Awards and Recognition

Congratulations to the 2020 recipients of the President’s Student Leadership and Service Award, the Donald R. Zander Alumni Award, the James A. Johnson Scholarship Award, and the Mary A. McEvoy Award. These awards honor outstanding students for their invaluable leadership and service to the University of Minnesota Twin Cities and the community. 

Steven Saliterman comments in the Star Tribune about how a group of U of M students saved local hospitals from running out of PPE; Michael Osterholm was quoted in numerous news outlets, including NBC News, about figuring out how to live with the virus; Marc Jenkins is quoted in USA Today about catching the coronavirus twice; Stephen Schondelmeyer is interviewed at CBS News about how the pandemic is exposing drug supply shortages that doctors have grappled with for more than two decades; Jean McElvain is quoted at Bustle about whether and how coronavirus might change fashion; the Pioneer Press published a story on Anne Hornickel Yuska, who passed away from COVID-19, with comments by Simone Gbolo and Anthony Albecker; Marla Spivak is quoted in the Mother Jones story, “Your Perfect Green Lawn Is a Buzz Kill”; Peter Raynor is quoted in a CNN story about how retail may change because of coronavirus; Mark Schleiss is quoted in Healthline about the likelihood COVID-10 will mutate and what that means for a vaccine.

Five University of Minnesota Twin Cities researchers have been elected as members of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, one of the nation’s most prestigious honor societies. The American Academy of Arts and Sciences honors those making preeminent contributions to their fields and the world. Members are leaders in the academic disciplines, the arts, business, and public affairs. An induction ceremony is planned for October.

The five faculty who are among only 276 new members this year include:

• Jeannine Cavender-Bares, Distinguished McKnight University Professor, College of Biological Sciences
• Laura Gagliardi, Distinguished McKnight University Professor, College of Science and Engineering
• Marc M. Hirschmann, Distinguished McKnight University Professor, College of Science and Engineering
• Larry Jacobs, McKnight Presidential Chair in Public Affairs, Walter F. and Joan Mondale Chair for Political Studies, and director of the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance, Humphrey School
• Erika Lee, Regents Professor and Distinguished McKnight Professor, College of Liberal Arts; director of the Immigration History Research Center; Rudolph J. Vecoli Chair in Immigration History

The President's Award for Outstanding Service is presented each year in the spring and recognizes exceptional service to the University, its schools, colleges, departments, and service units by any active or retired faculty or staff member. The following recipients for this year’s award have gone well beyond their regular duties and have demonstrated an unusual commitment to the University community.

• Kathleen Anderson, assistant professor and associate program director, Division of Physical Therapy, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Medical School, University of Minnesota Twin Cities Campus
• Mary Buschette, director of alumni and constituent relations, College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, University of Minnesota Twin Cities
• Jonathan Campbell, assistant professor and director of jazz studies, Division of Humanities, University of Minnesota Morris
• Robert Carlson, professor emeritus and interim director, Advanced Materials Center, Swenson College of Science and Engineering, University of Minnesota Duluth
• Betsy Friesen, director of data management and access, University Libraries, University of Minnesota Twin Cities
• Nirmal Jain, principal mechanical engineer, Energy Management, Facilities Management, University of Minnesota Twin Cities
• Peter Ness, principal research shop foreman, College of Science and Engineering Research Shop, University of Minnesota Twin Cities
• Amy Pittenger, associate professor and department head, Department of Pharmaceutical Care and Health Systems, College of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota Twin Cities
• Lynette M. Renner, associate professor, School of Social Work, College of Education and Human Development, University of Minnesota Twin Cities
• Fred Rose, impact goal manager and Acara teaching staff, Institute on the Environment, and lecturer, Humphrey School of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota Twin Cities
• Mark Rosenberg, professor and vice dean for education and academic affairs, Medical School, University of Minnesota Twin Cities
• Sue Van Voorhis, associate vice provost and University registrar, Academic Support Resources, Office of Undergraduate Education, University of Minnesota Systemwide

The Twin Cities College of Liberal Arts (CLA) recently selected the recipients of its 2020 Civitas Awards. The Civitas Awards recognize individuals and organizations that are strong partners with CLA as well as those who make a strong, positive difference in their community. The Civitas Awards began during the college's 150th celebration last year as a way for CLA to recognize community partners whose work aligns with its mission.

