TRIO Upward Bound alum featured on KARE 11 news

August 19, 2014

TRIO Upward Bound alum Salina Vang was featured on KARE-11 news for her creative way to raise money for her first year of college at the University of Minnesota – Duluth.

Vang is a 2014 graduate of Edison High School and the TRIO Upward Bound program, and will be the first in her family to attend college. She is using the personal fundraising website, GoFundMe.com, to collect donations.

Vang was also one of two TRIO students who met in the spring with Sen. Al Franken and University President Eric Kaler, as part of a college affordability roundtable.

TRIO McNair Scholars present impressive summer research

August 4, 2014

The 2014 University of Minnesota TRIO Ronald E. McNair Scholars presented their summer research last week at the annual poster research symposium. The poster session highlighted the research efforts of 17 McNair scholars, including three CEHD undergraduates and four CEHD faculty. The McNair Scholars program is one of three U.S. Department of Education funded TRIO programs housed in CEHD. The program seeks to increase the doctoral program application, matriculation, and degree attainment by underrepresented and first-generation college students.

The cohort included students from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities and Duluth campuses, Carleton College, and Macalester College. A complete list of the 2014 scholars research projects is here. Four CEHD faculty served as mentors: Tai Mendenhall (Family Social Science), Karen Seashore (Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development), Catherine Solheim (Family Social Science), and Steve Yussen (Institute of Child Development). Mendenhall is pictured with Mara Stommes, McNair scholar and family social science major.

McNair Scholars director Anthony Albecker said attendance was up this year and included University president Eric Kaler and wife Karen Kaler, Katrice Albert, University vice president for equity and diversity, and federal and state representatives.

“The 2014 scholars and faculty mentors were amazing! Most scholars already have fall and spring research opportunities lined up through UROP, REUs, or are continuing research with faculty mentors or new research teams,” said Albecker.

Scholars will also be selected for the 2014 National McNair Conference held annually in November at Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.

Read more about the McNair Scholars program on the University’s Discover news blog.

TRIO Upward Bound students attend college affordability roundtable with Senator Franken

April 22, 2014

Two TRIO Upward Bound students met Friday with Sen. Al Franken and University President Eric Kaler, as part of a college affordability roundtable. Erika Romero-Paguay, TRIO Upward Bound alum and current TRIO Student Support Services student, and TRIO Upward Bound Edison high school senior Salina Vang expressed support for Franken’s Affordable College Textbook Act and his focus on holding institutions accountable for streamlining language around financial aid awards.

Romero-Paguay (pictured right) immigrated to the U.S. in 2011. She described how TRIO programs were instrumental in helping her navigate the college admissions and financial aid process. She also met Sen. Franken as a participant in the 2013 Council for Opportunity in Education (COE) National Student Leadership Congress.

Vang (pictured left) is the first in her family of 11 to pursue higher education. Vang will decide soon where she will go to college, and says much of her final decision will be based on how much aid she’s awarded. She thanked TRIO for guiding her through the college-readiness process.

In addition to Franken’s focus on college affordability, he reiterated the importance of TRIO programming and direct support of students. He suggested that Romero-Paguay and Vang be called upon to testify on the ways in which TRIO impacts student achievement and collegiate success.

Whittaker’s global seminar recognized as a game changer

April 9, 2014

Nate Whittaker, an academic adviser in TRiO Student Support Services, has been recognized by International Studies Abroad as leading a game-changing custom program for his global seminar to South Africa. Students learn about social justice firsthand by participating in a retreat and service learning at two South African non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Whittaker has led the trip since 2010.

