2024 CUMU Conference Wrap Up

The 2024 CUMU Conference, Beyond Boundaries, brought together higher education leaders to build bridges that span real and perceived boundaries to enhance the well-being of our students, communities, and region.

On the morning of the first day of the CUMU Conference, attendees participated in Pre-Conference Workshops on topics designed for in-depth learning and skill development.

• From Campus to Community: Implementing Trauma-Informed Care in Higher Education, presented by Megan Holmes, Dakota King-White, and Amy Korsch, Center on Trauma and Adversity, Case Western Reserve University
• From Campus to Career: Educating Citizen Professionals for Community Impact, presented by Harry Chatten Boyte and Marie-Louise Ström, Institute for Public Life and Work, Augsburg University; and Romy Hübler, Towson University
• Expanding your Basic Needs Ecosystem, presented by Stacy Priniski, The Hope Center, Temple University
• Leading Systemic Change Using the Change Leadership Toolkit, presented by Susan Elrod, Indiana University South Bend; co-author, Change Leadership Toolkit

Deidra Peaslee, president of Saint Paul College and CUMU board member, officially kicked off the conference with a warm welcome and a land acknowledgement, honoring the past and present elders of the Dakota people, on whose land the Twin Cities lies. She noted that “every community owes its existence and vitality to generations from around the world who contributed their hopes, dreams, and energy to making the history that led to this moment. Some were brought here against their will, some were drawn to leave their distant homes in hope of a better life, and some have lived on this land for more generations than can be counted. Truth and acknowledgment are critical to building mutual respect and connection across all barriers of heritage and difference. We begin this effort to acknowledge what has been buried by honoring the truth.”

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey addressed the packed room of university presidents, chancellors, directors, community organizations, and representatives from member institutions to the Twin Cities at the beginning of the lunch and plenary session.

CUMU Chief Executive Officer Valerie Holton and CUMU Board Chair Kristin Sobolik, chancellor of University of Missouri-St. Louis, welcomed attendees before the Monday plenary, “The Art of Science.” During the plenary, Eric J. Jolly, Ph.D., president and CEO of the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation, wove a traditional Cherokee-style doubled walled basket while sharing stories of his native heritage, of culture, and of scientific learning. His talk highlighted ways of knowing and of demonstrating scientific learning through the metaphor and story.

Concurrent sessions followed the plenary and a poster session and reception closed out the day.

The second day kicked off with Community Experiences—opportunities for attendees to explore neighborhoods and programs where CUMU members are engaged. This year’s Community Experiences included:

• Getting Down with Augsburg in Cedar-Riverside: Exploring Campus/Community Connections, hosted by Augsburg University
• Re/Envisioning Land Back: University-Native American Community Collaborations in the Twin Cities, hosted by Metro State University
• Anchoring a Community College: Past, Present, and Future, hosted by Saint Paul College
• Mapping Prejudice and Resilience: Remembering the Silenced Voices of Resistance, hosted by University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

The second day plenary session featured the presentation of the 2024 Barbara A. Holland Scholar-Administrator Award to Brenda Marsteller Kowalewski, Ph.D., who serves as vice provost of high impact educational experiences, faculty excellence, international and graduate studies at Weber State University. Dr. Kowalewski recently championed efforts to reimagine faculty development in inclusive pedagogy through the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison presented a powerful keynote, “Break the Wheel: On Social Justice and Police Reform,” on confronting police violence and systemic injustice. With a focus on the Derek Chauvin trial following the murder of George Floyd, Ellison offered a raw and unfiltered account of the legal battle for justice and called on academia to use their knowledge to inform policy that will improve the lives of individuals and families in our communities.

Following an afternoon of concurrent sessions, attendees travelled to Augsburg University for a reception at the Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion.

The final day of the 2024 CUMU Conference began with concurrent sessions and concluded with roundtable sessions and a closing session, where attendees shared out highlights from the conference, knowledge they’re taking back to their campuses, and more.

The CUMU team appreciates all of the presenters, attendees, local partners, reviewers, volunteers, board members, and sponsors for contributing to the success of the 2024 CUMU Conference. Look for the call for proposals in January for the 2025 conference, which will be held in Baltimore, Maryland, October 26-29 at the Marriott Waterfront Hotel.

View all conference images on flickr.