Dee Bernhardt

Dee Bernhardt joined the staff at St. Thomas Aquinas in 2012, where she works with students, faculty, staff, and residents to form authentic disciples and leaders for campus ministry at Purdue. She believes in empowering communities of disciples who facilitate encounters with Christ through prayer, lived faith, and creative programming. Her greatest joy is hearing students and alumni share how they carry their faith into daily life. 

Before coming to St. Thomas, Dee coordinated campus ministry in a variety of settings. She holds master’s degrees in religious education from Marywood College and in Christian spirituality from Creighton University, along with certifications in campus ministry (USCCB/CCMA) and in spiritual direction from Creighton.

Her leadership in campus ministry has been widely recognized: she received the Forsyth Award in 2011, the Hallinan Award in 2025, and was inducted into the Hallahan High School Hall of Fame in 2013 for excellence in the humanities.