Threads of connection amesseng Sun, 02/22/2026 - 17:48 Featured image Publication Date 2026-02-24 Article Intro Alum Zach Sullivan turned a passion for the outdoors into a thriving small business with ROMP Bags. In a small shop tucked away in the Duluth hillside, Zach Sullivan, ‘17, organizes pieces of fabric on a large wooden work table. He drops a dark blue leather circle on top of a partially sewn yellow nylon panel. “That’s actually a fun combo,” he says, unspooling a length of blue webbing and holding it next to the rest. It’s an assemblage of parts that will become a water bottle holder that he calls the Feed Bag. “Maybe we should make that one of the standard color options for this one.” Sullivan graduated from the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) with a degree in environmental and outdoor education, and now owns and operates ROMP (RAD Outdoor Multi Purpose) bags, a small manufacturer of outdoor-related bags based in Duluth, Minnesota. But when Sullivan started his journey at UMD, he hadn’t yet discovered his passion for sharing nature with others, and hadn’t channeled his interests into creating outdoor gear.  Sense of Place Sullivan started at UMD studying accounting, but after two years and experiences with the Recreational Sports Outdoor Program (RSOP), he turned to a path pursuing a passion for place-based studies and adventures. He would eventually graduate with an environmental and outdoor education major through the College of Education and Human Service Professions, which would help him share the outdoors with future clients and customers.A graduate of the environmental and outdoor education program at UMD, Sullivan credits UMD and RSOP with helping him find his passion for sharing the outdoors with others, and putting him on the path of turning that passion into a degree and thriving small business. One of Sullivan’s favorite classes, Field Interpretation, was taught by Tim Bates. Bates was an adjunct faculty member of applied human sciences (AHS) and associate director of RSOP. The class centered around understanding and interpreting the ecology, biology and history of a place. It was a model for bringing clients outside, and deepened Sullivan’s understanding of local ecology and history. “I definitely spent a lot of time looking at Tim’s heels, following him up some hill or through a swamp. We’d go to bogs in that class and you’d be waist‑deep in the bog talking about pitcher plants and spruce trees,” he says. “Is there a better class than that?” Bates would become one of Sullivan’s most impactful mentors at UMD and beyond. Coming home After graduation, Sullivan applied some of those very lessons while working as a wilderness guide from Maine to Colorado. “My degree set me up for that job really well,” he says. “Almost every class that I took at UMD directly corresponded to some role I was playing.” After those years away, though, he wanted to come back to Minnesota. “Going to UMD, I felt a really strong connection to Duluth,” he said. When he returned to the Twin Ports, he reached out to Bates, who had recently co-founded the Duluth Folk School and was looking for help. Sullivan worked on building a new space taking shape in Duluth’s Lincoln Park Craft District, learning more about making things and forming even stronger connections with Bates and the community as he went. “It was fun to see this space transition and know I'd had a little part of guiding it along the way,” says Sullivan. The Folk School also provided Sullivan with something he’d longed for since graduating: connection. It had come easily at UMD — from clubs, to the gym and intramurals, to simply meeting friends across campus, it seemed like there were endless opportunities to run into friends and make new ones. “People have their home, they have their work, but a lot of people need a third space that is neither of those,” he says, a gathering place for community and conversation, both planned and spontaneous. “This space has really been that for me.”Sullivan meets with a ROMP customer outside the Duluth Folk School. Sullivan learned how to use a sewing machine, too. He eventually bought his own, and began making gear. Influenced by his background in the outdoors and his passion for biking, he soon realized that the bags he was sewing for himself might be something other people would find useful, too. Starting in September of 2020, Sullivan began channeling those passions into ROMP Bags. The company now sells products locally and across the country. “Studying accounting got me into that business mindset and helped me learn the language of business. Going into environmental and outdoor education was more of my passion, and brought me more connections to Duluth and to UMD,” Sullivan said. “ROMP Bags incorporates both — being able to run a business and know the language, but also knowing what people want and making things that are useful.” Though he’s busy with ROMP, Sullivan still taps into his desire to share the outdoors with others through work as a Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) guide in the summer, and continues building community with the Duluth Folk School as a board member.  