Margo Bowerman Joins U of M Extension Center for Youth Development on Crookston Campus

By Elizabeth Tollefson on May 22, 2013 8:49 AM
Margo Bowerman joined University of Minnesota Extension Center for Youth Development as 
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an assistant extension professor. She is based at Extension's Regional Office in Crookston, located in the Valley Technology Park building on the north edge of the U of M Crookston campus. 

Bowerman is a member of the northwest Minnesota regional 4-H Team of the University of Minnesota Extension Center for Youth Development.  In her role as a regional educator, she will work with 4-H program staff in the northwest counties of Minnesota to ensure the 4-H programs remain vibrant and abundant with opportunities for youth to reach their full potential.  She will also be directly supporting 4-H science programming and works with a team of three educators, housed in the Moorhead and Roseau offices, to provide support for the 19 counties in the northwest region of Minnesota.

Bowerman comes to the University of Minnesota following her work for Cornell Cooperative Extension in Orleans County as the 4-H team coordinator for 13 years. As coordinator, she was involved in every detail of the program, from food and nutrition to animal science to volunteer development to risk management.

She holds a bachelor of science degree in biology from the University of Albany, N.Y., and a master of science in wildlife ecology from the College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, N.Y.

Today the University of Minnesota Crookston delivers 28 bachelor's degree programs, 20 minors, and 39 concentrations on campus--as well as 11 degrees online--in the areas of agriculture and natural resources; business; liberal arts and education; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of 1,800 undergraduates from 25 countries and 40 states, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  "Small Campus. Big Degree."  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.

Contact: Deborah Zak, regional director, Northwest, Extension Regional Office, Crookston, 218-281-8684 or 1-888-241-0781; Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Faculty and Staff Receive Awards during annual Faculty and Staff Day at U of M Crookston

By Elizabeth Tollefson on May 20, 2013 11:15 AM
Recognizing excellence and celebrating success was the highlight of Faculty and Staff Day held May 14, 2013, at the University of Minnesota Crookston. The annual event is held to commemorate the completion of the academic year and honors achievement.

Faculty and staff were honored for years of service along with the retirement of Tom Baldwin, senior vice chancellor for academic and student affairs; Vicki Svedarsky, assistant counselor in Career and Counseling Services; and Mike Vivion, chief pilot in the Agriculture and Natural Resources Department. The event was also an opportunity to recognize two department heads who are leaving campus for other opportunities: Jack Geller, head, Liberal Arts and Education Department and Adel Ali, head, Math, Science, and Technology Department. 

Individual faculty and staff were presented awards for their contributions to the Crookston campus: 

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Rachel McCoppin, associate professor, Liberal Arts & Education Department - Distinguished Teaching Award presented by Thomas Baldwin.

Michelle Christopherson, director, Center for Adult Learning - Distinguished Professional and Administrative (P&A) Award presented by Connie Camrud. 

Linda Wilkens, Copy Center Operator, UMC Printing & Design - Distinguished Civil Service and Bargaining Unit Award presented by Tom Sondreal.

Ken Bulie, lecturer, Business Department - Outstanding Service Learning Faculty Award 
reented by Lisa Loegering.

Josh Parrill, student personnel coordinator, 
Academic Assistance Center - Outstanding Community Service Award presented by Kenneth Johnson.

Melissa Parkin, catering supervisor, Dining Services - Builder of Diversity Award presented by Lorna Hollowell. 
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The entire campus community was also thanked for its overall support for students with disabilities by Laurie Wilson. 

Today the University of Minnesota Crookston delivers 27 bachelor's degree programs, 18 minors, and 39 concentrations on campus--as well as 10 degrees online--in the areas of agriculture and natural resources; business; liberal arts and education; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of 1,800 undergraduates from 25 countries and 40 states, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  "Small Campus. Big Degree."  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.

Contact: Chris Winjum, assistant to the chancellor, 218-281-8343 (cwinjum@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Tim Moe Named U of M Crookston's Teambacker of the Year for 2013

By Elizabeth Tollefson on May 20, 2013 10:43 AM
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The 2013 Teambacker of the Year Award at the University of Minnesota Crookston was presented to Tim Moe at the annual Fun Nite held Friday, April 29, 2013. The event was held at the Crookston Eagles and raises money for UMC athletic scholarships. Kari Torkelson, president of UMC Teambackers presented Moe with the award. The evening raised more than $19,000 in support of scholarships for student-athletes. 

Moe has been on the board of Teambackers for four years and has served as vice president for two. He is active in Teambacker events and initiatives including golf tournaments and the annual Fun Nite. 

Bill Tyrrell, director of athletic fundraising, admires Moe for his commitment to Teambackers. "Tim Moe is a dedicated, hard-working member of the board who cares about the athletic department on our campus."

UMC Teambackers is an athletic promotion and fundraising organization for UMC. It operates in conjunction with the UMC Development Office, the Athletic Department and the University of Minnesota Foundation. For more information on Teambackers, contact Bill Tyrrell, director of athletic fundraising at 218-281-8436 (btyrrell@umn.edu). 

