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July 30, 2008
Associate professor Michael Rodriguez (Educational Psychology) has been honored by the University of Minnesota - Morris Alumni Association (UMMAA) with the 2008 UMMAA Distinguished Alumni Award. Michael received the award for his scholarly and community efforts.
Congratulations Michael!
Free books, tamales, snow cones, and literacy games for families were the highlights of the Summer Literacy Fair, sponsored by the CEHD America Reads program and held on Sunday, July 20. In addition to the free treats, Isabell Monk O’Connor, well-known Guthrie actor, author, and educator, told stories to the more than 300 children and adults that attended. The Fair was held at Trinity Catholic School in the Dayton’s Bluff neighborhood of St. Paul and attracted many families whose first language is Spanish. The America Reads team wishes to thank all who volunteered or donated goodies to help make the fair such a success.
Pa Nhia Yang, a doctoral student in the Department of Family Social Science, has been selected to participate in the Hmong Women's Leadership Institute. The Institute provides emerging Hmong women leaders with the opportunity to develop their leadership in a supportive, nurturing environment. Fifteen women were selected to participate in culturally appropriate leadership development training from August 2008 through December 2008. Participants will learn how to use and practice their leadership in a way that creates lasting change on a personal, family, organizational, and global level. They will receive monthly group mentoring and/or coaching and will organize a community project that helps the Hmong community to build sustainable, systemic wide changes around social change, particularly gender issues.
Congratulations Pa Nhia!
July 24, 2008
Students in the College's McNair Scholars program will be presenting their research on Tuesday, July 29, from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Coffman Memorial Union Mississippi Room. Stop by any time between 2 and 4 to meet the students, enjoy refreshments, and learn about everything from genetics to Ojibwe.
Professor William Bart (Educational Psychology) has been named a Fellow in the American Educational Research Association (AERA). AERA, founded in 1916, is concerned with improving the educational process by encouraging scholarly inquiry related to education and evaluation and by promoting the dissemination and practical application of research results.
Congratulations, Bill!
Last week's Alumni Society Scramble for Scholarships Golf Tournament was a rousing success! Check out these fun photos from the event.
(above) College Relations office administrator Sara Beyers and Alumni Society board member Sara Zoff (M.S.W. '04, social work) come to the rescue with beverages and snacks.
(above) The winning team poses for a photo with Goldy Gopher.
(above) Our volunteers were still all smiles after a hot day on the course.
An announcement from Kyla Wahlstrom, director of the Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement (CAREI), and Rich Weinberg, director of the Center for Early Education and Development (CEED):
Together, CAREI and CEED are pleased to welcome Keith Vargo as our newly hired administrative director, whose work and position is now shared between our two centers. Keith comes to CEHD from the University’s Humphrey
Institute of Public Affairs, where he has worked for the past 14 years. He has a broad range of administrative experience, including budget forecasting and financial reporting, staff hiring and supervision, print and Web publication production and oversight, and event management. He has a bachelor’s degree from Macalester College and has completed graduate work in cultural anthropology here at the University.
We are excited to have Keith engage in the work of shaping the shared administration for our two centers, and hope that you will join us in welcoming him to our college and into the Continuous Quality Improvement Group (CQIG). Keith’s e-mail address is vargo001@umn.edu.
Welcome to the College, Keith!
July 23, 2008
Assistant professor Beth Lewis (Kinesiology) and her recent study on the effectiveness of telephone exercise coaching are mentioned in this article on e-mail fitness programs.
You've got mail - Now get moving
MSNBC.com (July 22, 2003)
July 22, 2008
An article by doctoral student Eunsu Ju (School of Social Work), co-authored with Tae-Young Um, a researcher at the Center for Social Welfare Research at Yonsei University, was published in late June. The article, “An Explanatory Study on the Conditions of Saving Activity and the Determinants of Savings among Low-Income Urban Families in Korea: A Discussion for the initiation of Asset Building Policies," can be found in Journal: Research of Seoul & Other Cities, Vol: 9, Issue: 2.
A report from the Institute on Community Integration finds that Tennessee spends more than any other state in the country to put people with disabilities in institutionalized care facilities.