A legacy of connection Back in his workshop, Sullivan is talking as he works, explaining the dimensions, the choices of varied materials for texture, function, and feel.Along with his role as owner/operator of ROMP Bags, Sullivan taps into his desire to share the outdoors with others through work as a BWCA guide in the summer. With the hum and clack of the old industrial sewing machine, he puts the last stitches in the Feed Bag and snips the thread. It’s all raw edges and outside seams, the colorful contrast hidden behind rows of black stitching and a wall of yellow nylon. But when he turns the bag rightside out, all that changes. The seams tuck away, and the contrast of color and texture reappears. “I love the turn,” he says. He sets the finished Feed Bag on the desk, and we talk about Bates. Zach’s friend and mentor, Tim Bates, passed away in late 2025, while this story was in production. His death sent ripples through the Duluth Folk School, UMD and the broader Duluth maker and outdoor communities. “He was a huge connector,” Sullivan said, “His connections brought people together.” Sullivan remembers Bates in those flashes of memory – in bogs, on trails and in the Folk School. The lessons and the way that Bates treated those around him are what stick with him most, and that’s a legacy Sullivan hopes to carry forward. “When I’m guiding Boundary Waters trips, I think back to some of the things he taught me — like counting the whorls of a pine tree to see how old it is. If we’re going through a burn area, I can say, ‘This burn must have happened at least this long ago because we can count the whorls on this tree,’” he says. Like those seedlings after a fire, these moments of wonder in the natural world can have a lasting impact, he says. “It’s a way for people to learn locally and then take that knowledge home. Tim was really good at using all those aspects of something and helping you think about what they mean.” From building practical and fun gear with ROMP, to fostering community at the Duluth Folk School, to making moments for clients in the wilderness, Sullivan works to connect people, and to share the passion for nature that he learned at UMD, and from mentors like Bates. Header image: Sullivan owns and operates ROMP bags, a small manufacturer of outdoor-related packs and accessories based in Duluth, Minnesota. He’s shown making the Feed Bag, one of his signature products.   Tags College of Education and Human Service Professions CEHSP Recreational Sports Outdoor Program RSOP Alumni Outdoor Environmental Education

From campus to community care cowardin Mon, 01/26/2026 - 13:22 Featured image Publication Date 2026-02-10 Article Intro Yasmin Sandoval is motivated to create space for underserved communities to feel welcome on campus, in healthcare, and beyond.Yasmin Sandoval helps lead a “Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream” demonstration with the UMD Chemistry Club, sparking curiosity and excitement about chemistry among her peers. Yasmin Sandoval, a biochemistry student at the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD), was presented the University of Minnesota’s Scholarly Excellence in Equity and Diversity (SEED) Award, which honors underrepresented students who are doing outstanding work in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion on campus and in the community. Sandoval serves as the vice president of both the Latinx/Chicanx Student Association and the Biochemistry Club at UMD, where she’s dedicated to creating space for students to feel welcome on campus and inspiring the next generation of young scientists through community outreach events. After graduation, she hopes to attend medical school and work as a physician in an urban setting. She recently completed a job shadow opportunity at the University of Minnesota’s Community-University Health Care Center in Minneapolis, a clinic dedicated to serving patients of all income levels, with and without insurance. “A lot of the physicians practice in two languages,” Sandoval said. “That's something that I really want to do.” Sandoval grew up in St. Paul and remembers translating for her parents during clinic and hospital visits. “Being able to help them in that way and make sure that they had their needs communicated to the physicians was always something that I thought was really powerful,” she said. Helping advocate for her parents in the healthcare system is “one of the primary reasons why I wanted to get into medicine in the first place … to be able to do that for other people.” As a first-generation college student, Sandoval wasn’t sure what to expect when she began her educational journey, and “being a woman of color in STEM classes can be very difficult to navigate at times,” she said. But she was also struck by how many opportunities there were to get involved and how many people actively encouraged her to seek leadership roles. “I am really happy here and proud to call myself a biochemistry major,” she said. “I found a lot of really great opportunities that I wouldn't have found anywhere else.” Broadening access to healthcare and providing opportunities for students of all backgrounds to pursue a career in medicine is just another way the University of Minnesota is serving as Minnesota’s healthcare leader. Tags SCSE Swenson College of Science and Engineering Diversity and Inclusion

