Dialogue Minnesota

Russia's invasion of Ukraine is sparking outrage throughout the world and uniting the NATO alliance in a manner that has not been seen in decades. But as economic sanctions tighten their grip on Russia, Vladimir Putin is rattling his country's nuclear saber. University of Minnesota Associate Professor of Political Science Mark Bell discusses the situation in Ukraine and Putin's threats.

It's been two years since COVID 19 first appeared in the U.S. The pandemic's impact on the economy is still being felt. Inflation is at a forty-year high, and supply chain issues are frustrating businesses and consumers. Yet, not all of the economic news is dire. University of Minnesota Professor of Economics Timothy Kehoe, who also advises the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, joins us to discuss the state of the economy.

Are you like many of us who resolved to improve our fitness and eating habits in the New Year? Are you having trouble getting started or staying motivated? Personal trainer Brent Goodermont shares tips on how to reach your fitness goals.

Minneapolis voters will choose 13 City Council members and a mayor in the upcoming city election on November 2. There are also 3 city charter amendment questions that would give the mayor more power, create a new Department of Public Safety to replace the police department and impose rent controls. The election is drawing attention far beyond the city's borders. Hamline University Professor of Political Science and University of Minnesota Visiting Professor of Law David Schultz shares his insights on how the races may play out.

America is a divided nation. A program developed by the University of Minnesota's College of Liberal Arts called the Public Life Project is designed to encourage civil discussions about controversial issues.

Last month, the US Supreme Court concluded its term and delivered several key decisions. University of Minnesota Morse Alumni Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Law Timothy Johnson analyzes the Court's rulings and looks ahead to the cases it will hear during the upcoming October term.

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the fitness routines of many Minnesotans. Personal Trainer Brent Goodermont gives us some ideas about getting back on track.

With the arrival of spring comes also the threat of severe weather. Tornadoes, strong winds, lightning and flash flooding pose significant dangers to those who are unprepared and unprotected. This week on Dialogue Minnesota, a conversation with National Weather Service Warning Coordination Meteorologist Todd Krause on how you can stay safe when storms threaten.

It's been a year since the COVID-19 pandemic upended our lives. How has the economy fared both nationwide and here in Minnesota during this unprecedented period of time? University of Minnesota Professor of Economics Timothy Kehoe provides us with some answers.

February is Black History Month. This is traditionally a time to reflect on key moments in the ongoing struggle for racial equity. But given the events of the past year such as the killing of George Floyd, there is renewed focus on the systemic racism that persists in American society. University of Minnesota Professor of African American and African Studies Keith Mayes joins us to discuss Black History Month in a contemporary context.

Last month, Donald Trump became the first president in US history to be impeached for a second time by the House of Representatives. The single article of impeachment accuses Trump of “inciting an insurrection” at the Capitol on January 6th. Trump's second Senate impeachment trial gets underway on February 9th. Hamline University Professor of Political Science and University of Minnesota Visiting Professor of Law David Schultz joins us to discuss the issues surrounding this historical and unprecedented event.

Fifty years ago this month, then-DFL Governor Wendell Anderson worked with the conservative-controlled Minnesota Legislature to pass significant fiscal policies that transformed the state's educational system. Though the process required the longest special session in the state's history, the bipartisan effort and the commitment to economic and social equality became known as the “Minnesota Miracle.” We take a look at this monumental time in Minnesota's history and revisit the iconic 1973 Time magazine cover where Minnesota became nationally known as “the state that works.” In today's bitterly partisan political atmosphere, one wonders if a similar miracle could possibly come together again. On this episode of Dialogue Minnesota, we discuss Governor Wendell Anderson's legacy, the Minnesota Miracle and what has happened to the miracle in the ensuing decades. Our guest is Tom Berg, a Minneapolis attorney who served as a state legislator from 1971 through 1978. He is the author of the book Minnesota's Miracle: Learning From the Government That Worked. We spoke with him in 2016 shortly after the book was published.

Several days after the November 3rd elections, the AP and other major news outlets called the presidential race for Joe Biden and his running mate Kamala Harris. President Donald Trump has so far refused to concede. He and some of his supporters are making baseless accusations of widespread election fraud, and his campaign has filed numerous lawsuits in several states challenging the voting process. Control of the US Senate remains in question pending the results of a runoff election in Georgia in early January. Should both Democratic candidates prevail in that election, the Senate would be split 50-50 between the two parties, and Vice President-Elect Harris would cast the deciding vote. University of Minnesota Associate Professor of Political Science Kathryn Pearson joins us to discuss the election results both nationally and here in Minnesota.

