Student Services Staff

Jay Bell

H. T. Morse Distinguished Teaching Professor
Associate Dean of Academic Programs and Faculty Affairs

Jay BelI was born and raised in Blacksburg, Virginia and spent much of my youth hiking and fishing in Southern Appalachian Mountains. I received my B.S. and M.S. degree in Agronomy from Virginia Tech and moved on to work in surface mine reclamation research in far southwestern Virginia for four years. After my wife and I started our family, we moved north where I completed my doctorate in Soil Science at the Pennsylvania State University in 1990. I joined the faculty at the University of Minnesota as an assistant professor in January of 1991. I have lived and worked internationally in Australia and Morocco and developed a research and teaching program focusing on the ecology of wetland soils, soil geomorphology, and applications of geographic information science to problems of soil mapping. I have taught courses in soil conservation, geographic information science, soil genesis landscape relations, wetland soils, introduction to environmental science, and soils and geology field trips around the upper Midwest. My passion always has been and will always be teaching. I find working with students and programs for our students to be the most exciting and rewarding aspects of my time here at the University of Minnesota.

I assumed the duties of Associate Dean in July of 2007. This position presents many challenges as well as many opportunities to help our college serve our students in the most effective way possible. We have a very talented staff in student services and they are a joy to work with on a daily basis.

Aside from my duties at the University I enjoy traveling with my wife, fishing and backpacking, snowshoeing, playing the guitar and ballroom dancing. I have two sons that I love to spend time with and enjoy taking long walks with our Golden Retriever.

Email: bellx007@umn.edu
Phone: 612-625-6703

Bill Ganzlin

Director of Student Services

I grew up in Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin, a small town along the Wisconsin River in southern Wisconsin. I completed a B.S. degree in Natural Resources (’78) and an M.S. degree in Forestry (’83) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Prior to coming to the University, I worked for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN and the Chequamegon National Forest, WI.

I provide leadership for the CFANS Student Services Office. Services for undergraduate students include new student orientation, academic advising, scholarships, and commencement. In addition, I serve as the CFANS Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) Coordinator; Undergraduate Research Program Committee Chair; CFANS Student Scholastic Standing Committee Chairperson;  member of the Undergraduate Policy and Review Committee, and CFANS Student Board Advisor.

Email: bganzlin@umn.edu
Phone: 612-624-3047

Laura Dupont-Jarrett, Ph.D., L.P.

Chief of Staff for Associate Dean Jay Bell

Hi there. I grew up in St. Louis, Missouri and attended the University of Missouri at Columbia for my bachelor’s degree, double-majoring in psychology and French. I participated in an exchange program to England in high school, and studied abroad in France during college—both hugely impactful experiences. I completed my master’s and doctoral degrees in Counseling and Student Personnel Psychology here at the U, focusing my research on attitudes towards cultural difference. During my studies, I worked in a variety of student services positions, including working as an adviser at the University of Missouri, for the former College of Human Ecology, the College of Liberal Arts, and the department of African-American and African Studies. I also worked as a counselor for University Counseling and Consulting Services, and completed a practicum with International Student and Scholar Services, facilitating discussion/support groups for international students. My therapy training and practice has included providing individual and group therapy to clients at the Neighborhood Involvement Program, at the phone hotline Crisis Connection, and the University of Missouri’s Counseling Center. I’m a licensed psychologist in the state of MN. My most recent work was in administration and as a faculty member teaching graduate courses in psychology at Capella University.

With free time, I most love international travel and being active in the outdoors (camping, hiking, sea-kayaking, x-co skiing) though those activities are now modified to include my family. I’ve loved my travels to various places in Europe, honeymooning in New Zealand and Samoa, and most recently travelling to Australia, France, and the Caribbean.

I began my role as Chief of Staff for Associate Dean Jay Bell in the summer of 2012. I’m excited to be part of a college and student services unit focusing on diverse perspectives, experiential education and intercultural competence.

