- Features: Developing our next generation of leaders; Rare care; A shift in the conversation.
- Awards and Recognition: U in the News features highlights of University faculty and staff cited in the media; and more.
Developing our next generation of leaders
While Kyle Skye grew up in a football family—his grandfather was the first African American athlete for Valparaiso University—music has also always been an important part of his life. Today, Skye is a musician, recording artist, and former Gopher football player who is the founder of the Bay Laurel Fund, a nonprofit that sponsors free arts and athletic camps for inner-city youth in Minneapolis. His story is part of the "Where it Starts" series.
Rare care
Against all odds, siblings Zach, Amelia, and Luke Thomas were born with Hurler syndrome, an incredibly rare disease that causes progressive damage to the brain, heart, and other organs. Even though they live in Alabama, the Thomases turned to the U of M Masonic Children’s Hospital, a Rare Disease Center of Excellence, for help—and hope.
A shift in the conversation
Doctoral candidate and 2017 Master of Public Health graduate J'Mag Karbeah has been involved with numerous high-profile research efforts at the University of Minnesota centering around reproductive health and justice in the African American community. Here, Karbeah talks about where she got her start, where she’s heading, and why this work matters. Her story is part of the "Where it Starts" series.
Awards and Recognition
U in the News features highlights of University faculty and staff cited in the media.
U of M-led study finds COVID-19 boosters reduce infection and hospitalizations
Researchers from the University of Minnesota Medical School and Minnesota EHR Consortium have found that COVID-19 boosters are effective in reducing infection and hospitalizations. Specifically, boosters are more beneficial to individuals who are more than 26 weeks out from their second dose or first COVID-19 vaccine booster. Learn more about the research team’s findings.
Mental health is a top concern for educators and students, statewide survey reveals
Minnesota educators, families, and students agree that addressing student and educator mental health is a top concern, according to a University of Minnesota analysis of the Minnesota Safe Learning Survey. Learn more about the survey’s results.
MyU and Canvas personal pronoun options
Additional personal pronouns options for “she/they” and “he/they'' are now available from the built-in drop-down menus in MyU and Canvas. Learn how to add or update your personal pronouns in Canvas and MyU.
Research Brief: Study illuminates how tiny flies solve complex navigational challenges
The gnat ogre is a tiny predator that grabs other insects out of the air, catching them with extreme precision. New research reveals how they do it, offering insights for efforts to design robots, drones, and more. Additional recent Research Briefs include “Household food insecurity during adolescence is a risk factor for future disordered eating and high weight status in young adulthood.”
March 1, 3, 10 - International Women's Day Webinar Series: Coalescing Around Justice, Dignity, and Hope
Hosted by a collaborative of 12 U of M centers and units, this three-part webinar series celebrates International Women’s Day 2022. Events will explore intersections of global women’s health, public policy, human rights, ethics, and more, and are meant to generate ideas for interprofessional collaboration and action.
Apr. 14-15 - Register for the Minnesota Neuromodulation Symposium
The Minnesota Neuromodulation Symposium (register), hosted by the Center for Neuroengineering and sponsored by MnDRIVE Brain Conditions, is part of the Institute for Engineering in Medicine’s Innovation Week (Apr. 11-15) at the University of Minnesota.
U of M featured virtual events
Feb. 24 - Road to Black Entrepreneurship
Feb. 24 - Turning the Tide: Neuroscience, Spirituality and My Path Toward Emotional Health
Feb. 28 - The State of Public Affairs and the Dual Pandemic
Feb. 28 - From “Crisis” to Futurity: Borders as Violence
March 1-8 - MN Cup Women in Entrepreneurship Series
March 3 - Justice in Public Health: Redefining Gendered Violence: Daily Interactions as Oppression
March 4 - First Fridays: The Kerlan Collection of Children’s Literature
March 10 - Women in Entrepreneurship Panel
March 14 - Materials and devices for wound healing and therapeutic delivery
Arizona Alumni Social and Brew Bash
Alumni and friends of the Northwest School of Agriculture and the University of Minnesota Crookston recently gathered for the Arizona Alumni Social and Brew Bash in Mesa, AZ.
Mensinger recognized for equity work
Allen Mensinger, professor of biology in the Swenson College of Science and Engineering, received an inaugural University of Minnesota 2021 Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) Award. Colleague Julie Etterson says, “Dr. Mensinger has been actively involved in promoting the careers of underrepresented undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers long before this issue became a clear priority in the U of M System.”
‘Office Hours’ with Chongwon Park
In this episode of “Office Hours,” UMD talks with Chongwon Park, who insists he’s not a nerd right before introducing viewers to his fountain pen named “homo sapiens.”
Flying Solo: One-person plays
UMD Theatre will present Flying Solo: biographical, autobiographical, fictional, literary adaptations, written and performed by UMD students. There will be five short plays per evening as students tell the stories that matter to them. Learn more and see show dates and times.
U of M Morris celebrates a million pounds of compost
The University of Minnesota Morris and its sustainability partners throughout Stevens County reached an important milestone recently—one million pounds of organics have been diverted from the landfill and turned into compost. The composting efforts are part of the campus goal of zero waste by 2025.
‘Counterspaces’ exhibit
The University of Minnesota Rochester and the Rochester Art Center share the newest artists showcased in the participatory community display “Counterspaces.” “Counterspaces” is a collective healing project for Rochester community members who have been affected by existing and increasing acts of racialized violence against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. The featured artwork has been created by students who have attended guided workshops led by Assistant Professor Yuko Taniguchi and Assistant Professor Angie Mejia.
New literary initiatives fund for Creative Writing Program
The Creative Writing Program has announced the establishment of the Walter Nathan Literary Initiatives. This new fund will support programming to include reading events, an essay prize, and a literary festival that will engage Twin Cities high school students. The Walter Nathan Literary Initiatives have been established via a gift from Michael and Julie Kaplan, College of Liberal Arts alumni, to honor their fathers.
New Carlson School center focuses on health equity issues
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed long-standing structural issues in the U.S. health system. A new Business Advancement Center for Health (BACH) at the Carlson School of Management aims to develop inclusive, sustainable solutions to solve these challenges. BACH is a hub where faculty members, students, industry leaders, and community stakeholders from all disciplines can collaborate to tackle health disparities and health equity issues such as access and affordability, and improve value in healthcare.
Q&A: Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison
As part of a Minnesota Law series of student, faculty, and alumni conversations marking Black History Month, first-year law student Amirah Ellison interviews her father, Attorney General Keith Ellison ’90.
Students take library equipment to new heights
Felipe Galindo, a second-year College of Science and Engineering student, relied on U of M Libraries’ resources in order to create a 360-degree video of a winter sunset over the U of M Twin Cities campus.
March 1 - Celebrating Great River Review
Help launch the latest issue of Great River Review, the longest-running literary magazine in Minnesota, founded in 1975 and produced at the U of M since 2016. With readings by CMarie Fuhrman and Stephen Scott Whitaker. 7 p.m., 412 Pillsbury Hall.
In the UROC gallery: ‘Embrace Humanity’
“Embrace Humanity” features 20 mixed-medium paintings by Twin Cities artist Donald Walker that explore his experience living in America as a person of color. The first African American artist to work at the Star Tribune, Walker is an award-winning, nationally recognized artist, graphic designer, muralist, author, and illustrator. On display through Aug. 31 at the Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center (UROC) gallery.