Dr. Stacie Jergenson, associate professor of justice studies, presented “Missing and Murdered Indigenous People: Research Challenges and the Development of Culturally Relevant Practices” at World Society of Victimology events in Spain and Croatia. She also served as an invited lecturer and faculty member at World Society of Victimology’s annual post-graduate victimology course in Croatia.

Dr. Jacob Haus, assistant professor of biology, was awarded a $393,000 grant from the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund to research the management of suburban deer populations in the Bemidji area through archery hunting.

Dr. Dan Allosso, assistant professor of history, was reelected board president for the Beltrami County Historical Society at its annual meeting on June 25. He has served as board president since 2021.

Dr. Cory Renbarger, professor of music and director of opera theatre, performed the role of Alfio in LOON Opera’s production of “Cavalleria Rusticana,” June 9 and 11 at the University of Minnesota Duluth’s Marshal Performing Arts Center.

In October, Renberger, Dr. Jennifer Olson, assistant professor of music, and
Dr. Miriam Webber, associate professor of music, performed with the Fargo-Moorhead Opera. The trio participated in a one-night-only performance introducing the organization’s new director.

Dr. Donna Pawlowski, professor of communication studies, and Dr. John Perlich, associate professor of communication studies, presented at the 2023 Communication & Theatre Association of Minnesota conference in St. Cloud, Sept. 14–16. Pawlowski’s presentation, “Charting our New Campus: Keeping Personal Connections among Students, Faculty, and Administration,” included strategies to engage with university colleagues, administration and students. Perlich’s talk focused on artificial intelligence in classrooms and in speech and debate competitions.

Dr. Brenda Mack, associate professor of social work, provided the keynote address at the Ag Women Engage Conference in February at the Terre Haute Convention Center in Terre Haute, Ind. The session focused on building and strengthening resiliency for those working in agriculture.

Dr. Kathrina O’Connell, associate professor of professional education, was awarded a $25,000 grant from the Rural School Collaborative to recruit, prepare and retain American Indian teachers in northern Minnesota.

Dr. Angela Fournier, professor of psychology, co-authored a book on equine-assisted interventions titled How Change Happens in Equine-Assisted Interventions. The book gives clinicians and researchers theories, practical methods and patient analyses involved with using horses to help people receiving psychotherapy treatment. She also chaired a symposium on equine-assisted psychology and learning in Edinburgh, Scotland, in June.

Dr. Eric Olson, assistant professor of music, was hired as concertmaster for the Bemidji Symphony Orchestra in July. Olson also serves as executive director of the Minneapolis Pops Orchestra.

Dr. Sarah Cronin, associate professor of psychology, presented research at the International Society on Anthrozoology conference in Edinburgh, Scotland, in June. Cronin presented findings on a collaborative study between Bemidji State, the Bemidji Area Boys and Girls Club and the Eagle Vista Ranch & Wellness Center.

Dr. Mark Standing Eagle Baez, assistant professor of counseling and clinical psychology, published an article entitled “Sweetgrass Method to Address Bullying for Indigenous Youth” in Communiqué, a digital peer-reviewed journal published by the National Association of School Psychologists.

Dr. Juan Carlos Callirgos, director of the gender studies program and associate professor of anthropology at the Universidad Pontificia of Lima in Peru, has joined the BSU faculty as a visiting scholar for the 2023-24 academic year. During his visit, sponsored by the Fulbright scholars program, he will teach a course on colonialism, imperialism and globalization.

Dr. Kelly La Venture, associate professor of business administration, is on the Board of Directors for the Minnesota Chapter of the Fulbright Association and also serves as its social media director. In October, La Venture attended the association’s 46th annual conference in Denver, where she accepted the organization’s “Programming of the Year” award on behalf of the state chapter.