Graduate Commencement May 14, 2021 Mission: The mission of the University of Minnesota College of Education and Human Development is to contribute to a just and sustainable future through engagement with the local and global communities to enhance human learning and development at all stages of the life span. Vision: The college will advance research, teaching, and community engagement to increase opportunities for all individuals to have a successful start in life and to foster healthy human development, and will provide programs that meet the demands of the 21st century. celebrating commencement 2021 GRADUATE COMMENCEMENT May 14, 2021 Visit cehd.umn.edu/commencement for the 2021 virtual ceremony recording. Share your #cehd2021 commencement stories and photos on Twitter! Dear Graduate, Congratulations on your accomplishments! I wish we could be together in person to celebrate this significant milestone. While we are deeply missing the communal experience of a physical gathering and all the rituals that accompany it, I encourage you to mark your commencement with rituals that are meaningful to you. Reflect on your time at CEHD and who made a difference in your life—and who you impacted. How can you best pay tribute to those who supported you? How will they share in your celebration? How will you reward yourself for your hard-earned achievements? Not only do you have the knowledge and skills to be successful in your next chapter, you have friends and memories to treasure for a lifetime. Think back to your first days at CEHD and compare them to now. You’ve learned and done so much; you should be proud of all you’ve accomplished. It is not an exaggeration, however, to say that the last year has not been easy for anyone. And being a student during the turmoil of a global pandemic and overdue conversations on racial injustices was particularly difficult. Because of your vigilance and hope, you are moving ahead, ready to take on the challenges yet to come. CEHD is proud of you. I particularly am excited to see how you make a difference as a member of CEHD alumni. And don’t consider this a farewell. We look forward to continuing our relationship with you as a lifelong member of CEHD and the University of Minnesota community. Please stay in touch and connect with us through social media and future college events. Best wishes for the future, Michael C. Rodriguez Professor and Campbell Leadership Chair Interim Dean 5 Featured speakers Michael C. Rodriguez, interim dean of the College of Education and Human Development Rachel Croson, executive vice president and provost Joan T.A. Gabel, president, University of Minnesota Heather Mueller, commissioner, Minnesota Department of Education Conferring of Degrees Honorable Kendall J. Powell, Chair, Board of Regents Candidates for the MEd, MA, MS, MSW, EdD, PhD and specialist certificate degrees Biographical Information Michael C. Rodriguez Michael C. Rodriguez, PhD, is the interim dean of the College of Education and Human Development and the Campbell Leadership Chair in Education and Human Development and a professor of educational psychology. He is a fifth-generation Minnesotan and first-generation college graduate, who received his BA from the Morris campus. His research focuses on understanding the psychometric properties of tests—for example, the use of constructed-response versus multiple-choice items. Rodriguez works with school districts to develop methods for improving their use of large-scale test information to improve practices and policies. In addition, he is dedicated to improving the accessibility of assessments of students with disabilities and multilingual learners. Rodriguez leads the Minnesota Youth Development Research Group which helps school districts make use of the Minnesota Student Survey, reporting on positive youth development and social and emotional learning. Rodriguez provides advisory support and leadership to several national organizations, including the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards, National Assessment of Educational Progress, U.S. Department of Defense on military personnel testing, Association of American Medical Colleges, and National Council on Measurement in Education. Rachel T.A. Croson Rachel T.A. Croson came to the University of Minnesota from Michigan State University (MSU), where she served as Dean of the College of Social Science and MSU Foundation Professor of Economics. She is professor of economics and the 2018 winner of the Carolyn Shaw Bell Award. Prior to her tenure at MSU, she served as dean of the School of Business at the University of Texas at Arlington, division director for Social and Economic Sciences at the National Science Foundation, professor and director of the Negotiations Center at the University of Texas at Dallas, and associate professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. She earned her bachelor’s degree in economics and the philosophy of science from the University of Pennsylvania and her master’s and PhD in economics from Harvard University. 