Profile 2024, the UMN Morris Alumni Magazine

For Alumni, Parents, and Friends of the University of Minnesota Morris

Celebrating Sustainability

Land Acknowledgment

By offering this land acknowledgment, we affirm tribal sovereignty and express respect for Native peoples and nations.

The University of Minnesota Morris is located along Owobopte Wakpa—a place from which Dakota turnips have been dug river—on the edge of mashkode akiing—prairie land. This land has been cared for and called home by the Dakota people, and later the Ojibwe people and other Native peoples from time immemorial. Our state’s name, Minnesota, comes from the Dakota name for this region, Mni Sota Makoce the land where the waters reflect the skies.

Acknowledging the land and our history in this place is an offering of solidarity with and respect for Native nations and peoples. In doing so, we—The University of Minnesota Morris—reaffirm our commitment to our responsibilities rooted in the history of our campus site as a Native American boarding school, our distinctive mission as a public liberal arts college within Minnesota’s land-grant university, and our recognition as a Native American-Serving Nontribal Institution.

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Jennifer Zych Herrmann, development officer zychja@morris.umn.edu

Profile 2024

Volume XXVIII, Edition I

Editorial Staff

Kari Adams ’03

Sue Dieter ’86

Lisa Walker

Lynne Williams

Grace Gallant ’26

Funded in part by the University of Minnesota Morris Alumni Association and the Office of the Chancellor. Alternative formats are available upon request.

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Profile Mission

Profile connects alumni and friends of the University of Minnesota Morris with informative, engaging, and enjoyable stories about campus life and beyond that reflect the value and success of the liberal arts education model, enabling our audience to act as proud advocates of the institution they know and love.

Green Theatre

What does it mean to pursue green theatre? At UMN Morris, we’ve explored everything from LED lighting to reclaimed-lumber sets and more. Learn about our progress on page 16.

Shown here is a scene from Trail to Oregon, the 2024 Meiningens production.

Cover: Sustainability Director Troy Goodnough celebrates sustainability with students during a photo shoot for the Dear MN campaign. See inside back cover for more information.

Zavada Is First Morton Gneiss Professor

Michael Zavada was selected for the Morton Gneiss Professorship in Environmental Sciences, which began last fall—the first professorship of its kind at UMN Morris. “It’s an exciting prospect for me to do this, I’m jazzed up about it,” says Zavada.

Named for the three-and-a half-billion-year-old bedrock beneath Minnesota, the Morton Gneiss professorship was funded by anonymous alumni donors. “We hope that by helping to hire an environmental sciences professor at UMN Morris, some terribly brilliant person will make an innovation or discover a complex relationship in nature that meaningfully mitigates climate change or helps humanity adapt to change.”

Zavada admires the donors’ long-term thinking and their willingness to fund this position. “The donors support a position and a discipline that is important to the future and the quality of our existence,” says Zavada.

Peh Ng, acting vice chancellor for academic affairs and dean, says this position will lead one of the nation’s premier environmental science programs at a public liberal arts college, manage new initiatives in curriculum development and research opportunities for the environmental science faculty and students, and create partnerships with UMN Morris and its surrounding communities on projects related to the environment.

While his focus is on enhancing the environmental science program at UMN Morris, Zavada recognizes

the importance of being a point person for the interdisciplinary program. This is one of the many aspects of the position he looked forward to because of the supportive connections between disciplines here.

Much of this position centers around conducting research with student participation. This year, he is taking environmental science students to Puno, Peru, to work with graduate students at the university there, where they will study water quality, mining operations, agriculture operations, fisheries, and range management. The research trip is a way for students to get involved in environmental issues on a more global level.

“It is important that students get the sense that changing the world is possible, even if you are at a rural university like UMN Morris,” Zavada says. “Size doesn’t matter in education, just a willingness to learn and the energy to do so.”

Zavada loves all aspects of this professorship, but what really drew him to it? The name.

“Somebody was so selfless [to] name [it] after a … metamorphic rock symbolic of how we … must metamorphose into better people and better environmental stewards. A rock just one billion years younger than the earth itself and came into existence at about the time that life began on the planet. The name drips with symbolism and, if nothing else, is the neatest thing ever,” says Zavada.

Zavada holds a polished piece of Morton gneiss.

Cougar Days of Giving Event Is Resounding Success

Last September for the first time, the UMN Morris athletics department held a two-day, live broadcast event using online crowdfunding for various initiatives of each of its 19 programs.

When talking about Cougar Days of Giving, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Matt Johnson referred to it as a creative opportunity to support UMN Morris student athletes. “They’ve got so many constraints on them, that I thought … we could come together and have two outstanding days where we could just focus on our athletes, on our coaches, on all the things that they do… to share all of the positive things that go on, that are really positive for our students and our coaches.”

And that’s just what they did. Each of the 19 athletic programs, as well as representatives of the Cougar Club and the health and wellness department had their own live fundraising link explaining a little bit about how donations would benefit that sport. By the time the two-day event ended, many of those items had been fully funded, making the first-ever Cougar Days of Giving fundraiser a resounding success—far surpassing the Cougar Club mailer.

From that came the new student-athlete fueling station, fully funded for four years. Just one example of a Cougar Days of Giving program success, the fueling station is for student athletes who need to be at the Cougar Sports Center early in the morning before dining options are available or later in the day when dining services have closed. The idea came about as a way to help student athletes who may face the challenge of finding food on and off campus at certain times of the day due to practice or game times. While this is not a new idea—it’s customary on a Division I campus—it’s not common for a Division III school.

Over the course of the two Cougar Days of Giving, UMN Morris athletics saw a 60% increase over last year in the total amount of funds raised between all of the programs. And donations continued to come in after the event closed. The University of Minnesota Morris athletics department is grateful to all who donated.

Planned Giving Is Way for Alum to Give Significant Support

When Loretta Seppanen ’68 was a student at UMN Morris, she worked; attended lectures, plays, concerts, international film showings; and participated in various clubs, in addition to attending class and studying. Because of this, she says she learned how to effectively manage time between her coursework, extracurricular activities, and a work-study job. She thinks back to the experience almost as a gift. “I still appreciate having developed the habit of learning in all of these venues,” says Seppanen.

In appreciation of what that “gift” meant to her, she wanted to give

back to her alma mater. “For me, UMN Morris is one of the three organizations I chose for our planned giving because of the benefits I gained from my four years [there],” says Seppanen. “I also chose [to give to] UMN Morris because I appreciate the unique work that Morris is engaged in today offering a liberal arts education that can include an Indigenous focus for a significant number of Native American students.”

Seppanen and her husband opted to support UMN Morris through planned giving to the Morris Scholarship Fund. She recalls receiving a scholarship each year during her time at UMN Morris and felt that was an area where she could give support at more of a significant

level. “Planned giving means we can keep giving to a diverse set of organizations annually and use our wills to designate larger gifts, after our deaths, to the select organizations that hold special significance to each of us, like UMN Morris.”

Seppanen knows that the cost of college, even when adjusted for inflation, is much higher today than it was more than 50 years ago, and that scholarships may only help with a small portion of a student’s total cost of college, but she hopes that this type of funding gives today’s students the opportunity to sample more of the unique UMN Morris experiences than they would be able to without the scholarship funding.

Who is Degree in Three for?

