Glidden interviewed by MinnPost

Elizabeth Glidden (MPA ’04) was recently interviewed by MinnPost about her experience on the Minneapolis City Council. Glidden is currently the council vice president and co-chair of Mayor-elect Jacob Frey’s policy committee.

Read the MinnPost article here.

Connect with Elizabeth on LinkedIn.

Oppenheimer named New Leaders Council Fellow

Jonathan Oppenheimer (MPP ’17) has been named a 2018 New Leaders Council Fellow for his work in St. Paul. He is currently a volunteer psychotherapist at a walk-in counseling center and stay-at-home father.

Read about his fellowship here.

Connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn.

Gannett joins City of Richfield

Sadie Gannett (MURP ’17) recently joined the City of Richfield as an assistant planner. She was formerly a policy and planning research assistant with the Public Health Law Center at the Mitchell Hamline School of Law.

Connect with Sadie on LinkedIn.

Deffley to implement green infrastructure project

Nick Deffley (MPP ’10) will be implementing a project in Savannah, GA that uses grant money to convert flood-prone vacant FEMA lots into urban tree nurseries and green infrastructure pilot projects. Deffley is currently the City of Savannah sustainability director.

Connect with Nick on LinkedIn.

Wu quoted in Edie

Brandon Wu (MPP ’12) was quoted in Edie regarding climate change’s impact on developing countries. He is the director of policy and campaigns at ActionAid.

Read the Edie article here.

Connect with Brandon on LinkedIn.

Douma quoted in Star Tribune

Frank Douma (MA ’95) was recently quoted in the Star Tribune regarding the introduction of autonomous buses in Minnesota. Douma is currently the director of the State and Local Policy Program and MURP Coordinator at the Humphrey School.

Read the Star Tribune article here.

Connect with Frank on LinkedIn.

Claflin announces House candidacy

Anne Claflin (MS-STEP ’11) has announced her run for the Senate District 54 seat. Claflin is currently a research scientist with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

Connect with Anne on LinkedIn.

Acharya moves up at UnitedHealth Group

Paruj Acharya (MPP ’15) recently became a senior data analyst with UnitedHealth Group. He formerly was a healthcare IT database consultant.

Connect with Paruj on LinkedIn.

Bloomquist joins Minnesota Department of Agriculture

Haley Bloomquist (MS-STEP ’17) has accepted a job with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture as a student worker paraprofessional. She was formerly an outreach specialist with Take Action Minnesota.

Connect with Haley on LinkedIn.

Swenson promoted at Office of Governor Mark Dayton

Matt Swenson (MPP ’09) has been promoted to deputy chief of staff for communications within the Office of Governor Mark Dayton. He was formerly the assistant chief of staff for communications.

Connect with Matt on LinkedIn.

Yerkes awarded grant from European Research Council

Mara Yerkes (MPP ’01) was recently awarded a European Research Council Consolidator Grant for her research on comparative social policy. Yerkes is currently an assistant professor of comparative social policy at Utrecht University.

Connect with Mara on LinkedIn.

Wolfish promoted at Legislative Strategies, Inc.

Jonathan Wolfish (MPP ’14) has been promoted at Legislative Strategies, Inc. to director of research. He was formerly a research associate.

Connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn.

Osborn elected to Board of Directors

Caitlin Osborn (MPP ’16) was recently elected to the Board of Directors of the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network of Omaha as the communications chair. Osborn is currently a donor engagement coordinator with the Omaha Creative Institute.

Connect with Caitlin on LinkedIn.

Arbury moves to Center for Transportation Studies

Chelsea Arbury (MPP ’15) has begun work with the University of Minnesota’s Center for Transportation Studies as a program coordinator. She was formerly a database specialist at Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

Connect with Chelsea on LinkedIn.

Brower profiled in Star Tribune

Susan Brower (MA ’00) was recently interviewed by the Star Tribune for her role as state demographer. Brower is responsible for quantifying societal shifts within the state.

Read the Star Tribune article here.

Connect with Susan on LinkedIn.

Reilly joins Metropolitan Council

Jacob Reilly (MURP ’04) has joined the Metropolitan Council as a sector representative and senior planner for local planning assistance. Reilly was formerly a senior city planner with the City of Saint Paul.

Connect with Jacob on LinkedIn.

Miller awarded Lifetime Achievement Award

Stacy Miller (MS-STEP ’09) was awarded the Minnesota Solar Energy Industry Association’s Ralph Jacobson Lifetime Achievement Award. She currently works at the Minnesota Department of Commerce to advance solar energy and electric vehicle deployment statewide.

