UMD News Releases

December 2012

• December 27 - FIRST Robotics Competition Kicks Off on January 5 at UMD
• UMD electrical engineering students serve as mentors to high school students in 2013 robotics contest.


• December 7 - UMD's Derek Bromme on Tour with Lorie Line
• Derek Bromme, actor, singer, trombone player and adjunct faculty member in the UMD Department of Music, is touring with Lorie Line.


• December 7 - Holiday Reading by Local Author
• UMD English Professor Joseph Maiolo presents "Saint Matthew in Appalachia" on Wednesday, December 12 at 3:30 in the Weber Music Hall


• December 4 - Final Round! Vote for Bob Nielson 2012 Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year
• Bob Nielson was named one of five finalists in Division II. Voting begins today!

November 2012

• November 28 - Director of External Affairs Announced
• Gina Katzmark will join the University of Minnesota Duluth as the director of External Affairs, effective December 17.


• November 28 - Duluth Debuts as Top College Destination
• The American Institute for Economic Research (AIER) has ranked Duluth, MN as the 14th top location in the "Small Metro" category.


• November 26 - UMD Statesman Receives Two Best of Show Awards
• The Statesman placed among the top ten in two Associated Collegiate Press award categories.


• November 6 - Former UMD Chancellor Martin to be awarded honorary fellowship by University of Worcester
• Kathryn A. Martin will receive a Fellowship of the University and membership in the University of Worcester College of Fellows from November 6 - 9, 2012.


• November 5 - Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Alan Page
• Attend this free event on Thursday, November 15 at 11 am in the Kirby Student Ballroom


• November 2 - UMD CLA Development Director Appointed
• Jennifer Meyer has been named the new University of Minnesota Duluth Development Director for the College of Liberal Arts


• November 1 - UMD Holds "Shaping Our Future" Event on Higher Ed and Society
• UMD campus and community members consider different perspectives on the public purposes of higher education at an event on Nov. 15.

October 2012

• October 31 - World Premiere of UMD Professor's Play at the Kennedy Center
• Tom Isbell's play, The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg, opens in Washington, D.C. on November 17.


• October 30 - Duluth Community's Children & Families Invited to UMD's Haunted Halls
• Wednesday, October 31 from 5pm-7pm with check-in at the UMD Lawrence A. Ianni Hall Lobby


• October 23 - 2012 UMD Zombie Fest
• Thursday, October 25 at 7 pm in UMD Bohannon Hall 90 to explore a variety of zombie-related topics


• October 22 - "Our Environmental Destiny" with Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
• Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., vice chair and chief prosecuting attorney for Riverkeeper, will speak on "Our Environmental Destiny" on Friday, Nov. 9 at 7 pm in MPAC at UMD.


• October 22 - Mayor Ness to Present Duluth Food Day Proclamation at UMD
• Wednesday, October 24 at 11:30 am in the UMD Plaza Food Court


• October 18 - UMD Social Work Receives Grant to Support Mental Health Services
• UMD received a $440,000 federal grant to recruiting graduate students and to provide education and clinical experiences to address the mental and behavioral health needs of under-served populations.


• October 18 - Dawn Peterson Receives Outstanding MSW Field Supervisor and Civic Engagement Award
• Dawn Peterson, MSW, LICSW, was recognized as a field supervisor who has shown exceptional personal and professional civic engagement and has encouraged students involvement in their communities.


• October 17 - UMD Presents 2012 Summit on Equity, Diversity, and Multiculturalism
• The Summit entitled "Diversity: Why? ... and what's in it for me?" will be held on Thurs., Oct. 25 from 8 am-5 pm in the Kirby Student Center.