Expert Alert: Relationships, Valentine’s Day, and the state of love in 2026 amesseng Fri, 02/06/2026 - 12:56 Featured image Publication Date 2026-02-06 Article Intro Q&A with Dr. Ashley E. Thompson on relationships and what trends may shape how people connect—on Valentine’s Day and throughout 2026. Valentine’s Day is Feb. 14, and people across the country and around the world will mark the day with chocolates, flowers, and other expressions of affection. While the modern holiday is often associated with those greeting cards, candy hearts, and roses, its enduring appeal reflects something deeper: the human desire for connection, relationships, and love. It’s a timely topic for Ashley E. Thompson, PhD, associate professor of psychology in the College of Education and Human Services Professions at the University of Minnesota Duluth. Thompson’s research advances understanding of sexuality, stigma, and relationships through innovative, collaborative work that bridges science, practice, and public conversation. We spoke with Dr. Thompson about the top questions she receives around relationships and what trends may shape how people connect—on Valentine’s Day and throughout 2026. Q&A on relationships, Valentine’s Day, and the state of love in 2026 with Dr. Ashley Thompson Q: What dating and relationship trends do you anticipate in 2026, and how do they reflect broader shifts in how people form, maintain, and think about romantic connections? A: “One major dating trend I expect to see in 2026 is a growing disconnect between how people are currently dating and how they want to be dating. More people than ever are using dating apps to meet romantic partners, but that convenience is coming at a cost. Many daters are experiencing dating burnout (e.g., a sense of emotional and mental exhaustion tied to app-based dating). This burnout often shows up as frustration, cynicism, self-presentation fatigue, and (for some), a desire to step away from dating altogether. Endless swiping, too many choices, ghosting, and the pressure to constantly market oneself can make dating feel more like a chore than a connection. In response, some of my qualitative work suggests that many people are “looking backward to move forward.” We’re seeing a renewed interest in meeting partners “the old-fashioned way,” through everyday, real-world interactions at places like grocery stores, parks, coffee shops, or sporting events. These “meet-cutes” feel more authentic and less draining than app-based interactions, offering a break from the exhaustion that often accompanies online dating. As long as dating apps continue to contribute to burnout, I expect this preference for real-world, organic connections to grow. More broadly, this shift reflects a desire for dating experiences that feel slower, more intentional, and emotionally sustainable – prioritizing quality and authenticity over access and endless options.” Q: Around Valentine’s Day, many people reflect on what love means to them. How do beliefs about 'soulmates' versus 'growth-based' love shape how people navigate relationship transitions, endings, and new beginnings? A: “Valentine’s Day has a way of making people think about love (especially if they’re single or coming out of a breakup). And that’s not surprising. Breakups are often described as one of the most “emotionally painful experiences” people go through, and holidays centered on romance can amplify those feelings. One thing that shapes how people cope during these moments is their underlying beliefs about love. Some people lean toward “soulmate” or destiny beliefs, while others hold more growth-based beliefs about relationships. People with “soulmate beliefs” tend to see relationships as either right or wrong. When a relationship ends, they’re more likely to think, “This wasn’t my person,” which can actually make it easier to let go. Our research (published in the journal Personal Relationships) finds that these individuals are less likely to stay in contact with an ex or keep tabs on them, and more likely to move forward without repeatedly reopening that door. People with “growth-based beliefs,” on the other hand, see relationships as something you build through effort. Although that mindset can be great when a relationship is working, it can make breakups messier. These individuals are more prone to the “boomerang effect” of going back to an ex or staying emotionally attached because they worry they didn’t try hard enough or gave up too soon. Around Valentine’s Day, these beliefs can really matter. They shape how people make sense of endings and how ready they feel for new beginnings. Neither mindset is right or wrong. However, understanding one’s own approach to relationships can help explain why this time of year feels easier for some people and harder for others.” Q: What are some of the biggest stressors for couples today, and what are the warning signs of relationship burnout? A: “One of the biggest stressors facing couples today is simply how much we now expect romantic relationships to do for us. Decades ago, partners were expected to provide love, companionship, and maybe financial or family stability. Today, as Eli Finkel famously argues in The All-or-Nothing Marriage, romantic partners are expected to be everything: best friend, emotional support system, source of personal growth, co-parent, therapist, and purpose-giver (all at once). That’s an enormous amount of pressure for any one relationship to carry. In my recent research published in Behavioral Sciences, I developed a scale designed to capture romantic relationship burnout more precisely. The scale includes two distinct components. One subscale assesses feelings of burnout and emotional exhaustion within the relationship, things like feeling drained, overwhelmed, or worn down by ongoing relational demands. The second subscale focuses on the perceived resources people have to cope with or buffer against that burnout, such as support, coping capacity, and relational tools that help partners manage stress.  