White House Hispanic Initiative executive director visits CEHD

October 18, 2023

During her visit to CEHD, Melody Gonzales toured Campbell Hall. On the tour are Innovation and Partnership Officer Ryan Warren, Gonzales, Dean Michael C. Rodriguez, ICD PhD student Jasmine Banegas, and Melisa López Franzen, the University’s executive director of Government and Community Relations.

Melody Gonzales, executive director of the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Hispanics, was in the Twin Cities on October 11 to speak at an event and had time to visit CEHD with Melisa López Franzen, UMN executive director of Government and Community Relations.

Gonzales took a tour of Campbell Hall and heard from Institute of Child Development (ICD) PhD student Jasmine Banegas about her interdisciplinary work with School of Social Work Assistant Professor Saida Abdi to provide trauma-informed services to Latine children and families in Minneapolis Public Schools.

“Melody noted, after visiting with me, Ryan Warren, Tabitha Grier-Reed, and staff and students in ICD and FSOS, how readily we are able to translate research to practice in areas of critical need,” says Dean Michael C. Rodriguez. “She also noted the opportunities for underrepresented faculty, staff, and students to be engaged in this work—and how essential that will be to secure successful futures for so many students, families, and communities. She looks forward to working with us more in the near future.”

Kyla Wahlstrom receives U’s highest honor

October 12, 2023

Kyla Wahlstrom is greeted by colleagues and friends at the award ceremony at McNamara Alumni Center.

On October 10, Kyla Wahlstrom, Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development (OLPD), was recognized with the U’s highest honor, the Outstanding Achievement Award, at an event with family and friends. Wahlstrom has been a national leader in researching school start times and turning evidence into public policy.

Wahlstrom joined the U of M after two decades in K-12 education, holding roles including research fellow with OLPD and director of the Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement (CAREI).

For over 20 years, Wahlstrom’s groundbreaking work has been repeatedly confirmed, sparking a movement to provide adolescents with school schedules more aligned with their biological sleep rhythms.

Educational psychology colleagues receive $1.25 million grant for learning disability project

October 10, 2023

Kirsten Newell, Amanda L. Sullivan, and Lisa Aguilar.

Kirsten Newell, assistant professor of school psychology in the Department of Educational Psychology, has been awarded $1.25 million by the US Department of Education. The grant is to develop and administer a personnel preparation program to build capacity for culturally and linguistically responsive research-based school psychological services for multilingual learners with and at-risk for learning disabilities.

Project AMPS: Advancing Multilingual Practices and Supports addresses longstanding community needs for more and better supports via intensive recruitment to diversify the field and expanded learning experiences for school psychology graduate students. Project leadership also includes co-PI and co-director Amanda L. Sullivan, Birkmaier Educational Leadership Professor, and Indigenous specialist, Lisa Aguilar, assistant professor of school psychology.

Over the next five years, Project AMPS will leverage a partnership with St. Paul Public Schools in collaboration with the school psychology program and other organizations to develop curriculum, scholarship, and field experiences with the goal of enhancing psychoeducational services for multilingual learners with and at-risk for learning disabilities in K12 schools.

Matthew Schuelka gives keynote at international teacher education conference

October 3, 2023

Matthew Schuelka, lecturer in the Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development (OLPD), recently gave an invited keynote address at the annual International Society for Teacher Education (ISfTE) conference in Paro, Bhutan. The conference was held at the Paro College of Education, Royal University of Bhutan, and was attended by Bhutanese government officials, Bhutanese students and teachers, and international conference delegates.

Schuelka spoke on the topic of “Understanding educational values in complex systems through the role of teachers.” He also launched a new book at the conference that features CEHD faculty and former students. The book, Happiness Education: Holistic Learning for Sustainable Well-Being (Routledge), was edited by OLPD Professor Gerald Fry and OLPD alumna Haelim Chun, featuring chapters by Assistant Professor Meixi (OLPD), Professor Elizabeth Sumida Huaman (OLPD), and Schuelka, among many others.

Consuelo Gutierrez-Crosby named TRIO SSS director

September 28, 2023

Consuelo Gutierrez-Crosby has been named director of the TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) program at CEHD. She has been serving as interim director of the program since March.

