Congratulations to Amira Adawe (BS’07, family social science), who received a 2020 Bush Fellowship for her work to end skin-lightening practices that both expose people to toxic chemicals and harm their identities. Amira was honored as a CEHD Rising Alumni in 2018 and is a former member of the Dean’s Advisory Board.
This spring, Jill Ewing Flynn (PhD’09, curriculum and instruction) was promoted to Full Professor in the Department of English at the University of Delaware, where she serves as the Student Teaching Coordinator for the English Education Program. Jill says, “In April, I was selected by the Faculty Senate’s Committee on Student and Faculty Honors to receive a 2020 Excellence in Teaching Award. A brick bearing my name will be placed in Mentors’ Circle on campus. I am thrilled to have been honored with this award!”
Marlys Ann (Menster) Tietz, 76, of New Brighton passed away on Tuesday, May 5, 2020. While serving as an elementary teacher in St. Paul, Minn., she earned a Master’s degree and specialist degree in education administration from the University of Minnesota. She became a principal with the Anoka-Hennepin School District at Hamilton Elementary School (1976) where she spent the rest of her career, retiring in 2003. She was highly active in the Anoka Hennepin Principal’s Association and received the 25-Year Minnesota Elementary School Principals Association Award.
David Waters (PhD ’96, MA ’84)
David Waters (PhD ’96, MA ’84) retired in May 2019, following 10 years of teaching, research, and service within the Sport Management and Leadership Program at Viterbo University, in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Upon retiring from Viterbo, he was awarded Professor Emeritus status.
Dan Stewart (PhD 2010, MA 1995) was promoted to Legal Director of the Minnesota Disability Law Center (MDLC) in June 2019. Dan has been at MDLC since 2006, focusing on legal issues surrounding youth with disabilities in public schools and adults with disabilities who want to access employment services.
Jen Owens (BS 2011) owns JAO Companies, which organizes to respond to Trafficking in Persons.
Devon Gilchrist (MSW 2011) accepted a new position as supervisor of the newly created African-American Child Well Being Unit in the Child Safety in Permanency division at the MN Department of Human Services in April 2020.
Barbara Moll Fanslow (BS ’55)
Barbara Moll Fanslow (BS 1955) passed away on April 23, 2020.
Margaret Riley (M. Ed. ’85)
Margaret Riley (M. Ed. ’85) passed away at the age of 78 on March 22, 2018. Margaret was a teacher in the Anoka-Hennepin School District for 27 years and a Fulbright Scholar who has taught in several countries around the world.
Cris Peterson (B.S. ’72)
Cris Peterson (B.S. ’72) is the author of ten books for children, including Century Farm: One Hundred Years on a Family Farm, and Harvest Year. She was appointed regent of the University of Wisconsin System by Governor Scott Walker in 2018.
Jeffrey Allen (Ph.D. ’98)
Jeffrey Allen (Ph.D. ’98) has been announced as the new president of Adler Graduate School. Allen has worked in the education system for more than 25 years helping schools to maximize their enrollment, retention and supporting faculty and staff success. As a seasoned executive to colleges and nonprofit organizations, his marketing expertise and past role as chief academic office will also be vital to his new role.
Mary Ellen McFarland (B.S. ‘43)
Mary Ellen McFarland (B.S. ‘43) a very active alumna of Human Ecology/ Home Ec, and also the wife of our very own professor and longtime dean of the College of Home Ec/College of Human Ecology, Keith McFarland. Mary Ellen passed away January 18, 2018.
Paula Goldberg Receives OAA
On November 19, elementary education (1964) alumna Paula Goldberg was presented with the University of Minnesota’s Outstanding Achievement Award.
Paula is the Executive Director and co-founder of PACER Center, a nonprofit supporting families of youth with disabilities using a “parents helping parents” model. PACER Center is unique in that it serves children of all ages, with all disabilities: learning, physical, emotional, mental, and health. No other organization in Minnesota offers this broad range of services to families.
Prior to founding PACER, Paula was an elementary school teacher in Minneapolis and Chicago. In 1978, she was faced with a decision, either to attend law school or help launch a new organization to assist parents of children with disabilities. She chose to spend her time – just for a few years, she thought – building PACER Center.
It was a grassroots effort, with one grant, five staff and a 700 square foot office filled with used furniture. Her young sons helped with filing and put on puppet shows to teach schoolchildren about disability awareness.