What this work highlights is that burnout doesn’t emerge simply because relationships are hard. It’s especially likely to occur when relational demands outpace the resources people feel they have available. Some partners feel exhausted because their needs aren’t being met; others feel exhausted because they believe they can’t meet their partner’s needs (and often, it’s both). Warning signs of relationship burnout can include chronic emotional fatigue, feeling detached or numb, irritability, reduced motivation to invest in the relationship, and a sense of “going through the motions” rather than feeling engaged. Crucially, burnout is not the same as falling out of love. Rather, it’s often a signal that the relationship is under-resourced relative to the expectations placed on it. The broader takeaway is that as expectations of romantic partners continue to rise, couples may need more support. That support isn’t just about communicating better, it’s also about setting realistic expectations and having access to resources that help intimacy feel sustainable instead of draining.” Q: What’s one research‑backed idea for making Valentine’s Day feel more meaningful—regardless of relationship status? A: “One research-backed way to make Valentine’s Day feel more meaningful is to shift the focus from relationship outcomes to everyday connection. Our work on burnout, breakups, and meet-cutes suggests that pressure to find, fix, or prove romantic love often makes this holiday harder than it needs to be. Instead, try prioritizing low-stakes, real-world connection, like being present, engaging offline, or sharing a genuine moment with someone. Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be about having the “right” relationship. Rather, it can be about practicing connection in ways that feel human, manageable, and meaningful. In other words, love doesn’t have to be big or perfect to be meaningful…sometimes it just has to be real.”   About Ashley Thompson Dr. Ashley E. Thompson is an Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Minnesota Duluth, where she directs the Sexuality and Relationship Science Lab. Her research aims to illuminate how stigma and social perception influence sexual health and relationships, translating these insights into strategies that promote equity, inclusion, and well-being. Specifically, Thompson examines how social rules, stigma, and interpersonal cognition shape sexual and relational lives, focusing on two interrelated domains: reducing inequities and stigma surrounding gender, sexual, and relationship diversity, and understanding the cognitions, emotions, and outcomes that drive infidelity and other boundary-crossing behaviors. Across these lines of inquiry, she employs experimental, psychometric, and community-based approaches to generate research that meaningfully connects science to lived experience.   Thompson has authored over 50 peer-reviewed publications, multiple book chapters, and more than 90 conference presentations, and her work has been featured in outlets such as The New York Times, BBC, Men’s Health, Forbes, and Psychology Today. Her research is characterized by extensive collaboration across academic, clinical, and industry settings, including ongoing partnerships with the Minnesota Sex Offender Program (MSOP), Ashley Madison, 3Fun, and the CDC. Contact:  Ashley Thompson, PhD Associate Professor of Psychology & director of the Sexuality and Relationship Science Lab University of Minnesota Duluth  thompsoa@d.umn.edu | (218) 726-6163 Header image: Dr. Ashley Thompson is an expert on relationships and sexuality, and can provide expertise for a variety of different kinds of media.   Tags Expert Alert News Release CEHSP College of Education and Human Service Professions Psychology

Bulldogs chasing gold amesseng Tue, 02/03/2026 - 15:40 Featured image Publication Date 2026-02-04 Article Intro Cheer on the dozen Bulldogs competing in the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games this month.  Even before the cauldron flame is officially lit in Italy for the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games on February 6, the puck will drop for the much-anticipated women’s ice hockey tournament a day earlier, with men’s action beginning the following week. And there will be plenty of chances to root for athletes who have worn the maroon and gold of the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) Bulldogs. Between UMD and the Twin Cities campus, 21 former or current hockey players — women and men— will be suiting up either for the red, white and blue of Team USA or a host of other competing nations. Here is a rundown of UMD hockey players competing in the Olympics. Women’s hockey begins on February 5 and men’s hockey on February 11. Hockey Of the 21 hockey players from the University, nine are from UMD. Current Bulldog players and alumni will be representing five countries. Four Bulldogs will play for Team Sweden: junior defenseman Ida Karlsson, senior forward Thea Johansson, and former goaltenders Tindra Holm and All-American Emma Soderberg. Two-time Bulldog All-American defenseman Jocelyne Larocque will be appearing in her fourth Olympics for Team Canada — Team USA’s biggest rival. All-American Lara Stalder will be playing for Switzerland, Nina Jobst-Smith for Germany and Katerina Mrázová for Czechia. UMD sophomore goaltender for the Bulldogs Men’s Hockey, Adam Gajan, will be playing for Slovakia. Curling While it’s not an intercollegiate sport (we could only wish), eight athletes with University of Minnesota connections will be competing for Team USA in curling, and three of them are Bulldogs. Representing UMD on Team USA’s curling teams are Cory Thiesse, Aileen Geving and Korey Dropkin. Learn more about Bulldogs women's hockey players at the Milano Cortina Olympics, or check out all the University of Minnesota maroon and gold in Milano. Fans can follow Team USA throughout the 2026 Winter Olympics across NBCUniversal's coverage, led by NBC and its affiliate networks. Every event will also be livestreamed and available on demand on Peacock. Daily broadcast schedules are available at nbcolympics.com/schedule, and here is the schedule for hockey. Tags Athletics News Release