Gutierrez-Crosby has worked with TRIO SSS since the fall of 2020, serving as assistant director and providing strong leadership for many of its signature initiatives. She has worked with TRIO SSS since the fall of 2020, serving as assistant director and providing strong leadership for many of its signature initiatives. For more than 20 years, she has built a career in program development, implementation, and management in non-profit, higher education, and philanthropic sectors. She is passionate about first-generation college success and is energized by opportunities to maximize and build on those strengths, whether by personally working with students or on projects that focus on leadership and capacity building embedded in social justice and social change.

CEHD Dean Michael Rodriguez recalled that as a graduate student at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs, he applied for and obtained a position as a TRIO SSS math instructor 33 years ago. Since then, he has been a full supporter of TRIO, because as he stated: “The evidence is clear—TRIO works. I know we are in good hands with Consuelo leading the legacy education opportunity and civil rights traditions of TRIO, having come from a similar background as many TRIO SSS students.”

Gutierrez-Crosby is first-generation herself, having graduated from Macalester College in St. Paul. She majored in international studies and sociology and minored in political science. She is also a Humphrey School of Public Affairs alum, with a master’s degree in public policy and a concentration in nonprofit management.

“I am honored to be taking on TRIO SSS leadership and to build upon the exceptional program that previous directors have created. We have a committed and amazing team of advisors, instructors, and staff that are dedicated to student success. I am grateful to be working with such a team,” she says. “As someone who shares similar identities as TRIO students, I would have strongly benefited from being part of a community of support like TRIO SSS. I have experienced many of the same challenges that TRIO students face and am passionate about engaging with students to navigate through the ups and downs they may encounter on their college journey. I look forward to being part of student journeys here in CEHD and the U in this new capacity.”

TRIO SSS strives to ensure access to equal opportunity education for U of M students who are first-generation in college, low-income, with disabilities, or for whom English is not their first language. Through inclusive and accessible services, including academic support, counseling, teaching and advocacy, TRIO SSS seeks to remove institutional and cultural barriers, foster a climate that values the social and cultural capital of students, and promote retention to graduation.

Ed Psych faculty and colleagues present at APA annual convention

September 20, 2023

Department of Educational Psychology (Ed Psych) faculty Sherri Turner (left) and Carolyn Berger, along with their colleagues, recently presented their research at the American Psychological Association (APA) annual convention in Washington, D.C. Their work represents ongoing exploration of the impact of COVID-19 and subsequent emergence from the pandemic on college students’ academic, career, and social-emotional development. This fall, they will be joined by colleagues Seth Christman and Katie Niznik.

Turner, Berger, and Christman are faculty in the counselor education program in Ed Psych. Niznik is a recent graduate from the Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development who currently works as a career coach in CEHD. Presentation titles were “The educational/career development of college students emerging from the pandemic: A cohort study” (Turner, Berger et al., 2023) and “Impacts of Asian hatred and COVID-19 on the educational/career development of AAPI college students” (Sim, Turner, Berger et al., 2023).

US Open names Nicole M. LaVoi a ‘Champion of Equality’

September 1, 2023

Tucker Center director honored for lifetime of dedication

The 2023 US Open marks the 50th anniversary of men and women first earning equal prize money in tennis, and the United States Tennis Association (USTA) is taking the occasion to celebrate the pioneering women who have led that important fight for equality.

One of those women is Dr. Nicole M. LaVoi, director of the Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport at the University of Minnesota. In recognition of her many years of commitment, leadership, research, service, passion for tennis, and dedication to equality for women in sport, LaVoi has been named a “Champion of Equality.”

Honoring the Champions of Equality is a prominent aspect of the US Open this year. Presented by Cadillac and in support of the Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative, the event celebrates the historic events of 1973, including the Battle of the Sexes between King and Bobby Riggs.

Held in the Arthur Ashe Stadium on the evening of the women’s singles semifinals on Thursday, September 7, Champions of Equality will recognize one female leader from each of the 17 USTA Sections who embodies that same spirit—someone who ignites change, with an eye toward the next generation. Awards will be presented by King and include in-stadium recognition during the match.