• Students who want to save up to $20,000 on their cost of attendance and who can manage a more intense college timeline

• Students who have earned college credit in high school

• Students who want to complete their degrees and join the work force or move on to graduate/professional school sooner

• Students who want to do a semester- or year-long internship or study away program without delaying degree completion

New at UMN Morris: Degree in Three

For the past three years, UMN Morris has been one of 13 institutions participating in a nationwide pilot program to create three-year bachelor’s degree programs. In February, Chancellor Janet Schrunk Ericksen rolled out UMN Morris’s three-year degree program, called Degree in Three.

Degree in Three at UMN Morris is an alternative timeline that students may choose to follow instead of the traditional four-year plan. The option is available for more than 30 majors and could save the average student as much as $20,000 on the total cost of their college attendance.

“The cost of college continues to be a concern. For families and students looking for value along with high quality, the Degree in Three option at UMN Morris might be the perfect fit.” Ericksen adds that for students coming in with earned college credit, “a three-year degree is an especially attractive and very manageable option for students.”

For the 2023–24 academic year, around 60% of UMN Morris first-year students came in with some college credit. Approximately one-third had more than one semester of credits, and around 20% came in with more than one year’s worth of credit.

While cost is one of the advantages, there are other reasons that students may want to consider the option. Some may want to start a graduate program or enter the workforce sooner, or they may want to leave room for more of the experiences that employers have noted they consider in hiring, such as a longer term internship or study abroad.

“The three-year option will look different for each major, and students may have to take a few summer courses depending on whether or not they come in with credit. But this is a flexible, affordable option for any student and one that includes opportunities for hands-on learning.”

The UMN Morris plans allow students to achieve a University of Minnesota degree while working closely with faculty and staff in an environment that stresses critical thinking and problem-solving. And they can do it while still participating in the high-impact experiences that can make a major difference to their future.

Ericksen stresses that regardless of whether a student finishes their education in three or four years, “UMN Morris delivers a top-notch education that prepares students for lives of leadership and service, for graduate and professional school, and for the shifting landscape of work that they are entering.”

For more information about Degree in Three at UMN Morris, visit morris.umn.edu/degree-three.

Cofer Named Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Dean

Following a national search, Jordan Cofer has been named the next vice chancellor for academic affairs (VCAA) and dean at UMN Morris.

Cofer is an accomplished academic leader and faculty member who comes to UMN Morris from a peer institution in the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges, Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville, Georgia, where he is currently associate provost and professor of English. He is also the interim executive director of the Andalusia Institute and a recognized Flannery O’Connor scholar.

Cofer earned a doctoral degree in English from Texas Tech University. He has extensive experience in various areas of academic administrative leadership at the department, campus, and system level, as well as state and national experience as part of the American Association of Colleges and Universities’ (AAC&U) Liberal Education and America’s Promise project (LEAP), a national public advocacy and campus-action initiative to champion the importance of a liberal education. He also serves as an instructor in the AAC&U High-Impact Practices Institute.

Pandemic Challenges Led to Improved Chemistry Lab

The COVID-19 pandemic showed us that education as we know it can change overnight. Even though many things have almost completely returned to their pre-pandemic state, UMN Morris Chemistry Professor Jenn Goodnough continues to embrace the technology that changed—and improved—her chemistry lab over the past two years.

Currently, the lab is a combination of live, in-person instruction along with pre-recorded videos and online learning modules. The room has been equipped with ceilingmounted cameras and microphones, and uses Solstice pods and Zoom room applications. Each of the 12 workstations is set up with a laptop and a smart TV connected to the system. The instructor and students can also access the system with their own device. Goodnough stressed that even though it sounds very complicated, the technology is easy to use.

Information Technology Support Specialist Lawrence Godwin said the goal of developing the blended lab was to allow students to be anywhere in the lab and still see and hear and social distance. “That was during the harder parts of COVID. But now … there have been many times when this is useful.”

Goodnough agreed that the usefulness has far exceeded the needs during COVID. It has changed the way she teaches. “I no longer have to write out the pre-lab notes on the whiteboard. Instead, everything is happening on the video screens at each station.” Goodnough can also answer in-lab questions about calculations by writing notes on her iPad

and sharing to the room’s smart TVs. The notes can then be added to Canvas after the lab is completed.

Goodnough noted that this has also been beneficial for students who require accommodations for either a physical or learning disability. For instance, they can have captioning turned on in Zoom, or can access the written descriptions for each step of the lesson.

The blended lab was the result of funding from the Learning Network of Minnesota, a legislatively-funded telecommunications network infrastructure that connects college campuses, system offices, regional learning centers, Tribal learning centers, research centers, and extension offices. UMN Morris is one of approximately 60 campuses and higher education centers linked across the state.

Cofer will start at UMN Morris in July.

Goodnough demonstrates the screens in the chemistry lab with a student assistant.

Kapemni Program Created with NSF Grant

The National Science Foundation has awarded almost $240,000 over two years for a collaborative proposal between the Minnesota Institute for Astrophysics and the University of Minnesota Morris. The “Minnesota Partnership to Foster Native American Participation in Astrophysics” was developed by UMN Twin Cities faculty and Sylke Boyd and Peter Dolan from the Morris campus. The goal is to provide a pathway for Native American students into graduate school in STEM disciplines, in particular astrophysics.

This collaboration is motivated by a severe underrepresentation of Native Americans in the field of physics. According to the American Physical Society, of the 8,300 annual bachelor’s degrees in physics nationwide, only 18–20 go to Indigenous students. The numbers are even less at the graduate levels.

This new program aims to improve representation of Native Americans among the scientific community, and among future faculty. Sylke Boyd, associate professor of physics, is leading the collaboration on the Morris campus.

“We have 30 students on average in our physics program at any given time, and a third of them are Native American. That means every year, UMN Morris is responsible for two or three of the bachelor’s degrees nationwide that are awarded to Native Americans. So this is the place to make it easier to get Native American representation to increase in the field.”

The Kapemni program will provide resources to improve visibility and accessibility of STEM disciplines through outreach and astrophysics-related events on campus, observing nights, and guest speakers. It will provide individual support to students in a variety of ways, such as stipends and cost-of-living support for research work or to take more specific electives in astrophysics on the Twin Cities campus for their Morris physics degree, and to develop mentorship relations with graduate students at the Twin Cities campus. There is also funding for faculty development and outreach, as well as some new equipment for the telescope on the Morris campus.

UMN Morris Archives Receives National Endowment for the Humanities Grant

The Rodney A. Briggs Library at UMN Morris was awarded a Preservation Assistance Grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). The grant will support a general preservation assessment of the materials held in the Archives & Special Collections, which share a space in Briggs Library.

The materials in this collection are unique and diverse, including items relating to the history of the institutions that existed on this land, including two Native American boarding schools, the West Central School of Agriculture, and the University of Minnesota Morris. The collection’s materials also highlight the history of life in the rural Midwest.

According to Naomi Skulan, metadata and technical services coordinator for Briggs Library, the materials in these collections are in great need of preservation and this project would provide a long-range plan to better preserve these unique materials.

The grant is being funded, in part, by the NEH’s special initiative, American Tapestry: Weaving Together Past, Present, and Future. The NEH is one of the largest funders of humanities programs in the United States and awards grants to top-rated proposals examined by panels of independent, external reviewers.

Students in an introductory physics lab

One example of the materials housed in the Archives, this image shows West Central School of Agriculture students at work in the library in 1941.

