University of Minnesota

Bank of Marin Bancorp Announces Retirement of Robert Heller from Board of Directors

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, February 28, 2024

Bank of Marin Bancorp (NASDAQ: BMRC) and Bank of Marin, its wholly owned subsidiary, announce the retirement of Robert Heller from its board of directors effective May 13, 2024.

Key Points: 
  • Bank of Marin Bancorp (NASDAQ: BMRC) and Bank of Marin, its wholly owned subsidiary, announce the retirement of Robert Heller from its board of directors effective May 13, 2024.
  • Heller joined both Bank of Marin Bancorp and Bank of Marin boards in 2005.
  • “It has been a great pleasure to serve on the boards of Bank of Marin and Bank of Marin Bancorp, the preeminent community banking institution of northern California, for the last two decades.
  • During this time, the Bank grew its assets five-fold while maintaining a pristine credit quality and paying consistent dividends to its shareholders,” said Heller.

Niron Magnetics Secures Funding from Samsung Ventures, Allison Transmission and Magna to Accelerate Production of Rare Earth-Free Magnets

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 20, 2024

Niron Magnetics , the company pioneering the world's first high-performance, rare earth-free permanent magnets, today announced it has received $25 million in new strategic funding.

Key Points: 
  • Niron Magnetics , the company pioneering the world's first high-performance, rare earth-free permanent magnets, today announced it has received $25 million in new strategic funding.
  • Allison Ventures, the venture capital arm of Allison Transmission , leading designer and manufacturer of vehicle propulsion solutions, was also part of this funding round, along with one of the world’s largest automotive suppliers, Magna .
  • In addition to Samsung Ventures, Allison Transmission, and Magna, current investors Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community and University of Minnesota also participated in this round, providing additional funding.
  • "We look forward to collaborating closely with all of our investors and partners to work towards enabling a rare earth-free alternative in magnetics."

National Experts in Psychology, Addiction Counseling, and Clinical Services Join Kyros' Inaugural Independent Clinical Advisory Board

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 20, 2024

MINNEAPOLIS, Feb. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In a significant move to strengthen its commitment to addressing substance use disorders and enhancing community recovery efforts, Kyros is excited to announce the establishment of its Independent Clinical Advisory Board and the following appointments:

Key Points: 
  • The Clinical Advisory Board's mission is to independently advise Kyros leadership on improving care and outcomes for individuals with substance use disorders.
  • It does this by providing evidence-based recommendations, promoting collaboration among stakeholders, and driving continuous improvement in recovery care services.
  • Professor Helwig is the author of 10 open-source statistical software packages, which have amassed over 1,000,000 downloads in recent years.
  • Their profound expertise will play a pivotal role in tackling urgent issues such as the opioid epidemic, dual diagnosis, and the need for comprehensive recovery support services."

Rutgers Appoints 33 Research Fellows to Study a Key Gateway to Wealth for the Middle Class: Employee Share Ownership

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 13, 2024

The Rutgers Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing has announced the appointment of 33 research fellows to join its global network of scholars and subject matter experts.

Key Points: 
  • The Rutgers Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing has announced the appointment of 33 research fellows to join its global network of scholars and subject matter experts.
  • They will explore business models that enable workers to build wealth on top of wages, creating new opportunities to strengthen the middle class and close racial and gender wealth gaps.
  • “These fellows are advancing understanding of employee share ownership, profit sharing, and similar tools for sharing wealth and profits, in important ways.
  • The Institute is the world’s leading academic research hub dedicated to employee share ownership, equity compensation, profit sharing, and worker cooperatives.

2024 OREF Clinical Research Award Celebrates Study of Local Gene Therapy to Treat Osteoarthritis

Retrieved on: 
Friday, February 2, 2024

ROSEMONT, Ill. , Feb. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2024 Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation (OREF) Clinical Research Award was presented to Christopher H. Evans, PhD (Mayo Clinic), Steven C. Ghivizzani, PhD (University of Florida), and Paul D. Robbins, PhD (University of Minnesota), for their research on local gene therapy for osteoarthritis (OA).

Key Points: 
  • ROSEMONT, Ill. , Feb. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2024 Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation (OREF) Clinical Research Award was presented to Christopher H. Evans, PhD (Mayo Clinic), Steven C. Ghivizzani, PhD (University of Florida), and Paul D. Robbins, PhD (University of Minnesota), for their research on local gene therapy for osteoarthritis (OA).
  • Together, the team spearheaded the research from a laboratory concept to human clinical trials over the course of 30 years.
  • The OREF Award recognizes outstanding clinical research related to musculoskeletal disease or injury.
  • Evans, Ghivizzani and Robbins co-founded an arthritis gene therapy startup company, Genascence Corporation, which will help fund future clinical trials.

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Increases Mental Health Support for Students

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, January 31, 2024

NATICK, Mass., Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, today, announced a partnership with Uwill, the leading mental health and wellness solution for colleges and students, to supplement the college's existing counseling capabilities. Saint Mary's adds this teletherapy option at a time of increased mental health difficulties among college students nationwide. Uwill's proprietary technology facilitates immediate appointments with licensed mental health counselors based on student needs and preferences, and a direct crisis connection 24/7/365.

