting Christian faith and knowledge with all of life at the university. Today, Mary Beth is an active member of the Anselm House community.

William and Mary Beth Monsma in the early 1980s.

Donor Stories

Marvin and Jean Bauer joined the UMN faculty in 1983—Marvin in the Department of Forest Resources, and Jean in the Department of Family Social Science. They loved the ministry of Anselm House to students and faculty, and started giving financially in 2001. In 2012, Jean passed away after a battle with cancer, and Marvin continued to give faithfully. In 2018, Marvin became a member of the Monsma Society by committing a legacy gift to Anselm House in his estate.

Marvin and Jean on the day Jean received the President’s Award for Outstanding Service in 2011.

“Anselm House is an important ministry at the University of Minnesota, and I am pleased to see its growth. It is an honor to leave a legacy for its work with students and faculty.”

- Marvin Bauer, Professor Emeritus

Thank You & Recognition

Monsma Society members are stakeholders in our mission to educate current and future leaders for Christ and His Kingdom within the public context of the University of Minnesota. Members receive:

  • An artistic plaque of St. Anselm
  • Recognition in Anselm House communications
  • An invitation to our annual Director’s Circle Luncheon

We invite you to join us in living out your Christian values through planned gifts to Anselm House.

Contact Us

Ellie Peters, Executive Assistant
ep@anselmhouse.org