Given the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the focus on racial inequities in the wake of police shootings of African Americans, this is a political campaign season unlike any other in recent memory. With about a week remaining before the election, it's time to check in with University of Minnesota Associate Professor of Political Science Kathryn Pearson on where things stand in the final stretch of the campaigns.

The death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg leaves a vacancy on the Supreme Court that the Trump administration hopes to fill quickly. Federal Judge Amy Coney Barrett is the president's nominee to replace Justice Ginsburg, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says the confirmation hearings will start on October 12th. This week on Dialogue Minnesota, a look at the legacy of Justice Ginsburg and the future of the Supreme Court. We're joined by Timothy Johnson, the Morse Alumni Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Law at the University of Minnesota who is an expert on the Supreme Court.

In our last episode, we explored the ascendency of a law and order candidate who defeated his major party opponents in the 1969 Minneapolis mayoral election. Charles Stenvig was a Minneapolis Police lieutenant who ran as an independent, promising to crack down on civil disobedience and crime by—as he described it—"taking the handcuffs off of the police.” Minneapolis had experienced racial unrest during the summers of 1966 and 1967, protests against the Vietnam War were taking place at the University of Minnesota in the late 1960s, crime was on the rise and voters were uneasy. Into this tableau came Stenvig whose victory challenged the widely accepted notion that Minneapolis was a liberal and progressive city. Stenvig was reelected to a second term in 1971 as concerns about civil unrest and crime persisted. In this episode, part two of our look at the politics of law and order.Guests:Gary Prevost, a retired professor of political science at St. John's University and the College of St. Benedict, was a student activist on the U of M's Twin Cities campus during that time.University of Minnesota Professor of Political Science and African and African American Studies August Nimtz who witnessed the protests.

In the mid-to-late 1960s, Minneapolis—like many cities across the country—experienced racial unrest and student protests over the war in Vietnam. Law and order became a central campaign theme for a Minneapolis Police lieutenant who ran as an independent in the city's 1969 mayoral race. Charles Stenvig positioned himself as a populist who would “take the handcuffs off the police” and crack down on militants. In a stunning victory, Stenvig defeated both of his major party opponents and challenged the prevailing belief that Minneapolis was a liberal and progressive city. There are many parallels between Stenvig's political ascension and the current Republican campaign strategy that focuses on crime and civil unrest. This week on Dialogue Minnesota, we present part one of a two-part series on the politics of law and order. We're joined by Southern Illinois University Professor of Historical Studies Jeffrey Manuel who is the co-author of an article on Stenvig titled “You Can't Legislate the Heart.”

Last month marked the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment which granted women the right to vote. This week on Dialogue Minnesota, Augsburg University Professor of History William Green joins us to discuss the complexities of the women's suffrage movement. He is the author of a book out on the University of Minnesota Press titled “The Children of Lincoln: White Paternalism and the Limits of Black Opportunity in Minnesota.”

This election cycle is like no other in modern U.S. history. The COVID-19 pandemic is tossing traditional campaigning by the wayside and is driving record numbers of voters to cast their ballots by mail in lieu of a polling place. Despite the coronavirus, Minnesota recently held a primary election, Joe Biden virtually accepted the nomination as the Democratic Party's presidential candidate, and Senator Kamala Harris was named Biden's running mate. This week on Dialogue Minnesota, University of Minnesota Associate Professor of Political Science Kathryn Pearson joins us to discuss this most unusual campaign season.

Politics and sports have often intersected in modern history, and in recent years, controversial team names and athlete protests during games have garnered much attention. The Washington, DC NFL team recently agreed to change its current name that many find offensive and other sports franchises with names associated with Indigenous Americans are under increasing pressure to do the same. Earlier this month, the Minnesota Wild's Matt Dumba became the first NHL player to kneel in support of the Black Lives Matter movement during the National Anthem. And the Minnesota Lynx's Maya Moore sat out another season to advocate for the release of a man whom she believes was wrongly sent to prison. This week on Dialogue Minnesota, a look at how sports became a platform for expressing ideological views and how today's athletes are using their celebrity to promote racial equity. Joining us is Douglas Hartmann, a professor and chair of the Sociology Department at the University of Minnesota. He is an expert on the sociology of sport.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to send shock waves through the nation's economy. With so much volatility and uncertainty, it's difficult to determine just how much damage the economy has suffered and how long it will take to recover. This week on Dialogue Minnesota, we're joined by University of Minnesota Professor of Economics Timothy Kehoe. Professor Kehoe is also an advisor to the Minneapolis Federal Reserve Bank. His opinions do not necessarily reflect those of the Minneapolis Federal Reserve Bank or the Federal Reserve System.

