The Extension Department of Youth Development offers out-of-school time research and evaluation for youth work professionals. Policy makers, youth program staff and all youth development stakeholders come to us for the latest on important issues in the field. We also run the Minnesota 4-H program. Check out our youth work classes!
The Extension Department of Family, Health and Wellbeing offers research-backed advice to families and those who serve them.
Family, Health and Wellbeing contacts
Transgender youth questions:
Cari Michaels, Extension educator
cmichael@umn.edu
Teen development questions:
Jodi Dworkin, Extension specialist
jdworkin@umn.edu
Communication and screen time questions:
Jodi Dworkin, Extension specialist
jdworkin@umn.edu
Overindulgence in parenting questions:
Parents Forever questions:
If you have questions about the following programs, use this contact form and we will get back to you:
- Partnering for School Success — CYFAR project
- Education: Our Best Legacy
- Effective Family Engagement Workshop
- Parenting for School Success: A Guide for Parents
- Positive Discipline: A Guide for Parents
- Other Partnering for School Success resources
- Open Doors with Higher Education
- School Success website
Youth Development contacts
Jennifer Skuza, associate dean and state 4-H director
skuza@umn.edu, 612-624-7798
Becky Harrington, director of operations and systems
willi107@umn.edu, 612-624-7974
Jan Derdowski, program leader, youth development
derdo003@umn.edu, 218-341-6231
Nancy Hegland, program leader, youth development
nhegland@umn.edu, 651-480-7709
Kristen Hurley, program leader, youth development
hurleyk@umn.edu, 507-258-8779
Leah Larson, program leader, youth development
lars3286@umn.edu, 612-624-7752
Kari Robideau, program leader, youth development
robideau@umn.edu, 218-236-2013
Anne Stevenson, Extension educator
steve020@umn.edu, 763-767-3883
Betsy Olson Minnaert, Extension educator
betolson@umn.edu, 763-767-3847
Brian McNeill, Extension educator and associate Extension professor
mcnei006@umn.edu, 320-589-1711
Carrie Ann Olson, Extension educator
olson166@umn.edu, 1-320-589-1711
Jacquie Lonning, state program director, citizenship & leadership
jlonning@umn.edu, 612-624-2116
Karyn Santl, Extension educator
santl001@umn.edu, 218-463-0293
Kate Walker, Extension professor and specialist, youth work practice
kcwalker@umn.edu, 612-624-7988
Jeremy Freeman, Extension educator
jeremyf@umn.edu, 218-828-2386
Jessica Russo, Extension educator
pier0239@umn.edu, 1-612-624-7625
Joanna Tzenis, associate Extension professor
tzeni004@umn.edu, 612-625-9771
Joseph Rand, Extension educator
joerand@umn.edu, 320-203-6064
Karen Beranek, Extension educator
kberanek@umn.edu, 507-337-2818
Kathryn Sharpe, Extension educator
shar0056@umn.edu, 612-624-7562
Margo Bowerman, Extension educator
mbowerma@umn.edu, 218-281-8695
Marisa Coyne, volunteer systems director and Extension educator
mcoyne@umn.edu, 612-624-8443
Melissa Persing, Extension educator
persi002@umn.edu, 218-236-2317
Nicole Pokorney, Extension educator
pokorney@umn.edu, 507-536-6304
Patrick Jirik, Extension educator
pjirik@umn.edu, 507-536-6303
Rebecca Meyer, Extension educator
meyer178@umn.edu, 1-218-726-6467
Renee Kostick, Extension educator
hinkx001@umn.edu, 218-232-5174
Sharon Davis, animal science director and Extension educator
davis051@umn.edu, 507-369-6896
Todd Mehrkens, academic technologist
toddmehr@umn.edu, 612-624-8191