college NEWS
fACULTY and Staff in the news
students news
college calendar

"Mind Over Matter, Body Under Design: Bodyworks by KeySook Geum" is on exhibition at the Goldstein Museum of Design through Jan. 8.

Students sow seeds of cultural understanding A group of Korean students met peers in DHA earlier this month as part of a year-long cultural exchange. During their visit, the students each produced handicrafts common to their respective cultures. Their creations are being shown on a rotating basis in a display case adjacent to the Goldstein Museum of Design.The project grew from a collaboration between CHE Associate Dean Marilyn DeLong and KeySook Geum, Hong-Ik University director of textile art and fashion design, whose works are currently being shown at the Goldstein. See a profile at http://www1.umn.edu/umnnews/Feature_Stories/Students_reflect_two_cultures.html

Nelson-Mayson appointed director of Goldstein Museum of Design
The Goldstein Museum of Design has appointed Lin Nelson-Mayson as director. Nelson-Mayson comes to The Goldstein from leadership positions in the museum field including director of ExhibitsUSA in Kansas City, curator for the Minnesota Museum of American Art in St. Paul, and deputy director for Curatorial Services at the Columbia Museum of Art in Columbia , South Carolina. Nelson-Mayson says, "I am honored to be the incoming director of The Goldstein Museum of Design and glad to be a part of such a dynamic operation. I anticipate being able to draw on my past museum experiences as well as work more intensively with design, students, and the public. I am pleased to be a part of this exciting time in The Goldstein's history.

Strategic repositioning work continues
Numerous strategic repositioning implementation task forces continue work to shape the process that will lead to dissolution of the college next July as the academic units within the college become part of other colleges. The task forces will complete their work by December toward a goal of issuing a final report in early 2006. Additional information about the process is available at http://www.che.umn.edu/transition.html.

Drive for donations to help those in need
The CHE Student Board is leading a drive from Oct. 24-27 to receive donations for Joseph's Coat, an inner-city free store that helps working poor, homeless, mentally ill, and others in need.

SSW launches social justice minor
The School of Social Work is hosting a kick-off celebration on Oct. 28 to launch the new social justice minor, which offers undergraduate students the opportunity to both theorize about the meanings of social justice, and practice "doing" social justice advocacy in community organizations.

CHE CS/BU Unit and P&A Committee to host Fall Health Fest
CHE's Civil Service/Bargaining Unit and the Professional and Administrative Committee are hosting a Fall Health Fest on Tuesday, Nov. 8 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in 274 and 278 McNeal Hall. Presenters will include chiropractor Dr. Richard Printon with "Anywhere" exercises, ergonomics, posture tips; Uli Beyendorff, acupuncture and herbalist, on combating the sedentary work life and herbal remedies to reduce stress; and Pat Culliton, Hennepin Faculty Associates clinic director, counselor, and acupuncturist and lecturer at the University’s Center for Spirituality & Healing, on guided imagery and relaxation techniques and self-care techniques. Massages and free snacks will also be offered.

• Creating Professional Portfolios: Thursday, November 10, 9:00 – 11:00 am, 274 McNeal
• Name Your Skills: Tuesday, November 22, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm, 274 McNeal Hall
• Writing an Effective Resume: Monday, November 28, 1:00 – 4:00 pm, 22 McNeal Hall

To register for these programs,e-mail CHRD at CHRD@umn.edu or call them at 612-624-0774.

CHE alumni chapter and volunteers receive honors
The University of Minnesota Alumni Association recently awarded its Grand Gold Award to the College of Human Ecology Alumni Society. The award recognizes the society's extraordinary tradition of innovative programs and dedicated service as well as the role it is playing helping create a smooth transition for the University. In addition, the UMAA gave its Rising Star award to CHE Alumni Society volunteer Jenny Anderson (B.S. '95) and named CHE Alumni Society volunteer Cheryl Kempton as Student Volunteer of the Year.

