Supreme Court Update

The 2023 U.S. Supreme Court Term was one of the most controversial in the past several decades. This talk provides an overview of the term. Specifically, it offers summaries of the main decisions in several areas of the law.

Presenter: Timothy Johnson, Horace T. Morse Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Law, University of Minnesota

Timothy R. Johnson is Horace T. Morse Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Law at the University of Minnesota. He has published more than 50 articles or chapters and seven books including SCOTUS and COVID: How the Media Reacted to the Livestreaming of Supreme Court Oral Arguments (2023), Oral Arguments and Coalition Formation on the U.S. Supreme Court (2012). Findings from many of these projects, along with his legal and political commentary, have been covered by The Economist, The Guardian, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, NPR, C-SPAN, Slate, USA Today, ABC, CNN, MPR, and WCCO.

Current Police Standards: Effects Statewide and how ATCC is Navigating all of it

Delve into the dynamic landscape of current police standards and their far-reaching effects across the state of Minnesota. With a spotlight on the Minnesota Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Board and the Minnesota Law Enforcement Education Reform Initiative, we explore the evolving framework shaping law enforcement practices. Amidst these regulatory shifts, educational institutions like ATCC (Alexandria Technical & Community College) find themselves at a pivotal juncture, tasked with navigating the complexities of compliance and adaptation. Join us as we navigate the intricacies of current police standards and explore ATCC's role in shaping the future of law enforcement education and practice.

Presenter: Shawn L. Williams Ed.D., Dean of Police Training & Education, Alexandria Technical & Community College

Dr. Shawn Williams is a respected leader in the field of police training and education, serving as the Dean of Police Training and Education at Alexandria Technical and Community College. In this role, he leads the Professional Peace Officer Education program, which is the largest peace officer training program in the State of Minnesota. Throughout his career, Dr. Williams has demonstrated a commitment to excellence in training and education, having led training at the state's second largest training facility and serving as the St. Cloud State PPOE coordinator.

Dr. Williams is a strong advocate for cultural intelligence and leads the only MN POST certified Cultural Intelligence course for law enforcement in the state of Minnesota. He has been invited to lead educational modules on a national stage for the Justice Clearinghouse, showcasing his expertise in the field. As a MN POST Board Member and member of the training and standards committee, Dr. Williams is dedicated to advancing the field of public safety through his research and leadership.

Prior to his role at Alexandria Technical and Community College, Dr. Williams was an assistant professor at Saint Cloud State University in Minnesota. He holds a degree in criminal justice from Winona State University, a master's degree from St. Cloud State University, and a doctorate in educational leadership from Saint Mary's University in Minneapolis. With a strong educational background and years of experience in the field, Dr. Williams is well-equipped to provide valuable insights and knowledge.

Sustainability and Our Common Future

We are at an unprecedented time in the history of our planet. For the first time ever, our actions as humans are having worldwide consequences. We are clearly at a crossroad where the actions of this generation will have a tremendous impact on all future generations. Humans are capable of great things – of tremendous advances and equally tremendous harm. This session will showcase where we are, how we got there and our possible paths forward. It will present some sobering facts of our impact on the environment and some real reasons for hope for a sustainable common future.

Presenter: Timothy Schoonhoven PE, retired City Engineer, WSN BSCE, Montana State University

A registered professional engineer with 40 years of experience, including the last 30 years as the City Engineer for Alexandria, Tim has had the privilege of working alongside an amazing group of people. Tim has used his engineering knowledge and skills to directly impact the lives of the community members. He has helped the city through a tremendous period of growth, contributing to improvements in roads, parks, trails, water and sewer systems, and stormwater ponds. His work has addressed various overlapping human conditions, from affordable housing to trail systems to stormwater quality. His life’s work focuses on connections and sustainability.

Tim has learned to operate in both the business world and local government, as well as in the realms of science and applied science. In both areas, he believes that the key to success is a long-term view toward sustainability, with no interest in short-term gains. Holding a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Montana State University, Tim is currently working toward a Certificate in Sustainability from MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Tim has been married for 37 years to his amazing spouse, Kathy, and has a wonderful son and daughter-in-law, along with a beautiful baby granddaughter who lives in Tucson, Arizona.

Election Year Economics

What’s ahead for economic policy in a Harris Administration or a Trump Administration? We will examine the recent economic record, then look at how the candidates approach issues such as international trade, tax policy, short- and long-term spending trends, and monetary policy. There will be plenty of time for questions and discussion.

Presenter: Louis Johnston, Associate Professor of Economics, College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University

Louis Johnston is Professor of Economics at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University, where he has taught since 1997. He specializes in macroeconomics, economic history, and the connections between economic policy and economic history. His most recent projects focus on analyzing the evolution of Minnesota’s economy.