LaVoi was selected as the honoree from the USTA Northern Section. She will be presented her award alongside some of the game’s greatest trailblazers.

“Tennis has shaped every aspect of my personal and professional life from making life-long friends to pursuing a career dedicated to leveraging sport as a vehicle to empower girls and women,” she says. “To be chosen for this award in such a landmark year as we celebrate 50 years of pay equity in tennis, and the battles Billie Jean King began and I have taken up, is an unbelievable honor. I stand on her shoulders, and of so many other women who fought for the right for me to play, coach and pursue my passions in and through sports. Tennis has given me so much, it truly is a game of love, that I love.”

Making a difference through sport

LaVoi was a four-year starter for the Gustavus Adolphus College women’s tennis team, where she was a two-time NCAA Academic All-American, and helped her team achieve an NCAA D-III national championship in 1990, as well as runner-up (1991) and fourth place (1989) finishes during her tenure. She was also instrumental in winning numerous team, singles, and doubles MIAC conference championships.

After Gustavus, LaVoi went on to become a USPTA Teaching Professional and collegiate tennis coach (assistant at Carleton College, head coach at Wellesley College) before returning to earn her PhD in kinesiology at the University of Minnesota. Following her passion for fairness, equity, and making a difference through sport, she has become a recognized leader, scholar, advocate, author, and speaker pertaining to gender equity, and topics related to girls and women in sport.

For the past 18 years LaVoi has been a senior lecturer in the area of social and behavioral sciences in the College of Education and Human Development’s School of Kinesiology and a leader in its Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport, where she is currently the director. The Tucker Center, established in 1993, was the first and only research center of its kind in the world solely devoted to the academic study of girls and women in sport, and is known as a global leader in establishing standards of excellence with respect to scholarly inquiry, graduate education, community outreach, and public service. Preceding her career in higher education, LaVoi was involved with many USTA programs, including the NJTL, The School Program, Junior Team Tennis, Regional Training Centers, and USA Tennis. She also coached Zonal, Intersectional, and Jr. Fed Cup teams in both the New England and Northern USTA sections, in addition to coaching youth and high school tennis.

Through her multidisciplinary research, she answers critical questions that can make a difference in the lives of sport stakeholders—particularly girls and women. LaVoi has published more than 100 book chapters, research reports, and peer-reviewed articles across multiple disciplines focused on the relational qualities of the coach-athlete relationship, the effect of adult behaviors (parents and coaches) on children and youth, the emotional experiences of youth sport parents, the physical activity of underserved girls, and media representations of girls and women in sport. As a foremost scholar on gender, leadership, and women coaches, her inspiring research includes the annual Women in College Coaching Report Card™, which is aimed at retaining and increasing the number of women in the coaching profession while holding decision-makers accountable. Her best-selling award-winning book Women in Sports Coaching was the Outstanding Academic Title winner of 2016. Embodying the value of making her research accessible, she has co-produced three Emmy-nominated documentaries with tptMN—GAME ON: Women Can Coach (2018), Concussions & Female Athletes (2011), and Media Coverage & Female Athletes: Women Play Sports, Just Not in the Media (2013), which won a regional Emmy for best sports documentary. In 2023, LaVoi parlayed her multidisciplinary expertise into an innovative, evidence-based coaching curriculum titled Coaching HER® aimed at helping coaches minimize the effect of gender bias and stereotypes. LaVoi is also an award-winning teacher, earning the Distinguished Teaching Award in CEHD in 2016. She is a Hall of Fame inductee of St. Cloud Technical High School and the Gustavus Adolphus College.

As a public scholar, LaVoi was invited to give a TEDx talk, consults, and gives keynotes frequently around the world to sport stakeholders who are striving toward gender equity, including Sport New Zealand, Sport Canada, the Japanese Academy for Women Leaders in Sport, NCAA, Project Play of the Aspen Institute, and many national sport governing bodies. She and the Tucker team have hosted the largest women coaches symposium in the world for the past nine years. With a valuation and commitment to giving back, she serves as a member of numerous national advisory boards, including the board of trustees at her alma mater Gustavus. LaVoi, as a worldwide leader, has been quoted in The Washington Post, TIME, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, the Atlantic, CNN, the New York Times, the LA Times, and appears regularly on NPR and local TV news outlets.

