Awards and Recognition

Barry Kudrowitz talks with the Star Tribune about the history of toilet paper and some alternatives; Marc Jenkins is quoted in a Star Tribune story about U of M research fast-tracking a vaccine for COVID-19; Michael Osterholm is quoted at National Public Radio and numerous other sources about the need for a national shutdown; Karthik Natarajan is quoted in a New York Times (PDF) story about the difficulty in finding baby formula, diapers, and wipes for families; Clifford Steer is quoted in a National Geographic story about China promoting bear bile as a coronavirus treatment; Tim Schacker is quoted at NBC News about whether you can catch the coronavirus twice; Aaron Sojourner is mentioned in the VOX story, “9 charts showing what coronavirus is doing to the economy.”

Trevor Ames, associate vice president for Academic Health Sciences and former dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine, was recently named Veterinarian of the Year by the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association. The award recognizes someone who has given much to the veterinarian profession as well as to their own community.

The College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) continues its rise on U.S. News & World Report’s Best Graduate Schools Rankings. CEHD as a whole was rated the 13th best public education graduate school in the nation. In U.S. News & World Report’s entire list of 255 schools, CEHD placed 22nd overall. In addition, several specialty programs placed high on the 2021 list. Rankings are based on student selectivity, faculty resources, and research activity, as well as from assessments by peers and educational professionals.

The 2021 U.S. News & World Report Best Medical Schools: Research Ranking was just released, and the University of Minnesota Medical School has once again risen three spots to #40, up from #43 last year and #46 the year before. This success is largely connected to the increased National Institutes of Health funding and funding per faculty, which account for 40 percent of the ranking, and coincides with the Medical School’s improved Blue Ridge Institute rankings (#30 to #27) released in February 2020.

Mary Jo Kreitzer is quoted in the Mpls St. Paul Magazine story, “Hope in the Time of Coronavirus;” Stephen Richardson, Tim Schacker, David Boulware, and Michael Puskarich are quoted in the Star Tribune story, “University of Minnesota is going 'full-on MacGyver'against COVID-19;” Michael Osterholm is quoted in the Pioneer Press, suggesting that the coronavirus will not be over with by the end of summer; Claudia Cohn is quoted in a New York Times story about how to donate blood as the coronavirus threatens the U.S. supply; Craig Hedberg is quoted in Slate Magazine about how to grocery shop safely during a pandemic; Tim Kehoe and Myles Shaver are quoted in a Minnesota Public Radio story about how the economic impact of the coronavirus will be felt widely, but unevenly; Abi Gewirtz is quoted in the New York Times about how to talk to kids about coronavirus; Louis Mansky is quoted in Wired’s “Everything You Need to Know About Coronavirus Testing”; Tyler Winkelman is quoted in a Vox story about how a coronavirus outbreak in jails or prisons could turn into a nightmare.

Keith A. Mays has been named interim dean of the School of Dentistry, beginning May 15 and continuing for an expected term of two years. Mays will step into this position from his current school leadership role as associate dean of academic affairs. Mays has served as associate dean of academic affairs and associate professor in the Department of Restorative Sciences since joining the University of Minnesota faculty in early 2015.

The Society for Freshwater Science announced Lucinda Johnson as a 2020 Fellow. Johnson is associate director and leader of water research at the Natural Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota Duluth.

Jakub Tolar is quoted in the Star Tribune about U of M testing on three drugs for COVID patients; Renée Crichlow is quoted at Minnesota Public Radio about medical students pitching in to help health care workers prepare for COVID-19; John Budd is quoted at Minnesota Public Radio about paid sick time requirements; Roli Dwivedi and May Thao are quoted in a Pioneer Press story about how Minnesota's homeless shelters are preparing for the coronavirus; Christopher Uggen is quoted in a Slate Magazine story about what 8,000 prisoners think about American politics; Phyllis Moen co-authors a piece in Fortune about how businesses are finally being forced to adopt the workplaces of the future; Joseph Gaugler is quoted in a Star Tribune story about how Minnesota’s nursing homes are scrambling to protect residents from coronavirus; Michael Osterholm is quoted in dozens of media outlets, including at CNN in the story, “The disease expert who warned us.”

This year's 2020 University of Minnesota Outstanding Community Service Award recipients were recognized on March 5 during the University's systemwide public engagement conference hosted by the Office for Public Engagement.

Recipients:

Abimbola Asojo, professor and associate dean, College of Design

David Wilsey, program director, Humphrey School of Public Affairs

Catherine Clark, graduate student, College of Science and Engineering

Jess Bengtson, assistant editor, Crookston Times

Regents and Distinguished McKnight University Professor Marc Jenkins, director of the Center for Immunology, is the 2020 recipient of the American Association of Immunologists' Lifetime Achievement Award. This award, which will be presented at the AAI annual meeting in Hawaii in May, recognizes a remarkable career of scientific achievement and contributions to AAI and the field of immunology.