UMM Faculty/Staff Community Engagement Award

Each year, the University of Minnesota Morris, in partnership with the Seed Coalition, an organization supporting community engagement on college campuses in Minnesota and Iowa, provides community engagement awards to three individuals who exemplify community-university partnerships. Today, we continue looking at the award winners for the 2024-25 academic year with Faculty/Staff Community Engagement Award winner Kerry C. Michael.

This award recognizes a member of the faculty, administration, or staff or a group that has significantly advanced their campus’ distinctive civic mission by forming strong partnerships, supporting others’ civic and community engagement, and working to institutionalize a culture and practice of engagement.

Kerry Michael’s collaboration with Horizon Public Health began through the Stevens County Building Community Resilience Committee, which aims to foster a trauma-informed community by raising awareness of Adverse Childhood Experiences and promoting resilience through education, collaboration, and evidence-based strategies in schools, workplaces, and community organizations. Michael mentored a college student, who went on to become a Health Educator for Horizon Public Health. She now collaborates with Michael and her students on substance use and suicide prevention initiatives.