Vol. 20, No. 2 - Spring 2004

Two illustrious alumnae recognized with University's Outstanding Achievement Award

In a ceremony Nov. 19, 2003, at Eastcliff, the official home of the University president, Dorothy McIntyre and Mary Tjosvold received the University’s highest honor granted to alumni, the Outstanding Achievement Award. Regent David Metzen presented the medals to each woman.

Dorothy McIntrye
and Mary Tjosvold
enjoy their OAA medals

Dorothy McIntyre (M.Ed., ’70, physical education, pictured at right) was recognized for her accomplishments as a “tireless advocate, inspiring role model, and dedicated leader with the Minnesota State High School League, who has provided generations of female athletes with opportunities to compete, learn, and grow.”

In his letter of support, David Stead, executive director of the Minnesota State High School League, wrote, “Emblazoned in the annals of girls’ athletics will be the name, Dorothy E. McIntyre, a ‘farm kid’ from Iowa who, through the networks she built, began the dialogue about girls’ sports that reverberated throughout Minnesota schools.”

Eloise Jaeger, kinesiology professor emerita wrote: “Among her many achievements one stands out above the rest and that was to achieve inclusion of girls’ interschool sports in the Minnesota State High School League… Minnesota became a breakthrough state, ending for good the dearth in athletics for girls and young women in Minnesota and the nation that had existed for more than 40 years.”

McIntyre, who taught high school and coached girls’ sports before joining the League, has received numerous honors, among them, being named to the Star Tribune’s “Top 100 Sports Figures of the Century,” receiving the Ann Bancroft Award, and being recognized with the National Federation of State High School Association’s Award of Merit.

Mary Tjosvold (B.S., ’64, math education; S.L.D., ’74, special education; M.A., ’75, educational administration; Ph.D., ’75, educational administration, pictured above) was recognized for her work as a “dedicated community leader and volunteer,” working as national chair of the American Refugee Committee, serving on the board of the University of Minnesota Bioethics Center, and working as a volunteer with Minneapolis Public Schools, as well as her role as a “leading Minnesota entrepreneur and businesswoman, founder and CEO of Mary T. Inc.”

A group of 20 of her employees at Mary T. Inc, in their letter, wrote, “For those of us who work for Mary T. Inc., it is common knowledge that Mary Tjosvold possesses an indomitable spirit, an inner drive to help those in need, and a tireless pursuit of fairness and equality in all of her many endeavors.”

Steven Miles, professor of medicine and geriatrics at the University, in his letter of support, wrote, “I have also known Mary as a tireless innovator in long-term care for disabled children and adults. In this field she perfectly blends her heart with her management skills and training in education to produce well-run facilities with highly motivated staff who have excellent morale. Mary T.’s [staff] know what to do, why they are doing it, and why it is important to do it right.”

Tjosvold was a teacher before completing a Ph.D. at the University and the management program at Harvard University. She heads Mary T. Inc., which owns and operates 46 group home residences in three states, providing care and services to seniors, people with physical and developmental disabilities, medically fragile children and adults, and people with traumatic brain injuries. The corporation also operates handicapped-accessible rental town homes in three states at below-market rates.