Family Social Science Staff
Mary Flesner Beard
Student Personnel Coordinator
290B McNeal Hall
Tel: 612-625-3116
Email: mgualdon@umn.edu
I joined the department in 2006, and took on the role of Student Personnel Coordinator in August 2011. I work mostly with the Family Social Science graduate programs and really enjoy working with our graduate students. Learning about the science of the family and understanding the work of Family Social Science is integral to our society.
In my free time, I enjoy traveling with my husband, having visited at least 25 other countries and most of the 50 states. I also sing in the Twin Cities Women's Choir, a wonderful, creative, and fulfilling outlet. But the best of the best is being grandparents and getting together with our six children.
BA from Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois, MM in vocal performance and pedagogy from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. Former PK – 8 music teacher; voice teacher and performer.
Amanda Costello
Web and Communication Specialist
290C McNeal Hall
Tel: 612-624-7854
Email: amandac@umn.edu
Amanda has been with the department since 2010 and loves working with the web and people (which are more alike than you might suppose). She writes and maintains the departmental web site and social media channels, collects news stories, and works with department faculty, staff, and students to put together effective communication strategies, from websites to presentations. With a background in English and the liberal arts, she enjoys the unique curveballs that the web can throw.
Amanda is the director of MinneWebCon and is a big fan of the Minnesota Twins.
Roz Elstrom
Technical Coordinator
299J McNeal Hall
Tel: 612-626-5698
Email: relstrom@umn.edu
I provide desktop support for the faculty, staff and students as the department's Technical Coordinator (TC). I've been in this position with FSoS since 2005.
Ellen Freeman
Grant Coodinator
290C McNeal Hall
Tel: 612-625-2708
Email: efreeman@umn.edu
Ellen Freeman joined the University of Minnesota in 2004. Originally from rural Iowa, she holds bachelor's and master's degrees in English and journalism from the University of Iowa. As a pre-award grant coordinator, she assists faculty members in all aspects of research grant proposal preparation. Ellen's work involves research strategy, locating funding opportunities, budgeting and writing grant proposals, managing the award process, and offering educational opportunities for researchers interested in grants. Ellen enjoys spending time with her family, a good book, and gardening or knitting as the seasons allow.
Chana Johnston
Executive Administrative Assistant, Student and Human Resources Support Liaison
290 McNeal Hall
Tel: 612-625-7036
Email: cjohnston@umn.edu
My title is quite lengthy coming in with 55 letters! I am the Executive Administrative Assistant/Student & HR Support Liaison. Essentially I am here to field any and all potential human resource requests and concerns such as job postings and appointment letters, approve reservations for department meeting rooms, order textbooks, and serve as the access person for systems such as People Soft, Electronic Course Scheduling, Electronic Course Authorization, Course Guides, and Program and Curriculum Approval. I am also one of the first points-of-contact for students whenever they have questions, have the privileged of being the gatekeeper for Dr. McCulloch's schedule. When I am not bustling about the office I enjoy spending quite nights with my husband cooking exotic dishes, mentoring youth at my church's youth group, and brightening the world one blog post at a time!
Steven Pearthree
Assistant to the Department Head
290E McNeal Hall
Tel: 612-625-8771
Email: spearthr@umn.edu
I assist the department head with unit administration, provide human resources, financial administration, and space management for the department.
Cathy Schulz
Research Associate
299G McNeal Hall
Tel: 612-625-2705
Email: cschulz@umn.edu
I support the research needs of faculty and graduate student – ranging from SPSS to online surveys to serving as a sounding board for student exploring their research ideas. I teach FSoS 5015, Family Research Laboratory. I also coordinate departmental academic technology needs with the Instructional Technology Fellow, oversee the research lab, and coordinate the purchase and licensing of software.
Hilary Strander
Principal Office and Administrative Assistant - Business Support Liaison
290 McNeal Hall
Tel: 612-626-3248
Email: strander@umn.edu
As Business Support Liaison, my job focuses on the financial needs of the department. I do most of the purchasing, assist faculty, staff and students with reimbursements and other paperwork, and am the go to person for questions regarding University policies and procedures. I am also the department's main contact for facility maintenance.
In my free time, I enjoy working with clay and ceramics and maintain a small studio in my home. My husband and I are expecting our first child this Spring.
Student Office Workers
Rubi Ruiz-Bruzos
Kyle Swatfager
290 McNeal Hall
Tel: 612-625-1900
Email: fsosinfo@umn.edu