In the media 

• Becky Yust, DHA, was quoted in the Sept. 27 Star Tribune discussing the grass roots experience of applying academic principles to real life marketing for local toy store, Creative Kidstuff.
• Sharon Danes, FSS, was quoted in the Oct. 1 Star Tribune discussing the crisis of family finances and a logical starting point to a remedy. She also addressed the importance of balancing work and family life, beginning with the observance of National Work and Family Month (October) in the Oct. 17 Star Tribune.
• Marilyn DeLong, DHA and CHE associate dean, described how the "Emergence: Student Cultural Collaborations" exhibits at the Goldstein Museum of Design came about in the Oct. 18 UMN News available at http://www1.umn.edu/umnnews/Feature_Stories/Students_reflect_two_cultures.html
• Bill Doherty, FSS, discussed the hazards of overscheduling kids and the need for sports free Sundays in the Oct 1., Oct. 5, and Oct. 18 Star Tribune and also in the Oct. 9 Mankato Free Press. His concern was featured in the U of M "Moments" program available at http://blog.lib.umn.edu/archives/urelate/radio/Family_Time.mp3.
• The research of Jodi Dworkin, FSS, which was utilized to forge a U of M online course, "First-Year Seminar for Parents: Alcohol Use on Campus," was mentioned in the Oct. 5 Star Tribune and on Minnesota Public Radio.
• Al Levine, FScN, is quoted in a September issue of South Carolina's The State discussing his experiment on sugar addiction and its relationship to obesity.
• Joanne Slavin, FScN, is quoted in the September issue of ALLURE magazine on dieting misconceptions and the benefits of whole grains and fiber in the diet.
• Ed Taylor, SSW, contrasted the Hastings suspects (in the killing of their parents) with recent school shooters in the Oct. 14 Duluth News Tribune.
• Mark Umbreit, SSW, director of the Center for Restorative Justice & Peacemaking is quoted in the Los Angeles Times discussing restorative justice and its relationship to accountability. In addition, he was quoted in the Oct. 9 Combined Jewish Philanthropies and the Oct. 14 Jewish Journal discussing recidivism rates of offenders who experience mediation as opposed to those who experience traditional punishment.
• SSW faculty member Esther Wattenberg's commentary piece entitled, "Wattenberg: Let Blatz continue work on behalf of kids," appeared in the Star Tribune on Oct. 8th.
• Oliver Williams, SSW, is mentioned in [Florence, SC] Morning News Online, as the presenter of "Violence in the Home: The Children Are Watching," at Florence's Central United Methodist Church on Oct. 2 in observance of Domestic Violence Awareness month. He also was quoted in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel in September discussing training the faith community to offer counseling to women in abusive relationships.

Selected faculty and staff highlights

• Anne Gearity, SSW lecturer, was awarded the 2005 National Alliance on Mental Illness of Minnesota's Professional of the Year Award.
• Karen LaBat, DHA, has been selected to serve as a Scientific Excellence Advisor for the National Textile Center, a research consortium of eight universities with collaborative research funded by the federal government.
• Steven McCarthy, DHA, served as an artist-in-residence at Minnesota State University-Moorhead, for two days in mid-October.
• Jean Quam, SSW director, was appointed to the Executive Committee of the National Association of Social Workers.
• Paul Rosenblatt, FSoS, was inducted into the University's Academy of Distinguished Teachers at a luncheon ceremony on Sept. 22.
• Sherri Gahring, Kim Johnson, Seung-Eun Lee, and Seahee Lee and DHA team members received the Dean and Director's Distinguished Team Award for the Retail Analysis and Development Program, Minnesota Association of Extension Educators' Team Award for Retail Analysis, and Development Program Team Excellence in Community Vitality Programming Award given by the Minnesota Community and Natural Resources Association at the recent Minnesota Extensive Service Annual Program Conference.

New faculty

• Carin Martin, DHA assistant professor

New staff

• Pat McKay, CHE IT WebCT support
• Anna Doherty, CHE student services coordinator

Return to top

DHA students Janessa Anderson and Deena Kvasnik were featured in the Sept. 27 Star Tribune for their work developing the Halloween merchandising strategy for the Creative Kidstuff stores. The chain's CEO Robert Bonoff, a DHA graduate alum, chose the students from competing teams who developed strategies under the supervision of DHA lecturer Pat Hemmis.

Kim Skobba, doctoral student in DHA, has received a $15,000 Early Doctoral Student Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The grant will enable her to conduct research on how financial housing assistance affects the type of housing selected by low income persons.

Return to top

View the college calendar for upcoming events.