Key Points: 
  • NATICK, Mass., Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, today, announced a partnership with Uwill, the leading mental health and wellness solution for colleges and students, to supplement the college's existing counseling capabilities.
  • Saint Mary's adds this teletherapy option at a time of increased mental health difficulties among college students nationwide.
  • Uwill's proprietary technology facilitates immediate appointments with licensed mental health counselors based on student needs and preferences, and a direct crisis connection 24/7/365.
  • Uwill serves more than 2 million students from all 50 states at institutions including Drake University, Illinois College, Xavier University, and Merrimack College.

Sensydia Completes Fifth Study for Heart-Sound AI

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, January 16, 2024

Non-invasive cardiac assessment company Sensydia announced today that it has completed its 50-subject development study at the University of Minnesota (UMN).

Key Points: 
  • Non-invasive cardiac assessment company Sensydia announced today that it has completed its 50-subject development study at the University of Minnesota (UMN).
  • In January 2022, Sensydia announced that CPS was granted Breakthrough Device Designation by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
  • Sensydia plans to use data from this 50-subject study to develop the CPS pulmonary pressure algorithms.
  • The achievement of this 50-subject milestone comes at a time when Sensydia is actively executing Phase I of its new NIH award.

2024 UCA & UDA COLLEGE CHEERLEADING AND DANCE TEAM NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HONORS TOP TEAMS

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, January 16, 2024

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Jan. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Varsity Spirit – the global leader in cheerleading, dance team and band apparel, camps and competitions, and a division of Varsity Brands, the market leader in team sports, school spirit and achievement recognition – is pleased to announce that the University of Central Florida, University of South Florida, and University of Memphis cheerleading teams, and Louisiana State University, The Ohio State University, and University of Minnesota dance teams, among others, secured first place finishes at the 2024 UCA and UDA College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championship, respectively. The elite competition, produced by the Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) and Universal Dance Association (UDA), took place on January 12-14, 2024 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at The Walt Disney World® Resort.

Key Points: 
  • The elite competition, produced by the Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) and Universal Dance Association (UDA), took place on January 12-14, 2024 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at The Walt Disney World® Resort.
  • Last week, college cheerleading and dance teams traveled from across the U.S. to compete at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in hopes of winning a national title.
  • Cheerleading teams are judged on their stunting and tumbling skills, crowd-leading ability, and overall performance, while the dance competition is judged on choreography, technique, execution, and overall effect.
  • "This year's UCA and UDA College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championship marks our 30th year with our partners at The Walt Disney World Resort," said Bill Seely, President of Varsity Spirit.

Study by University of Oxford and University of Minnesota Finds Compelling Insights for the Future of Trust in AI Generated News

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, January 9, 2024

HeyWire AI , an AI content generation company, announced today the findings of a University of Oxford and University of Minnesota Special Artificial Intelligence Report on public trust of AI for the future of news.

Key Points: 
  • HeyWire AI , an AI content generation company, announced today the findings of a University of Oxford and University of Minnesota Special Artificial Intelligence Report on public trust of AI for the future of news.
  • The study was conducted by the University of Oxford and the University of Minnesota in collaboration with HeyWire AI, drawing from their AI-generated news.
  • HeyWire AI has launched the beta version of WELLS, the industry's first self-prompting, and fully autonomous AI news/content generation engine.
  • The methodology for the University of Oxford and University of Minnesota study includes a preregistered survey experiment fielded in September 2023, utilizing a quasi-representative sample of U.S. public demographics.

'Designated contrarians' could improve nonprofit boards by disrupting the kind of consensus and groupthink that contributed to the NRA's woes

Retrieved on: 
Friday, January 5, 2024

And yet, the NRA had a 76-member board of directors, as well as a designated audit committee, which both had mandates to monitor the organization’s financial health.

Key Points: 
  • And yet, the NRA had a 76-member board of directors, as well as a designated audit committee, which both had mandates to monitor the organization’s financial health.
  • By reviewing transactions involving the NRA and its leaders more skeptically, the board might have helped the NRA avert some of its current legal troubles.
  • Together with Claire Hill, a University of Minnesota law professor, I’ve explored one way nonprofits might theoretically avert debacles, both large and small, in the future.

Board culture

  • They’re responsible for everything from weighing in on strategies to advance the organization’s mission, to hiring and evaluating top executives and setting their salaries.
  • The NRA’s board, like all nonprofit boards, had an obligation to detect the alleged wrongdoing and intervene to stop it.
  • But in general, it appears that NRA board members did little to oversee or restrain LaPierre, even when one top leader unsuccessfully sought big changes.

Too passive

  • But it’s too easy for their members to be too passive.
  • One reason for this is that nonprofit directors usually volunteer their time and don’t get paid for their contributions.
  • Sometimes, overly passive and deferential boards turn into rubber stamps that fail to challenge sloppy bookkeeping or question unwise hires.

What should they do?

  • We propose that trustees take turns being a designated contrarian, temporarily becoming a devil’s advocate obliged to challenge proposed board actions.
  • They would instead ask probing questions and offer feedback on reports by executives and officers.
  • The duration of this role would probably depend on how big a given board is and how often it meets.

Rare examples among nonprofits

  • Although using designated contrarians is not yet a widely used practice, a few nonprofit boards may have already embraced this concept.
  • For example, I’ve been told but have been unable to confirm that one major grantmaker’s investment committee tasks one of its members with challenging particular investment decisions.

No sure thing

  • And even for nonprofit boards in less dire circumstances, using rotating contrarians has its challenges.
  • Most serious among these is whether rotating contrarians will offer only inauthentic dissent, which studies show provides limited benefits.
  • To be sure, organizations that adopt this approach would need to be patient.


Dana Brakman Reiser does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.