6 Joan T.A. Gabel Joan T.A. Gabel is the 17th president of the University of Minnesota, overseeing the nation’s 6th largest University, including over 68,000 students, 27,000 faculty/ staff, and an overall $4.2 billion budget. She stewarded the University’s new systemwide strategic plan, MPact 2025, emphasizing student success, innovation, equity, and fiscal stewardship. Under her leadership, the University surpassed $1 billion in annual research expenditures; elevated into the top one percent of patent-producing universities; achieved a record-setting year in private philanthropy; deepened its work to build a more equitable and just community; and initiated an innovative approach to keep students, faculty, and staff safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. Heather Mueller As Minnesota’s Education Commissioner, Heather Mueller, EdD, heads an agency of more than 450 employees, charged with the mission of improving educational achievement for children from pre-K through grade 12, adult education, and library services. Mueller works closely with Governor Tim Walz to promote a wide variety of education policies and initiatives focused on closing the achievement gap, supporting high-quality teaching, using innovative strategies to improve educational outcomes, and ensuring all students graduate from high school well- prepared for college, career, and life. Prior to her appointment as commissioner, Mueller served as the department’s senior director of teaching and learning, assistant commissioner, and deputy commissioner. Mueller started her career at Mankato Area Public Schools in August 1997, teaching social studies. During her time at Mankato, she worked as a continuous improvement coach, professional development coordinator, and the director of teaching and learning. She earned her doctor of education in leadership degree from St. Mary’s University. She earned her specialist and K-12 administrative license, master’s degree in educational leadership, and bachelor’s degree in social studies from Minnesota State University, Mankato. Kendall J. Powell Ken Powell is the former chairman and chief executive officer of General Mills, where he served in a variety of positions since 1979. Powell spent more than a third of his career overseas. He serves on the board of directors for Medtronic, the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, and Partners in Food Solutions, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping start-up food companies in Africa. Powell received a bachelor of arts degree in biology from Harvard and an MBA from Stanford University. Powell lives in Golden Valley and his wife and two adult daughters all are proud to have degrees from the University of Minnesota. 7 Special Announcements The University of Minnesota Twin Cities is built within the traditional homelands of the Daḳota people. Minnesota comes from the Daḳota name for this region, Mni Sota Maḳoce—the land where the waters reflect the skies. The Circle of Indigenous Nations at the University of Minnesota recognizes the original peoples of this place and makes ongoing efforts to educate the campus community about the ongoing relationship that Daḳota people have to this area. —Iyekiyapiwiƞ Darlene St. Clair, Bdewakaƞtuƞwaƞ Daḳota Disclaimer The list of graduates are those who opted to participate in the 2021 virtual commencement ceremony. Although care is taken to ensure the accuracy of the information in this program, there may be unintended errors or late changes not reflected in the contents. This is not an official University of Minnesota graduation list. Ways to Stay Connected as an Alum Don’t put away your maroon and gold —be an active College of Education and Human Development and University of Minnesota alum! • Follow CEHD news through Connect magazine (connect.cehd.umn.edu) and Happenings email newsletter. • Give back to CEHD with a donation at give.umn.edu/cehd. • Join the maroonandgoldnetwork.umnalumni.org for career-related connections. • Meet other Gopher alumni through events, lifelong learning, and more: umnalumni.org. • Visit advocates.umn.edu and share why the University is important to you. • Go to events.umn.edu to find campus events throughout the year. • Ensure the University has your most current contact information at update.umn.edu twitter.com/UMN_CEHD facebook.com/umcehd linkedin.com/groups/2720034/ cehd.umn.edu/alumni 8 Degrees and Programs Completed The following number of students completed degrees or programs of study in the College of Education and Human Development from September 2019 through August 2020. Bachelor of science (BS) degree 799 Master of education (MEd) degree 435 Master of arts (MA) degree 101 Master of science (MS) degree 14 Master of social work (MSW) degree 124 Doctor of philosophy (PhD) degree 98 Doctor of education (EdD) degree 1 Certificate 301 Licensure/additional licensure 455 Note: The preceding numbers are based on the most recent fully completed academic year. 9 Administration University of Minnesota Board of Regents The Honorable Mary A. Davenport, Mankato The Honorable James T. Farnsworth, St. Paul The Honorable Kao Ly Ilean Her, Maplewood The Honorable Douglas A.