From the mailbag

Our recent readership survey yielded messages from alumni near and far. The letter that came the farthest was from alumna Frayda Myers Cooper (M.A., ’67) who wrote from Australia to tell us about being a founder of the University of the Third Age which is a network of thousands of retirees who are active learners, teachers, and volunteer tutors. Here’s a sampling of what our alumni are doing in their careers and in retirement. Hats off to you! And thanks for writing!

Joe Sanders (M.A., ’44) remembers washing walls and ceilings in campus buildings in the summer of 1943 to pay for tuition.

Lorraine Bradt Dennis (B.S., ’43) is professor emerita from Roger Williams University, Bristol, R.I., and conducts workshops for seniors in stress management, nutrition, and exercise.

Bill Dreier (Ph.D., ’49) retired from the University of Northern Iowa and enjoys writing and talking about one-room schools.

Beverly Casey (B.A., ’56), wrote, “I have found the skills I acquired in the College of Education at the University were valuable in other positions in addition to teaching formally in public education.”

Juneal Reitan (B.S., ’61) was a teacher and librarian for 29 years. In retirement she is a professional storyteller and a worldwide traveler.

Daisy Carlson (B.S., ’54), Elaine Carlson (B.S., ’42), Alice Dettwiler (B.S., ’53), Lorraine Dorff (B.A., ’60), Sally Quinn (B.S., ’82), Barbara Weir Rames (M.A., ’72), Fern Soderholm (B.S., ’56), and Zelda Straus (B.S., ’48) are active retirees who volunteer in their communities by reading to children, helping in the classroom, and sharing their wisdom and talents in a variety of ways.

Merianne Tomovich Dabreau (B.S., ’77) teaches elementary art and was named Teacher of the Year in 2003 in Tampa, Fla.

Kirsten Dawson works as a drug counselor at Totino-Grace and Cretin-Derham Hall High Schools.

Catherine Fitzpatrick (M.Ed., ’97) is curriculum coordinator for Lokelani Intermediate school in Maui, Hawaii. She was one of three teachers selected for an educators’ mission to Japan this past summer.

Christy Wigren Campbell (B.S., ’72) was named 2004–05 Wyoming Principal of the Year.

John Berg (B.S., ’81) worked for 20 years in human resources management and training and is currently in sales with Coldwell Banker Burnet.

Cindy Prior (M.A., ’89) has been active in early literacy programs and is currently a substitute teacher in St. Paul area schools.

Cheryl Lubinski (M.Ed., ’77) is a professor in the Department of Mathematics at Illinois State University.

Greg Iverson (M.Ed., ’75) is a writer for the Minnesota Department of Transportation Metro District.

Judy Sharken Simon (Ph.D., ’98) is an independent organizational consultant with nonprofits. She is the author of two books and is developing an alumni relations program for the Higher Education Consortium for Urban Affairs.

Ferial Abraham (M.A., ’87) graduated from Hamline University in May 2004 with an Ed.D. in education.

Frank Thomas (B.S., ’76) is a part-time instructor in physical education and science at the Area Learning Center in Detroit Lakes Public Schools.

Wendy Weimer (M.A., ’80) is a part-time guardian ad litem for young people in the Second Judicial District in Ramsey County.

Lowell Schwalbe (B.S., ’61) has written a book, Educanese Rebuked, and composes music.

Dale Lange (Ph.D., ’66; emeritus professor) is researching his families’ geneology and history and has 1,100 names in his database.

Lowell Van Tassel (M.A., ’62) is retired and lives in San Diego. He is listed in the 2005 edition of Who’s Who in America.