Today, thanks to Paula’s leadership, PACER has more than 70 staff in its own 38,000 square foot building. The Center runs more than 35 programs, including bullying prevention, social events and self-advocacy resources for youth, independent housing information, an assistive technology center, and, almost 40 years later, the puppet shows.
Paula has dedicated her professional career to ensuring families of children with disabilities have access to information, resources and support. Her vision for PACER has made a difference for thousands of children and parents across the country.
The Outstanding Achievement Award is reserved for University of Minnesota alumni who have attained marked distinction in their profession or in public service; and who have demonstrated outstanding achievement and leadership on a community, state, national, or international level.
Helen Meyer Receives OAA
On Oct. 25, The Honorable Helen Meyer, Associate Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court, was presented with the University of Minnesota’s Outstanding Achievement Award.
Meyer is a School of Social Work alumna, who carried out the school’s commitment to social justice through her work as a lawyer and judge.
While on the state Supreme Court, Justice Meyer led a workgroup that identified and implemented ways to improve legal assistance for families in child protection cases. Because of her efforts, children’s interests in Minnesota are better represented by having competent parental representation.
Justice Meyer also recognized that cases involving individuals struggling with addiction were not being handled effectively, and were not decreasing recidivism. She laid the groundwork for establishing addiction treatment courts in our state.
After stepping down from the Supreme Court, Justice Meyer continued her advocacy on behalf of families by helping to establish the Mitchell Hamline Child Protection Clinic at her law school alma mater.
In her remarks, Meyer recalled taking a class with Esther Wattenberg and how it made an impact on her decision to work on behalf of vulnerable populations.
The Outstanding Achievement Award is reserved for University of Minnesota alumni who have attained marked distinction in their profession or in public service; and who have demonstrated outstanding achievement and leadership on a community, state, national, or international level.
Tenzin Dolkar (M.S.W. ‘14)
Tenzin Dolkar (M.S.W. ‘14) was appointed in October of 2017, by Governor Mark Dayton to serve as the State of Minnesota’s Rail Director. In her previous position, Dolkar served as the governor’s chief policy adviser on transportation and agriculture.
Parker Kruckenburg (M.Ed. ‘12)
Parker Kruckenburg (M.Ed. ‘12) joined the Northeastern State University RiverHawks baseball coaching staff as the top assistant in August of 2017.
Rhoda Mhiripiri-Reed (M.A. ‘00)
Rhoda Mhiripiri-Reed (M.A. ‘00) was hired as the new Hopkins Superintendent in July 2017. Dr. Mhiripiri-Reed is the first female and first person of color to serve as superintendent of the district.
Ormasa Receives Alumni Service Award
On Oct. 19, Jan Ormasa was recognized with a University of Minnesota Alumni Service Award. Jan has a master’s degree in educational psychology and a Specialist Certificate in educational administration, and worked as a special education teacher and administrator for the Hopkins Public Schools for over 40 years.
Jan’s passion for education and advocacy is apparent in her daily life as well as in her past leadership of the College of Education and Human Development Alumni Society Board and the CEHD Women’s Philanthropic Leadership Circle. For both organizations, she implemented strategic planning and inspired members to do more to meet annual goals. In addition, she is a member of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and PACER Center boards.
The UM Alumni Service Award recognizes a volunteer who has had a major impact on the University, its schools, colleges, departments, or faculty.
Congratulations, Jan!
Jon Steadland (Ph.D. ‘15)
Jon Steadland (Ph.D. ‘15) has been named Chief of Staff in the Office of the President at the University of Minnesota. For the past six months, Steadland has served as the interim chief of staff. Prior to that, he was the Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Initiatives in the president’s office. Steadland received his undergraduate degree from Luther College, earned his Master of Public Policy from the Humphrey School, and his Ph.D. in Sports Management from the U of M’s College of Education and Human Development.
Rosalind Horowitz (Ph.D. ‘82)
Rosalind Horowitz (Ph.D. ‘82) Professor of Departments of Interdisciplinary Learning and Teaching; and Educational Psychology at The University of Texas at San Antonio and S. Jay Samuels, Professor Emeritus of Educational Psychology at The University of Minnesota—Twin Cities edited the book, The Achievement Gap in Reading: Complex causes, persistent issues, possible solutions (Routledge/Taylor & Francis, 2017). This volume presents the research of 24, distinguished scholars in varied fields, who conduct educational and literacy research.