UMR CONNECTS - Free professional speaker series

Free events every Tuesday at 7pm - (downtown Rochester)

The University of Minnesota Rochester strives to sustain an open exchange of ideas in an environment that embodies the values of academic freedom, responsibility, integrity, and cooperation. In support of this, UMR has launched a weekly series for the Rochester community and visitors titled "UMR CONNECTS".

Events will take place Every Tuesday at 7:00 PM and, following a specific theme each month, this weekly showcase will connect you to speakers, authors, panels, etc. on a variety of engaging topics. Upcoming themes include:

• May ~ Gastronomic Adventure!
• June ~ Performing Live
• July ~ Journeys - Remarkable Life Stories
• August ~ Spirituality and World Religion
• September ~ International and World Affairs
• October ~ Outer and Inner Spaces
• November ~ Life Stages

UMR CONNECTS is committed to supporting the University's overall mission of public engagement and outreach by fostering connections between the University, its students, and those who live in or visit our community. No pre-registration is required, and we hope you will join us!

Questions? Please contact Nick Anderson at 507-258-8053 or andersnj@r.umn.edu

May Theme ~ Gastronomic Adventure!

May 28 ~ The Unique Aspects of Indian Cooking and Culture

Have you always been intrigued by Indian cuisine and culture? Or have you always wanted to try cooking authentic Indian food but have been too intimidated by all of the unique ingredients? Here's your chance to find out more! Elizabeth, Vijay, and Kavi Chawla are excited to give you a brief history and introduction to the unique aspects of Indian cooking and culture, as well as learn about the challenges and excitement of starting a new company, Kaveli. Plan to come taste, and learn about the unique aspects of Indian cooking and culture!

Elizabeth, Vijay, and Kavi Chawla

Elizabeth Chawla is combining her love of art with her love of food, through her new Indian food company, Kaveli: An Indian Culinary Experience. Kaveli is a line of gourmet, Indian kits and mixes that are all based on her mother-in-law, Vijay’s family recipes. Kaveli kits and mixes allow the home cook to create authentic Indian food in the way it was traditionally prepared.

Elizabeth obtained her Bachelors degree in Art from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Along with compiling many years of work in restaurants she attended The New Zealand School of Food and Wine, where she learned the basics of French Cooking and also completed a course on wine, and received a Certificate in New Zealand Wine. She is also almost complete with obtaining her Wisconsin Cheesemakers License.

Dr. Vijay Chawla is a pediatrician who practices with the Mayo Clinic in Austin, Minnesota. She is constantly being asked for cooking lessons, and for the past few years has auctioned off her home cooked Indian dinners to benefit the American Red Cross for up to $1,400! Ironically, she was never as interested in cooking as she was in medicine, until she started her family and realized that someone needed to cook for them! Luckily, it was not too late for her to learn! She has since spent endless hours in the kitchen, cooking marvelous meals that she learned from her late mother, Sumitra, an amazing woman who practiced perfect etiquette and prided herself on never taking shortcuts in the kitchen.

As an entrepreneur, Kavi Chawla’s passion is starting and building new companies. As Co-Founder of Kaveli, Kavi is responsible for setting the broader strategic vision of the company and supporting the execution of its strategic plan. In addition to his role at Kaveli, Kavi is primarily involved in working on the ethical and productive deployment of financial capital. This includes serving as Founder and Managing Director at Nur Global Strategies (Chicago based a business development and growth strategy advisory firm), Founder and Managing Principal at Azka Capital (a Malaysia based ethical investment advisory firm), Investment Partner and Advisor to Impact Investment Partners (a London based impact asset management and advisory firm), and Advisor to the Corporate Governance and Sustainability Center (a Turkey based advisory firm).

Kavi’s previous professional experience includes serving with the Equity Capital Markets team of Deutsche Bank’s investment bank in London, and serving as a research fellow with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). Kavi is a featured lecturer and panelist at many investment and financial services forums and conferences globally. Kavi also sits on the International Advisory Council at Drake University, where he also serves as a Global Practitioner in Residence. Kavi earned his Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from the Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, his Masters in International Affairs (MIA) from the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) at Columbia University, New York, New York, and his Bachelors of Arts (BA) from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.

Are you ready for the UMR CONNECTS outdoor season? Enjoy our weekly events outside, on the Peace Plaza every Tuesday night this summer! (June, July, August, weather permitting).

June Theme ~ Performing Live

June 4 ~ Jared Mauck The “King of Zing!” (outside, on the Peace Plaza)

Jared entered a stand-up comedy competition at the age of 19, and came in 1st out of 100 contestants. That ignited his passion for stand-up and he has never given up on the dream. Married with four children, he is the other half of the kind of “Facebook” couple he mocks during his routines. Though his comedy is laced with his signature sarcastic “Zing”, Jared is an extremely likable and soft-hearted man. He Has performed in front of all different audiences for over 15 years.

Jared Mauck, Comedian: http://www.jaredmauck.com/

June 11 ~ Confessions of a Belly Dancer (outside, on the Peace Plaza)

Have you ever wondered what it was like to be a professional belly dancer? Terri Allred will share the rich history, current interest and sometimes hilarious inside world of belly dance while she takes you on a visual journey through various styles of Middle Eastern dance. Egyptian cabaret, American Tribal Style, Fusion and Folkloric dance will come alive as you are lost in a world of costumes, swords, veils, and canes.

