Awards and Recognition

Bobbi Daniels has been appointed associate vice president in the Office of Academic Clinical Affairs (OACA) and will oversee and provide leadership for clinical practice. Daniels has served as senior strategy advisor for OACA since its inception in December 2018. A professor of medicine, Daniels’ clinical areas of interest have focused on kidney disease and proteinuria. She previously served as vice dean of clinical affairs for the Medical School, co-president of M Health, and CEO of University of Minnesota Physicians.

Don Dengel, School of Kinesiology and director of the Laboratory of Integrative Human Physiology, was awarded an annual grant of $300,000 from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. The grant funds Dengel’s research studies on diabetes and how the disease impacts an individual’s overall health and wellness. Co-Investigators of the project include Elizabeth Seaquist, Lisa Coles, and Lynn Eberly.

Sylia Wilson, assistant professor in the Institute of Child Development (ICD), has been named a “Rising Star” by the Association for Psychological Science (APS). The award is presented to early-career APS members whose research has advanced the field of psychology and who show promise for continued research excellence. Wilson uses developmental, clinical, and neuroscience methods to study the underlying processes that lead to the development of mental illness, including major depression and substance abuse.

Michael Osterholm is quoted in The Wall Street Journal (PDF) story about a new type of virus in China; Francis Shen is quoted in a New York Times story about America’s endless wars and whether it’s headed for a new one; Sushma Reddy is quoted in Gizmodo about the discovery of several new bird species on Indonesian islands; Elizabeth Hirsch is quoted in Scientific American about antibiotic resistance in bacteria; Christopher Uggen is quoted in the Star Tribune story, “Why are felons in Minnesota stripped of their voting rights?”; Trevor Wardill and Paloma Gonzalez-Bellido comment in a New York Times story about U of M research that led to a cuttlefish wearing 3D glasses; Joel Farley is quoted in a Healthline story about how more people are turing to the black market for life-saving medications; Charlie Rohwer is quoted in a Star Tribune story about Minnesota grown hops.

Joan Gabel says in the Mpls./St. Paul Business Journal (PDF) that the University of Minnesota has hit a wall on tuition hikes; Gabe Chan is featured in an Energy News Network story about his work on clean energy policy; Yi Zhu is quoted in a Star Tribune story on customer service; Mark Bell is interviewed in the Kare 11 story, “Iran-U.S. tensions rooted in history”; Kevin King comments at CBS Minnesota on the likelihood of an increase in applications at the U of M after the Gophers Outback Bowl win; Catherine Squires comments on cancel culture at Vox; Daniel Griffin is quoted in Science about the Americas historical propensity for catastrophic, simultaneous droughts; Matt Simcik is quoted in the Mpls.St.Paul Magazine story, “Should I Stop the Kids from Eating Snow?”

Bill Doherty was interviewed on Today about how realistic Netflix’s popular hit Marriage Story is; Robert Kudrle comments on the new trade deal with Mexico and Canada at MPR News; Kathryn Pearson comments at Kare 11 on impeachment votes in democratic swing districts; Dianne Neumark-Sztainer is quoted in Mpls.St.Paul Magazine about using body-inclusive yoga to fight fat shaming; Julie Olson, Bill Arnold, and Tasoulla Hadjiyanni are quoted in a Minnesota Daily story about U of M faculty research priorities; Tanisha Fazal is quoted in the Washington Post (PDF) about what we learned from the Afghanistan Papers; Mike Miller is quoted in a MinnPost story about the U of M's high voter turnout efforts; Rachel Hardeman is quoted in the Politico story, "The Secret of Saving the Lives of Black Mothers and Babies"; Jodi Nelson is quoted in a KSTP story about the U of M's Meat and Dairy Salesroom.

Lisa German has been named the next University librarian and dean of libraries, effective Feb. 28, pending approval by the Board of Regents at its December meeting. An accomplished research library leader who comes to Minnesota from the University of Houston, German will be the executive and strategic leader of the University of Minnesota Libraries. German has over 25 years of experience in leadership of academic libraries.

Earlier this fall, the Board of Regents approved the purchase of the former Shriners Children’s Hospital campus to establish an Institute for Child and Adolescent Brain Health. The Office of Academic Clinical Affairs has now announced that Damien Fair and Michael Georgieff will lead the new institute.

The American Psychological Association (APA) Fellows Committee has elected Abigail Gewirtz, professor and director of the Institute for Translational Research in Children’s Mental Health, to fellow status in the APA American Psychological Association.

Sheila Williams Ridge is quoted in The Atlantic about why kids love garbage trucks so much; Chris Moertel and Michael Olin are interviewed in a FOX 9 story on the U of M’s work towards a groundbreaking treatment for brain tumors in kids; Jeff Hahn and Rob Venette are quoted in a Pioneer Press (PDF) story about how aggressive action in Minnesota has slowed the spread of a tree-killing beetle; Matthew Clark is quoted in City Pages about the development of science-driven Minnesota wines; Michael Rodriguez is quoted in MPR News about a recommendations to close Minnesota’s education gaps; Fang Yu is quoted in a Star Tribune story about aging and outdoors activity; Philip Zelazo helps answer the question, “Why is waiting so hard for kids?” at Greater Good Magazine.