TRIO Upward Bound alumni win MN TRIO Achievers award

March 27, 2014

Jon Jacobs and Susun Xiong (pictured), TRIO Upward Bound alumni from the classes of 2005 and 2007, respectively, each won the 2014 Minnesota TRIO Achievers award. They both earned post-secondary degrees and were selected for achieving a reputable position in their field of work and/or community. Jacobs is an architect and earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Minnesota. Xiong is currently a research and graduate assistant at the University of Illinois (UIC) at Chicago where she is pursuing a master’s degree in disability and human development. She has bachelor’s degrees in anthropology and women’s studies from Hamline University. They are a testament of the impact the TRIO program had on them, the involvement/impact they have had in the community, the perseverance to obtain their degrees, and the determination to overcome obstacles.

Jacobs and Xiong will be honored at the TRIO Achievers Banquet on April 7, 2014, at the Grandview Lodge in Nisswa, Minnesota. They were nominated by Minerva Munoz, director of TRIO Upward Bound, and Elizabeth Nelson, TRIO Upward Bound office manager and human resources coordinator.

Collins and Munoz awarded Showcase Session at John Tate Academic Advising Conference

March 18, 2014

Kirsten Collins, TRIO Student Support Services adviser, and Minerva Munoz, director of TRIO Upward Bound, were awarded the Showcase Session for their presentation at the 2014 John Tate Academic Advising Conference. Collins and Munoz presented “Understanding Class and Classism in Higher Education,” focused on their work with students living in poverty and their own experiences as low-income, first-generation students. They highlight and discuss the often unseen or ignored classism in higher education, as well as strategies for identifying classism in policies and everyday life. The Academic Advising Networking (AAN) determined the Showcase Session through evaluations after the presentation. They will present to AAN during the 2014-15 academic year.

CEHD student services staff present at the John Tate Academic Advising Conference

March 11, 2014

CEHD Student Services advisers, CEHD Career Services, and CEHD TRIO programs staff will present at the annual John Tate Academic Advising Conference on Thursday, March 13, 2014.

CEHD student services advisers’ presentation, “Subtracting the ‘Add On’ from Equity and Diversity work,” focuses on how CEHD advisers integrate equitable policies and processes across all of their work. This includes creating access opportunities that might be different or extra support for students. Participating advisers are: Carole Anne Broad, Rebecca Dosch Brown, Sara Georgeson, Amy Hackett, Tracey Hammell, Anna Mraz, Don Riley, Ellen Sunshine, and Nate Whittaker.

Jeannie Stumne, director of CEHD Career Services, is a panelist on “Pulling out the stops! Advanced Career Counseling Strategies,” where career professionals will share specific anecdotes, techniques and stories they use to help students with common career development challenges including indecision, cultural differences, inaction, family issues, and integrating strengths and learning styles.

Kirsten Collins, TRIO Student Support Services adviser, and Minerva Munoz, director of TRIO Upward Bound, will present “Understanding Class and Classism in Higher Education,” focused on their work with students living in poverty and their own experiences as low-income, first-generation students. They highlight and discuss the often unseen or ignored classism in higher education, as well as strategies for identifying classism in policies and everyday life.

Nelson to present at the Mid-America Association of Educational Opportunity Program Personnel conference

November 1, 2013

Elizabeth Nelson, office manager in TRiO Upward Bound, will present at the Mid-America Association of Educational Opportunity Program Personnel annual conference in Columbus, Ohio, this month. The title of her session is “Self-Awareness Leadership: You Can Exercise Authentic Leadership Individually or in a Team.”

Munoz selected to attend Social Justice Training Institute

October 22, 2013

Minerva S. Munoz, director of TRiO Upward Bound, was recently accepted into the Social Justice Training Institute set to meet this December in Long Beach, California. The Social Justice Training Institute is a week-long training program which provides a forum for the professional and personal development of social justice educators and practitioners to enhance and refine their skills and competencies to create greater inclusion for all members of the campus community.

