Return on mentorship cowardin Thu, 04/23/2026 - 13:25 Featured image Publication Date 2026-04-28 Article Intro Preston Jorland formed a mentorship program to prepare finance students for future success.Peer-to-peer mentorship helps prepare first and second-year finance students for success in the classroom and beyond. After Preston Jorland’s sophomore year at the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD), he returned home to Grand Rapids and went door to door — from finance firms to city hall — looking for internship opportunities. “I did that so many times,” Jorland said. Eventually, his persistence paid off: he accepted an internship as a finance intern with the City of Grand Rapids. The role strengthened the analytical skills he was developing in UMD’s Financial Markets Program and gave him early experience working with real financial data. When he returned to campus in the fall, Jorland was motivated to build on that momentum. Learning from the challenges of his door-to-door search, he began preparing for his next internship with more intention, networking with people in the industry and preparing for interviews between classes. His preparation paid off, and he spent the following summer interning at LoCorr Funds, an Alternative Investment Fund on Lake Minnetonka, where he learned about the financial services industry in a high-stakes, intellectually rigorous setting. Now in his senior year, Jorland has two internships under his belt and has accepted a full‑time position as an investment banking analyst in Minneapolis. As he reflected on the path that led him to success, he realized an opportunity to help first and second-year finance students navigate the competitive world of internships more effectively. So he formed a peer-to-peer mentorship program as a way to give back. “People have helped me get to this point, now it’s my turn to help others,” Jorland said. The group meets weekly to discuss technical concepts, share networking tips, workshop resumes, and make onsite visits to top firms in the industry to network with industry professionals. Each student is paired with a senior member of the program so they always have someone to turn to for advice. “Internships, which lead to return offers for full-time jobs, recruit 12 to 18 months out in advance,” Jorland said. Through peer-to-peer mentorship, students can get a head start on their internship search, and “identify what they want to do early so they can lead with more purpose and intention.” Jorland’s leadership is inspired and modeled after Joe Artim, Director of the Financial Markets Program at UMD.  “He really teaches living a life of significance, humility, and putting others before yourself,” Jorland said. “That's something that really resonated with me and allowed an opportunity for me to give back to my campus community.” Jorland has transitioned his mentorship program to new leadership so it will continue after he graduates, and pay dividends in preparing students for future success. “It's important for me to leave things better than I found them,” he said. Preparing students for success The Financial Markets Program prepares students for careers in the financial services industry. Students in the Financial Markets Program manage a portfolio of more than 6 million.Jorland and fellow finance students reached the Americas Final 6 in the CFA Institute Research Challenge, one of the most prestigious collegiate competitions in finance. Header image caption: Preston Jorland was hired before graduation and is now helping fellow students to find similar success. Tags Labovitz School of Business and Economics LSBE Financial Markets

UMD announces dean of College of Education and Human Services Professions amesseng Mon, 04/27/2026 - 12:20 Featured image Publication Date 2026-04-27 Article Intro The University of Minnesota Duluth announces Kim Martell to lead CEHSP. The College of Education and Human Services Professions (CEHSP) at the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) is proud to announce that Kimberly Zoder-Martell, PhD, has accepted the position of dean, pending final approval from the Board of Regents. Dr. Zoder-Martell most recently served as a professor of Applied Behavior Analysis and chair of the Department of Special Education at Ball State University in Muncie, IN, a Carnegie R2 public university, where she provided academic, administrative, and strategic leadership for a large and complex department with over 100 faculty, and approximately 3,300 enrolled students. She is a licensed psychologist (HSPP) and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst–Doctoral (BCBA-D). “I am thrilled to join the leadership team at the University of Minnesota Duluth’s College of Education and Human Services Professions,” Dr. Martell said. “Throughout my career I have focused on building programs that expand opportunity for students, and I am eager to continue that work with the talented faculty, staff, and students of CEHSP.” Dr. Zoder-Martell's research centers on improving outcomes for