Marc Jenkins comments at CBS Local about how close we are to a COVID-19 vaccine; Erika Lee is quoted in an NBC news story about rising racist attacks on Asian Americans; Peter Raynor is quoted in Forbes about the cubicle (thankfully) being endangered in the time of COVID; Michael Osterholm co-authors a piece in the New York Times about the reality of coronavirus testing; Chris Hogan, Gwenyth Fischer, Kumar Belani and others are featuring in Mpls St. Paul Magazine about their design of a device that adds a layer of protection for heath care workers; Kumi Smith is quoted in NBC News story about whether it’s okay to ease up on social distancing; Rachel Hardeman is quoted in MSR News Online about how the virus is disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable; Kurt Winkelmann is quoted at Forbes about how the pandemic is making the retirement crisis worse; Erika Lee is quoted in NPR’s All Things Considered, “Immigration Crackdowns Are Not Unusual in Trying Times.”

Campus Public Health Officer Rapid Response Grants from the Office of Academic Clinical Affairs are available for University of Minnesota faculty to catalyze and energize small-scale research projects designed to address and mitigate the COVID-19 virus and its associated risks. See the most recent recipients. The Office of the Vice President for Research also sponsors a Rapid Response Grants program, and you can see recent recipients of that program here.

Elizabeth Fogarty, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, has been named president-elect of the Minnesota Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (MACTE). MACTE exists to unite colleges and education departments across Minnesota to provide guidance in preparing qualified educators. Fogarty has spent most of her career preparing teacher candidates to be highly effective elementary teachers and coordinates the reading license program. Her passions are literacy education and gifted education.

Claudia Cohn comments in Wired about the race to get convalescent plasma to Covid-19 patients; Lynn Blewett is quoted in the Star Tribune about the more than 23,000 people who have recently signed up for health care through MNsure; David Pui comments in The Wall Street Journal story, “Do DIY Masks Help Stop Coronavirus?”; Tai Mendenhall is quoted in Star Tribune about how couples can manage conflict during COVID-19 confinement; Larry Jacobs is quoted in Bloomberg about growing resentment on bailout winners and losers; Traci Mann talked with U.S. News and World Report about comfort foods and stress eating; Ryan Demmer is quoted in the Pioneer Press story, “Coronavirus may be too much of a challenge for MN State Fair”; Erin Sheets is quoted in Wirecutter about the best soap for coronavirus; Craig Weinert is quoted in Business Insider US about how exercise may protect against coronavirus complications; William Doherty is mentioned in the Scientific American story, “The Right Way to Talk across Divides.

The 2020 McKnight Presidential Fellows and Distinguished McKnight University Professors have been announced. The McKnight Presidential Fellows Program is a three-year award given to exceptional faculty who have just achieved tenure and promotion to associate professor, to recognize their accomplishments and support their ongoing research and scholarship. The Distinguished McKnight University Professorship program recognizes outstanding mid-career faculty members who have recently achieved full professor status, especially those who have made significant advances in their careers at the University of Minnesota, whose work and reputation are identified with the University, and whose accomplishments have brought renown and prestige to Minnesota.

2020 McKnight Presidential Fellows

Rachel Hardeman, Division of Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health

Kate Lockwood Harris, Communication Studies, College of Liberal Arts

Maggie Hennefeld, Cultural Studies and Comparative Literature, College of Liberal Arts

Timothy Kowalewski, Mechanical Engineering, College of Science and Engineering

Ryan Langlois, Microbiology and Immunology, Medical School

Lana Yarosh, Computer Science and Engineering, College of Science and Engineering

2020 Distinguished McKnight University Professors

Jeannine Cavender-Bares, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, College of Biological Sciences

Kevin D. Dorfman, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, College of Science and Engineering

Melissa N. Laska, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health

David Masopust, Microbiology and Immunology, Medical School

Angus W. MacDonald, III, Psychology, College of Liberal Arts

Amy B. Monahan, Law School

Essa Yacoub, Radiology, Medical School