Diane Wiese-Bjornstal named interim director of School of Kinesiology

September 1, 2023

Professor Diane Wiese-Bjornstal has been named interim director of the School of Kinesiology. A national search for a new director will commence soon.

Wiese-Bjornstal has been on the faculty of the school for the past 35 years. During her tenure, she has served as the director of graduate studies several times and as associate director for the previous six years. Most recently, she coordinated the creation of the School of Kinesiology’s bylaws and new faculty mentoring guidelines for the school.

She also serves as the director of the Sports Medicine Psychology Laboratory and the Physical Activity and Sport Science Laboratory. She is also an affiliated scholar with the Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport.

This past July, she was awarded the University of Minnesota’s Unit Service Award in recognition of her many contributions to the school.

Wiese-Bjornstal holds a BA from Luther College, an MS from Springfield College, and a PhD from the University of Oregon, Eugene, all with a major in physical education. Her areas of expertise include sports medicine psychology, sport injury psychology, youth sport science, and sport psychology.

“Our faculty, staff, and students are very excited about the opportunities of the upcoming academic year, and it is a privilege for me to serve in this interim director role,” she says. “Along with our national search for a new director of the school, we are seeking three new tenure-track faculty hires in cutting-edge areas of our field. Our staff are highly efficient and professional and have been incredibly supportive of me during this transition. We are all honored to work with our students in three undergraduate majors and six graduate degree programs.”

Amanda L. Sullivan receives mid-career scholarship award

August 15, 2023

Amanda L. Sullivan, Department of Educational Psychology Birkmaier Educational Leadership Professor and coordinator of the School Psychology Program, was awarded the Tom Oakland Mid-Career Scholarship Award by the Division of School Psychology at the recent conference of the American Psychological Association. The award honors scholars up to 20 years post-grad whose work merits special recognition for advancing the field.

Dr. Sullivan studies education and health disparities affecting young children and school-age youth and the intersections of ethics, educational policy, and research in treatment of individuals with disabilities. She is also the incoming co-editor for Exceptional Children and senior editor for School Psychology Review.

Tucker Center releases 11th annual Women in College Coaching Report Card

August 1, 2023

The Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport in the School of Kinesiology recently released its annual Women in College Coaching Report Card (WCCRC) in collaboration with WeCOACH. The report documents the percentage of women in all coaching positions for women’s teams within seven select NCAA Division-I conferences (BIG Ten, Big East, Big12, Pac-12, American, ACC, SEC).

“Data in the 11th year of the WCCRC points to some firsts, good news, and a new era,” says Tucker Center Director Nicole M. LaVoi. “Based on the numbers, we are cautiously optimistic that the stagnation era is over and we are entering a new era for intercollegiate Division-I women sport coaches at the most visible, powerful institutions—a slow and steady incline.”

Report highlights:

The percentage of women head coaches of NCAA D-I women’s teams in seven select conferences is up again for the ninth year in a row.
The percentage of women head coaches increased by the largest margin (2.3 percent) in the history of the report card, and 2022 marked the second greatest increase (1.2 percent).
For the first time, more institutions earned an A grade than a F grade. There were three times more As than Fs. For the last 10 years, the number of F grades far outnumbered the As.
For the second time in ten years and for two years in a row, a majority of positional vacancies (58.1 percent) were filled by women.
For the first time, a majority (65 percent, 15 of 23) of BIPOC coaches hired were women of color.
The percentage of women coaches of color increased from 5.7 percent in 2022 to 6.2 percent this year.
This year marks the first time all select seven conferences increased in the percentage of women head coaches.
Basketball, the most lucrative, visible, and popular women’s intercollegiate sport, moved up to an A grade for the first time.