individuals with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities, with a particular emphasis on developing and evaluating effective, scalable strategies to train caregivers, educators, and direct service providers to implement behavior analytic interventions with high treatment fidelity. Her work bridges research and practice to enhance real-world impact in schools, homes, and community settings. During her 14 years at Ball State, she also served as assistant chair for the Department of Special Education and as the first faculty program director for undergraduate programs in Applied Behavior Analysis (Autism). Her clinical background includes over two decades as a consultant and psychologist. “Dr. Zoder-Martell is an expert in her field, and a collaborative leader with experience partnering both within universities and with broader communities,” Rebecca Ropers, UMD’s executive vice chancellor and provost, said. “Kim brings to UMD a wealth of knowledge to guide the College of Education and Human Services Professions into this next chapter and contribute to UMD’s academic programs.” We extend our deepest gratitude to Dr. Jill Pinkney Pastrana, who led CEHSP as dean from 2013 to 2025, and to Dr. Scott Carlson, who served as interim dean during the 2025-2026 academic year following seven years as associate dean. We thank each of them for their extraordinary service to UMD. We are especially grateful to Dr. Carlson for providing critical continuity during this transition; his engaged and collaborative approach has significantly strengthened the college's academic programs and culture. Dr. Zoder-Martell’s appointment begins July 27, 2026 pending final approval by the Board of Regents. Inset: Kimberly Zoder-Martell, Ph.D., HSPP, BCBA-D, incoming dean of the College of Education and Human Service Professions (CEHSP) at the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD). Header image: UMD's College of Education and Human Services Professions. Tags CEHSP College of Education and Human Service Professions Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

2025-26 Faculty and Staff Award Winners amesseng Fri, 04/24/2026 - 15:57 Featured image Publication Date 2026-04-27 Article Intro A ceremony to celebrate faculty and staff achievements and years of service. Thursday, April 23, 2026, in the Kirby Ballroom The University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) held a ceremony on April 23, 2026, to celebrate the exceptional efforts and milestones of its faculty and staff. These awards recognize individuals who exemplify the University’s commitment to excellence in teaching, research, and public service. University of Minnesota System Awards University of Minnesota McKnight Awards This honor is awarded to exceptional candidates and recognizes professors at different career stages. McKnight Land Grant Professorship Daniel Stevens, Physics & Astronomy, SCSE McKnight Presidential Fellow Lucas Busta, Chemistry & Biochemistry, SCSE Distinguished McKnight University Professorship Karen Gran, Earth & Environmental Sciences, SCSE Horace T. Morse-University of Minnesota Alumni Association Awards for Outstanding Contributions to Undergraduate Education This honor is awarded to exceptional candidates who exemplify the University's commitment to excellence in undergraduate education. Jennifer Jones, Studies in Justice, Culture & Social Change, CAHSS Jacob Wainman, Chemistry & Biochemistry, SCSE Community-Engaged Scholar Award: Research and Creative Activities Jessica Hanson, Applied Human Sciences, CEHSP Exemplary University-Community Partnership Award Aparna Katre, World Languages & Cultures, CAHSS Chancellor’s Awards Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching This award recognizes faculty who have made contributions of extraordinary quality to UMD's teaching mission. 10+ Years of Service: Rajiv Vaidyanathan, Marketing, LSBE Less than 10 Years of Service: Kai Vance, Communication, CAHSS Chancellor's Award for Distinguished Research/Creative Activity This award honors faculty for excellence in research, scholarly contributions to their field, and dedication to student research. 10+ Years of Service: Ted Ozersky, Large Lakes Observatory & Biology, SCSE Less than 10 Years of Service: Jessica Savage, Biology, SCSE Chancellor's Award for Outstanding Public Service This award is given to a faculty member with an extraordinary and sustained commitment to public service and community engagement. Joseph Lane, Environment, Sustainability & Geography, CAHSS Advising Awards Outstanding Undergraduate Faculty Advisor Award Lara LaCaille, Psychology, CEHSP Outstanding Graduate Faculty Advisor Award Amy Versnik Nowak, Applied Human Sciences, CEHSP Outstanding Staff Awards Outstanding Staff Award Nichole Chisholm, Kathryn A. Martin Library Anna Gilmore, International Student Services Amy Kireta, SCSE Lisa Kittelson, Academic Affairs Outstanding Team Award Health Services Counseling Team: Michelle Asp, Sara Cedars, Veronica Gaidelis-Langer, Julie Kim, Karina Krosbakken, Lea Morey