2019-2020 PDGR Abstracts
Joseph Allen, Professor, Asian Languages & Literatures Liberal Arts, College of Twin Cities
Labeling the City: Public Signage in Taipei City,Taiwan and a New Civic Consciousness Parent- This research will build on my previous publications regarding the city of Taipei, Taiwan. In those publications I considered the development of public space over the last 100 years and how those spatial configurations reflected and projected cultural, political and ideological conditions. Here I will consider how in the last twenty years (the period in which I did the above research) the rehabilitation and public signage of different buildings and spaces in the city have contributed to the emergence of a new public consciousness. My research will be coordinate out of the National Library and include both textual work with government documents and popular publications (such as newspaper articles), as well as field work searching the city for this new signage. The final product will be a major illustrated academic article published in a professional journal, such as the Journal of Asian Studies.
Randy Croce, Education Program Spec 2, CSOM Labor Education Services, Carlson School of Management Twin Cities
The Farmer-Labor Movement: A Minnesota Story. We will conduct final research, shoot video and acquirie images to complete a final version of the script and a rough edit. UMRA funding will enable us to travel to regional archives across Minnesota to conduct in-depth primary source research on individuals and events highlighted in the script. We will also procure copies of rchival photographs, posters, newspapers andother visuals to accompany script narration and audio interviews. We will shoot locations where significant events took place in the vicinity or en route to the collection centers. A researcher based in Washington, D.C will find and copy archival films and photos at the NationalArchives and Library of Congress. An experienced newspaper and documentary researcher will also help us find images in other national collections, identify copyright holders and negotiate licensing fees to use these visuals in our program. At the conclusion of the UMRA phase of the project, we will have completed the tasks necessary to proceed to the ultimate, post-production editing stage of the project.
Jonathan Ravdin, Professor, MED Medicine Dept Admin Medical SchoolTwin Cities
Death and Transition in Minnesota We will determine using retrospective data how Minnesotans approach death and funeral transition (cremation, embalmment, and caskets, burial and religious services) and whether variables such as age, ethnicity, cause of death, religious affiliations and level of education have an impact on transition choices. Lastly, we will estimate the cumulative impact of Minnesotan's transition choices upon climate change. From the State Registrar, we have data on over 43,000 Minnesota residents who died and were transitioned in 2017; our plan is to obtain five years of retrospective data (2013-2018) to increase the statistical power for analysis of the variables cited above.
Kathryn Sedo, Senior Attorney, Law Clinic Law School, Twin Cities
Professional Development Grant to Attend ABA Tax Section Meetings This is a request for a professional development grant. The grant is to pay for travel and registration fees to attend 3 ABA Section of Taxation meetings. As an attorney I will obtain necessary CLE credits to maintain my license. As a tax attorney, I will stay current in tax law and procedure. As a volunteer service provider it will allow me to participate on committees and speak at these and other tax meetings as well as be a resource to the local community.
Lisa Vecoli, Librarian, Archives & Special Collections University Libraries, Twin Cities
Minnesota Lesbian Community Organizing Oral History Project. The Minnesota Lesbian Community Organizing Oral History Project (MLCO) will document the creation and evolution of lesbian spaces/organizations, especially in the 1970s and 80s. Organizations such as the Lesbian Resource Center, the Lesbian Feminist Organizing Committee, Amazon Bookstore, and the Women’s Coffeehouse were important centers of both social connection and ocial/political activism for lesbians and feminists. Yet their stories are largely scattered or missing from history and will be lost forever without intervention. In the first year, 25 oral histories will form the heart of the project (later years will expand the content). Participants will also be asked about archiving personal papers, photos, letters and ephemera. All oral histories, transcripts and material gathered will be archived with the Jean-Nickolaus Tretter Collection in GLBT Studies at the University of Minnesota Libraries where they will be available to researchers.
News
Declining government funding, inflation, loss of purchasing power, low birthrates, and lack of trust in the nation’s institutions have combined to create a confidence crisis in higher education not seen for decades. Minnesota is no exception.
Since its inception 40 years ago, the University Retirees Volunteer Center has focused on identifying where help is needed within the University community and has provided opportunities for thousands of retirees to use their skills, experience, and interests to help address those needs.
Meet UMRA member Nancy Carpenter. She grew up in the American heartland; nevertheless, she was surprised by the frigid, snow-covered landscape when she visited Minnesota for the first tine to interview for a job teaching chemistry at UMN Morris.
UMRA’s Professional Development Grants for Retirees are intended to support projects related to University of Minnesota retirees' research, instructional or work history, or new scholarly interests that contribute to the academic reputation of the University.
After working decades in communications for the U’s Center for Transportation Studies, Pam Snople perks up whenever she sees transportation news. It’s usually the salacious stuff that makes the headlines. But, behind the scenes, vehicle automation research keeps rolling along — including key work by UMN researchers.
Renée Good was killed in Minneapolis on January 7, 2026, during Operation Metro Surge. One month later, a community memorial to mourn her death and celebrate her life was held. Susan Ranney attended the ceremony and wrote an evocative essay on the service, which was published recently in UMRA’s Journal of Opinions, Ideas & Essays.
Professor Emeritus Alan Kagan has played many roles in his nearly 30 years of service with the University Retirees Volunteer Center. From assisting with phone calls to becoming office manager and eventually serving on and chairing the Volunteer Center’s board, Kagan helped build the organization into the robust operation it is today.
We’re already getting organized to identify and recruit members to step into leadership roles in 2027. As a well-informed and engaged UMRA member, you are invited to play a role in the process.
I’ve been an UMRA member for more than a decade and each year I’m impressed anew by the energy and dedication of the volunteers who do the work of the organization. I invite you to join in their efforts. But if that’s not possible, there’s something else you can do to help support UMRA: Renew your membership.
You don’t have to go far, and you don’t have to drink coffee. It’s the conversation that matters. It’s a new, experimental effort being organized by the wizards of UMRA; a meet-up of members who live in the same zip code.
UMRA will be collecting hats, mittens, and scarves at our November 17 Luncheon Forum to help keep Minnesota kids warm this winter.