Vol. 20, No. 2 - Spring 2004

College community

Appointed

Venoreen Browne-Boatswain joined the college in November as coordinator of multicultural programs. Her responsibilities include the Multicultural Teacher Development Project, the Common Ground Consortium, and the Homegrown Teacher Partnership Project. She received an M.Ed. in student personnel services and counseling and a B.A. in sociology from Trenton State College, Trenton, NJ. Prior to her appointment, Browne-Boatswain was community mediator, North Hennepin Mediation Center, Brooklyn Center; director of programs, Youth Links, Minneapolis; training coordinator for PeopleSoft at the University of Minnesota; and assistant director of Douglass College Center, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ.

Retired

Bruce Anderson, associate professor of recreation and sports studies in the School of Kinesiology, joined the college in 1958 as assistant intramural director for men. He received all three of his degrees with the college and has served as associate director of recreational sports since the mid-1970s.

Marilyn Borkon has been with the college for more than 24 years as a principal secretary in the School of Kinesiology.

Diane Burgers, senior accountant in the Department of Work, Community, and Family Education, is retiring after 29 years at the University.

Arnold Cutler, with the college for 19 years, has served as a coordinator in math education in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction and as co-principal investigator on several National Science Foundation projects with Professor Tom Post.

Margaret DiBlasio, associate professor in art education in curriculum and instruction, has been with the college more than 25 years. She received a Ph.D. in art education from Ohio State University and joined the college in 1978 after serving as an assistant professor in art and design education at Purdue University. She was honored as Art Educator of the Year by the National Art Education Association in 1991.

Sandra Emmerson, a principal secretary in the Department of Work, Community, and Family Education and a recipient, in 1997, of an outstanding service award for support staff, retired in June 2003 after 37 years with the college.

Michael Hartoonian joined the college in 1997 as a program director and lecturer in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. He received graduate degrees in history and social sciences from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and served as a professor of education at Hamline University before moving to the University of Minnesota. In 2000 he was the recipient of the Lucia R. Briggs Distinguished Achievement Award from Lawrence University, Wis., his undergraduate alma mater. In 1995 he served as president of the National Council for the Social Studies. After retiring, he will become a senior fellow in the Department of Educational Policy and Administration.

Patricia Heller, associate professor in science education in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, retired Jan. 7, 2004. She received a Ph.D. in science education from the University of Michigan and joined the college in 1979 as a lecturer. Over the years, she also lectured in physics classes at the University of Minnesota, and was a visiting lecturer at Kansas State University, University of Michigan, and University of Washington.

Carla Hill joined the University more than 46 years ago as a secretary in University High School. Hill is an office supervisor for both special education and counseling and personnel psychology in the Department of Educational Psychology.

Deborah Lavoie joined the college seven years ago and has served as principal administrative specialist in the Department of Educational Psychology’s school psychology program.

Gary Leske, associate professor in agricultural education in the Department of Work, Community, and Family Education, joined the college in 1966 as a research fellow. He received all three of his degrees with the college and was appointed an assistant professor in 1970 and associate professor in 1973. In 1989 he was recognized by the University of Minnesota Student Association with the Gordon L. Starr Award for Outstanding Service to Students.

Barbara Polister is retiring after more than 21 years at the University. She joined the college in 1987 as a principal survey interviewer and, in 2000, was named a project coordinator for the Institute on Community Integration. She has coauthored numerous articles in her field with colleagues while managing major data collection in adult services and community living.

Marty Rossmann, associate professor of family education in the Department of Work, Community, and Family Education, is retiring after almost 28 years with the college. She received her graduate degrees with the college and began her career here as a research fellow in 1973. In 1977, she was appointed assistant professor and became an associate professor in 1983. She served as coordinator of the family education program from 1993 to 1996 and as director of the department’s office of special services from 1986 to 1991.

Judith Swanson, who joined the college five years ago as a trainer and curriculum designer in the Center on Early Education and Development, retired in August 2003. She worked mainly on two projects, one concerned with children with challenging behavior and another on infant mental health issues.

