Introducing Jan McCulloch, New FSoS Department Head
Jan McCulloch joined CHE as head of the Department of Family Social Science in July. McCulloch, a native Alabamian, most recently was interim associate dean of the University of Kentucky’s College of Human Environmental Sciences and a faculty member in family studies. Here’s a quick introduction to this newest member of our faculty.

Education: Ph.D., University of North Carolina, Greensboro (child development and family relations).

Research interests: Risks and social factors surrounding aging farmers, the meaning of farming, and sustainability of rural life for farmers.

Home: Townhouse in Blaine, Minn. “I love having a pond nearby so that I can watch the geese while I walk my dog— a chubby little Corgi. I have moved many times in my life, but the making of my ‘nest’ is an adventure every time—I enjoy blending ‘old favorites’ with new treasures.”

Family: Son, in California; mother, two sisters, and brothers-in-law, in Alabama; grandson, in Kentucky.

Nonacademic pursuits: Bowling; caring for two cats, a dog, and fish; and photography. “Photography is my true love. I’m looking forward to getting outdoors and seeing Minnesota’s birds, bugs, and flowers.”

Last good book read: “I read fiction every day—my reward for a day's work. The classics I was exposed to early in my education still rank among my most highly prized reads. These include Evangeline (Longfellow), Little Women (Louisa May Alcott), Jane Eyre (Charlotte Bronte), and The Mill on the Floss (George Eliot). I still love them and find that I read them differently at different stages of my life.”

Last good movie seen: “I haven't been to the movies in a while, but the last good play I saw was The Full Monty, based on the movie by that name. The stage adaptation was wonderful—even funnier than the movie.”

Came to Minnesota because… “I couldn’t turn down the amazing opportunity to join the University of Minnesota faculty. This university and CHE are terrific—not only because of excellent research and faculty expertise, but also because there’s a passionate commitment here to students and to the larger community.”

Favorite quote: “I use quotes all the time with my photography. One of many favorites, from Ralph Waldo Emerson, is this: ‘Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising that tempt you to believe your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires some of the same courage that a soldier needs. Peace has its victories, but it takes brave men and women to win them.’”

College Honors Excellence
Thirteen CHE faculty, staff, and students were honored in April with 2003 college awards, recognizing exceptional performance in carrying out the work of the college. Congratulations to: Joe Warthesen (posthumously), food science and nutrition (FScN), Dean’s Award; Jim Reinardy, social work (SSW), Educational Leadership Award; Chery Smith, FScN, New Career Excellence Award; Stephanie Watson, design, housing, and apparel (DHA), Excellence in Academic Advising Award; Carol Wiebe, SSW, Civil Service/Bargaining Unit Outstanding Performance Award; Nan Kalke, SSW, Outstanding Achievement Award for Professional and Administrative Staff; Joanne Eicher, DHA, Excellence in Discovery Award; Wayne Caron, family social science (FSoS), Excellence in Outreach/Engagement Award; Hal Grotevant, FSoS, McFarland Outstanding Teaching Award; Heather Vinge, Teresa Winge, and Traci LaLiberte, Outstanding Student Award, Jan Hogan, FSoS, Friend of the College Award (presented by the CHE Alumni Society).

Advisory Council Additions
Five new members will join CHE’s advisory council this fall. Sara Barrow, Roxanne Givens, Helen Klassen, David Olson, and Mary Pickard join the 22 members whose terms continue (see the inside front cover for the complete list). Steve Geiger will be advisory council chair for 2003–04. Council members advise the dean and contribute to the college in other ways; goals for the coming year emphasize development and advocacy.

Promoted faculty
Faculty promotions effective fall 2003 were granted to:

• Marilyn Bruin, design, housing, and apparel (DHA), promoted to associate professor with tenure

• Jeff Crump, DHA, promoted from untenured to tenured associate professor
• Brad Hokanson, DHA, promoted to associate professor
• Martha Rueter, family social science (FSoS), associate professor with tenure
• Virginia Zuiker, FSoS, associate professor with tenure
• Marla Reicks, food science and nutrition (FScN), full professor
• Chery Smith, FScN, associate professor with tenure
• Oliver Williams, social work, full professor

Volunteers: Vital CHE resource
As we imagine and shape a strong and vibrant future for CHE, we are more and more aware of how central volunteerism is in the life of the college and our communities. We are grateful for the many wonderful alumni and industry partners who are helping us broaden our definitions of what it means to be volunteers, professionals, and citizens, and helping us explore new strategies for developing and sustaining those volunteer relationships.

CHE is developing innovative strategies to integrate and guide future volunteerism in the college. Leadership for this comes from Steven Geiger ’83 (Ph.D., family social science), chief strategy officer worldwide for the Carlson Marketing Co., CHE external relations coordinator Brittny McCarthy Barnes, and alumni program coordinator Lori Mollberg, among others. In a related effort, Mollberg recently collaborated with Arthur Harkins, faculty director for the University’s Innovation Studies program, to develop and lead a University seminar on the future of volunteerism.

Alumni are also strengthening the connections between volunteer activities and CHE’s mission. Retreats exploring this nexus have been sponsored by the alumni society boards of the college and the School of Social Work as part of their efforts to cultivate a shared vision for the future of the college’s two key alumni organizations.

Alumni relations has been integrated with student and career services—one reflection of our increased understanding of the needs of students from the time they are admitted to CHE through their postcollege lives.

CHE faculty are continuing to incorporate experiential and service learning activities into their classes, embracing community and industry partners as volunteer teachers and mentors to students. 

Through these and other efforts, we expect to foster new alliances and collaborations, devise new uses of technology, discover new resource efficiencies, and learn new ways of working and learning together with our volunteers in the years to come.

The future of CHE volunteerism
Volunteer involvement in CHE takes many forms:

• mentoring
• legislative advocacy
• alumni society involvement
• career survey response
• consulting and project work
• cyber-volunteerism
• service learning partnerships
• corporate partnerships
• field and clinical instruction
• internships
• advisory board involvement
• research involvement
• teaching and learning assistance
• philanthropic activities

We’re convinced the list above only scratches the surface, and we’re working to expand our sense of the possibilities of how volunteers can play a vital role in CHE’s teaching and learning, knowledge discovery, and civic engagement activities.

Do you have ideas about the future role and impact of volunteerism in CHE and in higher education generally? Are you curious about current volunteer opportunities at the University? We’d like to hear from you. Visit our alumni Web site today to contribute ideas, share suggestions, or ask questions.