Email: ldj@umn.edu
Phone: 612-626-3975

Lauren McCarthy

Academic Programs Coordinator and Advisor

Lauren joined CFANS as the undergraduate scholarship coordinator in 2012 and added roles in faculty affairs and advising for the sustainability studies minor. Lauren worked with scholarships, orientation services, and Honors students at the University of Iowa. She has also worked for Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions, teaching and tutoring prep classes for the ACT, SAT, LSAT, and GRE. She received her BA in Political Science and International Studies from the University of Iowa and her MPhil in Latin American Studies from Cambridge University. Originally from Des Moines, Iowa, Lauren now lives in Minneapolis near the Mississippi River.

Contact Lauren with questions about CFANS scholarships, the Sustainability Studies minor, and faculty affairs issues related to committees, awards, leaves, and promotion and tenure.

Email: lfmccart@umn.edu
Phone: 612-626-5602

Karen Sprengeler

Student Services Coordinator

Karen was born and raised in West St. Paul, MN. Before coming to the University of Minnesota, she worked in Washington, D.C. for a United States Senator and then in Nebraska running her own business.

Karen became a University of Minnesota staff member in the College of Natural Resources in July of 1997 and most recently joined the Student Services staff in the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences.

Contact Karen for information about:

• New student orientation
• Course scheduling - ECS, ECAS and PCAS
• Commencement
• Freshman and undergraduate portals
• General questions relating to student services and support

   

Email: ksprenge@umn.edu
Phone: 612-625-5233

Diane Andersson

Executive Office and Administrative Specialist

Born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Graduated from the University of Minnesota. Moved to Nevada in 1980 and joined the University of Nevada, working for Student Services related offices.

Joined the CFANS team in 2001 where I am currently employed in Student Services related work as well. I try to make it a "one-stop shop" for all students to help them avoid the "run around."

Contact Diane for information about:

• Re-admittance to CFANS
• Scheduling advising appointments for Bio-Based Products, Fisheries/Wildlife, and Forest Resource Management majors.
• The orientation process for new students
• Finding a professor or a class
• General forms processing such as petitions forms, leave of absence forms, course conflict forms, change of major forms, adding a minor forms, scholastic clearance forms, and re-admittance forms
• Adding or dropping a class in CFANS
• Any and all general questions concerning undergraduate students

   

Email: danderss@umn.edu
Phone: 612-624-7254

Kay Ellingson

Executive Office and Administrative Specialist

Kay grew up on a dairy farm near a small town in western Wisconsin. After technical school and working for a few years she began her career at the University of Minnesota in 1987 with the Department of Surgery. She moved to the St. Paul campus’ College of Natural Resources in 1999 which is now the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences.

Kay provides:

• administrative support to the Director of Student Services, Bill Ganzlin and Associate Dean, Jay Bell with meeting schedules, CFANS curriculum committee meeting minutes, probation, UROP and the Norway Study Abroad program.

• back-up for daily operations of the front office of student services including phone and walk-in assistance, addressing student issues such as admission, readmission, leave of absence, one-time late drops, registration, academic holds, petitions and advising appointments.

Email: kellings@umn.edu
Phone: 612-624-6280

Admissions Staff

Stacie Vennewitz

Assistant Director of Admissions

Stacie Vennewitz is the Assistant Director for the Office of Admissions and the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS). She is responsible for freshman recruitment and implementation of recruitment strategies to CFANS. She leads efforts in planning and coordinating on and off-campus visits and events, as well as serving on a number of Admissions and college committees. She has served the Office of Admissions since 1996.

Stacie is proud to have grown up on a fifth-generation crop and livestock farm outside of Morris, MN. She is a 1993 graduate from the College with a Scientific and Technical Communications degree with an emphasis in Animal Science. She is also a former Admissions tour guide and College ambassador!

Email: dosda001@umn.edu
Phone: 612-624-4748

Sarah Lindholm

Freshman Admissions Counselor

My hometown is Manitowoc, Wisconsin. I attended the U of M, Twin Cities (CFANS!) and graduated with a degree in Nutrition—Didactic Program in Dietetics. I loved the opportunities the U of M offers to students, its beautiful campus, and its many degree options. I came here from Wisconsin so I could move to a new area and start a new chapter in life.

As an admissions counselor, I help high school students during their college search process. I enjoy helping students find a college that's a good fit for their interests and career dreams.