50 years ago, the U.S. was awash in civil unrest over the war in Vietnam and racial injustice. This week, we look back at that tumultuous time and focus on the shootings of student protesters at Kent State University by members of the Ohio National Guard in May of 1970. New Mexico State University Professor of History Kenneth Hammond was a student activist at Kent State University at the time and joins us to discuss the incident, its aftermath and the parallels to today's protest movements.

The Minneapolis City Council is moving forward with a proposed amendment to the city's charter that would disband the current police department and replace it with a Department of Community Safety and Violence Prevention. Voters will ultimately decide the fate of the council's proposal in November if it passes some bureaucratic hurdles in the meantime. This week on Dialogue Minnesota, University of Minnesota Associate Professor of Sociology Michelle Phelps discusses systemic racism in our nation's police departments and what a new vision for law enforcement might look like.

The COVID-19 pandemic is dramatically changing how many of us work. Even the U.S. Supreme Court is working remotely, and for the first time in its history, oral arguments are being live streamed. This week on Dialogue Minnesota, University of Minnesota Morse Alumni Distinguished Professor of Political Science Timothy Johnson joins us to discuss the high court's move to a digital platform that's making its proceedings more accessible to the public.

Governor Tim Walz's stay-at-home order expiries on May 18th. Additional retail businesses will reopen on that day, and other services are slated to resume on June 1st. Polling data in Minnesota and nationwide indicates that a majority of respondents support efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus through shelter-in-place directives and the closure of businesses and services that are deemed non-essential. A study using cell phone location data initially gave Minnesotans an A grade for their compliance with social distancing, but in recent weeks, that grade has declined to a D. University of Minnesota Associate Professor of Sociology and Law Joshua Page joins us to discuss the reasons why we do or do not comply with governmental directives and the advice of medical experts.

The University of Minnesota is offering a May term course that explores pandemics in a historical context with an emphasis on how science intersects with public policy as nations deal with a major health crisis. HMED 3940—History Making: Epidemics, Politics and Coronavirus will also examine COVID-19 and the forces that are shaping governmental and public responses to the pandemic. The class is being offered through the U's College of Science and Engineering in a multidisciplinary collaboration with History Department Chair Ann Waltner who is contributing to the curriculum. This week on Dialogue Minnesota, a conversation with Macey Flood, a PhD candidate at the U of M who is teaching the course which is open to both degree-seeking students and the general public.

Minnesota has one of the highest rates of volunteering in the nation. Even in the age of COVID-19, many of us are pitching in to help, although social distancing and stay-at-home orders are changing the ways we deliver volunteer services. This week on Dialogue Minnesota, University of Minnesota Professor of Psychology and Director of the U's Center for the Study of the Individual and Society Dr. Mark Snyder joins us to discuss why we volunteer and the benefits of volunteering.

The COVID-19 pandemic is hitting this country's African American population especially hard. Many of its victims have existing medical conditions that make them particularly vulnerable to the disease's most lethal effects. University of Minnesota Professor of African American and African Studies Keith Mayes discusses how the social and health care inequities that existed prior to the coronavirus crisis have contributed to its disproportionate impact on communities of color.

The COVID-19 pandemic is dominating the headlines these days, eclipsing the political campaigns currently underway. How are the candidates adapting to the reality of social distancing that has upended traditional campaign strategies? And how is fear of the virus impacting the presidential primary elections? University of Minnesota Associate Professor of Political Science Kathryn Pearson discusses the state of American politics in the era of COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic has shuttered stadiums and put professional and collegiate sports on indefinite hold. Closed gyms and social distancing guidelines have sidelined amateur athletes as well. Sports and personal fitness are central to the lives of many Minnesotans, and their loss is deeply felt. University of Minnesota Professor of Sociology Douglas Hartmann discusses the cultural significance of sports and physical activities and how the absence of both impacts our sense of community and self.

