Richard Senese (Ph.D. ’97) is the new senior associate dean of University of Minnesota Extension. He was named president of Capella U.

Serena Wright (B.S. ’13) was recently appointed Senior Alumni Relations Officer.

Serena Wright is the Senior Alumni Relations Officer for the College of Education and Human Development. She is a pivotal person in bridging the gap between our alumni, graduate and undergraduate students. She plans and manages events to strengthen community and culture throughout the college and to develop relationships among internal and external stakeholders. She provides conceptual knowledge about the vital role of the “ceremonial imagination” in developing group cohesion, programmatic inclusion, and manifest commitment to the ideal of a community of scholars through the planning, organization, and implementation of high quality, highly visible, and enthusiastically attended college events and functions. With over 20 years of experience she has a well-earned reputation as “events coordinator extraordinaire”.

Born in Plainfield, New Jersey she attended Fisk University and Rutgers, training for a career in teaching before she sidestepped into the world of modeling, fashion, and textiles until she was –happily for us-kidnapped by her husband-to-be Professor John Wright and deposited here on the banks of the mighty Mississippi, whence she became Vice President of Marketing/Operations for Creative Intellectual Properties, Incorporated prior to joining the University’s administrative staff in General College in 2002.

She received her B.A. in Psychology from the University of Minnesota. She served on the board of the Givens Foundation of African American Literature. She is a member of the African American Leadership Forum. She is also a member of NAACO, North American Association for Commencement Officers and S.P.I.N Senior Planners Industry Network.

Her passion for playing tennis, traveling with her husband, spending time with family and girlfriends, the theatre, jazz and old school music, and cooking keeps her life full and busy.

Laura Hageman (M.Ed. ’14),  is one of the Prior Lake-Savage Area School District’s Teachers of the Year for 2016-2017 school year. This is Laura’s fourth year teaching at Five Hawks. Laura is highly active in several activities and committees at Five Hawks. She is currently on the BILT Leadership Team, Junior Naturalist Team, and E-STEM Team. Along with her participation with several activities and committees, she is currently planning a garden at Five Hawks to provide students with a hands-on learning experience.

Jeanne d’Arc Gomis (M.A. ’05), is the new Director of the Study Abroad Programs at Arkansas State University.  Jeanne d’Arc Gomis’s previous experience greatly prepared her for her new position. She has worked four years as the regional director of International Member Relations for International Student Exchange Programs,  also known as ISEP in Arlington, Virginia. In 2006, she worked six years as the study aboard adviser at Appalachian State University. At Appalachian State University she served four years as the assistant director of the International Student Exchange and Study Abroad department. In 2010, she became the interim director of the International Student Exchange and Study Abroad department.

Marsha Wilson (M.Ed ’11), is a master teacher who wears all the hats — parent, social worker, teacher, nurse and she wears them all so effortlessly,’ said Principal Jeff Roland, Banfield Elementary School. Marsha Wilson is Austin’s top choice for 2017 Minnesota State teacher of the Year. She currently a fourth grade teacher at Banfield Elementary School. She has been teaching at Banfield since 1986.

Heidi Haugen (M.Ed ’97), is a 2016 nominee for Minnesota Teacher of the Year. She currently a kindergarten teacher at Kenyon Wanamingo School. She has been working in Kenyon Public Schools since 1986. She is an advocate for reading. Through her passion for reading she created a book program that “has secured funding for a monthly book donation to students receiving food backpacks” (KenyonLeader.com, 2016).

Lisa M. Bolt (M.Ed. ’95) has published three middle grade “choose your path” sports novels (hockey, baseball, and soccer), over 20 nonfiction children’s titles, and an adult history book. She also teaches ESL to adults part time.

Daniel Hertz (B.S. ’82) is now offering Meditation classes and Biofeedback sessions in the community starting in 2016.  More information at his website- www.yoga4meditation.com

Shawn Haag (M.Ed. ’15) started in a new role as an Engagement Manager at Acrobatiq in September 2016.

Brenda Blume (M. Ed. ’07) accepted corporate marketing role focused on talent, learning & development, diversity, inclusion and community relations related efforts for the global supply chain company, C.H. Robinson. The role focuses on marketing our talent’s education, lifelong learning, giving back and the value that brings to our company and customers.

Brad Hokanson (Ph.D. ’00) has been elected president of the Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT). He will become president at the 2016 annual convention in Las Vegas this October. AECT is the premier international organization for educational technology, with over 2400 members world wide and affiliates in 21 countries.

Stephanie Kennelly (M.A. ’06) is a third grade teacher implementing the Yoga Calm curriculum. She believes mindfulness in education is an important topic. For more information visit her blog at http://www.1000-petals.com/blogs/ 

Emelee Volden (M.A. ’11) is currently the Director of International Education and Engagement at the University of Wisconsin- La Crosse.

Mark Falkowski (B.S. ’06) was recently announced by Columbia College as the college’s first general counsel. Falkowski will serve as a member of the college’s senior leadership team.

Patricia Jones Whyte (Ph.D. ’13) retired from her position at the University of Minnesota as the Director of the Office for Diversity in Graduate Education on September 2, 2016.

Erin Pepelnjak (M.Ed. ’07)  is an instructor in the Department of Education at UMD and am the program coordinator for the Secondary Teacher Education Program (STEP) in the department.

Andrea Krueger (M.Ed. ’07) who teaches English at Centennial High School was named the 2016 Centennial Teacher of the Year.  The award program is sponsored by the Centennial Education Association (CEA) and the Centennial Area Education Foundation (CAEF).

Imed Labidi (MA ’98)  is an assistant professor of media and cultural studies at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies in Qatar. His article, “ISIS’s Euro-American Fighters: Western Failures and the Narratives of Denial,” was recently published in the journal Arab Media & Society. http://www.arabmediasociety.com/?article=947

Formerly an instructor at the U of MN – http://gomn.umn.edu/content/imed-labidi-phd

Note: Highest degree earned at the U of MN was PhD. in comparative studies in discourse and society (CLA), 2007.

K. Peter Kuchinke (Ph.D. ’97) Professor in the Department of Education Policy, Organization and Leadership, was recognized with the 2016/2017 College of Education Distinguished Senior Scholar Award in May. The award is given in recognition of sustained scholarly quality, significance, and productivity to individuals beyond 10 years from receiving their terminal degree. Peter’s research interests include the role of work in overall life design, cross-cultural differences in career preparation and development, and professional ethics. He has published over 150 scholarly articles and book chapters and presented his research at more than 50 national and international education conferences. His current service appointments include Director of Graduate Studies; President of the University Council for Workforce and Human Resource Education; and PromoDoc Ambassador for the European Union’s Erasmus Mundus Program. He was recognized as the 2015 Outstanding Scholar, Academy of Human Resource Development.

John Kundla (BS ‘39) the former basketball coach of the Minnesota Golden Gophers and the Minnesota Lakers, turned 100 on July 3, 2016. He was recently profiled in the New York Times. John passed away on July 23, 2017 at the age of 101.