Sadiya and troupe

Terri Allred didn’t aspire to be a professional belly dancer when she grew up. After a head injury left her unable to work in her professional field, she began the journey to health in a belly dance class. She soon realized the unique value of Middle Eastern dance for Western women. Terri owns Rochester International Dance Studio and is the Executive Director for Join the Journey. She has a loving and supportive family comprised of boys who, sadly, do not belly dance with her.

June 18 ~ Dovetailers (outside, on the Peace Plaza)

As a real-life couple, songwriting team, and acoustic duo, Brandon and Heather Sampson get plenty of opportunities on a daily basis to live up to the definition of their name, The Dovetailers. Trying to separate their love story, from their combined love of music is impossible. They met at a live music venue, spent their courtship years singing along to Sun Volt, Juliana Hatfield, The Drive-by-Truckers, and the Old 97's to name a few. With honesty, heartbreak, and humor, they explore the day-to-day life of lovers with simple instruments and straightforward harmony.

Brandon and Heather Sampson

June 25 ~ Healing Humanity with Art (outside, on the Peace Plaza)

Artists have, for ages, created works that create opportunities for healing and human development through the use of the visual language. Growing up and facing her own humanity and feeling a deep responsibility for helping others, Johanna's artistic conversation is based in the healing and development of humans both personally and universally. She will speak on her experience as a healer, an artist and her own personal struggles that have shaped her work.

Johanna Jones, was born and raised in Minnesota. She spent her childhood running around outside in her home town Northfield. In college she fell ill and turned to alternative medicine for healing. During this time she began practicing Qi Gong and it grew into a central aspect of her life and Art. She lived in California for seven years and returned to her home state to have a family and cultivate herself as an artist and a healer. She currently lives and works in Northfield Minnesota. She loves to travel and stay connected to the people she knows and love, and has yet to know and love, all around the globe.

July Theme ~ Journeys - Remarkable Life Stories

July 9 ~ Sharing Stories Through Song (outside, on the Peace Plaza)

Founded in 1985, Choral Arts Ensemble (CAE) is a highly selective vocal ensemble of forty volunteer singers, all of whom are carefully selected for their musicianship and their ability to work together to promote our organizational mission; singers do not have tenure and must re-audition annually to perform with the ensemble. The singers of CAE are active community members from a wide variety of professions, all drawn together to create excellent music and contribute to the thriving arts community in and around Rochester and southern Minnesota, northern Iowa, and western Wisconsin.

In addition to its paid accompanist, CAE occasionally hires both professional instrumentalists and vocal soloists as dictated by programming needs. Choral Arts Ensemble holds a unique position and reputation in the area it serves. CAE is regarded as the region’s premier organization dedicated to the creation and performance of choral music of all eras and genres, including premiere performances of newly commissioned choral works. The organization has a strong history of audience growth and retention as well as a successful record of program expansion, while maintaining its reputation of excellence.

Artistic Director Rick Kvam has loved choral music his whole life, and holds music degrees from Harvard and Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Rick founded the Rochester Men’s Capella in 1982, the Choral Arts Ensemble in 1985, and the SE Minnesota Honors Choirs in 1992. He has won the Sally Ordway Award for arts initiative and the Mayor’s Award for artistic excellence. Married to accompanist Jan Kvam for 23 years, he has also worked for nearly 20 years as an emergency medicine physician at OMC hospital.

July 16 ~ Breast Milk Project (outside, on the Peace Plaza)

Jill Youse is the founder of the International Breast Milk Project.

Youse is an honors graduate of Truman State University, where she played college soccer. She currently lives in Minnesota with her husband, 2 daughters, and 3 dogs. Youse has been featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show,Time.com, ABC World News, BBC, and National Public Radio. She was named the Women's Health Magazine Action Hero, ABC World News Person of the Week, and most recently she earned a Social Entrepreneur Award from Social Venture Partners.

July 23 ~ The Shannon O’Hara Foundation (outside, on the Peace Plaza)

At the age of 12, Shannon was diagnosed on April 15, 2011 with a brainstem glioma tumor (DIPG). This was a terminal diagnosis as this type of tumor is inoperable and incurable. Shannon fought her nine month battle with determination and grace until passing away on January 6, 2012. The Shannon O'Hara Foundation Mission: Shannon lived her life with a positive attitude, always working hard for what she wanted, and being a good friend and teammate. In her memory, this foundation will support youth who carry on those ideals by awarding scholarships. In addition, funds will be used to support brain tumor research as we work towards a cure.

July 30 ~ Mathew Sanford (outside, on the Peace Plaza)

August Theme ~ Spirituality and World Religion

August 6 ~ On Being (outside, on the Peace Plaza)

August 13 ~

August 20 ~

August 27 ~

September Theme ~ International and World Affairs

September 3 ~

September 10 ~

September 17 ~

September 24 ~

October Theme ~ Outer and Inner Spaces

October 1 ~

October 8 ~

October 15 ~

October 22 ~

October 29 ~

November Theme ~ Life Stages

November 5 ~

November 12 ~

November 19 ~

November 26 ~

Watch for further updates and specific details of upcoming sessions! Please check out our Event Calendar for a full list of events happening at UMR.