Humphrey School alumni represent a web of professionals engaged in striving for the 'common good' in our communities and around the world. Personal and professional notes are a way to share this news with the broader alumni network, and share in each other's successes. Updates are posted ongoing. Be sure to email hhhalum@umn.edu to share your alumni note!
Several Minnesota lawmakers have been challenged to live on the same amount that families on Minnesota's welfare program get per week. Many, including Senator Patricia Torres Ray (MPA '02), say they can't do it on the $101 a week their family would get. The Minnesota legislature is considering a request to raise the amount it gives out per family through the Minnesota Family Investment Program.
On March 6, the Minnesota Legislature approved the appointment of Abdul Omari (MPP '08) to the Minnesota Board of Regents. Omari is a third-year doctoral student studying international and comparative development education at the School. He was recommended to serve in the at-large position reserved for a University student.
Keith R. Krueger (MPA '79), CEO of Consortium for School Networking (CoSN), a U.S. nonprofit organization that serves as the voice of K-12 technology leaders, was recently featured in two news stories. The first was an opinion piece in the Huffington Post titled, "School Technology: The Driver for Reimagining Learning". The second was a Comcast Newsmakers segment where Keith discussed the importance of closing the technology access gap, a crucial component of CoSN's strategic plan.
After having spent a year as the Rhode Island State Director for the Obama for America campaign, Devin Driscoll (MPP '09) recently accepted a position as Communications Director with Rhode Islanders United for Marriage, a grassroots coalition organizing for marriage equality legislation in the Ocean State. In this position, Devin will be working in support of passing a bill during this legislative session, working with all departments on story training and media relations. Devin plans to return to Minnesota this summer to tackle his next big adventure.
Eric Anderson (MA ' 85) has been hired by Ryan Companies, Inc. as Vice President of Development in the North Central region. In his new position, Eric is responsible for leading the pursuit of Senior Living Development and Construction projects in the Upper Midwest. Additional responsibilities include site selection and land acquisition, design/construction coordination, financial packaging and partnering with senior living operators.
Sophia Ginis (MPP '10) recently joined Metro Transit, a division of the Metropolitan Council, as a community outreach coordinator, helping those in Minneapolis and St. Louis Park connect with the Southwest LRT project. Prior to joining Metro Transit, Sophia was the Outreach Manager for the Center for Science, Technology & Public Policy at the Humphrey School, and most recently worked on external relations projects for the Office of Communications at the Humphrey School.
Kristen Rau (MPP '07) is a recent graduate of the University of Minnesota Law School (J.D.) and the Humphrey School of Public Affairs. Kristen has pursued her interests in international human rights law and international criminal justice throughout her graduate career, and recently published an article ("Jurisprudential Innovation or Accountability Avoidance? The International Criminal Court and Proposed Expansion of the African Court of Justice and Human Rights") in the Minnesota Law Review.