The University of Minnesota Crookston Campus has hired four new employees. Information on the four hires is below –
Griffin Gillespie has been hired as the new Director of Human Resources at the University of Minnesota Crookston. Gillespie, a native of Park River and resident of Grand Forks, spent his last five years at Altru Health System as the Supervisor of Recruitment/Talent Specialist/Provider Recruiter.
The Human Resource Director reports to the Chancellor and is responsible to direct, coordinate, and supervise human resource functions/activities affecting Civil Service, AFSCME-Technical, AFSCME-Clerical, and Teamster employees. Gillespie will oversee employment functions including recruiting, hiring, orientation of new employees, reassignment, and performance appraisals and serve as internal consultant/resource to employing units and search committees and will engage in all responsibilities within the employment functions of the University.
Mitchell Berg, Ph.D., Associate Director, Veden Center for Rural Economic Development began his duties this week. Berg held the City Administrator position in Mahnomen for the last five years.
The Veden Center continues to focus on rural America post COVID-19, bridging urban and rural business opportunities, incubation and acceleration services for veterans, new Americans and economically disadvantaged populations and creating new pathways for student success following their higher education experience.
Jacob Isaacs, Ph.D. joins the Crookston campus as the new Director of Student Success and Academic Advising. Prior to his arrival last week Isaacs was the Assistant Director of Student Life Residential Education Research and Communication at Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana.
UMC reimagined its Student Success Center in 2019 by bringing together academic advising, multicultural education, career services, and tutoring support into a single, integrated Center. The goal is to focus on the whole student, leverage students’ strengths, and place equity and belonging at the heart of student success. It was this approach that led to recognition of UMC’s work by the Center for First-Generation College Student Success.
Kirby Newhouse, Director of the Disability Resource Center (DRC) begins her role next week. Newhouse joins the University of Minnesota Crookston after twelve years at the Upper Valley Special Education Unit, as a Speech Pathologist.
As the Director of the DRC, Newhouse will provide direction and supervision for the Disability Resource Center and contribute to creating a vibrant campus community characterized by a strong commitment to equity, inclusion, and belonging for students with diverse identities with special focus to students with disabilities and learning differences.
The Disability Resource Center provides leadership in the design, development, and implementation of disability services and programs for students.
Promoting an equitable and inclusive learning environment by facilitating reasonable and appropriate accommodations, Newhouse, as the new Director will be reviewing and implementing ADA requirements and access for the physical campus, empowering students to become self-advocates, and educating the campus community.