Connect with Stacy on LinkedIn.

Smerillo published in Journal of School Psychology

Nicole Smerillo (MPP ’14) recently published her research regarding chronic absence and its link to high school attainment in the Journal of School Psychology. Smerillo is currently a senior research analyst with the Human Capital Research Collaborative.

Read her research here.

Connect with Nicole on LinkedIn.

Glidden and Amara to assist Minneapolis mayoral transition

Elizabeth Glidden (MPA ’04) and Abou Amara (MPP ’12) have been tasked with leading a policy task force that will advise the new mayor’s office. Glidden is currently the Minneapolis City Council vice president, and Amara is currently an associate with Robins Kaplan LLP.

Connect with Elizabeth on LinkedIn.

Connect with Abou on LinkedIn.

Zempel publishes on forest extraction in S. Belize

Chris Zempel (MPP ’14) recently published his research on the forest extraction in South Belize. Zempel is currently a nonpartisan fiscal analyst with the Minnesota House of Representatives.

Read his research here.

Connect with Chris on LinkedIn.

Hodge joins Harvest Network of Schools

Aaliyah Hodge (MPP ’16) recently became director of compliance with the Harvest Network of Schools. She was formerly a data consultant with the Center for School Change.

Connect with Aaliyah on LinkedIn.

Jensen begins with Carlson Family Foundation

Dana Jensen (MA ’98) has joined the Carlson Family Foundation as a senior program officer. She was formerly a program officer and operations manager at Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation.

Connect with Dana on LinkedIn.

Mitchell joins Board of Directors, Minneapolis Urban League

Mallory Mitchell (MPP ’17) was recently elected to the Board of Directors for the Minnesota chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. She also began work as the director of development with the Minneapolis Urban League.

Connect with Mallory on LinkedIn.

Betzner moves to Children’s HeartLink

Anne Betzner (MA ’97) recently began work with Children’s HeartLink as director of evaluation and research. She was formerly a senior research scientist with Allina Health.

Connect with Anne on LinkedIn.

McMurtrey joins Target

Garrison McMurtrey (MPP ’17) has joined Target as a senior public affairs associate. He was formerly an outreach director with the Office of Senator Amy Klobuchar.

Connect with Garrison on LinkedIn.

Harris quoted in Star Tribune

Trista Harris (MPP ’02) was recently quoted in the Star Tribune regarding the House tax plan. Harris is currently the president of the Minnesota Council on Foundations.

Read the Star Tribune article here.

Connect with Trista on LinkedIn.

Murphy joins Regional Competitiveness Institute

Burke Murphy (MPA ’06) has joined the Regional Competitiveness Institute as a senior consultant. She was formerly a senior policy fellow at the Corporation for a Skilled Workforce.

Connect with Burke on LinkedIn.

Wellington named top CEO by Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal

Steve Wellington (MA ’76) was recently named one of Minnesota’s “10 most admired CEOs” by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal. Wellington is the president and owner of real estate company Wellington Management.

Connect with Steve on LinkedIn.

Alumni meet in Sri Lanka

Richard Barta (MPP ’15) and Randika De Mel (MDP ’15) recently met up in Sri Lanka. Barta was traveling with work as a program officer for the State Department’s Overseas Security Advisory Council, and De Mel as an evaluation consultant for the International Union for Conservation Nature.

Connect with Richard on LinkedIn.

Connect with Randika on LinkedIn.

Kleppin moves to NYC Department of Housing

Alex Kleppin (MURP ’17) has joined the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development as a project manager. He was formerly a housing policy intern with the Metropolitan Council.

Connect with Alex on LinkedIn.

Heerema promoted at Medtronic

Ashley Heerema (MPP ’12) was recently promoted at Medtronic to senior regulatory affairs specialist. She was formerly an international operations specialist.

Connect with Ashley on LinkedIn.

Phifer joins U.S. House race

Leah Phifer (MPP ‘15) has challenged Rick Nolan for his House seat in the upcoming 2018 election. Phifer currently teaches immigration policy at Augsburg University.

Starling quoted in Star Tribune

Libby Starling (MPlan ‘96) was mentioned in the Star Tribune regarding community development in Twin Cities suburbs. Starling is currently a deputy director of community development with the Metropolitan Council.

Read the Star Tribune article here.

Connect with Libby on LinkedIn.

Bodin featured in Star Tribune

Chet Bodin (MPP ‘13) was recently quoted in the Star Tribune about economic development in Crow Wing County. Bodin is currently a labor market analyst with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.

Read the Star Tribune article here.

Connect with Chet on LinkedIn.