Morris Model Wins Competition to Energize Rural Communities

Over the summer, the Morris Model team was among 67 winners in the first phase of the $6.7 million Energizing Rural Communities Prize. The competition was funded by the U.S. Department of Energy and is focused on supporting innovative partnership and finance plans to help rural or remote communities develop clean energy demonstration projects. The Morris Model will receive a $100,000 prize, in-kind-mentorship services, and eligibility to compete for another $200,000.

This prize, managed by the Department of Energy Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED), challenges individuals and organizations to develop partnership and financing strategies that support community-driven energy improvement projects in rural or remote communities. The Morris Model team submitted a detailed plan outlining the community clean energy demonstration projects being conducted by the various members of the partnership, along with a video describing the work plan.

This prize is part of the OCED $1 billion Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas program, part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to demonstrate new ways to improve the resilience, reliability, safety, availability, and environmental performance of energy systems serving our nation’s rural or remote areas with populations of no more than 10,000 people.

The Morris Model partners who participated in this competition include the University of Minnesota Morris, City of Morris, Morris Area School District, and University of Minnesota West Central Research and Outreach Center (WCROC).

In the prize application, UMN Morris highlighted energy storage projects, the planned expansion of on-campus solar PV, community engagement, like the Morris Challenge, and the new UMN Center for Renewable Energy Storage Technology initiative with WCROC to grow energy storage solutions in Minnesota.

The prize application was submitted by Griffin Peck ’22, sustainability coordinator for the City of Morris and Morris Model coordinator. “We have a great team of community partners. Morris is a model sustainability destination in Minnesota.”

UMN Morris Included in Food Justice Initiative Funding

Efforts to increase access to healthy, affordable, and culturally relevant foods at UMN Morris recently got a boost from the Center for Prevention at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota. UMN Morris is one of 12 organizations to receive funding from the Center’s Food Justice Initiative. The funds will be used to advance access to healthy, affordable, and culturally appropriate foods without barriers for Black, Indigenous, Latine, Asian Pacific Islanders, and people of color (BIPOC) and low-income students and rural community members. Good food access is generally defined as having the capacity to affordably obtain and make use of foods that are healthy and culturally appropriate.

Clement Loo, assistant professor of environmental studies and student success coordinator in the Office of Equity, Diversity, and Intercultural Programs, is coordinating the UMN Morris effort to increase access to healthy food on campus. He says that students in Morris report that the two primary barriers to food access are a lack of availability of

affordable cultural foods on campus or in the community, and a lack of culinary or food processing/storage knowledge. Efforts to improve the availability of cultural foods on the Morris campus include developing a partnership with the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe to source traditional foods, such as elk and deer; purchasing equipment to support food distribution; offering co-curricular educational and cultural programming on processing, storing/preserving, and cooking; and facilitating the development of regional networks of local food shelves, nonprofits, and community organizations with those who might be able to source cultural foods that are otherwise hard to get affordably in the area.

The initiative’s campus partners—community collaborators such as the Stevens County Food Shelf, a student leadership team, and a new Basic Needs Navigator—will support project operations, coordinate campus food distribution activities, and expand campus food resources.

View the Morris Model video submission by scanning the QR code with your device’s camera app.

DuHamel Receives McKnight Musician Fellowship Grant

Ann DuHamel, associate professor of music and head of keyboard studies at UMN Morris, received a 2023-24 McKnight Musician Fellowship. DuHamel is one of four musicians to receive the statewide grant of $25,000. The McKnight Fellowships for Musicians recognize and support mid-career musicians living and working in Minnesota who demonstrate a sustained level of accomplishment, commitment, artistic excellence, a distinctive musical voice, and a significant performing career over a period of time. The McKnight Fellowships for Musicians are committed to honoring the breadth of Minnesota musicians of all genres; aesthetically, geographically, and culturally.

The fellowship is unrestricted and can help an artist set aside periods of time for study, reflection, experimentation, and exploration; take advantage of an opportunity; or work on a new project.

DuHamel adds, “The McKnight Artist Fellowship for Musicians has a distinguished history, and I am absolutely thrilled to join the ranks of the current and former recipients.

“Moreover, I am extremely grateful for all of the support the University of Minnesota provides for faculty creative activity and research. As an associate professor of music on the Morris campus, I have been fortunate with multiple resources over the span of several years to develop and perform my project ‘Prayers for a Feverish Planet’ …” DuHamel says the project, a musical response to climate change, constituted the basis of her McKnight application. “The McKnight award is a reality for me today because of the trajectory of my project, made possible by the University of Minnesota.”

Peters Receives JEDI Award

Associate Professor of Psychology Heather Peters was named a recipient of the University of Minnesota’s 2023 Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) Award. The award honors faculty who have done significant research, teaching, or service/ leadership to advance justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion at the University, in the person’s field of study, or in the broader community. Peters has been a tireless advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion at UMN Morris. On campus, her leadership has been essential to the creation of the human services social justice major, the Equity and Diversity Advocate program, the Morris 1101 Multicultural Knowledge module, and the new pre-licensed alcohol and drug counselor program. In the classroom, Peters supports the development of students’ multicultural knowledge, awareness, and skills, so they can actively work to create a society in which people are included, respected, and valued. Beyond campus, she facilitated Otter Tail County’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion workgroup and supported Horizon Public Health’s efforts to improve health equity in its fivecounty service area. Her research has helped develop and provide culturally sensitive interventions, programs, and services that support people and communities experiencing marginalization.

Brugger named Fellow of the Geological Society of America

Keith Brugger, geology professor at UMN Morris was named a Fellow of the Geological Society of America (GSA), a global professional organization with more than 26,000 members in 115 countries. GSA Fellowship recognizes an individual’s contributions to geosciences through research, teaching, public outreach and leadership in the field. Brugger’s nomination and selection is especially impressive this year after the GSA made nomination requirements more stringent in order to further elevate the status of GSA Fellowship.

Brugger earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Lehigh University and earned his PhD from the University of Minnesota. He received the University of Minnesota Morris Faculty Distinguished Research Award in 2019.

Cai ’24 Receives 2023 SEED Award

UMN Morris student Dongting Cai ’24, Anqing, Anhui, China, received a 2023 Undergraduate Scholarly Excellence in Equity and Diversity (SEED) Award. The SEED Awards honor underrepresented undergraduate, graduate, and professional students for their outstanding work in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion while at the University of Minnesota and in the community.

The Office for Equity, Diversity, and Intercultural Programs at the University of Minnesota announced that Cai was among 14 undergraduate students who received the Sue W. Hancock SEEDs of Change Awards at the annual University of Minnesota Equity and Diversity Breakfast in November. These awards are given to undergraduate students who are committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion through their academic achievement, community outreach and engagement, and leadership. These awards are named in honor of Sue W. Hancock, whose 27-year career of service at the U of M inspired her colleagues and students. Recipients are full-time juniors or seniors pursuing active community engagement while maintaining a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA.

Cai is double majoring in communication, media & rhetoric, and computer science and minoring in both data science and statistics. His equity and diversity involvement on campus extends from academic pursuits to community outreach and campus engagement.

Zenner Receives Tate Award for Advising

Keni Zenner ’12 is the learning assistance coordinator in the Student Success Center and TRIO Student Support Services and the 2024 recipient of the University of Minnesota John Tate Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Advising. Zenner works with students at various points in their academic careers. Colleagues point to her work as an exemplary, caring adviser who has made significant contributions to the improvement of UMN Morris student support programs and activities.