Report: TN Institutionalization Costs are Highest in the Country
Public News Service (Colo.) July 22, 2008
Jens Omli, Kinesiology Ph.D. candidate, and Nicole LaVoi, Ph.D., associate director of The Tucker Center, have had their manuscript, "The perfect storm: Background anger in youth sports" accepted for publication in the Journal of Sport Behavior. Expected publication date is early 2009.
July 21, 2008
Postdoctoral associate Christine Greenhow (Curriculum and Instruction) has received the University's Outstanding Postdoctoral Scholar Award. The award recognizes extraordinary performance and achievement of postdoctoral scholars at the University of Minnesota. Each recipient will receive an honorarium of $1,000 and will be recognized at the annual Postdoctoral Reception in fall 2008.
Congratulations, Chris!
Alum Phillip Larkins (M.S.W.) was named Minnesota's 2008 Social Worker of the Year at the National Association of Social Workers-Minnesota Chapter's 18th Annual Conference on June 6 at the Continuing Education and Conference Center on the St. Paul Campus.
Joan Riebel, executive director of the Family Alternatives adoption and foster care agency, made the presentation with the following remarks:
"Phil Larkins is a consummate social worker. He wears his social worker badge proudly, and he wears it every day. He is active at work, he's active in his community and he is active politically--always with the best interest of kids and families in his vision.
"As an African American man who grew up in Brooklyn, New York, Phil has navigated the racial barriers his entire adult life, coming to Morehead State University in the early 70s. He graduated from Morehead State University and has remained in Minnesota his entire adult life, receiving his M.S.W. from the University of Minnesota. Phil has been a community worker at Phyllis Wheatley, a team leader at St. Joseph's Home for Children, and a social worker in private foster care. In each of these jobs he has taken on leadership roles, especially in the area of racial diversity. At the same time, as a male in a predominantly female profession, he has also carefully navigated through female-run and dominated organizations. Although it hasn't always been easy, especially when it appears that he is being patronized, Phil maintains an incredible attitude of respect and dignity for all. He has an uncanny ability to not only withstand racist and sexist attitudes and conversations, but even confront them with an air of respect and support for the other.
"Phil is extremely active in his community, running little league baseball and basketball teams, park programs for youth at risk, and summer camps. When kids act up or act out, Phil takes the time to talk with them, offer advice and serve as a mentor. Everyone involved in the park programs in Brooklyn Park knows Phil Larkins because of his constant presence for over 20 years.
"Phil has also been very active in the Mental Health Collaborative in Hennepin County. He has been in leadership positions on the Collaborative and has been instrumental in securing funds for the North Hennepin suburban area. This experience shrewdly joined his knowledge of the mental health system with his strong love of and advocacy for kids.
"As a social worker at Family Alternatives Phil has had a variety of leadership positions while at the same time maintaining a caseload. When Phil is given a job to do we can count on it being done and being done well. As he frequently says, "I'll step up to the plate." Because he is one of the few men on staff, he is often asked to be the one who will shop for the groceries for the kid's retreats, bringing the grills for the family picnics, and help move things around in the office. He willingly pitches in and never leaves a task until it's done. He is a team leader and a team player, always responding to what needs to get done.
"Perhaps most importantly, Phil is the kind of social worker that every kid would want to have. He develops strong relationships with the young people on his caseload, mostly male African American youth who are at risk. Phil develops wonderful plans with the kids, which helps them set a course to finish school, get jobs, play sports and be involved in their community. Once those things happen, Phil proceeds to act as a liaison, a support person and a mentor with the schools, the bosses, the community centers, and the coaches. He wants kids to succeed and he wants kids to know that he is there for them in whatever way they may need. At the same time, he's careful not to do it for them, but to do it with them. He helps kids make and maintain connections and he honors those connections that the kids make. If a kid goes on run, Phil will go where the kid is to pick him up. If a kid is arrested, Phil goes to the Juvenile Detention Center to meet with him. If a kid goes to court, Phil is in the courtroom with him helping everyone to address the issues and further develop what the kids need to succeed. One testament to the kind of work that Phil does is the fact that he continues to meet with kids who have been on his caseload and are now adults. These young men come back to him for advice, for support, and for affirmation.
"Phil is an extremely ethical person. He is very open in his interactions with kids and families and he advocates for the best foster care and social work practice. He doesn't compromise what he knows to be good for kids and is very willing to confront situations which he deems are not in the best interests of the kids.
