IAP Team: Staff
- Meg Bale, Public Relations Coordinator
- Bonny Donzella, Senior Research Fellow
- Kristin Frenn, Study Coordinator
- Shanna Mliner, Research Fellow
- Bao Moua, Office Admin
Meg Bale is the Public Relations Coordinator for the Minnesota International Adoption Project. Meg graduated from Carleton College with a degree in Sociology and completed her Masters degree at Hamline University. Until her retirement in 1999, Meg worked as a social worker and supervisor for 19 years in the Post Adoption Department at Children's Home Society. Prior to working at Children's Home Society, Meg was an Adopted Adult Resource Person, participating in panels and workshops throughout Minnesota. She also worked on an Adoption Curriculum for the Minneapolis Public Schools. Since joining the MnIAP in 1999, Meg has since been contacting families created through international adoption, adopted parent groups, agencies and the media to inform them about the MnIAP. She conducted informational meetings throughout the state during the summer and fall of 2000.
Contact: 612-624-9322 or balex002@umn.edu
Bonny Donzella is a Senior Research Fellow in the Gunnar Laboratory, and is actively involved in the International Adoption Project. She earned a Masters degree from the State University of New York at Albany, and was trained in psychophysiological techniques and the study of emotion at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Since 1995, Bonny has worked with Dr. Megan Gunnar on studies of the physiology of stress regulation and temperament.
Contact: 612-624-4351 or donze001@umn.edu
Kristin Frenn completed her Bachelors of Science degree at the U of M in December 2004. Since then she has been working in the Gunnar Human Development and Psychobiology lab on the International Adoption Project (IAP). She is responsible for helping plan and execute research studies, and coordinating staff and undergraduates on the project. In addition to her IAP duties, Kristin is pursuing a Masters in Public Health here at the University of Minnesota.
Contact: 612-624-9322 or fren0108@umn.edu
Shanna Mliner has worked on research projects in the Gunnar Laboratory since 1998, and is actively involved in the International Adoption Project as a Senior Research Fellow. She earned a Masters degree in Early Childhood Education/Early Childhood Special Education and a bachelor's degree in Child Psychology from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. Shanna also holds Minnesota teaching licenses in both Early Childhood and Early Childhood Special Education.
Contact: 612-624-4351 or newma039@umn.edu
Bao Moua started working in the Gunnar Laboratory as an undergraduate assistant. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Child Psychology at the University of Minnesota in 2008. She is responsible for maintaining the Minnesota International Adoption Project Registry.
Contact: 612-626-8949 or iap@umn.edu
"International adoption brings children with varied backgrounds into our state and as professionals who care for children we need to understand the whole range of experiences they bring to their families.
Dr. Dana Johnson, Co-investigator
"The IAP allows us ask and seek to answer some of the challenging and overlooked questions that confront adoptive families, from how to raise a child of a different race and ethnicity to how a child's brain works. "
Dr. Rich Lee, Co-investigator
As a parent of children adopted from another country, I'm excited about the groundbreaking research initiatives of the IAP. Important studies are underway that enhances our knowledge and understanding of children from around the globe whom we've chosen to include in our families.
Patti Bower, IAP Parent Advisory Board Member
IAP researchers are busting myths, learning new facts, and exploring uncharted territory in the field of child development – all for the benefit of orphaned children, adoptive families, and those considering international adoption.
Patti Bower, IAP Parent Advisory Board Member
As parents (and prospective parents) of internationally adopted children, we have an unprecedented opportunity to help further vital research by volunteering to include our own children in IAP studies. No one else can provide access to children who meet the study criteria, our participation is crucial.
Patti Bower, IAP Parent Advisory Board Member
Please consider joining the IAP’s registry of adoptive families. By partnering with the IAP, we can play a key role in developing valuable scholarly resources for the adoption community in the years ahead.
Patti Bower, IAP Parent Advisory Board Member
I was eight years old when I came to the US to join my new family. My parents didn’t understand why I acted the way I did. I also didn’t understand why they didn’t understand me. I think all of the testing I did will one day help parents understand a kid like me in a different way, I’m glad I had a chance to play a part.
Katia, 18 years old
Some of the testing I did was boring and some were cool. I did one test where I chewed gum and then spit in a little bottle. I also did tests where I played games I think all of the testing I did will one day help parents understand a kid like me in a different way, I’m glad I had a chance to play a part.
Katia, 18 years old
Working with children who joined their families through international adoption has proven to be some of the most challenging and gratifying research of my career.
Dr. Megan Gunnar, Principal Investigator
The IAP allows us ask and seek to answer some of the challenging and overlooked questions that confront adoptive families, from how to raise a child of a different race and ethnicity to how a child's brain works.
Dr. Rich Lee, Co-investigator
International adoption brings children with varied backgrounds into our state and as professionals who care for children we need to understand the whole range of experiences they bring to their families.
Dr. Dana Johnson, Co-investigator