Siggerud promoted at U.S. Government Accountability Office

Katherine Siggerud (MA ’87) has been promoted at the U.S. Government Accountability Office to Chief Operating Officer. She was formerly a managing director of physical infrastructure issues.

Connect with Katherine on LinkedIn.

Wetjen begins with Otto Bremer Trust

Tessa Wetjen (MPA ’13) recently began work with the Otto Bremer trust as a program officer. She was formerly a principal planner with the Minnesota Department of Health.

Connect with Tessa on LinkedIn.

Johnson joins MN Department of Human Services

Thomas Johnson (MA ’94) has joined the Minnesota Department of Human Services as the assistant director of the licensing division within the Office of the Inspector General. He was formerly a support services director with the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

Connect with Thomas on LinkedIn.

Berthelsen named VP for University Services

Mike Berthelsen (MA ’92) has been appointed as the vice president for University Services at the University of Minnesota. He was formerly the interim vice president.

Connect with Mike on LinkedIn.

Mahboub presented with Unsung Hero Award

Abdirizak Mahboub (MPA ’11) was recently presented with the 2017 Virginia McKnight Binger Unsung Hero Award. Mahboub and his wife own and operate West Central Interpreting Services and New Minnesota Realty, and work to help newcomers from East Africa adjust to life in the United States. Read more about the award.

Connect with Abdirizak on LinkedIn.

Photo courtesy of West Central Tribune.

Moeller promoted at The Improve Group

Maria Moeller (MPA ’14) was recently promoted at The Improve Group to Chief Marketing Officer. She was formerly a business development director.

Connect with Maria on LinkedIn.

Cookle joins Ph.D. program

Mikki Cookle (MPP ’17) has rejoined the Humphrey community as a Ph.D. candidate. Cookle’s areas of expertise are in quantitative approaches to policy analysis, development economics, econometrics, and demography in the Middle East and North Africa.

Connect with Mikki on LinkedIn.

Originally posted on Global Notes.

Cheng awarded Chevening Scholarship

Candice Cheng (MPP ’16) was recently awarded the Chevening Scholarship. This award is given to global leaders, handpicked by British Embassies, who work to improve relations with the United Kingdom.

Connect with Candice on LinkedIn.

Originally posted on Global Notes.

Van Siclen promoted at Hennepin County

Renee Van Siclen (MPP ’16) has been promoted at Hennepin County. She recently became a senior planning analyst.

Connect with Renee on LinkedIn.

Taylor begins with Marquette Advisors Real Estate Consultants

Jacqui Taylor (MURP ’12) recently began as an associate with Marquette Advisors Real Estate Consultants. She was formerly an asset analyst with CSM Corporation.

Connect with Jacqui on LinkedIn.

Tatlow joins Shelter for Life International

Johanna Tatlow (MDP ’17) has joined Shelter for Life International as program officer. She was formerly a TA at the Humphrey School.

Connect with Johanna on LinkedIn.

Soto Huayta moves to CONFIEP

Jessica María Soto Huayta (MPP ’06) recently moved to CONFIEP in Peru to work as the manager of economic and international affairs. She was formerly a director within the Peruvian Ministry of Education.

Connect with Jessica on LinkedIn.

Consoer begins with People and Pets Together

Mackenzie Consoer (MS-STEP ’12) recently began as a program director with People and Pets Together. She is also a project manager with the Lake Pepin Legacy Alliance.

Connect with Mackenzie on LinkedIn.

Cairn joins Collaborative for Educational Services

Richard Cairn (MPA ’05) has joined the Collaborative for Educational Services as the director of the Emerging America, Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources program. He was formerly a partner with Cairn & Associates.

Connect with Richard on LinkedIn.

Shardlow moves to Cargill

George Shardlow (MPP ’15) recently moved to Cargill and began as a government relations specialist. He was formerly a legislative coordinator for the Minnesota State Council on Disability.

Connect with George on LinkedIn.

Roth promoted at Metro Transit

Katie Roth (MURP ’09) has been promoted at Metro Transit to arterial bus rapid transit manager. She was formerly a BRT/Small Starts project manager.

Connect with Katie on LinkedIn.

Chan named 2017 Up & Comer

James Chan (MPP ’14) was recently named a 2017 Up & Comer by the Tampa Bay Business Journal. Chan is currently a client relations manager at Lee Law Group.

Connect with James on LinkedIn.

Stephan starts contract position

Tai Stephan (MDP ’16) recently started a position with Orbis International as an independent M&E consultant in Beijing. She was formerly a consultant with Mizoram University.

Connect with Tai on LinkedIn.

Originally posted on Global Notes.