SPEAKER BIOS
President Rebecca Cunningham
Dr. Rebecca Cunningham began her appointment as the 18th President of the University of Minnesota System on July 1, 2024. As President, Dr. Cunningham is committed to working closely with the U of M community and Minnesotans broadly to shape a strong vision for the five-campus system and execute innovative strategies that achieve excellence in fulfilling the University’s three-part land-grant mission of teaching, research, and outreach. President Cunningham also has a faculty appointment in the School of Public Health's Division of Epidemiology & Community Health.
Dr. Cunningham most recently served as the Vice President for Research and Innovation at the University of Michigan, where she was responsible for fostering excellence and upholding the institution’s public mission in research, scholarship, and creative practice across three campuses and a health system. In 2019, Dr. Cunningham was elected to the National Academy of Medicine, and in 2023, Crain’s Detroit Business recognized Dr. Cunningham as a “Notable Leader in Higher Education.”
Dr. Cunningham holds a bachelor’s degree from Fairfield University and a medical doctorate from Jefferson Medical College. She completed her residency in emergency medicine at the University of Michigan Health System and a postdoctoral research fellowship with the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
Professor Theresa Glomb
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Professor Theresa Glomb is the Toro Company–David M. Lilly Chair of Organizational Behavior at the Carlson School of Management and serves as Department Chair for the Work and Organizations Department. She earned her PhD in social, organizational, and individual differences psychology from the University of Illinois, and her BA in psychology from DePaul University. Theresa’s research is centered on workplace well-being, with a passion for understanding how emotions, mood, and the balance of work and family life shape the human experience at work. And for the past 30 years, she and her colleagues have conducted rigorous research showing how small changes designed to bring greater intentionality and meaning to one’s work can have a big impact on work and wellbeing. Professor Glomb helps others create positive experiences at work by fostering growth, happiness, and satisfaction. In her talk, she will share with us simple, evidence-based habits and practices to improve our working lives.
When she’s not reshaping how we think about the workplace, Professor Glomb enjoys hiking and spending time at her cabin up north, especially with her extended family and friends. She and her college-aged kids do a big hiking trip each year. Professor Glomb loves seeing live music, especially concerts with her kids. She has two college kids at other Big Ten universities that she hesitates to mention, but she swears that when she goes to a Wisconsin Badgers game, she only roots for the band–and the band always wins! Although her kids are at those other Big Ten universities, other people who are like children to her–her two nieces and a dear family friend--are UMN students or grads. She loves Goldy, and enjoys Gopher games, and even co-taught a class with our Football Coach, PJ Fleck.
Riley Hetland
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Riley Hetland is currently serving as the president of the Undergraduate Student Government. She is going into her third and final year in the College of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resource Sciences, where she majors in Environmental Sciences, Policy and Management with an emphasis in Policy, Planning, Law, and Society. She is also pursuing a minor in Social Justice in the College of Education and Human Development. After graduation, she hopes to attend law school to become an environmental attorney.
Riley is from Apple Valley, Minnesota, and loves spending time outdoors with her family and friends!
Dr. Betsy McCann
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Dr. Elizabeth (Betsy) Kerns McCann is the Assistant Director of Bands/Director of Marching and Athletic Bands at the University of Minnesota. McCann is the first female head director of a marching band in the Big Ten Conference. She started with the U of M Marching Band in 2013 as Assistant Director. She previously directed bands at Watertown-Mayer High School (Watertown, MN), Waubonsie Valley High School (Aurora, Illinois) and Burnsville Senior High School (Burnsville, Minnesota). She holds degrees from Northwestern University (Master of Music) and the University of Minnesota (Bachelor and Doctor of Music).
Charlotte Baker
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Charlotte Baker is from Lakeville, Minnesota and graduated from Lakeville South High School in 2023. During high school, Charlotte participated in Science Olympiad, National Honor Society, concert band, pep band, jazz band, and marching band. Her senior year, she led her high school’s marching band as one of three drum majors. Currently in her junior year at the University of Minnesota, Charlotte is majoring in Chemical Engineering in the College of Science and Engineering. After graduating, she plans to continue her education with a master's degree in engineering and eventually pursue a career in sustainable energy. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, playing video games, practicing guitar, and drawing.
Urban Sound
As the youngest group on the University of Minnesota campus, Urban Sound has brought new competition to the face of the a cappella community. Urban Sound is a student-run, gender inclusive a cappella ensemble at the University of Minnesota. The group provides singers with an opportunity to combine their love of singing with meaningful outreach. Urban Sound entertains audiences of both the U of M and throughout the Twin Cities area with concerts, events, and benefits. Urban Sound strives to be a part of the community through service and awareness of local issues. Each year, the group collectively selects a charity they all strongly support, and a portion of the season's showcase proceeds go towards this respected foundation. They pride themselves in their shared love for music and are happy to consider their members like family.
