Dear Campus Community:
I am pleased to announce that Dr. Paula Pedersen, Assistant Professor of Psychology, has accepted the new cabinet-level position of Faculty Fellow for Intercultural Initiatives. In addition to being an accomplished teacher, scholar and diversity trainer, Paula is a licensed psychologist and carries the Intercultural Development Inventory Administration and Interpretation Certificate.
Paula has served on the Campus Climate Change Team, Diversity Commission, GLBT Advisory Board and University of Minnesota Intercultural Competence Work Group.
She helped spearhead the theme of "how did you come to be here?" bringing together the community and campus in an exploration of cultural self-awareness and identity. Paula has done significant research on intercultural development as a student learning outcome in study abroad and first year experience programs.
Her dedication to diversity, inclusion and intercultural understanding goes far beyond UMD. She works closely with ISD #709 on helping the intercultural leadership and curriculum integration efforts in Duluth high schools. Paula is well known in the community for her involvement in organizations such as Mentor Duluth, YMCA and True North Americorps.
In her role as Faculty Fellow for Intercultural Initiatives, Paula will help facilitate campus climate training and development activities for faculty, staff, administration and students. She will oversee the planning, execution and assessment of campus-wide intercultural initiatives, work on increasing intercultural student learning outcomes through the International and Study Abroad programs and serve as a key community liaison.
The Faculty Fellow for Intercultural Initiatives is a one-year renewable appointment that is part faculty and part administrative. The Fellow will serve as co-chair for the Campus Climate Change Team along with Susana Pelayo-Woodward.
Please join me in welcoming Paula to this new role. I look forward to having her expertise and perspective on the campus senior leadership team. She will begin in August.
Sincerely,
Lendley C. Black
Chancellor
