Tacardra Rountree (MEd ’02) has published her second book and first children’s picture book, titled “Hello Queen.” This book is illustrated by Audrey “Sala Adenike” Jeter-Allen. Roundtree says, “It was at the University of Minnesota that I became exposed to great children’s books and authors.”
Read more about her story.
Gregory A. Elsner (General College ’85) obituary
Gregory A. Elsner (General College ’85) passed away on July 9, 2020.
Gerald R. Schneck (PhD ’80) obituary
Dr. Gerald R. Schneck died on Dec. 8, 2020. He graduated in 1980 from the University of Minnesota with a Doctorate of Philosophy majoring in Vocational Education with supporting fields in Rehabilitation Counseling and Special Education.
Alums honored by Twin Cities Business
Congratulations to OLPD alums Verna Price and Abdul Omari for being named two of Twin Cities Business‘ 100 people who will shape 2021!
What started as a passion project in 2013 during Omari’s (PhD’15) doctorate work grew into what is now a thriving business. AMO Enterprise provides an educational platform for companies to work on leadership development and the connections between equity, inclusion, and diversity.
After working as a consultant and executive coach in the Twin Cities for two decades, Price (MA’90, PhD’96) looks to 2021 to change corporate cultures around race. Price, one of the few Black women in the Twin Cities who’s served as a leadership adviser, wants to leverage the heightened awareness around racism and inequality to move beyond traditional diversity and inclusion programs.
Laura H. Gilbert (PhD) publishes book on retirement
Laura H. Gilbert’s new book, Enough: A Retirement Life That Works for Me (October 2020), shares her journey to “enough” based on a middle-income budget. The book offers a down-to-earth path for those who fall short of the oft-cited million-dollar mark for a financially secure retirement. Enough builds on Gilbert’s earlier work, The Stories We Leave Behind: A Legacy-Based Approach to Dealing With Stuff, that shares what happened when she chose to embrace retirement unencumbered by stuff she no longer used or wanted. Gilbert has an MA in industrial relations and a PhD in educational psychology from the U of M.
Wayne Kazmierczak (PhD ’14) Named Superintendent of the Year
The Minnesota Association of School Administrators has named Dr. Wayne Kazmierczak (OLPD PhD’14), Superintendent of the White Bear Lake Area Schools, the 2021 Minnesota Superintendent of the Year. As the Minnesota honoree, Dr. Kazmierczak is a candidate among other state recipients for National Superintendent of the Year, to be announced during the American Association of School Administrators National Conference on Education in February 2021. Dr. Kazmierczak was selected for this honor by a panel of representatives from a variety of Minnesota education organizations. Nominees are evaluated on how each candidate demonstrates leadership for learning, communication skills, professionalism, and community involvement. He began his career as a high school business education teacher and coach for 12 years. He has served as the Superintendent of Lakeview Public Schools and Assistant Superintendent for Moorhead Area Public Schools. Dr. Kazmierczak was the Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations for White Bear Lake Area Schools from 2014-2017, and named Superintendent in 2017.
Alumna named managing director of Juxtaposition Arts
Minneapolis nonprofit Juxtaposition Arts announced the selection of Gabrielle Grier (MEd’19, youth development leadership) as the youth arts organization’s new managing director.
Grier has a background in both arts and education, having joined Juxtaposition Arts in 2019 to lead its contemporary art lab. While working at the nonprofit, she also held a full-time position as director of family and community engagement at Hiawatha Academies, a K-12 charter school network with five south Minneapolis campuses.
Alumna to lead Port of Virginia Human Resources
Monica Sturgis (MEd’98, HRD Cert’00) has accepted the lead position of The Port of Virginia’s Human Resources Division.
As chief human resources officer, Sturgis is responsible for the development and implementation of human resources needs and plans across the three port entities: the Virginia Port Authority, Virginia International Terminals, and Hampton Roads Chassis Pool II. A large part of her effort focuses on developing and transforming colleagues across the enterprise into a competitive advantage and ensuring the overall quality of the workplace.
Alumna Leading COVID-19 Response
Bridgette R. Mastaglio (Family Social Science BS’99) has been appointed by the superintendent of Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of New York as COVID-19 response coordinator. Mastaglio will be the primary person responsible for ensuring preparedness and safety of school operations, and for managing and implementing responses to COVID-19 infections in Catholic schools.
Alumna Awarded Knowles Teaching Fellowship
Liz Dengate (MEd x’21) was chosen by the Knowles Teacher Initiative as one of 34 Teaching Fellows. Liz began her first year of teaching at the School of Environmental Studies in Apple Valley, Minnesota, during the 2020–2021 school year. She is committed to teaching science to high school students in the U.S. Before starting a career in education, Liz worked full-time for the Dakota County Soil & Water Conservation District as their Education & Outreach Coordinator. In this role, she worked with their staff, board, and community partners to develop a three-year Education & Outreach Plan and to commit to a list of Equity and Inclusion Goals. The Knowles Teacher Initiative supports a national network of mathematics and science teachers who are collaborative, innovative leaders improving education for all students in the United States.
Steinmetz Named WEM Outstanding Educator
Monica Steinmetz, a teacher at St. Francis of Assisi School in Rochester Catholic Schools, was surprised with the news that she is a recipient of a 2020 WEM Outstanding Educator Award, an honor that is accompanied by a $15,000 award. Steinmetz (MEd’97) has been teaching for 30 years and currently teaches sixth grade.
Steinmetz is one of six educators being honored by the WEM Foundation and Synergy & Leadership Exchange for outstanding accomplishments and contributions to student learning. She is one of two recipients of the Teacher Achievement Award, which recognizes exemplary teachers who support, inspire and assist students to attain greater learning as evidenced by student achievement.
Earl Sharp (’55, General College) of Dayton, Ohio passed away March 14, 2020 at the age of 88.
Congrats to Myrna Shaw!
Congratulations to Myrna Shaw (BS’60), a recipient of the 2020 Alumni Service Award. While her professional resume includes work with Land O’ Lakes and Pillsbury, her commitment and connection to her alma mater has always remained strong. Since moving to Arizona over 15 years ago, Myrna led the UMAA’s Arizona West Valley Chapter, to being actively involved in the Gamma Omicron Beta sorority for over 30 years, and more. Read more and attend the award celebration.
Emil Muhlhausen (BS’71), also known as Patrick H. Bellringer, passed away on August 8, 2020.
Erica Lembke (PhD ed psych, 2003) has been appointed Interim Dean of the College of Education at the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Robert E. Staples, (Ph.D., home economics) died at age 79 in Australia on Friday, Feb. 7, 2020. Dr. Staples leaves behind a towering legacy in the family field as a prolific researcher and a leading authority of Black family life. He reached the rank of professor emeritus of sociology in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences at the University of California, San Francisco, having began at this university in 1973. The National Council on Family Relations published a full obituary.
Edwin Backie (BS’66) passed away on March 3, 2020. He was a retired St. Paul Public School Special Education Teacher and a foster parent for many years.
Gerald Middents (MA’65, EdD’67, educational psychology) released a book of poetic writing called “Global Warming.” He taught counseling at Austin College in Sherman, TX for 33 years.
Daniel Hertz (BS’82) wrote a memoir titled Everything Is A Little Bit Alright: Yoga, Meditation, and a Dog Named Roy. The story of moving from grief to healing was published by Shanti Arts. Hertz is an emeritus counselor with Minneapolis Public Schools.
Mindy Greiling‘s (MA’74) book, “Fix What You Can: Schizophrenia and a Lawmaker’s Fight for Her Son,” will be published by the University of Minnesota Press in October. Greiling is a former Minnesota state legislator.