• October 16 - UMD Program Strengthened with $50,000 maurices Gift
• The Retail Marketing Analytics Program at the Labovitz School of Business and Economics will benefit from a $50,000 gift from maurices


• October 12 - VOTE BOB NIELSON FOR THE 2012 LIBERTY MUTUAL COACH OF THE YEAR
• Tweet today for Bob Nielson in the 2012 competition


• October 12 - New! UMD Maroon and Gold Street Signs
• Unveiling scheduled for Tuesday, October 16 at 6 pm with Mayor Don Ness in attendance


• October 12 - 2012 UMD Homecoming Events
• Join in on the fun that begins on Saturday, October 13 at 5:30 pm


• October 10 - UMD Researcher Receives Water Sustainability Grant
• Karen Gran, assistant professor of geological sciences, is one of the researchers on a five-year grant to study of interactions between water and land-use systems.


• October 10 - UMD Alumnus Brian K. Kobilka Receives Nobel Prize for Chemistry Research
• On October 10, 2012, UMD graduate Brian Kobilka (1977 Biology, Chemistry) won the 2012 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.


• October 5 - Mathematical Excellence
• On November 1, 2012, Dr. Joseph Gallian will be announced as an AMS Fellow


• October 5 - Commemorating a Legend
• UMD Associate Professor Jean Stevenson presented at annual award ceremony


• October 5 - Fostering a Climate of Inclusion, Safety and Respect: New Reporting Webpage and the Development of a Campus Climate Response Team
• UMD Student Forum on Monday, October 8 at 5 pm in Griggs Center


• October 3 - UMD Presents "An American Indian Perspective on Land-Grant Universities"
• UMD commemorates the 150th anniversary of the Morrill Act and celebrates the 40th anniversary of the American Indian Studies Program at 7p.m. on Oct. 16 in the Kirby Ballroom.

September 2012

• September 28 - Scholarship Named for Mike Munnell, First Graduate of UMD's American Indian Studies Program
• Member of Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa honored with naming of scholarship


• September 27 - 2012 Heart Walk at UMD
• On Saturday, September 29, join the UMD and Duluth community at the 15th annual Heart Walk


• September 21 - 25th Anniversary of the UMD Alworth Institute
• Commemoration on Wednesday, September 26 from 7 pm - 9 pm in Bohannon Hall 90 at UMD


• September 14 - Students Finding Their Future
• Annual UMD E-Fest on Wednesday, September 19 from 10 am - 2 pm in the Kirby Ballroom


• September 14 - Youth Outdoor Education
• David Sobel presenting on Tuesday, September 18 at 4:30 pm in the UMD Weber Music Hall


• September 12 - UMD to Hold First of Three Land-Grant Commemorations on September 27: UMD & Mineral Resources: Challenges, Opportunities, and a Land-Grant Perspective
• Five speakers examine the connection between UMD and the area's mineral resources at this event commemorating UMD's Land-Grant Heritage.


• September 12 - UMD Ranks High in U.S. News & World Report's Annual "America's Best Colleges" Edition
• UMD again receives high ranking from U.S. News & World Report for academics and accessibility.


• September 7 - UMD Swenson College of Science and Engineering Development Director has been Appointed
• Carrie Sutherland named the new SCSE development director


• September 7 - Minnesota Twins VS Kansas City Royals
• Join the UMD Alumni Association on Wednesday, September 12 at Target Field with Champ throwing the first pitch


• September 6 - UMD's Multicultural Learning Community
• Students opt to live in residential housing and attend events as a multi-ethnic group

August 2012

• August 31 - 2012 UMD Student Move-In Day and the Chancellor's Convocation
• Thursday, August 30 from 9am-3:30pm is UMD Student Move-In Day. Friday, August 31 at 1 pm, Yvonne Prettner Solon is attending the Chancellor's Convocation

July 2012

• July 31 - Joint Forces Restore Bagley Nature Area
• Duluth City Mayor, Don Ness, comments on UMD Bagley Nature Area restoration efforts


• July 23 - UMD Helps Beirut Promote Lifelong Learning
• The successful University for Seniors program at UMD was adopted in 2010 by the American University of Beirut

• July 19 - UMD Alumni Director Appointed
• Lisa Pratt has been selected as UMD's Director of Alumni Relations

• July 17 - Great Lakes Aquarium Interactive Exhibit
• Trap invasive species through a digital display at the Great Lakes Aquarium


• July 13 - 150th Anniversary of the Morrill Act
• Join the UMD campus community on Wednesday, July 18 from 11:30 am-1pm for games, prizes, and food


• July 10 - Chancellor's Faculty Fellow Appointed
• Dr. John A. Arthur has been appointed as the new Chancellor's Faculty Fellow for Strategic Planning.