"It is with great pleasure and honor that I present Phil as the Minnesota Social Worker of the Year for 2008. Our profession would be well served to have many Phillip Larkins."
Wilder Research is looking for part-time interviewers that are bilingual in Hmong, Somali, or Karen.
Starting rate is $11.52 to $12.80 an hour. We are conveniently located on the bus line on University Avenue and Lexington Parkway.
Responsibilities: Work on human services related survey research projects. You will phone individuals, identify respondents, and conduct interviews using computer software and/or pencil and paper surveys. The position requires a minimum of 12 hours a week.
Qualifications: Qualifications include the following: excellent interpersonal communication skills, professional attitude, good computer and typing skills, promptness, attention to detail, and good listening skills. Must be able to fluently read and speak both English and Hmong, Somali, or Karen.
How to apply: Send your resume to Wilder Research, Dan Swanson, Assistant Survey Research Manager, 451 Lexington Parkway North, Saint Paul, MN 55104 or e-mail dds@wilder.org. You can also call Dan at 651-280-2712 for more information.
July 17, 2008
Students entering an M.Ed./initial licensure program in CEHD are encouraged to apply for the Judy D. Walter scholarship. This $15,000 scholarship is intended for initial licensure students planning a teaching career in urban settings, with a preference for applicants who graduate from Minneapolis public schools.
The new application deadline is July 28. If you have questions, contact Mary Ellen Shaw, coordinator of student progress and scholarships, at 612-625-4576 or shawx001@umn.edu.
Attention students (graduate and undergraduate): The University's McNamara Academic Center is currently seeking tutors for the 2008-2009 school year.
They are interested in hiring tutors who clearly possess the following qualities:
All majors are encouraged to apply! For more information contact William Gill at 612-626-8130 or e-mail gilli114@umn.edu.
New School Leaders: Workshops for P-12 Administrators and Teachers
The widely-acclaimed and ever-popular Bill Sommers facilitates a two part workshop for teacher leaders and administrators alike.
Leadership: Navigating the Rapids of Change and Conflict
Administrators and teacher leaders in schools say that conflict is increasing in many areas of their professional life with students, colleagues, and community members. Conflict can occur over change, power, scarcity, diversity, and many other issues. Unresolved conflict can lead to physical and/or emotional violence. This course is designed to teach processes and skills to effectively deal with conflict, especially in a supervisory role. These strategies can be used by administrators for school leadership and management, facilitating committee work, and for short- or long-term planning. This course will focus on dealing with unresolved conflict, day-to-day conflict management, how to deal with change, and power issues.
Leadership is Communication: Stay on the Message of Learning
Administrators and teacher leaders are continually faced with balancing fire-fighting with staying focused on learning. We will discuss and practice conversational models and communication strategies to keep the focus on learning and instruction while dealing with the day-to-day demands in schools. Some of the strategies will be Fierce Conversations, use of story and film clips, and disseminating information.
For more information or to register, download the flyer [.pdf].
Second Annual Professionalism in Practice Conference--Setting the Standard: Creating High Quality Learning Experiences
Join us for a day full of workshops that showcase evidence-based practices and educator action research. Featured speaker Julie Landsman will lead a thought-provoking discussion around equity issues in our schools.
The Second Annual Professionalism in Practice conference seeks to:
This full-day conference runs from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. including breakfast, luncheon, and opportunities for networking. The very affordable cost of $20 for pre-registration includes meals and CEUs. Register online.
The University's Foundation is seeking fundraising callers! This is a part-time evening position (5:30 to 9:00 p.m.) in which callers talk on the phone with alumni and friends of the University. Salary is $9.50 per hour. Employment with the Foundation is contingent upon a successful background check. For more information visit the Foundation Callers Web site or call 612-626-9589.
July 16, 2008
Martha Thurlow and Christopher Johnstone of the Institute on Community Integration's National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO), along with Leanne Ketterlin-Geller of the University of Oregon, have co-authored the chapter "Universal Design of Assessment" in the newly-released book Universal Design in Higher Education: From Principles to Practice, published by Harvard Education Press. For further information visit www.hepg.org/hep/Book/83.
