October 18, 2023

Inside This Issue

Board of Regents October meeting highlights.
Feature: Caring for Ben: How brain research informs psychosis treatment.
Awards and Recognition: A $2 million NSF award will support efforts to design a bacterial system to extract critical minerals using biofilms; and more.

Board of Regents October meeting highlights

At its October meeting, the Board of Regents finance and operations committee approved the University’s 2024 capital request for state investment on renovations and updates to its publicly funded facilities across the state. The Board also approved the recommended six-year capital investment plan and a FY 2025 supplemental budget request. Additionally, Regents approved the Duluth campus plan, received a briefing on sustainable development goals and progress, and more. See the news release for more details.

Caring for Ben: How brain research informs psychosis treatment

Ben Taman describes his episodes of psychosis as "a volcano of weirdness." He has heard things that aren’t there—like somebody banging furiously on his door. He has seen things that aren’t there—like a famous pop star showing up in his apartment. He has even done things that he can’t explain—like suddenly dashing off to Des Moines. Learn why much of that drama is now behind him, thanks to a research program at the University of Minnesota.

Awards and Recognition

A $2 million NSF award will support efforts to design a bacterial system to extract critical minerals using biofilms; Kirsten Newell and colleagues have been awarded a $1.25 million grant by the Department of Education for a learning disability project; U in the News features highlights of University faculty and staff cited in the media.

Awards and Recognition

U-Wide News

Take the 2023 Employee Engagement Survey

The 2023 Employee Engagement Survey is open now through Nov. 3. The feedback collected through the systemwide survey reveals trends, strengths, and opportunities critical to the future of the U of M. On Oct. 16, benefits-eligible faculty and staff received an email from [email protected] with a unique link to the survey. Share your observations and insights through the survey, which should take about 10-15 minutes to complete.

Promoting mental health during study abroad

About one-third of college students in the U.S. have a mental health condition. The challenges of studying abroad can exacerbate the symptoms of some conditions or prompt the development of new symptoms and conditions, according to Laura Dupont-Jarrett, the U of M’s assistant director for education abroad mental health. Dupont-Jarrett’s job is to prepare program leaders and staff to help students who can feel overwhelmed by loneliness or anxiety, given the many changes that come with living abroad.

'Year of Open Science’ webinars

University Libraries is celebrating the “Year of Open Science” by showcasing and highlighting the work of U of M researchers engaging in open science, and by hosting events and workshops. Upcoming webinars include “The Future of Data Sharing: What You Need to Know About Federal Mandates” (Oct. 24); “Federal mandates and public access: Implications for the future” (Oct. 26); and “A Conversation about Open Science with Dr. Stephen J. Eglen” (Oct. 26).

Oct. 24 - Hidden Curriculum Workshop Series: Part 1 - Fundamentals

Register for the first in an all-campus, three-part series focused on hidden curriculum in policies, pedagogies, and classroom practice. Part 1 will focus on designing equitable classrooms for first-generation and underrepresented college students and unpacking hidden curriculum. All are welcome, especially faculty and instructors. 12:30-2 p.m.

Oct. 25, Nov. 1, Nov. 8 - Mini Medical School: Food, Nutrition & the Effects of Substances on Health

Register for Mini Medical School to explore current nutritional guidelines, the connection between food and the health of the environment, and the effects of cannabis, psychedelics, and more. Virtual, free, and open to the public.

Nov. 14 - Women Innovators Conference: Cultivating Innovation in Minnesota

A group of women panelists at a table with microphones

Join women innovators from across Minnesota for this annual professional development summit, designed to help women innovators transform their ideas to have significant impact. This conference was created to inspire early-career professionals, postdocs, research staff, and students to grow their ideas, their funding, their innovative mindsets, and themselves. Noon-5 p.m., McNamara Alumni Center.

Crookston

2023 Homecoming celebration

U of M Crookston is hosting its 2023 Homecoming celebration through Oct. 22, with multiple days of events engaging alumni and audiences of all ages. Events include athletic games, socials, a homecoming dance, and, new this year, a parking lot party with inflatable games, food trucks, and more.

Oct. 20 - Alumni Awards Celebration

Graphic reading Alumni Awards Celebration in cursive on a maroon background

U of M Crookston will honor five alumni at its 2023 Alumni Awards Celebration. Honorees include Tashi Wongdi Gurung ’13, who will be presented with the Abbey [Promise] Award; Amy (Loomer) Longtin ’99, who will receive the Outstanding Alumni Award; and Lisa (Rongen) Duckstad ’85 (basketball), Randy Lee ’01 (football), and Frederick “RJ” Rollins ’07 (football), who will be inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame.

Duluth

New NIH research grant helps fund health education

A new three-year, $381,149 National Institutes of Health research grant, “Use of Ecological Momentary Assessments to Evaluate Drinking in Native Women,” will partner with Native American communities and UMD students to provide information and create informational materials about the health risks of alcohol use.