UMN Morris Students Attend National AISES Conference

Last fall, 15 UMN Morris students in the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) student organization on campus were able to attend the 2023 AISES National Conference in Spokane, Washington, the largest college and career fair geared to Indigenous students. The opportunity for UMN Morris students to attend was made possible with the support of the UMM Salt Springs Endowment American Indian Student Travel Fund and the American Indian Advisory Committee (AIAC)’s approval. Of the group from UMN Morris who attended, the majority were first-year students.

“It was amazing for such a large group of students to be able to attend the conference,” said liz thomson, interim associate vice chancellor for diversity, equity, and inclusion at UMN Morris. “[T]he AISES co-chairs… shined in their student leadership skills, working with the chancellor, AIAC, and a variety of staff members.”

In addition to interacting with Native elders and other Native students and AISES members, UMN Morris students were able to learn about career, internship, and education opportunities.

“I learned valuable public speaking skills and how to network professionally,” said Taylor Waukazo ’26, White Earth Band of Ojibwe, AISES Region 5 national representative and co-chair of AISES at UMN Morris.

Students were able to network on site with workforce professionals and develop their job-seeking skills through interview coaching, resume creation, and career planning.

“[T]this was a great opportunity to allow Native youth to see what is out there,” said Cree Anoka-Brito ’26, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, co-chair of AISES at UMN Morris.

inauguration of JANET SCHRUNK ERICKSEN

seventh chancellor of the University of Minnesota Morris

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2023

Janet Schrunk Ericksen was named chancellor of UMN Morris, effective May 15, 2023, after serving as interim chancellor for the previous two years. A formal inauguration was held on campus October 26.

University of Minnesota Interim President Jeff Ettinger, Professor Emerita of Education Gwen Rudney, Senator Amy Klobuchar, and a representative from the Morris Campus Student Association made remarks. The Honorable

Janie S. Mayeron, chair, University of Minnesota Board of Regents, installed Chancellor Ericksen.

Professor Emeritus of Chemistry

Jim Togeas read the poem he wrote for the occasion, and in recognition of the campus’s origins as an American Indian boarding school, the Northern Winds Singers performed a Native American Honor Song to recognize and pay tribute to the new chancellor. A reception followed on the campus mall.

In her address, Ericksen began with an Old English phrase, “Us is riht micel,” or “For us it is greatly right.”

“For us it is greatly right that we strengthen and elevate our community and common purpose, and it is greatly right for us to be guided by deep enthusiasm for learning; our purpose here is to pass that on. For us, it is greatly right to be part of the public liberal arts college within the University of Minnesota and, at the same time, recognize the distinctive history of this place and the people in it. It is greatly right for us, too, to figure out together

new ways to build on the past for a strong future. And to elevate our commitment to sustainability in all the senses of that word, to create together and with a recommitment of shared purpose, the new history of this distinctive institution.”

Ericksen focused her remarks on community, common purpose, and more intentional mentoring. She went on to say that she looks forward to more recognition of and support for the work that goes into mentoring, as those are key parts of the Morris experience.

An Inauguration Poem

by Professor Emeritus of Chemistry Jim Togeas

If this is not a party, then we ought to have a party in celebration, which doesn’t quite explain our presence here— it’s October’s inauguration fete, our colleague Janet is our chancellor.

We each have journeyed to this northern plain not so much by mind-numbing interstates or county back roads as paths of vision, to teach, research, pursue what cranks our dreams, to be a kind of catalyst for youth, the world of ideas, creative lives, a sense of what is at the heart of things.

Janet’s paths include the North Sea’s shore, early medieval sites of mythic names, Northumbria, Bede, Jarrow, Lindisfarne, she and David there with student cohorts; and Iceland, with its brawling saga clans, who adjudicated disagreements without committees—No!—No plan’s afoot revising UMM’s constitution; and Oxford’s great Bodleian Libraries, whose porter brings the vellum manuscript, Junius Eleven, poems, prophecies, the start of the via longissima, the long road, as the alchemists called it, to her book, many years in the writing.

“What we offer and how we educate matters now more than ever before. We provide an education that allows us to see every single student and to offer every single student a distinctively well-mentored experience. This is a collective effort and community strength accomplished together and individually.”

Our college weather had its months of gloom: twenty-twenty, ocular metaphor for seeing well with clarity and verve; instead the year was all pandemic murk with classrooms closed and scholars sent away to teach and learn at home, that Zoomy thing; unlike the plague at Cambridge, Newton home, at the farm, in idle rustication inventing calculus, color theory, demonstrating moon and apple obey the same mathematical rule, while I, in my hither-thither rustication, had nary an apple bounce off my noggin. And who said in a much-occluded thought our college had too much diversity? A wimpish tempest driving none of us to drink, though now and again I swig one.

Although my home is this land-locked prairie, I close perversely with a nautical theme, to hoist the sail on the college schooner, to ply the prairie waves of corn and beans with Janet skipper, anchor up, full-speed ahead, to wish for her—and all of us— to use the titles of Goethe poems— fair wind, calm seas, and prosperous voyage.

See a video of Togeas reading the poem. z.umn.edu/TogeasPoem

HIGHLIGHTING SOME UMN MORRIS ALUMNI WORKING IN SUSTAINABILITY

For many students at UMN Morris, a commitment to sustainability is what guides their career paths. It’s at the center of what they do. Meet three alumni who found a meaningful career in the field of environment or sustainability and learn how UMN Morris set them up to succeed.

Adam

Pankratz ’08

Adam Pankratz ’08 left traditional law enforcement to go back to school for conservation. Currently, Pankratz is a game warden with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. Majoring in environmental studies with a minor in geology, he chose UMN Morris because he liked that it was a small campus with access to the larger University of Minnesota System. He appreciates how the UMN Morris environmental studies discipline touched so many other areas, something he wasn’t aware of before. “My fellow students were pursuing such a wide variety of fields with the degree… English, geology, plant science, government, food security.” He credits UMN Morris for opening him up to opportunities that gave him a head start on his career.

Pankratz would tell prospective students who are considering an environmental studies or a related major that it’s a diverse field of study. “Don’t limit your job search to standard career fields. [Y]ou can pursue jobs in conservation, agriculture, government, recreation, education, marketing, etc. The options are extremely wide. There are countless ways to be involved in the field without just being a biologist.”

Seth Elsen ’ 13

Sustainability was not part of the plan for Seth Elsen ’13, when he enrolled at UMN Morris. He had a double major in American Indian studies and political science. But then he took some environmental classes for his poli-sci major, which led to a job with the Center for Small Towns (CST), and eventually, inspired him to design his own major in resource management. Elsen’s work with CST helped him gain experience in understanding and working with Tribal policy and sustainable energy integration and cemented his desire to work in the natural resource field.

Elsen now works with the Washington State Department of Ecology as a wastewater financial and technical assistance unit supervisor. The position blends sustainability, resource management, stakeholder engagement, and Tribal relations. Elsen finds the environmental field is an exciting place to be career-wise.

“Environmental work is also incredibly rewarding in the sense of seeing the impact of your work daily. No matter the career field, there’s always some anxiety about finding meaningful work within a study area. Most of us will have 40+ years working after graduation, so you might as well enjoy what you do and [do] what you’re passionate about.”

A degree in environmental studies led Keeli Siyaka ‘21 to law school where she is currently in her fourth semester. “While at Morris, I became more interested in the policies that shape our environment and I began to wonder how I could shape those policies.”

With support and encouragement from her academic adviser, she was able to connect with alumni who pursued a legal education after graduating from Morris. “I then understood that this path was possible for me, and that my voice was needed in this area of the law.” Siyaka is hopeful that she can affect change through the legal system and confident that it will provide her with the skills necessary to be a strong environmental advocate.