The Institute on Community Integration (ICI) has been awarded renewed five-year, $2.6 million funding from the Administration on Developmental Disabilities, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to continue operating as Minnesota's University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD). Since 1985 ICI has been a federally-designated UCEDD (previously called University Affiliated Programs in Developmental Disabilities), one of 67 currently funded in the nation to carry out the UCEDD mission of "working to accomplish a shared vision that foresees a nation in which all Americans, including Americans with disabilities, participate fully in their communities." For further information on UCEDDs visit www.aucd.org.
The second annual Professionalism in Practice Conference, "Setting the Standard: Creating High Quality Learning Experiences," will be held on August 12 in Coffman Memorial Union, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Help make this ground-breaking teacher research conference a success (and attend free!) by volunteering.
Two types of volunteers are needed:
To volunteer, please email Sharon Ornelas at Sharon.Ornelas@mpls.k12.mn.us, indicating which type of volunteer opportunity you are interested in and the timeframe during which you would like to contribute: before, during, and/or after the conference (minimum 3 hours to have conference fee waived).
Conference details can be found at www.professionalisminpractice.org.
July 14, 2008
The Office of University Relations has selected Assistant Professor Aaron Doering (Curriculum and Instruction) and his adventure learning/GoNorth! research for its next round of Driven to Discover television ads. He is one of only four faculty selected from across the entire University this year.
Aaron follows in the glamorous footsteps of Professor Nicki Crick (Institute of Child Development), whose research on relational aggression was featured in last year's TV ads.
Look for Aaron's commercial to start airing in October.
Congratulations to the entire GoNorth! team.
The Office of University Relations is looking for stories related to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China. Please see the note below for more details and contact information.
------
Hi, colleagues,
I'm looking for non-sports stories related to the 2008 Olympics that we could feature on the University's home page or in eNews, the University's electronic newsletter to about 40,000 alumni and friends.
In other words, if you know of any faculty, staff, or students doing either research or volunteer work at or related to the Beijing Olympics, please drop me a line.
Here's an example we ran during the 2004 Athens Olympics:
http://www1.umn.edu/umnnews/Feature_Stories/Breathing_Olympic_air.html
Thanks,
Pauline Oo
Writer, University Relations
Editor, eNews
University of Minnesota
Phone: 612-624-7889
Fax: 612-624-6369
Professor William Turner (Family Social Science), Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Fellow for Senator Barack Obama, will address the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies of Science on Friday July 18, at the Keck Center Auditorium in Washington, D.C. The title of his presentation is “Beyond Access: Expanding our Definitions of Health Policy."
Sara Lassig, a doctoral student in the Department of Family Social Science, was chosen to receive the 2008 Graduate Outstanding Student Paper Award from the National Council on Family Relations’ Association of Councils.
Congratulations Sara!
July 11, 2008
The 2008 Strong Schools Strong City campaign is in need of interns for the summer and fall. Strong Schools Strong City is the citizen-led campaign in support of the Minneapolis Public Schools property tax levy, which will appear on the ballot in November. Interns will have the opportunity to organize parents, teachers, students, and citizens in support of the referendum. Interns will also have the opportunity to lead discussions and give speeches about the referendum and the future of the Minneapolis Public Schools. Please e-mail info@StrongSchoolsStrongCity.org or call Ona Keller, Volunteer and Technology Coordinator, at 612-824-7712 if you are interested.
July 10, 2008
The College's Upward Bound (UB) STEP UP Program is looking for University departments to work with high school students from July 28 to August 22, 2008.
WHO: Upward Bound
WHAT: The Upward Bound STEP UP Program is a three- to four-week employment readiness program for high school UB students. There is NO fiscal cost to departments—youth wages are paid by the City of Minneapolis.
WHEN: UB STEP UP dates are Monday, July 28 to Friday, August 22, 2008.
WHY: This is an excellent opportunity to contribute to UB student work readiness & development and receive FREE assistance!
REQUIREMENT: Departments interested in working with UB STEP UP students must attend a required one-hour supervisor training session that will be held on Monday, July 21, 2008, at 10:00 a.m. in 3 Appleby Hall. Departments must send two representatives.
To learn more about this opportunity, please contact Elizabeth Nelson, UB STEP UP coordinator, at echa0001@umn.edu or at (612) 624-0865.
