- Statewide research program to address impact of racism on cardiovascular health inequities.
- Features: Beekeeping for veterans; Sharing her perspective on African American art.
- Awards and Recognition: Udall Center secures $11.3M to continue Parkinson’s disease and deep brain stimulation research; and more.
Statewide research program to address impact of racism on cardiovascular health inequities
A new research center, the Center for Chronic Disease Reduction and Equity Promotion Across Minnesota (C2DREAM), led by the University of Minnesota and Mayo Clinic, will research the impact of structural and interpersonal racism on health inequities for people who are Black, Indigenous, and people of color. The work will be done in collaboration with community leaders and health organizations across the state. C2DREAM is one of nine initiatives nationwide to receive such funding—a $19.4 million grant awarded by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities.
Beekeeping for veterans
As a hobby and interest for military veterans, there’s a growing buzz around beekeeping, one that University of Minnesota Extension educator Katie Lee has noticed. Whether it’s the peaceful and purposeful nature of the pastime, the empowering feeling of working with large colonies of insects that are instrumental to our ecosystems, or the community-building and bonding that happens as veterans learn and master their new skills, the Bee Veterans program at the U of M continues to see interest.
Sharing her perspective on African American art
Early this year, Starasea Nidiala Camara capitalized on an incredible opportunity—curating an exhibition at the Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) titled “In the Presence of Our Ancestors: Southern Perspectives in African American Art,” which runs through Nov. 28. In this Q&A, Camara talks about her experiences with curating the exhibit and the impact it’s had on her career and personal journey.
Awards and Recognition
Udall Center secures $11.3M to continue Parkinson’s disease and deep brain stimulation research; the Medical School recently received funding to be the prime site for a spinal cord injury Center for Excellence; U in the News features highlights of U faculty and staff cited in the media.
Nov. 1-30 - Benefits Open Enrollment
Benefits Open Enrollment will be open on MyU from Nov. 1 through Nov. 30. Employees can change medical or dental plans, enroll in an FSA, increase or decrease disability coverage, make changes to additional life insurance, and add or remove eligible dependents. View the Open Enrollment website to learn what action should be taken or register for the Nov. 1 webinar: You in 2022: Open Enrollment for 2022 Benefits.
New in Zoom: Add your pronouns
The University of Minnesota’s Zoom service now offers the pronouns feature, which enables users to enter your personal pronouns directly to your Zoom user profile. Learn more about where and how to add your pronouns to Zoom.
The role of gender in refugee resettlement in the U.S.
The impact of investing in education, language skills, and job training for refugees who settle in the United States tells a gendered story, according to a new analysis by a team of researchers at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs. Their findings raise the question of how the U.S. can rebuild its resettlement program to ensure that all refugees, regardless of gender, have a chance to thrive.
Report points to new therapeutic approach for tough-to-treat heart failure
Recent studies may point towards a new therapeutic mechanism for a type of heart failure that currently has no specific treatment option. Researchers looked into a condition called heart failure with a preserved ejection fraction, or HFpEF. They discovered a mechanism that could prove useful in this common, yet hard-to-treat, condition.
Mobile clinics bring vaccines to workers in rural communities
In partnership with the Tri-Valley Opportunity Council, the Mobile Health Initiative at the University of Minnesota offers mobile health clinics in rural areas. The clinics were originally started to provide preventive and acute care for families without health insurance, 90 percent of whom are living in poverty. After receiving questions from families, the clinics mobilized to provide COVID-19 vaccines, which helped workers overcome barriers like work schedules, transportation, and language.
Five ways inflation might impact holiday shopping
Amid supply chain issues and a worker shortage, the cost of consumer goods is rising—just in time for the holiday season. Carlson School of Management professor Mark Bergen suggests lessons learned from extreme inflationary episodes can help consumers better navigate the big shopping season and the months ahead.
Nov. 2 - Connecting in Minnesota: Engaging the World
Join President Joan Gabel and alumni, students, friends, and family from across the globe for a unique and engaging virtual conversation. Hear from accomplished alumni doing important work around the world, and find out how the U of M is helping current international students become the change makers of tomorrow. 7 a.m.
Nov. 18 - UROC Critical Conversation: Banking and Lending's Role in Family Wealth Disparities
This Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center Critical Conversation will examine the role financial institutions play in the long-term financial health and wealth of their clients and community. Register to hear from some of Minnesota's most influential advocates and experts on systemic barriers to wealth, as well as solutions like long-term, team-focused relationships between banks and clients and innovative financial literacy projects such as student-run credit unions in Minnesota schools.
U of M featured virtual events
Oct. 29 - Debating COVID-19 Vaccine Boosters: Public Health Strategy in a Shifting Landscape
Nov. 4 - The Relationship between Climate Change and Health and What You Can Do About It
Nov. 4 - Minnesota Made: Growing the bioeconomy
Nov. 5 - First Fridays: Kate Dietrick and Linnea Anderson
Nov. 5 - Professor Qadri Ismail Memorial
Crookston honors alumni during awards celebration
The University of Minnesota Crookston recognized the achievements of exceptional alumni during the annual Alumni Awards Celebration. Learn more about this year’s honorees.