Finstrom, and Jim Shreffler Milestone Years of Service 55 Years of Service Tim Roufs 45 Years of Service Daniel Seguin 40 Years of Service Mark Mizuko Ron Moen 35 Years of Service Sue Bosell Kevin Lamar Craig Maly Steven Strand Michelle Tessier 30 Years of Service Steve Bardolph Erik Brown Richard Maclin William Rhodes 25 Years of Service Trista Anderson Angela Blais Valerie Brady Donn Branstrator Timothy Craig Mitra Emad Jean Farrell Guihua Fei Justin Fish Ryan Frane Linda Goodreau Alec Habig Thomas Hrabik Ginger Johnson Andy Kauppinen Carmen Latterell Curtis Lewis Jeffrey Maahs Carter Meland Ryuta Nakajima Rudy Perrault Bob Rients Michael Rother Michael Sengbush Kevin Smith Christopher Untiedt Kara Ward Kari YoungVice Chancellor of Student Life Kay Robinson presents to the Outstanding Team Award winners from the Health Services Counseling: Michelle Asp, Sara Cedars, Veronica Gaidelis-Langer, Julie Kim, Karina Krosbakken, Lea Morey Finstrom, and Jim Shreffler Tags Chancellor Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs College of Education and Human Service Professions CEHSP CAHSS College of Arts Humanities and Social Sciences Swenson College of Science and Engineering SCSE LSBE Labovitz School of Business and Economics

Engineering a writing career amesseng Fri, 04/24/2026 - 09:56 Featured image Publication Date 2026-04-24 Article Intro Alum Zoe Gutz was hired before graduation as a technical writer at Cirrus. Not far from the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) is the Duluth International Airport (DLH) and a sprawling campus of buildings where Cirrus Aircraft designs and builds its airplanes. It’s a huge operation, and while it’s easy to see that engineers, mechanics and designers are integral to that mission, there’s a crew of writers who help bring that all together — and Zoe Gutz, ‘25, is one of the newest members of the team.Point of view: Gutz approaches the open cockpit door of a Cirrus SR series airplane standing by on the tarmac for a flight around Duluth. From English major to aviation industry professional, Gutz’s story shows how UMD's liberal arts education and hands-on opportunities translate directly into career success. Gutz grew up in the Twin Cities, but came to UMD to pursue her education in a different environment. “ I toured the campus and just fell in love with Duluth because it's the most beautiful place ever,” she said. “I liked the smaller campus. I liked still being in Minnesota.” As a student, Gutz wanted to combine a passion for writing with a strong interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). She chose what she calls a middle ground through an English major and a math minor. Alongside her studies, she worked on campus in the Career Center and was an officer with the tennis club. It was a lot, but she appreciated the broad scope of her education. “ It helped round me out, and also understand different disciplines,” she said.Some college experiences take you to new heights. For Gutz, an internship with Cirrus Aircraft offered new perspectives, and a job offer after graduation. Pictured is her view of Old Hartley Road in Hartley Park and the UMD Campus (center right) out the window of a Cirrus SR series aircraft. The Career Center helped her realize what she could do with her education after getting her degree. That support led to an internship opportunity at Cirrus in technical writing. “When I first started my internship and I was looking at documents… I was using what I had learned in class,” she said. “It was kind of perfect.” ”I learned a lot more about writing and doing technical writing.” She excelled, and it wasn’t long before Gutz was offered a position to continue with the Cirrus team after graduation in December 2025. She’s now a full-time technical writer, working in the Cirrus Innovation Center. Many of her projects involve airplane maintenance manuals and service bulletins about the inner workings of the company’s latest aircraft. The work combines her interests in STEM with her English skills, translating engineering processes into something that mechanics and end-users can work with. “I like being able to interact with engineering,” she said. “And it's planes — and they're really cool planes — so who doesn't like doing that?” And now she’s starting to see some of her work in the innovation center come out through new products like the latest Vision Jet. “Seeing projects that I've worked on that get released… I didn't do any of the engineering for it, but it feels cool, you know? I was a part of that.” Reflecting on her time at UMD, Gutz appreciates the perspective she gained through interdisciplinary study.  “I feel like I learned a lot about myself and about the world.” Header and footer image: Zoe Gutz graduated from UMD in December 2025 with a job waiting for her as a technical writer at Cirrus Aircraft.  Tags CAHSS College of Education and Human Service Professions English Linguistics & Writing Studies Career and Internship Services University Honors SCSE Swenson College of Science and Engineering