The schedule for University's debut Welcome Week has been finalized, program organizers announced today. This six-day student experience, required for all new degree-seeking freshmen, expands on previous programming designed to welcome new students to campus. It runs August 27 through September 2 on the University's Twin Cities campus. Read the full press release.
July 9, 2008
Esther Wattenberg, principal investigator for “New Populations in Rural Counties: Implications for Child Welfare," a project supported by a grant from the Minnesota Department of Human Services, announces the availability of the final report on the CASCW publications Web site.
Download the report [.pdf].
July 8, 2008
The Weisman’s Art Rental Program lets you display art from the Weisman's collection in your home or office. Choose from more than 300 framed, ready-to-hang, original artworks available at the Weisman Store. Rental rates are affordable—only $40 per artwork for the whole year.
For more information, visit the Weisman Store, e-mail artrent@umn.edu, or call (612) 626-3389.
Harvey Carlson, an adviser in the College's Student Services area, passed away recently after a long illness. Several of his colleagues are planning an on-campus memorial for July 18, as detailed in the following note from Assistant Professor Rashné Jehangir.
Dear Colleagues,
I know many of you have asked about details regarding Harvey’s memorial. Here is what I have so far:
His family and I wanted to celebrate his life on campus because in so many ways this was his home and we were his family. We decided on the Campus Club because Harvey loved being there. The memorial will be held on Friday, July 18th in the late afternoon – exact time to follow. And it will be a celebration !
Mike, his brother Cory, and I am hoping to establish a scholarship fund in Harvey’s name that serves to further the educational endeavors of students he spent his career advocating for TRIO students and/or students with
disabilities. In lieu of flowers, please hold your memorials for this particular purpose and once we have more details we will let you know how to proceed.
Thanks for your support and love.
Rashné
July 7, 2008
Looking for a great volunteer experience in an urban education setting? A volunteer opportunity is available at Anne Sullivan Communications Center in the Minneapolis Public Schools. Sullivan is located at 3100 E. 28th St, Minneapolis , MN. 55406. This is an urban school that has a population of 12% American Indian, 4% Hispanic, 3% Asian, 21% White and 58% Black/East African. 30% of the students have limited English proficiency. Anne Sullivan is an open enrollment school for grades K-8. 80% of the students are eligible for free and reduced price lunch and 15% of the students receive special education services.
Opportunities are available for volunteers to work with students under the direction of highly qualified teachers to enrich students' reading, math and science instruction by working one on one. This experience is a great way to fulfill university requirements for observations and field experiences while building your résumé. Qualifications include enrollment in an education program and a commitment of a minimum of one hour a week for nine weeks.
Any questions or to express interest in volunteering, contact Jean Hanson, Special Education Teacher at Sullivan Communication Center, at 612-668-5034 or Jean.Hanson@mpls.k12.mn.us.
July 3, 2008
Center for Early Education and Development (CEED) field faculty member Anne Gearity gave the keynote at the June 24, 2008 Nancy Latimer Convening for Children and Families. Anne spoke on the impact of trauma on children’s development and what that means for funding investments, policy, practice, and parents.
Former CEED Director of Harris Programs Marti Erickson was honored with the Nancy Award at the event. The award honors the spirit and legacy of the convening's namesake, Nancy Latimer, an advocate for early childhood education, child abuse prevention, and rural Minnesota development who passed away in 2006.
July 1, 2008
Family social science professor Bill Doherty will be speaking at an upcoming conference on building healthy marriages.
'Smart' marriage evolves
Washington Times (D.C.) July 1, 2008
On June 30, Trond Febolden, Permanent Secretary of Norway's Ministry of Education and Linda Pederson, Vice Council for the Norwegian Consulate in Minneapolis, visited CEHD. Febolden is responsible for writing the white paper that will guide the reform of teacher education in Norway. During his visit, Febolden met with Carole Gupton and Bob Utke from the Preparation to Practice Group and Ruth Thomas, Tom Post, Aaron Doering, Terry Wyberg, Misty Sato, and Dee Tedick, all from the Department of Curriculum and Instruction.
During this official visit, the Norwegian delegation will also visit Hamline University, Augsburg College, and the Minnesota Department of Education. At the close of the visit, Febolden expressed interest in establishing formal collaborations between the Norwegian Ministry of Education and CEHD.
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