CEHD Inside / Out

Alumna Mary Zabolio McGrath (M.A. '78, educational psychology; Ph.D. '88, educational policy and administration) recently published two books.

Ethical Dilemmas in Education: Standing Up for Honesty and Integrity
by Beverley H. Johns, Mary Z. McGrath, and Sarup R. Mathur
Rowman Education, 2008

Reaching Students with Diverse Disabilities: Cross Categorical Ideas and Activities
by Mary Z. McGrath and Beverley H. Johns
Rowman Education, 2008

Congratulations, Mary!

Posted by Anitra Budd at 01:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Earlier this year, one of FOX 9's Top Teacher awards was given to Donna Butterfield, a family and consumer sciences teacher at Richfield Middle School here in Minnesota. Donna is a CEHD alum, with an M.Ed. in family education. She has also served as a cooperating teacher for the family and consumer sciences program. Vist MyFox Twin Cities to see Donna accept the award or to read her nomination letter.

Congratulations, Donna!

Posted by Anitra Budd at 02:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Verna Cornelia Price (Ph.D., educational policy and administration) has received a Women in the Workplace (WOW) Achievement Award from the Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce. The award notice reads:

"Price has been an innovator known for creating programs and processes which increase organizational effectiveness and individual performance. Dr. Price's experience as an educator, researcher, trainer, and business consultant led to the development of a unique multiple intelligence approach to helping her clients rethink leadership and the role of personal power in the workplace. Dr. Price has coined the principle 'experiencing knowledge' and believes that excellence can only be achieved when relevant and meaningful knowledge is applied to your profession and life. Dr. Price is the founder of Girls in Action, and co-founder of The Power of People Leadership Institute. She is the author of The Power of People: Four Kinds of People Who Can Change Your Life, and The Silent Cry: Dealing with Subtractors in Work and Life. These books continue to empower and equip organizations with strategies for motivating and inspiring employees to excellence."

Congratulations, Verna!

Posted by Anitra Budd at 09:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Alumna Sarah Clyne (M.Ed., second languages and cultures) has been named principal of Washington Elementary School in the Champaign, Illinois school district.

Champaign hires 3 principals for fall
News-Gazette (Ill.) June 5, 2008

Posted by Anitra Budd at 11:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Five international alumni have been awarded the University’s 2008 Distinguished Leadership Award for Internationals. The Distinguished Leadership Award for Internationals is a University-wide award for alumni, former students, and friends of the University who have distinguished themselves in their post-university work as leaders in their professional careers.

This award may be conferred on alumni, former students, and friends of any campus (current or former) of the University. Individuals will have attained unusual distinction as professionals in their careers within institutions or in public service and have either demonstrated sustained outstanding achievement and leadership, or demonstrated promise of such on a local, national, or international level.

The recipients are Felicie Affolter, Switzerland (CLA); Meeran Borwankar, India (HHH); Mustafa Dilber, Turkey (CSOM); Chi-kuen Lau, Hong Kong, China (CLA); and Fouzia Saeed, Pakistan (CEHD and CDes).

Posted by Anitra Budd at 11:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Professor Don Dengel (Kinesiology) has published an article with former students Thomas Olson (Ph.D.) and Jennifer Tracy (M.A.) in the recent issue of Open Sports Medicine Journal on "Validity of a Low-Flow Pneumotach and Portable Metabolic Measurement System." Download article [.pdf].

Posted by Anitra Budd at 02:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We reported back on March 5 that alumna Sue Collins (Ph.D., educational policy and administration) was one of three finalists for president of the Northeast Higher Education District (NHED). We're now happy to say that Sue has officially been named President of NHED. Read the full story here.

Congratulations Sue!

Posted by Anitra Budd at 04:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Kathleen Alvig (Ph.D. '99, educational policy and administration), principal of Northrop Urban Environmental School, has been named a 2008 Science and Mathematics Elementary and Middle Level Principal of the Year. The award was co-sponsored by the Minnesota Elementary School Principals’ Association and the Science Museum of Minnesota.

Read more about Kathleen and the award.

Minnesota Elementary School Principals' Association honors two Minneapolis Public Schools principals
Insight News (Minn.) April 14, 2008

Posted by Anitra Budd at 03:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (UCCS) College of Education is establishing the Dr. Barbara Swaby Endowed Professorship to honor CEHD alum Barbara Swaby (M.A., '73, elementary education; Ph.D., '77, education). A $500,000 community fundraising effort is under way to create the endowed chair. This is the first endowed professorship for the UCCS College of Education.

Creating readers, one child at a time
Gazette (Colo.) April 6, 2008

Posted by Anitra Budd at 11:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Futurist and College alum Joel Barker (B.S. '66) and former U.S. Rep. Tim Penny will headline the 2008 University of Minnesota Center for Integrative Leadership conference, "Making Communities Work: Leadership across Public, Private, Nonprofit and Geographic Boundaries," Monday and Tuesday, April 21 and 22 at Cowles Auditorium, Hubert H. Humphrey Center.

Read the full press release.

Posted by Anitra Budd at 11:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Minnesota Association of School Administrators (MASA) has named Mark Robertson, Superintendent for the Fridley Schools, the 2008 Minnesota Superintendent of the Year. Mark received his superintendent licensure from our Department of Educational Policy and Administration, and holds specialist and master's degrees from the University of St. Thomas, and a bachelor's degree from Bethel University.

Read the full press release.

