Family Relations Program Team
Extension Specialist
Jodi Dworkin, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Family Social Science
290 McNeal Hall, 1985 Buford Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55108
jdworkin@umn.edu
612-624-3732
Education
B.S., Psychology, Allegheny College
M.S., Human & Community Development, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Ph.D., Human Development and Family Studies, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
Programming
Jodi's scholarly interests include promoting positive family development, strengthening families and communities, normative adolescent development, and parenting adolescents. Her research and discovery attempt a paradigm shift away from the historically-negative model of youth risk-taking behaviors to a normative model of youth experimentation. This model sees this behavior as functional, intentional, and part of an active process of identity formation. Her outreach and engagement focuses on developing resources to help parents understand normative adolescent development; parent/teen communication on risk-taking behaviors; and training professionals in this area of research.
Extension Educators
Rose Allen
Extension Regional Office, Farmington
4100 220th Street W, Suite 101
Farmington MN 55024
allen027@umn.edu
651-480-7745
Education
B.A., Human Ecology, Textile Design /General Home Economics, University of Minnesota
M.Ed., Adult Education, University of Minnesota
Programming
Rose works with the Parents Forever program, provides outreach for parenting teens and young children, and supports efforts to provide parent education through the internet and other new technology. Rose moderates the Family Education Network, a listserv for professionals who work with families in the metro area.
Colleen Gengler
Extension Regional Office, Worthington
1567 McMillan St, Suite 6
Worthington MN 56187
cgengler@umn.edu
507-372-3907
Education
B.S., Home Economics, University of Minnesota
M.Ed., Counseling, Guidance and Personnel Services, South Dakota State University
Programming
For over 30 years, Colleen has worked in the area of parent and family education. She has done extensive professional training and materials development. Colleen's parent education work has a current emphasis on parenting teens. She has authored many materials on this topic. She is an instructor for an on-line course for professionals on teen research and is a trainer and facilitator for customized training and selected curriculum. She also works with work/family life management.
Ellie McCann
Extension Regional Office, Moorhead
715 11th Street N, Suite 107 C
Moorhead MN 56560
Mccan023@umn.edu
218-236-2009
Education
B.S., Human Development and Family Studies, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.
M.A., Human Development and Family Studies, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Programming
Ellie has been working with children and families for 20 years in community and University childcare settings. She has developed and taught numerous classes and trainings to professionals and students on child development, life span development, and early childhood. She currently works with the Extension Parents Forever program.
Jo Musich
Extension Regional Office, Grand Rapids
1861 E. U.S. Highway 169
Grand Rapids MN 55744
Music001@umn.edu
218-327-5963
Education
B.S., Home Economics Education, University of Minnesota, St. Paul
M.Ed., Family Life, University of Minnesota, Duluth
Programming
As part of the Parents Forever team Jo conducts research, writes, trains and is a frequent conference presenter. Her projects include the We Agree Evaluation, stepfamily research, and balancing work/ life research. Jo's particular areas of interest are families going through the transitions of divorce, separation and forming new families.
Kathleen Olson
Extension Regional Office, Rochester
863 30th Ave SE,
Rochester MN 55904
kaolson@umn.edu
507-536-6306
Education
B.S., Home Economics Education, University of Wisconsin-Stout
M.S., Home Economics Education, University of Wisconsin-Stout
Programming
Kathleen is involved in parent education programs including Positive Parenting, Positive Discipline, and Parent/School Connections. She has co-authored many parenting materials and training curricula and conducts parent education training workshops. Kathleen also provides support to the Families with Teens program with emphasis on parent/teen relationships. She has written several parenting publications and contributed to Research Updates. Her involvement in other Family Relations initiatives include balancing work and family and family systems.
Patricia Stoppa
Extension Regional Office, Andover
Bunker Hills Act Office L-1
550 Bunker Lake Blvd. NW
Andover, MN 55304-4199
pstoppa@umn.edu
763-767-3836
Education
B.A., Translation and Language Education, National University of Cordoba.
M.S., Applied Linguistics, Minnesota State University, Mankato
She also holds several certifications in multicultural education.
Programming
Patricia works with agencies and community organizations that provide outreach to Latino families. She has extensive work experience in community outreach education and was an Extension Educator in Southwest Minnesota.
Minnell Tralle
Extension Educator
Extension Regional Office, Andover
550 Bunker Lake Blvd NW, Suite L-1
Andover, MN 55304-4190
trall001@umn.edu
763-767-3881
Education
B.S., Home Economics, University of Minnesota
M.Ed., Home Economics Education, Family Education emphasis, University of Minnesota
Programming
Minnell has worked as an Extension Educator for the past 30 years teaching youth development, leadership development, family relationships, and parent education. She co-authored Positive Parenting I & II and the Parents Forever curricula. Minnell served as the statewide coordinator of Parents Forever and trains professionals in both curriculums. Minnell's current work includes training and curriculum development for the Parents Forever program, evaluation, and technology-enhanced learning.