TRiO McNair Scholars present impressive summer research

August 26, 2013

The 2013 U of M TRiO Ronald E. McNair Scholars presented their summer research this month at the annual Poster Symposium and U of M Research Symposium.
The poster session highlighted the research efforts of 20 McNair scholars, including six CEHD undergraduates, and their U of M faculty mentors. The McNair Scholars program is one of three U.S. Department of Education funded TRiO programs housed in CEHD. The program seeks to increase the doctoral program application, matriculation, and degree attainment by underrepresented and first-generation college students.
The 2013 cohort included students from the U of M Twin Cities and Crookston campuses, Carleton College, and University of St. Thomas. A complete list of the 2013 scholars research projects is here. Five CEHD faculty served as mentors: Shonda Craft (family social science), Ann Masten (child development), Priscilla Gibson (SSW), Bob Poch (postsecondary teaching and learning), and Catherine Solheim (family social science).
“This is a remarkable program which makes use of the very best practices in postsecondary education and research on engaged learning and mentoring,” says Bob Poch, senior fellow in the Department of Postsecondary Teaching and Learning,
The McNair program was funded for five years in 2012 and this is the first cohort under the new grant. This year eight scholars pursued research in STEM fields, a significant increase from previous years. There was also increased support for scholars through more robust onboarding, a faculty mentor orientation, and a new parent and family reception.
“Feedback from scholars, faculty mentors and program partners was overwhelmingly positive this year. We have many individuals and departments to thank for helping make the McNair Scholars program a success,” say’s Anthony Albecker, McNair Scholars director. “Many scholars already have fall and spring semester research opportunities lined up through UROP, or are continuing research with faculty mentors or new research teams. Other scholars are studying abroad this academic year.”
In mid-September scholars will participate in fall seminars to prepare for applying to graduate school and scholarships. Scholars will also be selected for the 2013 National McNair Conference held annually in November at Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.

Whittaker receives University award for global engagement

July 31, 2013

Nate Whittaker, an academic adviser in TRiO Student Support Services, has won the 2013 University of MN Award for Global Engagement.
Since 2010, Whittaker has led a global seminar to South Africa, where students learn about social justice firsthand by participating in a retreat and service learning at two South African non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
Whittaker has consistently recruited a diverse pool of applicants to his global seminar, with 40% representing both low-income and first-generation populations. He has identified opportunities for students returning from the program to receive support through International Student Support and Services, and coordinated fundraising projects for the two South African NGOs.
He has worked with colleagues across campus to increase recruitment of low-income and students of color to study abroad, and helped develop the Learning Abroad Center’s Bridging Loan program, which assists low-income students with upfront study abroad costs such as confirmation fees and airline tickets.
Whittaker earned his M.Ed. in Youth Development Leadership in CEHD, and has been an academic adviser since 2006. Earlier this year, Whittaker also won the University’s Josie R. Johnson Human Rights and Social Justice Award.
See a recent profile of Whittaker and his accomplishments.

TRiO McNair Scholars present their research

July 29, 2013

Six CEHD students are presenting their research and posters at the U of M TRiO Ronald E. McNair Scholars twenty-first annual poster presentation and reception.
This summer 20 students from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities and Crookston campuses, Carleton College, and University of St. Thomas conducted research under the direction of distinguished university faculty research mentors and attended graduate school preparation seminars. CEHD majors represented are Business and Marketing Education, Family Social Science, and Youth Studies.
All are invited to attend the reception on Thursday, Aug. 1, from 2-4 p.m. at Coffman Union, Mississippi Room.

TRiO Upward Bound recognizes scholarship recipients

July 25, 2013

The MN Daily featured TRiO Upward Bound’s annual “I Have a Dream Scholarship” ceremony, held last week at McNamara Alumni Center. Approximately 25 high school and college students from Minneapolis’ Edison, North, and South high schools received scholarships from the University of Minnesota Upward Bound program. Students are would-be, first-generation college students and qualify for up to $4,000 in scholarship money when they complete certain Upward Bound program requirements.
Upward Bound is one of three federally-funded, U.S. Department of Education TRiO programs in CEHD. View the 2013 Upward Bound retrospective video, featuring this year’s high school graduates and rising college freshmen.

CEHD News Christina Clarkson

CEHD News Christina Clarkson