Traffic/pedestrian impacts of Fraser Hall project

August 1, 2023

A construction project at Fraser Hall is now underway. The project involves removing two building additions, renovating the original portion, and building a five-story addition. This project is due to be completed in September 2025. During construction, adjacent building occupants and pedestrians will notice several impacts:

New accessible parking location. Accessible parking will move from behind Fraser Hall and adjacent to Appleby Hall to the Wulling Hall parking lot. Contract parking at Wulling Hall has been moved to other locations. The Wulling Hall parking lot is also under construction to improve the grade and to meet ADA requirements. Some accessible parking stalls have been created behind Bruininks Hall (accessible from East River Road). The easiest path from those stalls would be to enter Bruininks, take the elevator up to the street level, and exit the building using the exit adjacent to Appleby Hall.

Pedestrian traffic moved to east side of Pleasant Avenue. Because the site is very tight, the sidewalk in front of Fraser Hall is expected to be closed throughout the duration of the construction project. Pedestrian traffic will be routed across the street to the sidewalk in front of Walter Library (see image).

Appleby Hall pathway from Pleasant Street to East River Road: Each of the two accessible entrances to Appleby Hall will be offline at different points in time while the pathway between the two is improved. The east or Pleasant Street accessible entrance is planned to be closed first for about two weeks. Afterward, the west or East River Road accessible entrance is planned to be closed first for three to four weeks. During this construction period, pedestrians will not be able to cross from one entrance to the other.

Exploring the cultural narratives of motherhood and work

July 18, 2023

Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development (OLPD) Assistant Professor Nicole Dillard (left) and Taylor Cavallo Siering, a PhD student in OLPD’s Human Resource Development program, recently collaborated on a project exploring various cultural narratives of motherhood and work. These narratives have grown more complicated in recent years, particularly due to the COVID-19 and racism pandemics of 2020. What’s worse is that upheavals such as these pandemics tend to further exclude or overlook women of color and others who occupy marginalized identities.

Dillard and Cavallo Siering’s work, “The Stories We Tell: Narratives of Mothering and Work during the Dual Pandemics of 2020,” was published in the 2023 spring/summer issue of the interdisciplinary Journal of the Motherhood Initiative. The theme of the issue is “Learning from the Pandemic: Possibilities and Challenges for Mothers and Families.”

“Our goal is to expose the gaps within these narratives against the backdrop of the dual pandemics and explore the historical and social contexts in which other narratives of mothering and work exist for women of color and other women with marginalized identities,” Dillard and Cavallo Siering say in their introduction. “Through centering the individual counterstories that challenge problematic narratives, we aim to use these examples to outline optimistic yet realistic possibilities that explore complexities within mothering and work and support learning and social change for a post-pandemic world.”

Read Dillard and Cavallo Siering’s full article.

TRIO McNair Scholars Symposium takes place in person July 27

July 18, 2023

This year, the U of M’s TRIO McNair Program will host the 32^nd Annual TRIO McNair Scholars Symposium in person for the first time since the pandemic. The event takes place Thursday, July 27, from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Student Union’s Mississippi Room. This summer, 19 McNair Scholars are conducting research under the direction of distinguished faculty mentors. The symposium is a chance to view their work and celebrate their accomplishments.

Housed in CEHD, the TRIO McNair Scholars Program is a long-standing, federally funded program with legislative requirements that the University fulfills. The program seeks to increase doctoral program application, matriculation, and degree attainment by underrepresented and first-generation college students.

TRIO McNair Scholars is part of a set of federally funded college opportunity programs that support students from disadvantaged and underrepresented backgrounds in their pursuit of a college degree. TRIO McNair Scholars, as well as TRIO Student Support Services and TRIO Upward Bound, provide academic tutoring, personal counseling, mentoring, financial guidance, and other supports necessary for educational access and retention.

Joe Cossette (MEd ’16) named PhysTEC National Teacher of the Year

July 18, 2023

The Physics Teacher Education Coalition (PhysTEC) has named Joe Cossette (MEd ’16) its 2023 Teacher of the Year. This award recognizes outstanding high school physics educators who demonstrate the impact and value of physics teacher preparation programs.

According to PhysTEC, “Cossette is an exceptional leader in his department, school, district, and the field of physics teaching at large. In his nine-year career, Cossette has created a hands-on learning environment for physics students. By meeting students where they are, engaging them in deep discussion, and using humor and song in addition to direct instruction, he has been able to make physics an accessible and enjoyable experience.

