News & Events Archives

HELLO, my name is Lawrence Rudnick

The Bell Museum on the U of M campus in St. Paul is a favorite place for astrophysicist Lawrence Rudnick, and for good reason.

How to Zoom

Are you avoiding interesting UMRA programs because you’re unsure how to join a Zoom meeting or attend a Zoom webinar? You’re not alone. But it is not all that difficult.

Leadership retreat was upbeat, productive

UMRA held its biannual planning retreat on August 25, bringing together UMRA officers, board members, committee chairs, and interest group leaders for a half-day meeting via Zoom. It was clear from the outset that UMRA has an engaged and vibrant volunteer base.

Book notes | A unique and fascinating look into North Korea

Committed to becoming an Age-Friendly University

The University of Minnesota’s Age-Friendly University (AFU) working group will have met three times by the end of August. The group, including UMRA representative Lynn C. Anderson, has sent a letter to President Gabel requesting endorsement and is looking forward to her response.

Welcome UMRA's new board

Members of our Board of Directors are elected to three-year terms and may serve two consecutive terms. The previous year’s president-elect automatically becomes president.

On being maroon and gold, and Black

This is the first in a series of interviews being initiated by the UMRA News to offer colleagues across the University an opportunity to share with us some of their experiences on being maroon and gold, and Black. Our first guest, economist Samuel L. Myers Jr., PhD, is the Roy Wilkins Professor of Human Relations and Social Justice in the Humphrey School of Public Affairs.

Impact of PDGR program is deep and wide

Since 2009, UMRA’s Professional Development Grants for Retirees program has awarded more than 130 grants for a wide range of projects, to provide funding to retirees who want to continue their intellectual work. Strikingly, more than two thirds of the projects have benefited society at large, both in the United States and around the world.

HELLO, my name is Mary Koppel

Meet UMRA member and Zoom webinar moderator Mary Koppel who, early in her career as a TV newswoman, reported farming and ranching news in Western Nebraska.

Feeling grateful, despite the pandemic

UMRA members continue to demonstrate their resourcefulness when it comes to coping with the coronavirus. Here is a sampling of the responses to our most recent informal survey.

UMRA launches fundraising campaign

As a result of the financial challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic, the University will not be able to fund the Professional Development Grants for Retirees (PDGR) program for 2021–22. In order to keep the program growing, UMRA is launching a fundraising campaign.

UMRA signs partnership agreement with UMAA

UMRA has a long history of partnering with the University of Minnesota Alumni Association. Now it’s official. UMRA and UMAA have signed a formal agreement, effective September 1, 2020, with benefits for members of both organizations.

Recommended reading

Participants in Ted Bowman’s provocative “Resilient coping” workshop requested suggestions for books to help address the changes and challenges we’re all facing, from retirement to social upheaval.

Book notes | Italian Shoes

Ideas welcomed for future Living Well workshops

Our recent Survey of Future UMRA Programming and Use of Zoom told us that many members would like to participate in online versions of our Living Well workshops. We welcome your suggestions.