The COVID-19 crisis has dramatically impacted the way that we perform our jobs. With shelter-in-place orders and social distancing guidelines in effect, many of us who have the option to work from home are doing so. While some companies have previously offered work-from-home opportunities to their employees, the pandemic has dramatically increased the numbers of remote workers. This week, University of Minnesota McKnight Endowed Presidential Chair in Sociology Phyllis Moen discusses the challenges of working remotely in the era of COVID-19 and the ways our workplaces may change going forward.

The coronavirus crisis is taking a serious toll on the economy. Job losses are mounting, and the stock market has declined sharply during the past few weeks. Timothy Kehoe, the Distinguished McKnight Professor in the Department of Economics at the University of Minnesota discusses the current economic situation. Kehoe is also an advisor to the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. His opinions and perspectives do not necessarily reflect those of the Minneapolis Federal Reserve Bank or the Federal Reserve System.

Women and people of color are historically underrepresented in the sciences, technology, engineering and math, the so-called STEM professions. A University of Minnesota partnership with a St. Paul middle school is aiming to help address that disparity. Two U of M professors and a group of undergraduates are mentoring students at Murray Middle School which is located near the U's St. Paul campus. The class is titled Stepping Into the Gap: Understanding the Challenges of Supporting Diversity in STEM. It's part of the University's Grand Challenges curriculum which is a multidisciplinary approach to introduce students to complex issues that impact the world community. Associate Professor of Psychology Cheryl Olman and Associate Professor of Educational Psychology/Associate Vice Provost for Equity and Diversity Keisha Varma tell us about the class they are co-teaching.

Fifty-six years ago this month, a Minnesota garage rock band's novelty record with a pulsating beat was racing up both the local and national charts. The Trashmen's Surfin' Bird was released in the fall of 1963 and became an immediate regional hit by capitalizing on the California surfing scene that was popularized by groups like the Beach Boys and Jan and Dean. By December of 1963, the song was in heavy rotation on Top 40 stations throughout the country and came close to scoring the top spot on the Billboard record chart. In this episode, we explore the bands, recording studios, record labels and radio DJs who defined the Minnesota music scene in the early and mid-1960s. Our guest is Rick Schefchik, the author of Everybody's Heard About the Bird: The True Story of 1960s Rock And Roll in Minnesota, published by the University of Minnesota Press.

Guest: University of Minnesota Regent's Professor of History & Asian American Studies Erika LeeImmigration is one of America's most divisive issues. Congress has thus far failed to come up with a comprehensive immigration reform plan that enjoys bipartisan support. Donald Trump made illegal immigration a key component of his presidential campaign platform. Now, as president, Trump continues to focus on immigration, and his administration's policy of separating families who cross the border with Mexico has generated considerable controversy. Despite the image of the US as a melting pot, fear and distrust of immigrants has waxed and waned throughout the country's history. This week on Dialogue Minnesota, we have a conversation with Erika Lee, an Andrew Carnegie Fellow, Regents Professor of History and Asian American Studies, a Distinguished McKnight University Professor and the Rudolph J. Vecoli Chair in Immigration at the University of Minnesota. She is currently on leave as the Director of the U's Immigration Research Center, and is the author of a new book titled America for Americans: A History of Xenophobia in the United States. A book launch event and roundtable discussion is taking place on December 3 from 6:00 pm-8:30 pm at the University of Minnesota's Humphrey School of Public Affairs.

Guest: Hamline University Professor of Political Science and University of Minnesota Visiting Professor of Law David Schultz An impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump is underway in the U.S. House of Representatives. The president is alleged to have pressured Ukrainian leaders to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter, over the latter's business dealings in Ukraine. Trump is also alleged to have urged Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate possible Ukrainian interference in the 2016 election, despite the fact that there is no evidence of such interference having taken place. A key issue is whether President Trump threatened to withhold military aid to Ukraine if the requested investigations did not materialize. Trump and Ukrainian President Zelensky have both denied that military aid was conditioned on a quid pro quo, although Trump has admitted to discussing the Bidens during a phone call with Zelensky. The impeachment inquiry became public this week, with US diplomats testifying before the House Intelligence Committee. Hamline University Political Science Professor and University of Minnesota Visiting Professor of Law David Schultz discusses the current impeachment inquiry, and previous impeachment proceedings against US presidents.