“Once I finish law school, I hope to work at the intersection of environmental justice and tribal sovereignty,” says Siyaka. “With dwindling resources, climate change, and the growing awareness of environmental injustice, I truly believe that every field of work will need to draw from the skills an environmental studies major can provide.”

Keeli Siyaka ’21

For the past eight years, UMN Morris has developed partnerships to advance our understanding of energy storage in Minnesota. This fall, a 90 kilowatt-hour lithium ferrous phosphate (LFP) battery was installed on campus next to the Recycling Center inside an insulated shipping container. One goal of the project was to ensure the battery was installed by a local contractor to grow our region’s technical capacity. The battery will be used to simulate how a battery could “virtually” support the needs of a green building, specifically, the Green Prairie Community residence hall, which is currently connected to a 20kW solar PV array.

Bryan Herrmann, vice chancellor for finance and facilities at UMN Morris, led the installation. “Our campus is carbon neutral in electricity and generates enough renewable electricity to power over 60% of our campus—and we send millions of kilowatt-hours of electricity to the grid as green power. We are interested in ways we can harvest these electrons, store them, and use them on campus for a variety of purposes—including meeting our electricity needs and maybe even future thermal decarbonization pathways. ... [W]e want people to be able to see energy storage in action in rural Minnesota.”

The project has been an ongoing partnership with the Institute on the Environment (IonE) to develop energy storage solutions at several locations in Minnesota. IonE developed the grant proposal for this project and provided the majority of funding to complete the project. The experience of the UMN Morris and the IonE team revealed the many complexities of developing an energy storage project. Initially, the team focused on a vanadium flow-battery that was built on a technology backbone developed at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. As the battery landscape churned, the team shifted to newer lithium-based chemistries for a first demonstration at UMN Morris. The LFP battery is a newer lithium-based battery that has some improved safety and sustainability features.

Melissa Kenney, director of research and knowledge initiatives at IonE shared, “IonE is excited to see this project installed on the ground as UMN Morris’s first energy storage demonstration. We hope this will catalyze additional storage projects on campus and in the community. We know UMN Morris hosts hundreds of visitors each year interested in sustainable energy.”

Labor for the project was also supported by the UMN West Central Clean Energy Resource Team (WC-CERT) SEED grant program, which provides funds for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects within Minnesota. The project also received support from the UMN Sustainable Green Fund.

This project was partially funded by a University of Minnesota, Institute on the Environment Impact Goal grant 2022 entitled “Building Scale Battery Demonstration Project.” It was also partially funded by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ML2018 07b) as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR). The Trust Fund is a permanent fund constitutionally established by the citizens of Minnesota to assist in the protection, conservation, preservation, and enhancement of the state’s air, water, land, fish, wildlife, and other natural resources. Currently 40% of net Minnesota State Lottery proceeds are dedicated to growing the Trust Fund and ensuring future benefits for Minnesota’s environment and natural resources.

UMN Morris student Juniper Lumpkin ’26 and Felix Luecken from Muenster University of Applied Sciences inside the new LFP battery installation on campus

SETTING THE SCENE FOR GREEN THEATRE IN MINNESOTA

sustainable set design from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, 2016

“

Sustainability is a thread that runs throughout campus life at Morris. I am proud of the work that we have done to build a strong and environmentally-conscious theatre program. My goal is to help grow the green theatre community in Minnesota and beyond.”

—Lucas Granholm ’ 12, assistant professor of theatre arts

University of Minnesota Morris Assistant Professor of Theatre Arts Lucas Granholm ’12 has been thinking green since participating in the campus’s first sustainable theatre production in his second year on campus. Since then, Granholm has worked to bring sustainability into his classes and theatrical productions.

Now Granholm is extending his leadership across Minnesota. Granholm’s focus is primarily in lighting design, but since joining the faculty at UMN Morris, he has shifted into scenic design, too.

UMN Morris has supported a vibrant, green theatre program for over a decade. Theatre faculty

Sophie and the Adventures of Ice Island, 2011 The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, 2019, sustainable costuming

members, Professor Ray Schultz and Associate Professor Siobhan Bremer, have directed several green productions on campus. And Schultz, with Professor of Studio Art Jess Larson, has published more about efforts to incorporate sustainability into creative work and scholarship.

Granholm attended UMN Morris as a college student and was part of the theatre discipline’s first sustainable production, As You Like It, in 2010, directed by Schultz and designed by Larson. In 2011, Bremer directed Sophie and the Adventures of Ice Island and incorporated green design elements. In 2021, Alice @ Wonderland hit the stage with set and lighting design by Granholm and was directed by Schultz. Granholm has been recognized

for his work in sustainable theatre by the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) and the Association of Theatre in Higher Education (ATHE). Receiving the KCACTF/ ATHE Innovative Teaching Award (only eight national awards given) for his work incorporating sustainable design practices into the classroom.

In 2015, UMN Morris theatre faculty Craig Moxon and Carrie Hurst worked with the Morris Green Reinvestment Fund, which is supported by alumni donations, to pilot LED lighting technology in the Raymond J. Lammers Proscenium Theatre, George C. Fosgate Black Box Theatre, and the Student Center. Granholm has led the lighting overhaul for over five years—with nearly 100% LED

lighting in the theatrical spaces. This is unheard of with programs in our region.

Building off these successes and experiences, in 2022 Granholm helped launch the Minneapolis Green Theatre Alliance with colleague Sadie Ward. The Alliance aspires to be a “resource for other theatre makers, designers, and doers to share and celebrate ideas to “green” our industry. We are a chapter of the Broadway Green Alliance. While we are based in Minneapolis, we also serve the greater Minnesota arts community.”

“Sustainability is a thread that runs throughout campus life at Morris. I am proud of the work that we

have done to build a strong and environmentally-conscious theatre program. My goal is to help grow the green theatre community in Minnesota and beyond.”

The sustainability mindset at Morris is inspiring alumni, too. In 2022, Sara Herman ’07 co-launched the Next Stage Rental and Market. The business has a mission “to reduce the amount of scenery, props, and theatrical materials that end up in the landfill or incinerator by providing a marketplace for resale and rental in Minneapolis.”

Together, the UMN Morris theatre faculty are setting the scene for green theatre in Minnesota and across the United States.

This image depicts an LED stagelight during a production. Standard incandescent theatre lighting draws a great deal of power. Granholm notes that LED lighting increases versatility in lighting design, as it can change to thousands of colors and decreases power needs dramatically.

Alice @ Wonderland, 2021, found-object set

Charlotte’s Web, 2023, reclaimed lumber set

UMMAA Board of Directors

Khondoker “Ahnaf” Prio ’19, president

Don Brabeck ’84

Martin Conroy ’92

Robert Dalager ’71

David Eckmann ’78

Seth Elsen ’13

Holly Gruntner ’13

Jennifer Houtman ’94

Kim Jones ’92

Kay Keskinen ’70

Mark Koehn ’80

Randy Koopman ’78

Leonard Munstermann ’64

Becky Newell ’97

Jennifer Westendorf ’91

Meet Your New Alumni Relations Officer

Jeff Lamberty ’99, alumni relations officer

In January 2024, UMN Morris welcomed Jeff Lamberty ’99 to the role of alumni relations officer. Jeff is not new to campus, having graduated from UMN Morris with a BA in philosophy and worked for the University since 2011. As the new alumni relations officer, Jeff looks forward to building and maintaining relationships between alumni and students that will both enrich the lives of alumni and support student success.