Bonnie Warhol, office supervisor for the educational psychology foundations program, is retiring after almost 34 years of service to the college. In 2003 Warhol was recognized with the Best Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) Assistant Award at a Graduate School ceremony and reception. Along with other job duties, Warhol has been a DGS assistant for her last 10 years at the college.

In memoriam

Charles R. Bruning, associate professor emeritus of continuing, adult, and community education in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, died Sept. 25. He was 76. Bruning was on the college faculty from 1969 to 1993. He received three degrees from the University of Minnesota. Bruning worked at the Morris campus of the University from 1962–68, and was instrumental in establishing its Department of Education. Prior to joining the college, Bruning was a high school principal and then superintendent of schools in Hoffman, Minn. He served in the U.S. Army in 1944–45, stationed in Germany.

Howard Y. Williams, professor emeritus of adult education in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction and the Department of Vocational and Technical Education, died Feb. 17. He was 75. Williams joined the college’s faculty in the fall of 1966 and retired Dec. 31, 1995. Williams received three degrees at the University as well as an M.Ed. from Macalester College. Prior to his work at the University, Williams was a teacher and counselor at Mounds View High School and an assistant professor at Macalester College.

Endowed professorships

The following faculty members have been awarded endowed professorships for a three-year period of time starting July 1, 2004:

• Patricia Bauer, Institute of Child Development, Wallace Professorship for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning

• Sandra Christenson, Educational Psychology, Emma M. Birkmaier Professorship in Educational Leadership

• Mark Davison, Educational Psychology, the American Guidance Service/John P. Yackel Professorship in Educational Assessment and Measurement

Honors

Agricultural education students won top honors at the National Collegiate Agricultural Education Conference last fall in Kentucky. The University of Minnesota quiz bowl team was named national champion. Members were: Pam Kipp, Mike Miron, Kris Poirier, and Tim Uhlenkamp. Their coach was Brad Greiman, assistant professor of agricultural education.

In the debate contest, the University team of Jared Bitzan, Jacob Robinson, Cara Soper, and Karin Tesmer earned national runner-up honors. Their coach was Richard Joerger, assistant professor of agricultural education.

Graduate students Nadir Budhwani (WCFE, ’04) and Shannon Rader (WCFE, ’06) and undergraduate student Michael Miron (WCFE, ’04) have been awarded the 2004 President’s Student Leadership and Service Award by the Office of the President.

Deborah Dillon, professor and chair of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, received the University of Georgia’s first annual College of Education Lifetime Achievement Alumni Award at an awards ceremony, April 21, Athens, Ga.

Michael Goh, assistant professor of educational psychology, was appointed chair of the board of directors for the Multicultural Center for Integrated Health in the Twin Cities.

Mary Jo Kane, professor of kinesiology and director of the Tucker Center for Research on Girls and Women in Sport, received the 2004 Darlene A. Kluka Women’s Sports and Physical Activity Research Award. The Kluka award honors scholars who are at the forefront in leadership, vision, and commitment to conduct studies involving women’s sports and fitness activities.

Scott McLeod, assistant professor of educational policy and administration, received the college’s 2004 Distinguished Teaching Award.

Michael Rodriguez, assistant professor of educational psychology, received the college’s 2004 Community Service Award.

The college’s school psychology program in the Department of Educational Psychology has received full, seven-year accreditation from the American Psychological Association. The next site visit is scheduled for 2010.

The Association for Institutional Research (AIR) has changed the name of its highest award from the Distinguished Membership Award to the John E. Stecklein Distinguished Membership Award in honor of John Stecklein, professor emeritus of educational psychology.

Richard Swanson, professor in the Department of Work, Community, and Family Education, was inducted into the Human Resource Development Scholar Hall of Fame on March 6.

Diane Tedick, associate professor in second languages and cultures and director of graduate studies for the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, received a 2004 Graduate School award as an Outstanding Director of Graduate Studies, one of only four to receive the recognition at the University this year.

Kathleen Thomas, assistant professor in the Institute of Child Development, has been named a McKnight Land-Grant Professor for a two-year period beginning July 1.