June 2012

• June 21 - Mni Sota: Reflections of Time and Place at the Tweed
• Works by 17 American Indian artists from the Minnesota region are showcased in this exhibit.


• June 21 - UMD Student Michael Duvall Helps Shape Child Welfare Law
• Duvall, a UMD student, will work in Senator Amy Klobuchar's office researching foster care issues.


• June 21 - Minnesota Social Work Student of the Year
• Bryana Cook, 2012 graduate of the Master of Social Program recently received the Social Work Student of the Year award.

May 2012

• May 25 - Michael P. Seymour Chosen for UMD Vice Chancellor for Finance and Operations
• Michael P. Seymour, who brings more than twenty years of experience in Minnesota higher education, joins UMD as Vice Chancellor for Finance and Operations.


• May 23 - AIA Selects UMD's Bagley Classroom for 2012 COTE Top Ten Green Projects in the Country
• Among the reasons for the national award, the Bagley classroom encompasses sustainability, a minimal building footprint, and indoor air quality


• May 23 - Spring, Summer, and Fall Workshops for Gardening Enthusiasts
• A variety of seminars will guide participants through early summer to harvest


• May 22 - Associate Vice Chancellor for Undergraduate Education Has Been Named
• Dr. Gerald Pepper has been named Associate Vice Chancellor for Undergraduate Education


• May 22 - School of Fine Arts Dean Has Been Named
• Dr. William Payne has been named the School of Fine Arts Dean


• May 22 - College of Education and Human Service Professions Interim Dean Has Been Named
• Dr. Bruce Munson will be serving as Interim Dean for the College of Education and Human Service Professions (CEHSP)


• May 22 - Associate Vice Chancellor for Graduate Education and Research Has Been Named
• Dr. Timothy Holst has been named Associate Vice Chancellor for Graduate Education and Research


• May 18 - 2012 Outstanding Service Awards
• UMD employees who hold Civil Service and Academic Professional/Administrative positions were honored with awards


• May 11 - Five UMD Faculty Receive Awards
• Four UMD Faculty receive UMD awards and Steve Sternberg receives the UM Alumni Horace T. Morse Award.


• May 11 - UMD Students Reuse and Recycle at Semester's End
• UMD students use several methods to dispose of unwanted items as they leave Duluth at the end of the school year.


• May 8 - UMD 2012 Commencement Ceremonies
• UMD will confer nearly 2085 undergraduate degrees, 225 graduate degrees, and five doctoral degrees at the 2012 baccalaureate and master's degree commencements.


• May 8 - UMD Masters Program Ranks in Top Tier of U.S. News and World Report
• The Masters of Social Work placed 79th nationally, and encourages student development and community practice


• May 8 - UMD Bike/Walk to Work Day
• On Friday, May 18, the city and campus will collaborate on greener transportation options


• May 4 - The Duluth Community Heritage Apple Orchard Breaks Ground on Saturday, May 12 at 9 a.m.
• The public is invited to celebrate the trees that the UMD Heritage Apple Orchard won last year. Plant trees, take a free course on growing apples, and enjoy a day at the orchard!


• May 4 - 2nd Annual CHAMP Day of Service
• Duluth non-profit organizations were given a helping hand from UMD volunteers

April 2012

• April 27 - UMD and Chanhassen Dinner Theaters Announce Alliance
• UMD formalized an alliance with Chanhassen Dinner Theatres (CDT) to offer internships, apprenticeships, mentorships, and fellowships for UMD students and to bring CDT professional staff to UMD to train students.


• April 24 - Iron Range Master's Graduation Reception
• April Ekholm, Erin Shea, and Rally Hess will be honored at a reception in Chisholm, Minnesota


• April 24 - Local Food Source Provides Grass-Fed Beef
• Grass-fed beef hamburgers, locally grown vegetables and potatoes, and Juneberry-rhubarb crisp are on the menu


• April 18 - Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus: In Concert
• The Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus will perform on Thursday, May 3 at 8 pm in Weber Music Hall.