My advice to all incoming students is to get involved on campus! When you do that, you'll meet new people, get to know your college better, grow your network, and have lots of fun. Also, be sure to check out the CFANS Dairy Store on the St. Paul campus.

Email: sarahl@umn.edu
Phone: 612-625-3284

Advising Staff

Mark Bellcourt

Program Coordinator, Access to Success

Many Indigenous people have certain protocols for introductions. In keeping with the protocols of my Ojibwe ancestors, please allow me to introduce myself first Ojibwemong:

Boozhoo, Mark Bellcourt niin indizhinikaaz zhaanaashiimong. Bimose Inini idash nindigo Ojibwemong. Gaawiin ningikenimaasii indoodem. Gaa-Waabaabiganikaag niin indoojibaa. Ashkibugziibing nindayendaa noongom.

Greetings, my English name is Mark Bellcourt. However, I am called Walking Man in Ojibwe. I do not know my clan. I come from White Earth, but now I live in St. Paul.

I earned my Ed.D. from the University of Minnesota in 2005 in higher education policy and administration. My research interests are in Indigenous worldviews of math and science and how they can be better integrated into the mainstream curriculum. My master’s degree is in counseling and psychological services and bachelor’s degree in educational psychology and communications. I am currently the Coordinator for the Access to Success (ATS) program in the College of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Sciences (CFANS) and academic adviser in the College of Education and Human Development.

Email: bellc001@umn.edu
Phone: 612-625-3916

Sheryl Bolstad

Academic Advisor

Sheryl completed a BS degree in Forestry from SUNY Syracuse, College of Environmental Science and Forestry. She held temporary positions with the US Forest Service in Utah and Maine before returning for an MS degree in Forest Genetics from NCSU in Raleigh, NC. After that, she directed forest genetics research for a forest products company in Colombia, South America for three years, followed by work as a forest geneticist with the US Forest Service and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

Sheryl began working at the University of Minnesota in Student Services with the College of Natural Resources (CNR) in 1995. She is currently the academic advisor for three majors.

Contact Sheryl for information about:

• Environmental Sciences, Policy and Management (ESPM)

• Horticultural Science

• Applied Plant Science (APS)

Email: sbolstad@umn.edu
Phone: 612-624-3034

Gary Cooper

Academic Advisor

Gary Cooper joined the Department of Applied Economics in October 1999 as a full time P/A undergraduate coordinator working in tandem with the College on enrollment management efforts in support of the Bachelor of Science programs in Agricultural and Food Business Management and in Applied Economics. His original duties were to advise all freshmen students entering the department, assist the two major coordinators with student service activities and programmatic issues, and teach ApEc 1001, “Orientation to Applied Economics,” a one-credit required course for all majors.

Gary’s responsibilities in the Department and in the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) have evolved over the past eight years. In our Department, he retains his original duties and also teaches ApEc 1905, “Freshman Seminar: The Ordinary Business of Life,” which he developed in 2004. In CFANS Student Services his duties have included working as an academic advisor for freshman majors in Animal Science (in 2002), assisting the Director of Student Services in co-advising partnership students at Southwest Minnesota State University (in 2003 - 04), and directing the College’s Student Learning Communities initiative (2004 - 06). Currently, Gary assists the major coordinator of the Agricultural Industries and Marketing major (2002 - present) and has transitioned into a leadership role within CFANS as directing the old collegiate honors program (2008 - present).

Email: coope056@umn.edu
Phone: 612-625-0213

Tracene Marshall, M.Ed

Academic Advisor

Tracene was raised in the Ohio’s steel valley. She attended Kent State University and in 1981 she received a BA in Political Science and a M.Ed in Higher Education Administration in 1992. She has provided academic advising and career counseling to diverse groups of students for over sixteen years. Tracene has previously worked at Oberlin College, St Catherine College, Hamline University, Carleton College, and Concordia University. She enjoys assisting students with their overall academic and personal development and believes it is important to support and challenge students as they persist through graduation.

Tracene comes to CFANS from the CLA Arts Community. She is the primary advisor for freshmen in Forest Resources, Bioproducts Marketing and Management, and Fisheries and Wildlife Departments and helps them navigate their first year experience. Also, she serves as a referral person for all students, in the previously stated departments, with questions/issues regarding academic requirements. In addition, Tracene supports the Admission Office recruitment of prospective students for these respective majors.