Guest: University of Minnesota Professor of Sociology/Department Chair Doug Hartmann Minnesota has some of the nation's worst achievement and opportunity gaps between whites and people of color. These disparities manifest themselves in lower high school graduation rates, lower homeownership rates and less accumulation of wealth for non-white Minnesotans. University of Minnesota Professor of Sociology and Department Chair Doug Hartmann discusses these racial inequities and the challenges society faces in trying to level the playing field.

Guest: University of Minnesota Morse Alumni Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Law Timothy Johnson The founders of the United States envisioned the Supreme Court as the weakest of the three branches of government. But even a one-term president can nominate Supreme Court justices who, if confirmed by the Senate, can sit on the bench for life. The presidential impact on public policy can extend well beyond their tenure in office. Despite the founder's intentions, many scholars now believe that the Supreme Court is the most powerful branch of government. University of Minnesota Morse Alumni Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Law Timothy Johnson—a nationally recognized Supreme Court expert—shares his insights on how the Court functions and why its influence has grown over the decades. You can hear Professor Johnson speak on this topic at the U of M College of Continuing and Professional Studies Headliners event on October 10.

Guest: University of Minnesota Professor of Economics Timothy KehoeThe United States and China are in the midst of a tariff battle that has roiled markets. There are also signs that the world economy is slowing, and that's prompted fears of recession. University of Minnesota Professor of Economics Timothy Kehoe joins us to discuss trade tensions, their impact on Minnesota-based companies such as Best Buy and Target, and the overall state of the economy.

Guests: Department of Agronomy & Plant Genetics Assistant Teaching Professor Mary Braake & Associate Professor Peter Morrell Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (DFL) is ordering state agencies to prepare for the potential legalization of marijuana for recreational use. During the last legislative session, the Republican-controlled Senate rejected a bill that would have legalized recreational marijuana in 2022, and Majority Leader Paul Gazelka says he has no interest in revisiting the issue. Marijuana use for medical purposes is currently permitted in the state. The controversy over legalization is sparking greater interest in cannabis. This semester, the University of Minnesota is offering a course on cannabis, focusing on its scientific properties, societal impact and the state and federal regulation of the crop. The course is being offered by the U's Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics. This week on Dialogue Minnesota, we chat with the faculty members who are co-teaching the class, titled “The Science of Cannabis.”

Guest: University of Minnesota Professor & History Department Chair Ann Waltner Authoritarian governments are on the rise throughout the world. But organized resistance to the policies these governments are implementing are underway. This week on Dialogue Minnesota, a look at the protest movement in Hong Kong, and how it may signal a growing pushback to authoritarian leaders and governments. Ann Waltner, a professor and chair of the English Department at the University of Minnesota and an expert on Chinese history, shares her insights.

Guest: University of Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Center Extension Educator Megan Weber One of Minnesota's most valued resources are our lakes, rivers and streams. But those waters are increasingly threatened by aquatic invasive species…living things that are not native to our state. Aquatic invasive species include fishes, plants, invertebrates and microbes that can harm our health, environment and economy. The University of Minnesota's Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center has identified roughly three dozen such species. This week, a look at a program offered through the Center that trains citizen scientists to monitor aquatic invasive species. We'll learn how these volunteers are providing researchers with the necessary data to help prevent the spread of these harmful animals and plants. We chatted with Megan Weber, an extension educator at the Center.

Guest: University of Minnesota Humphrey School of Public Affairs Senior Fellow Art Rolnick Fifty years ago, the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis and the University of Minnesota created a partnership that continues to have a profound impact on economic theory and policy. Several young economics professors were instrumental in forging this partnership and became known as the Four Horsemen of the Economic Revolution. U of M Humphrey School of Public Affairs Senior Fellow Art Rolnick discusses The Four Horsemen, their enduring impact on economics, and an upcoming event he's moderating on the U of M campus where all four will discuss contemporary economic issues.

Guest: Veteran journalist and former executive director of the Minnesota News Council Gary Gilson In mid-July, President Donald Trump unleashed a Twitter tirade directed at the so-called Squad—four Democratic US Congresswomen who are also people of color. His Tweets have been characterized by some as racist in content. Several prominent news outlets have taken the unusual step of labeling the president's Tweets as racist, and this has triggered a broader discussion about how the media approaches issues of race. Veteran journalist and former executive director of the Minnesota News Council Gary Gilson offers his insights.