• April 17 - UMD Music Student Receives Prestigious Schubert Club Award
• UMD opera singer and music student Sarah Knott received a 2012 Schubert Club Award and Scholarship. She also performed on Minnesota Public Radio on April 18.


• April 17 - UMD Student Employee Honored
• UMD senior Sam Ginsberg, student marketing director for KUMD, was named Minnesota Student Employee of the Year.


• April 17 - Second Annual CHAMP Day of Service
• The second annual UMD CHAMP (Connecting Hopes with Action to Mobilize People) Day of Service will be held on Saturday, April 21.


• April 13 - 2012 Platinum Award for Fit-Friendly Company
• UMD is recognized as having high standards for campus health that include numerous walking trails and a campus wide no-smoking policy


• April 13 - International Sustainable Development and Connections to Duluth
• From April 16-20, a variety of activities and presentations will educate and celebrate sustainability practices


• April 10 - UofM and UMD Support Lacrosse Camp for American Indian Youth
• UMD, the Fond du Lac Band, and others have lent support to a summer lacrosse camp for youth. The camp, in its third year, strengthens our region's American Indian community.


• April 10 - Travel Adventures On All Seven Continents
• On Wednesday, April 18 at 7 p.m. in the Weber Music Hall, enjoy a multimedia show by Duluth native and award-winning author Marty Essen


• April 9 - CEO RUSSEL FLEISCHER: LSBE PROFESSOR FOR A DAY
• Russell Fleischer, CEO of HighJump Software, will lecture on Wed., Apr. 11 as part of LSBE's Professor for a Day Speaker Series..


• April 9 - Creativity and Undergraduate Research on Display at UMD
• The 2012 Undergraduate Research and Artistic Showcase will be held on April 12 from 12 noon - 4 pm in the Kirby Ballroom.


• April 5 - What is America: UMD EXPLORES SHARED STORIES
• An eight-day series of lectures, discussions, displays, films, and music help UMD examine its diversity.


• April 4 - Religion and the Holocaust: UMD's Baeumler Kaplan 2012 Holocaust Commemoration
• Five speakers, a film and a play are part of the 2012 Baeumler Kaplan Holocaust Commemoration series and address the issues of religion and the Holocaust.


• April 4 - Nature, Evolution, and Creative Nonfiction
• Released on April 3, UMD Dean of the College of Liberal Arts Susan Maher generated, organized, and fulfilled the two-year publishing plan with Tom Lynch, associate professor of English, from the University of Nebraska.

March 2012

• March 30 - New Student Chapter at LSBE
• On Wednesday, April 4 at 2:30 p.m., the first Student Chapter of the Financial Planning Association in Minnesota will be initiated


• March 27 - UMD Diversity Dialogue With Visiting Professors
• Renowned soprano Geraldine McMillian and pianist David Mayfield speak about their journeys as musicians of color at a Diversity Dialogue.


• March 26 - Successful Alumnus to Speak at UMD
• Free and open to the public with registration required for Tuesday, March 27 at 11 a.m. in the Weber Music Hall


• March 26 - Rally and Send-Off of Students for Bulldog Lobby Day at the MN State Capitol
• Students, faculty, and staff are heading to the Minnesota State Capitol on Wednesday, March 28 at 7:15 a.m.


• March 22 - Senior Vice President of Google and UMD Alumnus Awarded 2011 ACM Fellow Honor
• Amit Singhal has been named a 2011 ACM Fellow for his search and information retrieval contributions


• March 21 - TechFest 2012
• On Friday, March 23 from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. in the Kirby Student Center Ballroom, the public is welcome to learn about new technology from social media to digital networking to the latest applications.


• March 1 - Choral Event Launches Scholarship
• On Sunday, March 4 at 3 p.m. in the Weber Music Hall, the UMD Dr. Vernon Choral Scholarship will launch with a special concert.