Minrose Straussman: Curriculum Developer
When I signed up for HECUA-Metro Urban Studies Term (now Inequality in America) in 2012, I was hoping to learn how to put my passion for equity in education into action. The notion of praxis HECUA taught me—the idea that I can put social justice values into action through my work—is something I now use daily as a curriculum consultant and writer, helping organizations design their English language arts, English as a Second Language, and social studies courses. Read More »
Joy Elizabeth: Activist and Bike Enthusiast
It was my learning in HECUA that showed me I do have a lot to gain from academic spaces – that is, if they are working to excavate truth, as opposed to reinforcing the colonial mindset that our world is saturated in. Read More »
Emily Lund: Local Food Leader
Emily found the program’s breadth to be particularly helpful as she considered future career paths. “It really helped me get a sense of job landscape, because I got to see a number of people working to support local food systems from a variety of angles.” As the program drew to a close, she asked herself, “How can I be one of those rad people working with food in Minnesota?” Read More »
alumni profile, environmental sustainability, Student story, Study USA, UMN
Will Delaney and Joan Bennett
HECUA alumni Will Delaney and Joan Bennett. Welcome to HECUA’s Alumni Profile series. We love to catch up with HECUA alumni to see how their time in a HECUA classroom influenced their career goals, their life in the community, and their pursuit of continued education. If you or a friend would like to participate in […] Read More »
Macalester College, northern ireland, St. Olaf College, Student story, Study Abroad
Zitlali Chavez Ayala: Family Advocate
“Having knowledge of systemic issues has helped me have more confidence as I advocate for families. I can see what they are working against and where they are coming from.” Read More »
Krista Pearson, Art for Social Change
When she found HECUA’s programs listed in her course catalog, something clicked. “I thought – this is it! The City Arts experience was the intersection of the hopeful artist and the administrator. It really fit.” HECUA’s emphasis on experiential, hands-on education made intuitive sense to Krista, and the program’s interdisciplinary focus encouraged her to draw connections between her wide-ranging interests. Read More »
Alumni Profile: Manuel Landron
Photo credit: Pedro Szekely Welcome to HECUA’s Alumni Profile series. Each month we’ll catch up with a HECUA alumni, and see how their time in a HECUA classroom influenced their career goals, their life in the community, and their pursuit of continued education. If you or a friend would like to participate in this series, […] Read More »
Alumni Profile: Adrian Benjamin
Welcome to HECUA’s Alumni Profile series. Each month we’ll catch up with a HECUA alumni, and see how their time in a HECUA classroom influenced their career goals, their life in the community, and their pursuit of continued education. If you or a friend would like to participate in this series, please email lohmans@hecua.org. This month […] Read More »
Alumni Profile: Johnnay Leenay
That curated video installation at the Bell Museum foreshadows Johnnay’s professional moves post-graduation. She’s now a Diversity in the Arts Curatorial Fellow at the Minnesota Museum of American Art (the M), in downtown St. Paul. Her grant-funded position is a first for the young museum, and Johnnay is making the most of her time there. She splits her time between educational and public programming, assisting with public program logistics, planning, and artist coordination, as well as facilitation of one of the M’s traveling exhibits. Read More »
Erica Beebe – Making Media, Making Change
Meet Erica Beebe. Erica was a student in HECUA’s Spring 2016 class of Making Media, Making Change. An English major minoring in Creative Writing and Studies in Cinema and Media Culture, Erica was initially unsure that she would be a good fit for the program. She worried that her lack of technical skills would make it […] Read More »