Guests: University of Minnesota History Department Chair Ann Waltner & Adjunct Professor Joseph Haker The student government at the University of Minnesota's Twin Cities campus recently led a charge to rename four campus buildings whose namesakes were accused of racism, anti-Semitism and promoting eugenics. Former U President Eric Kaler, who stepped down on July 1, created a task force to research the actions of the men after whom the buildings are named. The panel released its findings earlier this year, and recommended that the buildings be renamed. In late April, the University's Board of Regents voted against renaming the buildings. This fall semester, a class titled Prejudice and Protest at the U of M will take a critical look at the University's history. History Department Chair Ann Waltner and course instructor Joseph Haker discuss the renaming controversy and the challenges of dealing with past injustices.

Guest: University of Minnesota Associate Professor of Political Science Kathryn Pearson Twenty Democratic presidential contenders squared off in two debates late last month in Miami. University of Minnesota Associate Professor of Political Science Kathryn Pearson analyzes the candidates' performances during the forum and what will likely be the key issues in the Democratic presidential primary campaign. Also, a look at Minnesota's legislative session that adjourned in May and the controversy surrounding 5th District Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar.

Guest: University of Minnesota Morse Alumni Professor of Political Science Timothy Johnson This past week, the U.S. Supreme Court wrapped up its term and delivered several significant decisions. Among them was a ruling that federal courts cannot intervene in gerrymandering disputes and another that prevents the Trump administration from including a question regarding citizenship on the 2020 Census. University of Minnesota Morse Alumni Professor of Political Science Timothy Johnson discusses some of the key Supreme Court decisions this past term, and how the ideological leanings of the justices can influence their opinion

Guest: University Assistant Professor of Political Science Mark Bell During the Cold War, the Soviet and American nuclear arsenals served largely as a deterrent to an all-out military confrontation. Both countries possessed enough weapons to effectively destroy each other. This concept of mutually assured destruction made nuclear war unthinkable. But as more nations have acquired nuclear capability, the purposes these weapons serve in international politics has changed. Each country uses its nuclear arsenal in its own unique way to establish its place in the world order. This week on Access Minnesota, University of Minnesota Assistant Professor of Political Science Mark Bell discusses his concept of nuclear opportunism.

Guest: Bell Museum Director of Public Engagement & Science Learning Holly Menninger This summer marks the fiftieth anniversary of the Apollo Moon landing. The Bell Museum on the University of Minnesota's St. Paul campus is celebrating this historic first through a series of exhibits, events and educational programs. We chatted with the museum's Director of Public Engagement and Science Learning Holly Menninger about this ongoing commemoration called The Year of Apollo: To The Moon and Beyond.

Guests: Phyllis Moen, Kate Schaefers, Jeff Buchanan, Andy Taylor, Arbresha Ibraimi, Max Peterson An increasing number of Baby Boomers are approaching traditional retirement age but have no intention of segueing to a life of leisure. A University of Minnesota program offers experienced professionals an opportunity to transition to a so-called “encore career”, often at a community-based non-profit. The University of Minnesota's Advanced Careers Initiative or UMAC is the brainchild of Phyllis Moen, a McKnight Presidential Chair and professor of sociology. UMAC is a multigenerational learning experience, where a group of late-career professionals called fellows team up with undergraduate students to work on a variety of challenges facing society. We sat down with Moen and her colleague, UMAC Executive Director Kate Schaefers to discuss this new life stage and also chatted with some of the fellows and undergraduate students involved in the program. This is part 2 of a two-part series.

Guests: UMAC Founding Director Phyllis Moen & UMAC Executive Director Kate Shaefers An increasing number of Baby Boomers are approaching traditional retirement age but have no intention of segueing to a life of leisure. A University of Minnesota program offers experienced professionals an opportunity to transition to a so-called “encore career”, often at a community-based non-profit. The University of Minnesota's Advanced Careers Initiative or UMAC is the brainchild of Phyllis Moen, a McKnight Presidential Chair and professor of sociology. UMAC is a multigenerational learning experience, where a group of late-career professionals called fellows team up with undergraduate students to work on a variety of challenges facing society. We sat down with Moen and her colleague, UMAC Executive Director Kate Schaefers to discuss this new life stage. This is part 1 of a two-part series.