Today the University of Minnesota Crookston delivers 27 bachelor's degree programs, 18 minors, and 39 concentrations on campus--as well as 10 degrees online--in the areas of agriculture and natural resources; business; liberal arts and education; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of 1,800 undergraduates from 25 countries and 40 states, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  "Small Campus. Big Degree."  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.

In the photo: Tim Moe, 2013 Teambacker of the Year, was presented his award by Teambacker President Kari Torkelson (left).
 

Contact: Bill Tyrrell, director, athletic fundraising, 218-281-8436 (btyrrell@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Visiting Scholar Yingying Chen from Zhejiang Economic and Trade Polytechnic, Hangzhou, China, Says Goodbye

By Elizabeth Tollefson on May 20, 2013 8:53 AM
Her time on campus has come to a close, but Yingying Chen (in photos)will take back to China many 
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lessons from her time on the Crookston campus as a visiting scholar. Chen came to the Business Department at the University of Minnesota Crookston in late January 2013 from Zhejiang Economic and Trade Polytechnic (ZJETP), in Hangzhou China. The U of M Crookston established an international partnership with ZJETP in late 2005 to enhance opportunities for students to study and faculty to work collaboratively and Chen, the director of finance and insurance teaching and research at ZJETP.  

It was Chen's first time in the United States, and when she arrived, she was immediately impressed by the welcome and the helpfulness of others who introduced her to the Crookston campus. She is particularly grateful to Susan Brorson, head of the Business Department for the opportunity to be involved in a variety of learning environments. 

Brorson enjoyed the opportunity to host Chen. "It has been a pleasure to host Yingying Chen as a visiting scholar from ZJETP, one of our international partners," Brorson says. "Although she came to learn more about the U.S., the U of M Crookston, and teaching, we have learned much about China and ZJEPT from her." 

Chen and Brorson have discussed the potential of additional collaborative efforts between business programs in both universities.

The opportunity has been a powerful one for Chen. "I will use what I learned about the different styles of classroom teaching here when I return to my own classroom," Chen says. "I enjoyed the personalized, student-oriented teaching style that inspires students to learn more self-consciously, independently, and produces a good result."

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Chen observed classes in macro economics, managerial finance, risk management and insurance, and principles of management, Internet marketing, principles of marketing, along with some online courses. She has also presented to groups on economic growth in China, Chinese history, culture, geography, and demographics. These presentations she says "helped her to make comparisons between the two countries and allowed her to interact with students from different countries and backgrounds on campus."

Chen is also grateful to Kimberly Gillette and the faculty in Business Department. "I appreciate their help," she says. "And, I am thankful they allowed me to observe classes and have a chance to learn their diverse, distinctive teaching method."

She participated in campus assembly, department meetings, and online course meetings that provided her the opportunity to learn more about shared governance, campus management, and more. Chen also compared the management of a typhoon in Zhejiang province to the flood insurance offered in Minnesota. The opportunity for deeper discussions with business instructors Ken Bulie, Les Johnson, and Oxana Weiland gave her ideas and provided her with inspiration to further her research.

As a visiting scholar, Chen offered assistance to the Confucius Institute site located on the Crookston campus, working with Chunhui Wang, the institute's assistant director, to build a better understanding of Chinese culture and the Chinese language. 

Her last day on the Crookston campus was Friday, May 17, but she is not leaving the United States yet. She is headed to the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis to continue her research, and she says she is sorry to go because of the many wonderful relationships she has made and the great learning experience she has had while she was here. 

Today the University of Minnesota Crookston delivers 27 bachelor's degree programs, 18 minors, and 39 concentrations on campus--as well as 10 degrees online--in the areas of agriculture and natural resources; business; liberal arts and education; and math, science and technology.  With an enrollment of 1,800 undergraduates from 25 countries and 40 states, the Crookston campus offers a supportive, close-knit atmosphere that leads to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree.  "Small Campus. Big Degree."  To learn more, visit www.umcrookston.edu.

Contact: Sue Brorson, head, Business Department, 218-281-8186 (sbrorson@umn.edu); Elizabeth Tollefson, assistant director, communications, 218-281-8432 (ltollefs@umn.edu)

Ag Lender Update Session to address farmer and lender concerns

By Elizabeth Tollefson on May 20, 2013 8:40 AM
University of Minnesota Extension will be holding an Ag Lender Update Conference in Moorhead on Wednesday, May 29th.  The meeting will address concerns about farm profitability during times of high market volatility and other current farmer/lender issues.   Topics included are planning for profit and why a written plan is needed. The session will address producer concerns regarding defending their land base, ideas for negotiating land rent contracts, and tips for success.  Addressing changes in agriculture will be covered including a look at the economics of adding tile drainage on rented land, and also ideas for farm transition, including machinery sharing and transfer.  

For additional information on the conference and to receive a registration form contact U of M Extension educator Bill Craig at 218-281-8692 or email craig030@umn.edu.

Contact: U of M Extension educator Bill Craig at 218-281-8692 or email craig030@umn.edu.

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