UMD student analyzing city data to address community needs

Johan Lopez-Ortega is pursuing management information systems in the Labovitz School of Business and Economics. He is prepared to work in business analytics, but a recent internship has created another interest—community development and philanthropy. Learn more and watch a video with Lopez-Ortega.

Oct. 23, 24 - Our Climate Futures

Graphic with Lake Superior reading our climate futures

“Our Climate Futures: Equity & Inclusion at the Center” is hosted by the Office of Sustainability and the Institute on the Environment-Duluth. Keynote speaker August Ball (Cream City Conservation) will discuss solutions to adverse social, economic, public health, and environmental issues related to climate change that disproportionately affect low-income communities, people of color, Indigenous people, people with disabilities, and others.

Morris

NSF grant funds collaborative effort to increase Native American participation in astrophysics

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 Twin Cities faculty Vuk Mandic, Patrick Kelly, and Lindsay Glesener, as well as Sylke Boyd and Peter Dolan of Morris.

Oct. 19-20 - Briggs Library book sale

All proceeds from this annual book sale support the work of Briggs Library Associates (BLA). The mission of the BLA is to bring together friends who love books, who enjoy cultural pursuits, and who believe in supporting an important campus and regional intellectual resource. Oct. 19, noon-7 p.m., and Oct. 20, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Oyate Hall.

Oct. 21 - Concert Choir fall concert

The Concert Choir will present “Shifting Perspectives,” a commemoration to Hispanic Heritage Month with Yulene Velaszuez, director. 7 p.m., HFA Recital Hall. Tickets are free for students, $3 for others.

Oct. 23 - Community meal

a person serving up a meal from a crockpot

Regional businesses and organizations fund a free community meal several times per year, where students, faculty, staff, and community members cook together and share a meal. Anyone can get involved as a co-sponsor, volunteer, or attendee. 5:30 p.m., Faith Lutheran Church.

Oct. 24 - Oral History Pedagogy with Lu Ann Jones

The Institute for Advanced Study Collaborative: Collecting Oral Histories of West Central Minnesota will gather for the final event of its first cycle. This is an opportunity to learn about and discuss oral history pedagogical methods, from one-time community workshops to a full undergraduate curriculum. Visiting expert Lu Ann Jones is a staff historian with the National Park Service. 2:30 p.m., Briggs Library and live online.

Rochester

Hanstedt receives national leadership award

A man handing Paul Hanstedt a glass award

Paul Hanstedt, vice chancellor for academic affairs and innovation, has been named the 2023 recipient of the Association for General Liberal Studies National Leadership in General and Liberal Education Award. This award recognizes Hanstedt’s significant contributions to the practice of general education and liberal studies including leading a general education curricular revision at two previous universities and working with nearly 100 universities around the world to help them leverage effective general education reform on their campuses.

The Business and Leadership of Health Care Career Pathway

Discover how Jessica Wojcik navigated her time at UMR to prepare for her current role as a Speciality Sales Manager at CAE Healthcare. UMR’s innovative degree programs and integrated curriculum provide students with a foundational health sciences education in six distinct health career pathways. Learn more about UMR’s Business and Leadership of Health Care Pathway.

Twin Cities

Carlson School dean Jamie Prenkert aims high

Newly appointed Carlson School of Management dean Jamie Prenkert has spent his entire career finding ways to elevate the people, the programs, and the ideas around him. Coming in as an external leader—Prenkert was most recently executive associate dean at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business—he knows he will have to lean on different strengths to excel in his new role. Read more about Prenkert.

Using zines to preserve intergenerational memories

Curator Aiden Bettine poses for a portrait

From connecting LGBTQ history to the present, to preserving memories of the 2020 Minneapolis uprisings, to building a network of community archivists, three members of the University of Minnesota Libraries are on the forefront of radical librarianship. Aiden Bettine, kalan Knudson Davis, and Ellen Holt-Werle were recently selected for the inaugural Radical Librarianship Institute program.

From service to business

Charles Christianson in front of an armored vehicle

Charles Christianson knew he belonged in the Army after he spent a summer during college at West Point working with a combat unit. After serving in Afghanistan and at Fort Knox, KY, Christianson, who grew up in Wayzata, wanted to come back and eventually work for a large company in the area. He’s now a student in the Carlson School of Management’s MBA program.

Feline first: Pioneering technology offers a noninvasive solution to a common and complex problem

Researchers from the College of Veterinary Medicine and the University of Washington have pioneered the world's first-ever burst wave lithotripsy system designed specifically for treating ureteral stones in cats. The pioneering research marks a significant leap forward in veterinary medicine, offering a noninvasive, nontraumatic approach to treating these common stones in cats.

Oct. 26 - Intro to Media Assignment Development workshop

Instructors and technologists will discuss possibilities for integrating a student-created media assignment into their curriculum during this active learning session. The event will include an overview of real-world student-media assignment examples supported by Media Services and related campus media support services. Participants are invited to bring student-created media project ideas. 1-2 p.m., Toaster Ideation Hub, Walter Library.