Reach out to Jeff with your UMN Morris alumni-related questions, and if you’re ever on campus, be sure to stop in the Welcome Center and say hello.

Upcoming Alumni Events

September

For

• Mentor students.

• Network with fellow alumni.

• Accelerate careers. UMNAlumni.org/maroonandgold

Palm Springs, California, Gathering Palm Springs-area alumni and friends gathered at La Quinta Brewing Co. in March 2023.

Boston Gathering

Peh Ng, acting vice chancellor for academic affairs and dean and Jennifer Zych Herrmann ’00, director of alumni engagement, hosted a Boston-area alumni event at Sonsie in April 2023.

Washington, DC, Gathering

UMN Morris alumni and friends gathered at the District ChopHouse in June 2023, hosted by Chancellor Janet Schrunk Ericksen, Senior Development Officer Erin Christensen ’05, and Director of Alumni Engagement Jennifer Zych Herrmann ’00.

Midwinter 2024

In February, alumni, friends, and members of the campus community gathered at Jax Cafe in Minneapolis for the annual Midwinter meeting and social event, hosted by the University of Minnesota Morris Alumni Association. Chancellor Ericksen started the evening with a campus update, followed by food, drinks, and reminiscing.

Shanghai Gathering

Chancellor Janet Schrunk Ericksen and Director of Alumni Engagement Jennifer Zych Herrmann ’00 hosted a Shanghai-area alumni event at the Commune Reserve in December 2023.

Standing, left to right: Maggie Keating ’75, Linda Dahlen ’72, Senior Development Officer Erin Christensen ’05, Randy J. Koopman ’78

Seated: Dennis Gimmestad ’73, Paul LaGrange ’87

Look Who’s Back!

Whether you’re stopping by to revisit memories, returning to campus to speak to students, or bringing your children for a campus visit, stop by and chat with Alumni Relations in the Welcome Center. We’re always happy to see you!

Friends from the class of 2004 visited campus: Jessica Zepeda Argetsinger, Katherine Johnson Winters , Britt Hanson Cain, Anne Williams Droske.

Computer science alumni Brian Mitchell ’16, Thomas Harren ’16, Thomas Hagen ’17, and Joseph Thelen ’17 were back on campus in March 2023 to meet with students, speak in classes, and review resumes.

Cory Schmid ’16 and cousin Trevor Haberman ’27 at the 2023 Homecoming football game.

Chemistry alumni Dan Seidenkranz ’13 and Yehia Khalifa ’13 stopped by campus for an impromptu visit. They missed seeing Joe Alia, associate professor of chemistry, as he was home raising a member of the UMN Morris class of 2045.

Morgan Matthews ’21, second-year veterinary student at Michigan State University, returned to campus in March 2023 to speak with students and faculty about all aspects of veterinary school. She is pictured with Associate Professor of Biology Margaret Kuchenreuther.

Karyssa Scheck ’18 was on campus in November 2023 to speak to students on “Working in the Nonprofit Ecosystem: Fundraising, Advocacy, and Housing Justice.” After graduating from UMN Morris, Karyssa interned for thenCongressman Keith Ellison and later joined the Family Housing Fund, a nonprofit focused on creating equitable access to affordable housing in the Twin Cities metro area. She now leads communications and fundraising efforts at the Family Housing Fund, partnering with local and state governments on housing policy, tenant protections, and homeownership opportunities.

Sarah Lofgren, MD ’06, now a faculty member at UMN Twin Cities gave the 2023 Latterell Lecture, “From Morris to Moshi and back to Minnesota.” Lofgren shared her experiences and insights into the world of medicine. The Joseph J. Latterell Memorial Visiting Alumnus Program provides annual grants to disciplines within the Division of Science and Mathematics to invite alumni to campus to serve as resource persons for students and faculty. It is privately funded with gifts from alumni, faculty, staff, and Latterell friends and family.

Ruby DeBellis ’18, graduate student at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs and staffer for Senator Amy Klobuchar, came back to campus in February 2023, to visit classes and give a talk on “Politics and Policy: Life as a Senate Staffer and Master’s Student.”

Science and math visiting alumnus Clinton Hagen ’06, was on campus in March 2023, giving the presentation,“Living a Continuous Life in a Categorical World: An Unlikely Journey.”

Alicia Canfield ’07 visited campus in September 2023, for the AFSCME Labor Day Lunch as chair of AFSCME Local 3800’s social events committee.

Bailey Jelle Kinsky ’09 and Owen Kinsky ’09 returned to campus and gave presentations in April 2023.

Joan Bulfer ’77

Bulfer graduated from UMN Morris with a biology degree, then went on to earn a master’s degree in human nutrition from the University of Minnesota. She worked in the field of public health, using her skills to improve public health systems. She was instrumental in designing, implementing, and evaluating population-based approaches to do this.

Alana Petersen ’91

After graduating from UMN Morris, Petersen worked on Capitol Hill in the electoral and policy-making arena. She also served as the executive director of Target Market, an organization that promoted anti-tobacco messages, and as a national consultant on grassroots advocacy, organizing, field consulting, training, and targeting to engage, organize, and mobilize people to both vote and advocate for issues such as healthcare and labor.

Simon Shannon ’97

Shannon graduated from UMN Morris with a chemistry degree and followed that up with a PhD in organic chemistry from the UMN Twin Cities, later earning an MBA from the Carlson School of Management. He joined 3M in 2004 and is currently a director of business development. He currently holds 18 US patents and received several professional awards from his service and professional work.

2023 Distinguished Alumni Awardees

Joan Bulfer ’77, Alana Petersen ’91, and Dr. Simon Shannon ’97 are recipients of the 2023 University of Minnesota Morris Distinguished Alumni Award. The award is presented by the University of Minnesota Morris Alumni Association (UMAA) for distinguished service to the school and its students. Bulfer, Peterson, and Shannon received the UMMAA Distinguished Alumni Award at a recognition event during the 2023 Homecoming celebration (left).

One of her nominators noted that “Joan is not only known for her expertise in community health and nutrition, but also for her ability to work with a variety of people, bringing them together to accomplish more than they could on their own.” Bulfer continues to provide support in obtaining appropriate funding for projects promoting the health of children and adults, as well as specifically to immigrants and the BIPOC community.

Petersen served on the UMM Alumni Association Board and helped establish the David Minge Internship Award, which supports students seeking Washington, DC, internships and educational opportunities.

Former Congressman David Minge wrote of his former staffer, “I know that not just I, myself, but also the broader state and national communities have come to recognize the U of MN Morris because of what Alana does and has done.”

Shannon was one of the first UMN Morris chemistry majors selected to participate in the UMN Twin Cities McNair Scholars program. A standout wrestler while at UMN Morris, Shannon placed eighth at the NAIA national tournament and became the first African American to achieve athletic and academic All-American status. Beginning with his early involvement in the Black Student Union at Morris, Shannon has become a national leader in encouraging African American success.

About the Distinguished Alumni Award

The Distinguished Alumni Award honors alumni who make noteworthy contributions in their professional lives, in public service, or in service to the University of Minnesota Morris. Learn more, including how to nominate an individual for this award, at alumni.morris.umn.edu.

David Moe ’64 with great granddaughter Evelynn Heinze, after a multicultural event in Menifee, California, in March 2023.