American College of Sports Medicine honors Li Li Ji with 2023 Citation Award

June 20, 2023

Li Li Ji, a professor in the School of Kinesiology, is a recipient of a 2023 Citation Award from the American College of Sports Medicine. The award is granted to those who have made significant and important contributions to sports medicine and the exercise sciences.

Ji is the director of the Laboratory of Physiological Hygiene and Exercise Science in the School of Kinesiology. His areas of interest include biochemical and molecular physiology, nutrition and aging.

THE ACSM presented the Citation Award to Ji at its annual meeting in Denver on June 2. Read ACSM’s spotlight on Ji.

CEHD wins four U communication awards

June 13, 2023

CEHD has won four awards from the University of Minnesota Communicators Forum. The honors include a Gold award for the CEHD holiday calendar and Maroon awards for the CEHD Book Week recap video and for event collateral for the Campbell Hall grand opening. Maroon awards recognize outstanding efforts and Gold awards recognize exemplary efforts—the best of the best. In addition, the Book Week video received a MARGO award. Short for maroon and gold, the MARGO award is presented to the entry that presents the single most elegant solution within the means available.

Project contributors for the holiday calendar include Nina Brown, Lucas Havens, Nick Kleese, Kirsten Mortensen, and Marek Oziewicz. Contributors to the Campbell Hall event collateral include Nina Brown, Ann Dingman, Susan Holter, Lora Horgen, Chris Morgan, Kirsten Mortensen, Amy Pavlick, Fresh Color Press, and Printing Services. Contributors to the Book Week video include Jairus Davis, Sean Golden, Kirsten Mortensen, Marek Oziewicz, Amy Pavlick, and Kathryn Silverstein.

The Communicators Forum is a network of communications professionals at the U of M. Each year, it presents awards for work that best exemplifies the University’s core values.

Four CEHD students receive U leadership and service award

June 6, 2023

Four CEHD students are recipients of this year’s President’s Student Leadership and Service Award (PSLSA). The PSLSA recognizes the accomplishments and contributions of outstanding student leaders at the University.

CEHD student winners include Samanta LeBouef, a graduate student in the Department of Family Social Science; Tai Do, a PhD student in the Department of Educational Psychology; and Elvis Nyasani and Venus Olenchak, undergraduate students in the Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development.

In addition, Nyasani was a recipient of the Donald R. Zander Alumni Award for Outstanding Student Leadership. This award recognizes undergraduate students for exceptional academic achievement, personal character, and outstanding leadership and service to the University.

Traci LaLiberte named one of ‘Top 50 Women Leaders of Minnesota’

May 30, 2023

Women We Admire has named Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare Executive Director Traci LaLiberte as one of its “Top 50 Women Leaders of Minnesota for 2023.”

LaLiberte was recognized for her leadership in improving the training of child welfare professionals and for being instrumental in passing legislation that created for them a statewide training academy. This dynamic training enterprise is changing how professionals who serve children and families learn and deliver high-quality, competent services.

Women We Admire provides news and information on today’s women leaders and covers a broad range of topics and areas of interest aimed at recognizing the achievements of exceptional women.

Meixi named 2023 NAEd/Spencer Postdoctoral Fellow

May 30, 2023

Dr. Meixi, an assistant professor in the Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development, has been selected as a 2023 National Academy of Education (NAEd)/Spencer Postdoctoral Fellow. She will receive a fellowship award of $70,000 to engage with research expenses for the fellowship period.

The fellowships are administered by the National Academy of Education, an honorary educational society, and they are funded by a grant to the Academy from the Spencer Foundation. The fellowship program has over eight hundred alumni who include many of today’s leading education researchers.

During the fellowship, Meixi will engage with ways that Indigenous-led public schools are critical sites for experimenting and enacting educational sovereignty across generations amidst rapidly changing socioecological systems. Her work interweaves the learning sciences, comparative education, STEM learning, and trans-Indigenous futures with lands and waters. Her academic and life’s work are deeply informed by her relational commitments to the people and places who have watched her grow up.

More information about Meixi and other NAEd)/Spencer Postdoctoral Fellows can be found on the National Academy of Education website.

CEHD News Kevin Moe

CEHD News Kevin Moe