A letter from the Dean: Spring/Summer 2025

There’s nothing like sitting amongst a sea of maroon and gold on a crisp autumn day in Huntington Bank Stadium, watching the Golden Gophers face a gridiron rival. Or perhaps you prefer watching our volleyball team taking straight sets at Maturi Pavilion. Or Gopher hockey dominating the ice at 3M Arena at Mariucci. You could be into all three. Maybe you’re a fan of one of the many other athletic offerings at the U. There is something here for every sports fan.

In team sports, athletes have a shared objective. It’s no wonder that in some sports, a scoring objective is called a “goal.” A team’s effectiveness in making that goal is most potent when its members work together, trust one another, and let each one perform to the best of their skills.

At CEHD, we have a similar philosophy. We strive to come together to bring out the best in our faculty and staff, who in turn will instill that spirit in our students.

We also overlap with sports in a more literal sense. Our School of Kinesiology is at the forefront of athletic research and instruction. Students looking into careers such as sport management, exercise science, coaching, physical therapy, and others have access to the leading educators in the field. And our faculty’s research is leading to groundbreaking advances in the athletic realm.

In this issue, you will read about some of this current research as well as trending topics in the classroom. And did you know CEHD has Gopher athletes throughout the college? We will introduce you to several of them who share their stories.
And we have much, much, more. Read about our innovative DirecTrack to Teaching program, which is celebrating its 15th anniversary. Learn about the results of a multi-year study of reflective consultation, an effective professional development technique frequently used by child welfare workers. See a new mural created by School of Social Work staff, faculty, and students with the help of a local artist.

I hope you enjoy reading about all of these exciting happenings at CEHD.

Keep reaching for your goals.

— Dean Michael C. Rodriguez

(Photo by Rebecca Slater)