The Federal Reserve 101: Structure and Impact on Money Supply and Interest Rates

Many questions will arise this September about whether the Federal Reserve (Fed) will change interest rates. (This may be answered by the time of the session.) What is the Fed, and who makes up the Fed? How does the Fed's changing interest rates impact the average person? How can the Fed impact the overall money supply in the economy? These questions and many others will be looked at during this presentation.

Presenter: Kelly Hughes, Economics Instructor Liberal Arts Department, Alexandria Technical & Community College

Kelly C. Hughes, M.S., has been working as a teacher in economics for over 25 years. The best 20 years he has been at Alexandria Technical and Community College. Kelly has a fascination with monetary policy and how it can work to improve the economy over the long run. When he is not in the classroom impacting students’ lives, he enjoys theatre, concerts, playing guitar, and reading.

Pumpkins and Squash: The Oldest Crops in the Americas

We know fall is here when piles of pumpkins and squash appear, and “pumpkin spice” flavorings and aromas are added to everything from candles to lattes to ice cream. About 10,000 years ago, pumpkins and squash became the first domesticated crops in the Americas. In this talk we will learn how crop evolution, domestication and plant breeding transformed wild gourds with bitter, inedible fruits into the huge variety of squashes and pumpkins we enjoy today, including the 2,749-pound world record pumpkin grown in Minnesota last year. We will also learn what distinguishes a pumpkin from a squash, how pumpkins and squash are used in the Americas and around the world and hear some interesting history about Jack-o-lanterns and pumpkin pie. 

Presenter: Linda Wessel-Beaver, Professor (retired, Ad honorem) Department of Agroenvironmental Sciences University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, USA

Linda Wessel-Beaver was raised on a dairy farm in Central Minnesota, obtained a B.S. in Agronomy from the University of Minnesota and earned a Ph.D. in Plant Breeding from the University of Illinois. She has been a faculty member at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez since 1981, teaching plant breeding, statistics, and experimental design. Her research has focused on tropical pumpkin, including its evolution and domestication, the genetics of virus resistance, and the development of new varieties. Retiring in 2018, she divides her time between Minnesota and Puerto Rico where she continues to be actively involved in research and teaching.

The Periodic Table – Iconic and Ingenious

We expect to see large, wall-mounted periodic tables in science classrooms, but this internationally recognized symbol of science has now found its way onto t-shirts, coffee cups, quilts, pens, and much more. The concept of a “periodic” table, with patterns and trends and immense amounts of information, has also spawned a wide range of amusing creations such as periodic tables of desserts and comic books. During this presentation, we’ll explore the history, development, and governance of the modern Periodic Table of the Elements while also reviewing the fundamentals of chemistry embedded in this ingenious invention.

Presenter: Julie Hanson, Licensed HS science teacher (Iowa); Master's Degrees in Horticulture and Education; PhD in Food Science

Julie grew up in Pope County in Minnesota, and has returned to west-central Minnesota after spending 40+ years living and working all over the United States. Her early years were busy with music, sports, the outdoors, and 4-H (especially gardening and foods projects), and she eventually earned an undergraduate degree in biology and graduate degrees in horticulture and food science. Julie didn’t fully appreciate The Periodic Table of Elements until she taught chemistry to high school and college students.

Equality at the Ballot Box: Votes for Women in Minnesota

In 1920, with the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment, women citizens in Minnesota acquired the right to vote in all elections. While the amendment excluded Indigenous women who did not hold US citizenship, most women in the state earned the franchise. In this presentation, Professor Lori Ann Lahlum will discuss the winding history of woman suffrage in Minnesota. Interestingly, Minnesota had an opportunity to become the first state with woman suffrage in 1870. It’s also important to remember that women did have some suffrage rights in the nineteenth century: school elections and later for library boards. Professor Lahlum will also compare the suffrage situation in Minnesota regionally and nationally.

Presenter: Lori Lahlum, Distinguished Faculty Scholar, Professor & Graduate Program Coordinator Department of History and Gender Studies, Minnesota State University, Mankato

A native of North Dakota, Lori Ann Lahlum is professor of history at Minnesota State University, Mankato, where she teaches courses on the American West, Minnesota history, family history, women, gender, and sexualities, as well as introductory courses in US history. Her research focuses on women, gender, political culture, and Norwegian Americans on the Northern Great Plains. In 2019, South Dakota Historical Society Press released Equality at the Ballot Box: Votes for Women on the Northern Great Plains, a book Lahlum edited with Molly Rozum. With Betty Bergland, she edited Norwegian American Women: Migration, Communities, and Identities (Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2011).