Contact Tracene for information about:

• Academic advising for freshman students in Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, Forest Resources,  and Fisheries and Wildlife Departments

• Requirements for the majors in the above stated department

• Students on probation in the above stated departments

• Freshman mid-term alerts

• Current Students transfer credit and general requirement questions in the above stated departments

• Advisor holds

• APAS questions for students in the above stated departments

Email: marsh318@umn.edu
Phone: 612-625-0266

Cassandra (Cassie) Peterson

Academic Advisor and Recruiter

Cassie was born in Honolulu, Hawaii and raised in Forest Lake, Minnesota. Despite her tropical origins, she loves everything about Minnesota weather. She earned her B.A. in English Literature from the University of Minnesota in 2009, is a member of the Gamma Phi Beta Sorority, and served as Assistant Advisor for the Red Wing chapter of FFA. During Cassie's final year of undergraduate study, she became involved with agricultural education and then began her formal studies as an Agricultural Education major. She has a strong writing background, and loves to apply that toward her Agricultural Education interests.

Some of Cassie's favorite undergraduate memories include her involvement with the Gamma Phi Beta Sorority, attending numerous Gopher sporting events, and her summer abroad in London.

Cassie is the undergraduate Academic Advisor for these two CFANS majors:

• Agricultural Education

• Agricultural Industries and Marketing

Email: clpeters@umn.edu
Phone: 612-624-6242

Robin Perez

Academic Advisor

Robin Perez is a transplant from Indiana, arriving in Minnesota in February 2004.  She earned her BA and MA degrees in Media Arts and Interpersonal Communication from Purdue University before moving from Indiana to Minnesota.  Robin worked as an Online Academic Advisor as well as Adjunct Communications instructor before joining the University of Minnesota as an Academic Advisor for CFANS.

Robin has worked with a very diverse student population, ranging from middle and high school students in early college preparatory programs such as TRIO, to “nontraditional” students (i.e., individuals returning to school to retrain for a new career), to graduate and doctoral students.

Robin’s advising philosophy is strengths based, with emphasis given to identifying an area of interest and matching that with the individual advisee’s skill and ability to succeed academically.

Contact Robin for information about:

• Program requirements and general information for majors in Food Science, Nutrition

• Adding a second major in CFANS to an existing major degree plan

• Mapping out a four year projected graduation date for FSCN degree majors

• What to expect as a first year undergraduate student

Email: rsperez@umn.edu
Phone: 612-625-9858

Gretchen Rozeboom

Academic Advisor

Gretchen is originally from Southwest Missouri, where she was raised on a diversified farming operation consisting of dairy and beef cattle, and row crops. Additionally, she was active in 4-H for ten years and holds the American FFA degree. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Science in Agriculture from the University of Missouri in Columbia, with emphasis in Animal Science, Food Science, and Agriculture Journalism. Upon graduation, she began working for the University of Georgia in Athens, first as a research technician and then as an animal facilities supervisor. In 1999, she moved to Tennessee as an Agricultural Extension Agent for 4-H Programs in Obion County. In July 2000, she accepted a position to teach high school agriculture and advise the Westview FFA Chapter in Martin, TN. She completed a post-baccalaureate in Agriculture Education in 2003, and a Master's degree in School Administration and Supervision/Leadership in 2006, both from the University of Tennessee. In January 2007, she began her position as academic advisor for the Department of Animal Science in CFANS. She has taught AnSc 1001 since fall 2007, as well as AFEE 1002 in Spring 2009, and she has guest lectured in other AnSc and AFEE courses. Gretchen also oversees the internship program for the Animal Science Department (AnSc 4096).

Gretchen is married to Kyle and has three children, Kelton, Owen and Landrey. They currently raise beef cattle and show pigs. She enjoys activities with her family, cooking and baking, flower gardening and volunteering with 4-H, FFA and junior livestock events in both Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Please contact Gretchen about:

• General questions on the Animal Science undergraduate program

• VetFAST program

• Veterinary School Admissions Criteria

Email: groze@umn.edu
Phone: 612-624-2289