Alumnus sheds light on how college led to career
U of M Crookston alumnus Dana Jonsson highlights a number of positive experiences and qualities she gained during her time as a business management and marketing student at the University of Minnesota Crookston.
New Health and Wellness Coaching minor
Health and wellness coaches, joining a growing specialty within health education, are supportive mentors who empower people to make lasting behavioral changes to improve their lives. Students in this new UMD minor will take courses in nutrition, developmental psychology, and more in order to help people set and achieve individual goals that meet their needs.
Planting trees to help Minnesota’s warming climate
Cree and Jason Bradley ’03, owners of the Chelsea Morning Farm and Never Summer Sugarbush, are partnering with UMD in the Forest Assisted Migration Project, growing hundreds of trees from climate-adapted seeds in their greenhouse. The Forest Assisted Migration Project seeks to combat the effects of climate change and warming temperatures by transplanting seeds that are predicted to thrive in the future.
Nov. 9 - Four Anishinaabe authors to speak
Linda LeGarde Grover, Carter Meland, Marcie Rendon, and Dennis Staples will discuss storytelling techniques, character development, plot, the importance of place, and other topics. Books from all four authors will be on sale before and after the event. 4:30 p.m., Kathryn A. Martin Library rotunda.
Partnership brings electric bikes to Morris
The University of Minnesota Morris Office of Sustainability, the Morris Campus Student Association, and the Regional Fitness Center partnered to purchase two electric bikes, introducing a healthy and sustainable means of transportation to the campus and community. The e-bikes may be checked out from the Regional Fitness Center free of charge for U of M Morris students and for $10 an hour for the Morris community.
Oct. 27 - Cultural exchange with Robin Wall-Kimmerer
Robin Wall-Kimmerer is a mother, scientist, decorated professor, and enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation. Join her during a cultural exchange event, 4 p.m. via Zoom.
Oct. 30 - Annual Healing Ceremony
The third annual fall campus gathering to support our Native American community and campus for understanding, healing, resiliency, and strength will take place Oct. 30. All are welcome to join the ceremony, beginning at 8 a.m. outside the Multi-Ethnic Resource Center. Jerry Dearly, Lakota, Pine Ridge, will act as the cultural leader and guide for the ceremony.
Nov. 15 - UMR State of the Campus Address
In this annual community event, Chancellor Lori Carrell will host a panel of UMR students, faculty, and alumni to share how innovation is emerging in this disruptive era. The event will feature Summer Quest; Counterspaces - Antiracism, Art and Student Voices; alumni battling COVID-19; and NXT GEN MED faculty design. New members of the University’s Board of Regents will be present as they visit the Rochester campus for an introductory tour.
Ecoliteracy leadership program
EcoliteracySCHOOL is a public health and environmental leadership program that includes both UMR undergraduates and high school students. UMR students recently mentored Pine Island High School students during the learning experience, which took place on the North Shore of Lake Superior. This 15-week EcoliteracySCHOOL course provided an Indigenous history perspective on health, land, and place-based learning as students learned about water quality and filtration, the hydrophobic properties of sap, and more.
Five more days to donate to the Community Fund Drive
This year's Community Fund Drive ends on Oct. 31, so make sure to get your donations in before the end of the month. Give to community organizations or the University of Minnesota Foundation. So far, the U of M community has raised $407,000 towards its $1.2 million goal. If you can’t give financially but supported the Community Fund Drive in other ways—such as attending an event in your college, unit, or department—be sure to log your support on this form.
Secrets of the vault
The Honeycrisp apple, the crunchy sweet-tart apple that is Minnesota’s state fruit, is a product of the University of Minnesota’s Horticultural Research Center. It has grown to be fourth in apple production in the United States and among the top two in retail value. For quite a while, however, its parentage was in question. And even after DNA sleuthing uncovered its parents, part of its history remained unclear—until U of M librarians helped bring clarity.
Nov. 3 - Minnesota Institute for Astrophysics lecture: New Science from Merging Neutron Stars
With the detection of compact binary coalescences and their electromagnetic counterparts by gravitational-wave detectors, a new era of multi-messenger astronomy has begun. Professor Michael Coughlin will describe how GW170817, the first example in this new class, is being used to study a diverse variety of dense matter in the Universe and how fast the Universe is expanding, as well as future prospects for this new field. 7-8 p.m., Coffman Union Theater and online via Zoom. Register for this MIfA lecture.
Nov. 4-5 - MN Alumni Market holiday pop-up
Get your holiday shopping done early and support U of M alumni entrepreneurs at the Market Holiday Pop-Up, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Laukka Room (second floor), McNamara Alumni Center. Can’t make it? You can now order the market’s most popular items online for pick-up at the McNamara Alumni Center. Pick-up hours are Wednesdays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., or Tuesdays by appointment. See items available for pick-up.