In 1967 Bill Peterson ’71 became Denny Zahrbock’s ’69 little brother when Bill pledged the TKE Fraternity at UMN Morris. In the winter quarter of 1968 Denny and Bill shared a house in Morris. Both met their future wives prior to that and both married in fall of 1968. They reunited a few years ago at a Gopher women’s hockey game (Bill’s son-in-law is the head coach). They decided to make a day of it, meeting up with Denny and his wife in Cumberland, Wisconsin. “Lots to reminisce about in nearly 50 years of friendship.”

Bonnie Jean Reeder ’64 was in the first class at UMN Morris, then transferred to UMN Twin Cities to finish her degree, followed by a 35-year career. She says, “At 80, I’m still alive and kicking!”

Monica Wilmes Wepking ’78 retired from the State of South Dakota Department of Corrections in December 2022. She soon began substitute teaching at area schools. Monica has been married to Jeff Wepking for 39 years. They have two children, Jenn and Jon, and four grandchildren.

Leigh Marthe ’87 celebrates the birth of her grandson, Otto Zane Carlson, who was born on March 18, 2023. He was welcomed by his big sister, Maisey (4), and his parents, Clair Marthe Larsen and Shane Carlson. Leigh’s son, Jonah, is in graduate school at Parsons in NYC studying photography, and son, Julian, is studying geography and global studies at the University of Vermont. “I am so proud of my children and delighted to claim my place as ‘Nana’ to my grandchildren. What could be sweeter?” Leigh lives and works in Brattleboro, Vermont.

A group of Meinigens alumni got together in October 2023 to read The Thanksgiving Play—What Would Crazy Horse Do? Back: Bob Flynn ’70, Dennis Gimmestad ’73, Barbara Branchaud Roy ’71, Bruce Rowan ’82

Front: Nona Savino ’73, Sharon Drange Rowan ’82

Acting Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Dean Peh Ng and Senior Director of Advancement Susan Schmidgall visited with Mei-Ying and Jim Hoppie ’77

are pictured sporting their vintage UMM Alumni Kazoo Band t-shirts at James’s birthday celebration. James is a big fan of UMN Morris apparel and has a growing collection. Other family members who attended UMN Morris who are missing from the family photo-op are Ann’s sister, Theresa Rooney ’81, and daughter, Sarah Kolden Kisgen ’10.

Together with her partner and three children, Chassidy Nelson Strege ’05 celebrated the completion of her master of arts in community mental health counseling at the University of North Dakota May 15, 2023. She has been accepted into the 2023 clinical psychology PhD program cohort at UND and is excited to continue her studies in the company of two other UMN Morris alumni.

Beta Sigma Psi alumni gathered for their annual golf outing in August.

Front: Steve Renneberg, Jim Koestler ’81, Steve Heiskary ’75, Don Tangen ’69, Steve Schmeichel ’72, Gordon Elliott ’75, Mike Schwarze ’72, Mick Thorsland ’70, Bob Hendrickson ’76, Mike Schumacher ’80, Jim Peterson ’73, Rick Reed ’80

Back: Randy Nelson ’85, Nile Fellows ’75, Lloyd Nelson ’80, Harley Vestrum ’73, Everett Lien ’73, Tom Larson ’80, Mark Kraft ’79, Bill Neuenfeldt ’80, John Habedank ’79, Joe Chesley ’79, Dan Vikstrom ’81

Tom Rooney ’88, James Rooney, and Ann Kolden ’85

Joyce Lacey ’97, Minnesota Women in Film & TV member, pictured with Blaine Halvorson and Jason Momoa at the Twin Cities Film Festival in October 2023.

Art alumni gathered at the Walker Art Museum in Minneapolis in March 2023. Pictured left to right are Anne Meyer ’04, Professor Emerita Jenny Nellis, Jill Eckoff ’94, Jason Jaglo ’93, Lori Kurpiers ’03, Mark Knierim ’87, Christy Meyer ’06, Katy Evenson ’17, Katreina Gibson ’14, and Anne Hennen Barber ’97

Former Cougar teammates from the 2006 football championship team cheered on the Cougar football team in October 2022 at the University of NorthwesternSt. Paul. Blayne Steffen ’07 wrote, “I highly recommend playing college sports to any young people out there that have the opportunity to! It truly allows you to make long-lasting friendships/relationships/bonds that last a lifetime!”

Front: Jeff Karshnick ’07, Ryan Stoick ’08, Vaughn “Drew” Ginnett ’04, Blayne Steffen ’07, Patrick Mahoney ’08

Back: Eric Quackenbush ’07, Donnay Green ’05, Joshua Krois ’08, Patrick Collins ’07, Corey Hemphill ’10

Theresa Wivinus ’07 was recently promoted to office supervisor for university housing at Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama. She also serves on Auburn University’s diversity and inclusion committee, sexual violence and prevention task force, and the accessibility champions task force, which involves planning educational events, providing resources for the campus community, and bringing attention to the importance of recognizing the social, economical, and political barriers surrounding these issues. Wivinus plans to complete her master’s degree in higher education administration this spring while her husband, Suhas finishes his PhD in industrial engineering.

In their free time, Theresa and Suhas, a UMN Twin Cities alum, enjoy backpacking, volunteering, and exploring their new home state of Alabama where they have lived for the past three years. Theresa continues to serve as an ambassador for the nonprofit “Saree Strong” which educates the community about the beauty and preservation of Indian ethnic wear while Suhas is an avid biker and each year participates in the Bike MS150 raising money for those affected by MS. However, like all true Minnesotans, they make their way back north for time with family and friends.

Sunnie Wegner Allen ’06 was featured in the inaugural season of trivia game show “The Floor” on FOX hosted by Rob Lowe, which aired in January 2024.

Alexandra Bertolas Bertz ’06, Megan Losure Krejci ’06, and Natalie Kinsky Fetzek ’07 sing their last concert for VocalPoint, a nonprofit based in Saint Paul. They shared that they have been singing together for decades and have fond memories of Concert Choir.

Newham

After nine years serving around the world on active duty in the US Navy’s Judge Advocate General’s Corps, Mike McBride ’11 and family have returned to Minneapolis where he will begin serving as an assistant US attorney.

Kevin Cunningham ’15 is proud to share his first publication in a scholarly journal. Findings from his research could lead to strategies for earlier RA diagnosis, as a timely and focused patient management plan can limit disease progression and preserve the quality of a patient’s life. Currently attending graduate school for bioinformatics and computational biology at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, he’s grateful for the support of Peter Dolan, Bibhu Panda, Steve Burks, and Peh Ng, faculty who helped him during his time at UMN Morris.

Fondly Remembered...

In remembrance of University of Minnesota Morris faculty and staff who have passed away.

Thomas L. Johnson, associate professor of psychology from 1986 to 2021, passed away on July 8, 2023.

Ray K. Sibul, associate professor of psychology from 1966 to 2004, passed away on July 21, 2023.

Eric Klinger, professor of psychology from 1962 to 2006, passed away on September 13, 2023.

Tap Payne, professor of theatre arts from 1980 to 2013, passed away on January 12, 2024.

In Memoriam

In remembrance of University of Minnesota Morris alumni who have passed away.

