2026 Rising Alumni Award Recipient: Na Zhang
Dr. Na Zhang is an assistant professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences at the University of Connecticut.
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2026 Alumni Award of Excellence Recipient: Aaron Kelly
Dr. Aaron Kelly is a Professor of Pediatrics, the Minnesota American Legion Chair in Children’s Health, and the Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Center for Pediatric Obesity Medicine at the University of Minnesota Medical School.
READ STORY2026 Rising Alumni Award Recipient: Tara Kulkarni
Dr. Tara Kulkarni is a school psychologist and a tenure track professor at Cal State Monterey Bay.
READ STORY2026 Distinguished International Alumni Award Recipient: Natalia Etten
Natalia Etten builds the conditions for leaders and communities to respond to disruption and move their societies forward, linking global influence with local transformation.
READ STORYConnect Magazine Connect Magazine
CEHD Connect Magazine is published in print three times a year and online by the University of Minnesota College of Education and Human Development for alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of the college.
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2026 Alumni Award of Excellence Recipient: Lee-Ann Stephens
Dr. Lee-Ann Stephens has been an educator for over 30 years and is currently a Grade 3 Teacher at Aquila Elementary in Saint Louis Park Schools. Dr. Stephens was named the 2006 Minnesota Teacher of the Year.
READ STORYDistinguished International Alumni Award Recipient: Chiraprapha Akaraborworn
Dr. Chiraprapha Akaraborworn currently serves as Dean of the Graduate School of Human Resource Development at the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA).
READ STORYAlumni Award of Excellence Recipient: Brian Lozenski
Dr. Brian Lozenski (he/him) is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Educational Studies Department at Macalester College.
READ STORYAlumni Award of Excellence Recipient: Patricia K. Kubow
Dr. Patricia K. Kubow is Professor and Program Chair in International and Comparative Education in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at Indiana University.
READ STORYRising Alumni Award Recipient: Lana Peterson
Dr. Lana Peterson (she/her) is the Director of the Data Practices and Analytics Division for the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE).
READ STORYRising Alumni Award Recipient: Amanda Kessel
Amanda Kessel works for the Pittsburgh Penguins and is a professional hockey player.
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