Posted by Anitra Budd at 09:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Karen Cadigan, Director of Outreach and Policy in CEED, and alum Kristen Missall (Ph.D. '02, educational psychology; M.A. '99, educational psychology) recently published a paper, "Measuring expressive language growth in young children with autism spectrum disorders," in Topics in Early Childhood Special Education.

Posted by Anitra Budd at 09:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The International Falls Daily Journal recently reported that Sue Collins (Ph.D., educational policy and administration) is one of three finalists for president of the Northeast Higher Education District (NHED). The district is a consortium of five colleges in northeastern Minnesota. The finalists will be considered by James H. McCormick, chancellor of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.

Read the full article.

UPDATE: Sue has now been officially recommended for the NHED presidency. Read the full article.

Posted by Anitra Budd at 03:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Psi Chi (University of Illinois chapter) has named CEHD alum Professor Chryle Elieff its Teacher of the Year. Elieff received a Ph.D. from the Institute of Child Development. As a member of the developmental division at the University of Illinois, she teaches courses on infant psychology and adolescent development. Elieff will be honored during a ceremony on Sunday, April 27.

Posted by Anitra Budd at 01:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Professor Arthur Leon (Kinesiology) received some excellent news this week regarding his grant proposal with NIH, which received a score of 1.3 from the NIH peer review, assuring funding when the council meets in May. The grant is for expansion of his research on the role of exercise (arm cycling vs. walking) on improving walking capability in patients with peripheral artery disease.

The grant request is for $3.5 million total cost for 5 years beginning this July. Professor Diane Treat- Jacobson of the School of Nursing is the PI, Art is the Co-PI, and Ulf Bronas, who received his Ph.D. in Kinesiology last fall, is the Project Coordinator. The group is currently in the fourth year of an AHA pilot project, which is the basis for the NIH proposal.

Congratulations, Art!

Posted by Anitra Budd at 01:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Emeritus Professor Harlan Hansen (Curriculum and Instruction) and his wife Ruth Hansen (Ph.D. '81, curriculum and instruction) have published The Literate Child: A Developmentally Appropriate Program for Helping Four-Year-Old Children Acquire Basic and Literacy Skills. The manual was developed with a grant from the Naples (Fla.) Foundation and includes 36 outcomes and related activities.

The Hansens have been conducting free workshops for teachers and by the end of February all teachers of four-year-olds in Collier County, Florida, will have received a free copy.

Posted by Anitra Budd at 08:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Roy Unruh (M.A. '66, secondary education) will join the faculty at Hesston College this semester. Roy will be teaching general astronomy at the Hesston, Kansas college.

Read more about his new position.

Congratulations, Roy!

Posted by Anitra Budd at 12:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Dr. Verna Cornelia Price (Ph.D., educational policy and administration) will launch her newest book, The Silent Cry, at the Twin Cities Body Mind Life Expo, March 1-2 at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

Read more about Verna and her new book.

Posted by Anitra Budd at 12:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Alumna Lili Dong (Ph.D., educational policy and administration) has been chosen to serve as the director of Georgetown University's newly established liaison office in Shanghai, China. Read the full press release.

Posted by Anitra Budd at 03:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Dr. Ulf Bronas, a recent kinesiology graduate, will present at the 2007 American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions in Orlando, Florida, November 3 to 7. His presentation, based on data from his Ph.D. dissertation, is titled "Contribution of Improved Cardiorespiratory Functions to Increased Pain-free and Maximal Walking Distance in PAD Patients with Claudication following Arm Ergometer or Treadmill Exercise Training." Co-authors are Professor Arthur S. Leon (kinesiology) and Diane Treat-Jacobson (nursing). This is the third consecutive year that this University group has had a presentation from this study presented at the AHA Scientific Sessions, the largest scientific meeting worldwide with about 40,000 attendants and about 4,000 presentations.

Posted by Anitra Budd at 10:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Sharon Cormany Ornelas, CEHD professional practice school coordinator and alumna (M.Ed. ’00, second languages and cultures), recently received the Milken National Educator Award. Ornelas received the award at her school, Patrick Henry High School. The Milken Award provides public recognition and an unrestricted financial award of $25,000 to teachers, principals, and specialists who are furthering excellence in education. Read more at "Minneapolis teacher surprised with national honor" on WCCO.com.

Posted by Anitra Budd at 11:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Alum Carl Aakre (M.Ed. '04), an agri-science teacher at Perham High School in Perham, has been named Teacher of the Year in Minnesota in the 12th annual Wal-Mart State Teacher of the Year program. Aakre was honored at a special surprise ceremony at the school, and in his honor the school received a $10,000 grant from the Wal-Mart Foundation.

This is not the first such honor for Carl. In 2005 he was named Agri-science Teacher of the Year by the National Future Farmers of America Association. Congratulations on all your accomplishments, Carl!

Posted by Anitra Budd at 01:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Joyce Simard (M.S.W., '83) recently published a book entitled The End-of-Life Namaste Care Program, for People with Dementia. The book, published by Health Professions Press, gives step-by-step instructions for building Namaste Care programs in direct care facilities. Namaste Care blends nursing care and meaningful activities, promoting peaceful and relaxing end-of-life experiences for older adults.

Posted by Anitra Budd at 11:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Amanda Thien, a 2005 graduate from the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, received a 2007 Promising Researcher Award from the National Council of Teachers of English. Thien, who completed her doctorate with CI Professor Richard Beach, is currently an assistant professor of English education at the University of Pittsburgh. Her dissertation is entitled, "She's not a prostitute!: Re-reading working-class girls' responses to literature through an examination of interpretive practices."

Posted by Anitra Budd at 10:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)