UMD Breaks Ground for 23 Million Dollar Labovitz School of Business and Economics

UMD held groundbreaking ceremonies July 26, 2006 for the 23 million dollar Labovitz School of Business and Economics to be constructed on the campus. It is designed to be an environmental "green building." The school is named for Duluth natives Sharon and Joel Labovitz who made a gift of 4.5 million dollars to help fund the new building. The gift is the largest ever for the School of Business and Economics, and the second largest for UMD.   Read More Here

A Profile of Sharon and Joel Labovitz

A 1949 graduate of UMD, Joel Labovitz is Chairman of Labovitz Enterprises, a Duluth-headquartered firm with interests in various businesses. He is the principal owner of the Duluth Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites Downtown Waterfront and the Holiday Inn Bozeman in Bozeman, Montana. Mr. Labovitz is also chairman of Lion Financial Corporation and Lion Hotel Group, both headquartered in Duluth. Soon after graduation from UMD in 1949, Labovitz joined his father Maurice at Maurices, a women's clothing store in downtown Duluth. The two men expanded the local business through the 1960's and 1970's. When Joel Labovitz sold the company in 1978, Maurices had 175 stores in 18 states. He stayed on as President and Chief Executive for two years, adding another 100 stores before stepping down in January 1981.   Read More Here

New 12.4 Million Dollar Sports and Health Center Addition Opens

On September 20, 2006 Chancellor Kathryn A. Martin kicked-off ceremonies celebrating the grand opening of the new 12.4 million UMD Sports and Health Center addition. The enhanced complex contains northern Minnesota's largest and most comprehensive athletic and recreational facilities.   Read More Here

Alworth Institute for International Studies Names New Director

UMD has announced the appointment of William Henderson as director of the Royal D. Alworth Jr. Institute for International Studies. Dr. Henderson has a Doctor of Philosophy in African Studies from the University of Sussex ,UK. He has spent time living and working in Botswana, Ghana and Zimbabwe. Most recently he was director of the Centre for Lifelong Learning at the University of Birmingham, UK.   Read More Here

UMD Alumni Association Announces Scholarship

UMD alumnus Allen Willman is the driving force behind the recently announced UMD Alumni Association Scholarship. Willman created this scholarship with the intention of giving back to the University that had aided him when he needed it most. This scholarship is the first of its kind at UMD, and gives back to the children and grandchildren of alumni while providing the scholarship recipients with additional outreach opportunities and financial support.   Read More Here