Lee Temte ’69

Karie Hickman ’90

Henry Halvorson ’92

Recent Publications

Michael J. Larson ’67

Say That Again: Words With Double Meanings In Nature (Dorrance Publishing, 2023)

Don E. Lifto, PhD, ’71 and Barbara Nichol

School Tax Elections: Planning for Success in the New Normal, 3rd Edition (Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2019)

Michael Gillespie ’73

Berlin Garden of Erotic Delights (Warbler Press, 2022)

Peter Hurd ’12

Xolo: A Novel of Canine Horror (Dorrance Publishing, 2023)

John Bliss ’13

The Racialization of the Occult in Nineteenth Century British Literature: Dark Magic from 1850–1900 (Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2023)

Have you published a book recently? Let us know!

alumni@morris.umn.edu

Nicole

’20 RDMS, RVT, graduated from Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences sonography program in Jacksonville, Florida, in May 2023.

Student Athlete Wellbeing Partnership

At UMN Morris, student health and wellbeing is a priority. Cougar athletes represent 32% of the student population, and many face extra challenges juggling overlapping commitments with practice and class schedules. This can affect their overall health and wellness. So it makes sense that Cougar athletes should have access to the resources and support they need to take an active role in their wellbeing.

“[I]t’s sometimes easy to not want to talk about how you feel and, at the same time, between school, sports, and extracurriculars, makes us feel like there’s not time to talk about it... or that it’s not important,” says Cole Mammenga ’24, student athlete.

In 2018, Student Counseling and Morris Let’s Thrive connected with Cougar Athletics to begin a partnership of wellbeing support for students. Since then, UMN Morris has been able to integrate health, wellbeing, mental health, and mental performance services. Offering these services has allowed Cougar athletes to more easily access wellbeing support, counseling, sport psychology services, and mental skills training.

“It’s another outlet other than practices and our coaches... to help us go through and cope with things and it’s just a nice safety blanket to have,” says Jay Kwateh ’24, student athlete.

Specific services through this partnership include a monthly wellbeing newsletter with tips, recommendations, ideas, and student interviews. Let’s Talk is offered twice weekly as a drop-in time to talk with a staff member from Student Counseling. Individuals and teams receive customized support from staff trained in sport psychology services, counseling, and student athlete wellbeing.

For Mammenga this is helpful in identifying different stressors and different practices on how to deal with them. “[It can] bring up different topics that you might not even know are affecting you.”

Student athletes also benefit from holistic support. For example, group or team meetings can enhance trust among teammates, help set goals, improve communication, provide education, reduce conflict, and develop leadership skills. In addition, individual support can help athletes improve their performance and overall health while they gain skills that they will use for a lifetime.

Overall, the wellbeing partnership at UMN Morris has helped Kwateh come to realize “that it’s OK to not be OK; it gives us the comfort to ask for help and to put our wellness first.“

Scan to QR code to view a video of Mammenga and Kwateh talking about the partnership.

UMAC CHAMPIONS

Football

Under the guidance of Head Coach Marty Hoffmann ’05, the Cougar football team claimed its first Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) title since 2006 and made its first playoff appearance since 1981 following a thrilling 42–39 victory over the University of Northwestern on November 11 at Big Cat Stadium.

“[It was] quite an experience and quite an accomplishment for these kids,” said Hoffmann about the victory. When asked how it felt, Hoffmann said, “You put everything you have into it, it’s hard to explain, it’s unreal… to achieve a goal, to accomplish something like that is huge.”

The win over the Eagles was the seventh straight for the Cougars, wrapping UMAC play with a perfect 5-0 record. Eighteen UMN Morris football players were named to the All-UMAC squads—a conference high. In addition, four individuals won UMAC MVP awards, including Coach Hoffmann as UMAC Coach of the Year.

In August 2023 Anne and Jim Eidsvold presented Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Matt Johnson ’03 with a Cougar football Jim has had since he was a child growing up in Morris.

Women’s Basketball

The Cougar women’s basketball team is back on top of the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) for the first time since 2014–15, following a thrilling 69–60 win over the University of Wisconsin-Superior on February 24 in the conference title game. Tournament MVP Maddy Grove ’27 poured in 18 points in the win over the Yellowjackets, and Shelby Mortenson ’26 came off the bench with 17 points. The Cougar women went on to the NCAA Division III Tournament with an overall record of 17–10.

Tim Grove, head coach of the women’s basketball team, is proud of the team that, he says, “has truly been in it for one another. They celebrate in each other’s successes and have a lot of fun playing together.”

100th Win for Men’s Soccer Coach

The UMN Morris men’s soccer team won the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) opener in September, 2-1, against Martin Luther College. This particular win was the 100th of Head Coach Scott Turnbull’s career at UMN Morris, who just completed his 14th season as head coach for Cougar soccer. The men’s soccer program finished the 2023 season with a 2-13-4 overall mark, including a 1-9-4 record in the UMAC that tied the Cougars for sixth in the conference standings.

Visit morriscougars.com for more stories and highlights from the men’s soccer 2023 season.

First Year of Men’s Swimming & Diving

UMN Morris launched its competitive men’s swimming & diving program last fall. The team competed in its first intercollegiate meet on October 27 against Nebraska Wesleyan University, marking the beginning of the newest sport offering at UMN Morris. Nebraska Wesleyan unfortunately spoiled an otherwise celebratory event with a 174–71 victory.

In February, both the men’s and women’s team closed the Liberal Arts Championships with a third-place finish. In that final meet of the season, the men’s program broke 17 school records, and five swimmers and divers—Louis Freeman ’27, John Gulon ’27, Josh Meixell ’27, Gregory Simons ’27, and John Slatinski ’27—earned All-LAC recognition for their performances as individuals or in relay events.

As the first year of men’s swimming & diving comes to a close, Gulon holds school records for the Cougars in the 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle, 200 freestyle, 500 freestyle, 100 backstroke, 200 backstroke, 100 butterfly, and 100 IM. Slatinski holds the records in the 1,000 freestyle, 1650 freestyle, and 400 IM. Jakob Linscheid ’27 holds the top program marks in the 100 breaststroke, 200 breaststroke, and 200 IM. Max Lundgren ’27 holds the 200 butterfly record. Finally, in diving, Simons set the standard on the 1-meter and 3-meter boards.

Each team was also recognized by the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America as a Fall Scholar All-America Team, given to teams that post a cumulative team GPA of 3.00 or above each semester.

To follow all 19 Cougar teams, visit morriscougars.com.

Cougar Student Athletes Earn Academic Honors

Sixty UMN Morris student athletes garnered academic all-conference honors for the fall semester from the UMAC, as announced by UMAC on January 24. To see a list of all the students recognized visit z.umn.edu/AcademicUMAC.

The eight UMAC schools combined to have 558 student athletes earn the honor last fall, a new record. Individuals who earn a 3.5 or better GPA during their respective semesters of competition are recognized with the prestigious individual honor.

UMN Morris also had 13 student athletes earn College Sports Communicators academic all-district honors during the fall season. These student athletes were recognized for their academic and athletic achievements:

• football players, Christian Diederich ’24, Alex Happ ’24, Blake Johnson ’24, Carter Maurice ’25, and Gregory Ohman ’26;

• volleyball players, Laura Wellbrock ’25 and Maggie Jones ’24;

• men’s soccer players, Cooper Jones ’25, Nick Isensee ’26, and Jacob Lee ’26; and

• women’s soccer players Caroline O’Donnell ’24, Jadyn Sondrol ’24, and Kim Peters ’25.

To be nominated for academic all-district honors, student athletes must meet a high standard in both athletics and academics: achieve a minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA if they have completed at least one year of progress toward their degree; meet a performance threshold in their respective sports; and play in at least 90 percent of a team’s games or matches or start at least 66 percent of the time in their sport.

William

and Ida B. Stewart Hall (formerly the Education Building)