UNiQUE Conversations

Dr. Artika R. Tyner is a passionate educator, author, sought after speaker, and advocate for justice. At the University of St. Thomas School of Law, Dr. Tyner serves as the founding director of the Center on Race, Leadership and Social Justice. She is committed to training students to serve as social engineers who create new inroads to justice and freedom.

Tyner received her B.A. from Hamline University (Major: English; Certificate: Conflict Studies). Due to her passion for advocating for social justice and educational policy reform, she decided to pursue graduate studies at the University of St. Thomas. She began her journey with law school since she recognized that the law is a language of power and therefore she sought to become well versed in the law.

Subsequently, Tyner earned a Master of Public Policy and Leadership in order to gain tools for effecting social change through policy reform efforts. Later, inspired by the legacy of W.E.B. Dubois, she obtained a Doctorate in Leadership. Her doctoral studies provided her with key tools for serving in her community and promoting social justice.

Dr. Tyner is committed to empowering others to lead within their respective spheres of influence. She provides leadership development and career coaching for young professionals. She has also developed leadership educational materials for K-12 students, college/graduate students, faith communities and nonprofits. Additionally, Dr. Tyner teaches leadership coursework on ethics, critical reflection, and organizational development. Her research focuses on diversity/inclusion, community development, and civil rights. She has presented her research and conducted leadership training programs both nationally and internationally.

Dr. Tyner leads by example by organizing policy campaigns, fostering restorative justice practices, developing social entrepreneurship initiatives, and promoting assets-based community development. She serves as a global citizen by supporting education, entrepreneurship, and women’s leadership initiatives in Africa.

Coach Abe is in his third season as the head coach of the men’s basketball team at Macalester. He returned to his alma mater in 2018.He has infectious enthusiasm and true passion for the game. Abe returned to Macalester following a two-year stint as an assistant coach at Siena College, where he helped the Saints advance to the finals of the 2017 MAAC Tournament. As an assistant at Siena, Woldeslassie helped the Saints with recruiting, player development, video breakdowns and opponent scouting, and monitored the team’s academic progress throughout the year.

Prior to his time at Siena, he served as the director of basketball operations at Davidson College for three seasons. While at Davidson,the Wildcats amassed 64 wins, captured two conference regular-season titles, made two NIT appearances, and earned the program’s first at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament in 2015.

Before Davidson, Abe also was the director of basketball operations at Dartmouth College of the Ivy League for one season. His coaching career started in the NESCAC in 2010 at Bowdoin College, where he served as an assistant coach for two years.

Since 2010, Abe has helped develop student-athletes who have played professionally in Australia, Belarus, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, and Uruguay.

Abe played two seasons at Macalester after transferring from the University of St. Thomas. As a Scot, he was a two-time, All-MIAC guard and led the conference in assists both seasons. He graduated in 2008 with a degree in sociology.

A native of Minneapolis, Abe attended St. Thomas Academy, where he was an all-conference player and team co-MVP in 2004. He also serves on the Board of Directors for MinneapolisNEXT, which provides need-based high school scholarships for youth in the Twin Cities.

Shelly is a mom of 2 active boys and has been an educator for over 19 years. She is currently teaching 2nd grade at Forest Hills Elementary in Eden Prairie, MN. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Education and Physical Education. She also has a Master’s Degree in Education.

She enjoys exercise, watching her boys play sports and is a lifelong learner.

Lisa is in her 36th year as a public school educator.  During the first 16 years of her career, she taught secondary Spanish in Minnesota and elementary English in a public school in Santurce, Puerto Rico. She served as a Teacher Trainer for a Teacher College in Paraguay, South America as a Peace Corps Volunteer from 1991-1993.  Her undergraduate degree from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN.  Her M.A. degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of St. Thomas and she did her doctoral coursework at St. Thomas as well (didn’t complete my dissertation—just coursework).

For the last 20 years, she has served as a secondary principal at the high school and middle school level in several different districts and buildings.  Her passion is equity leadership and this year she was asked to lead a special project for her district with the Midwest and Plains Equity Assistance Center.  We are engaging in an Equity Capacity Analysis Process which will help build capacity for equity-oriented strategic planning as our district works to update our strategic plan.  She is also assigned to provide principal support to our District Learning Academy. She was in a lead principal position last year as we transitioned from school to distance learning.

Lisa is the mother of three children who are experiencing the COVID pandemic very differently.

Shelley has been in a Financial Services professional for 33 years.  She has worked at Wells Fargo, Price Waterhouse Coopers, GMAC, CastleLake Hedge Fund, Cargill and she is currently with Ameriprise (Columbia Threadneedle).  Most of her time has been spent with large institutions.  Shelley holds a BA from Concordia College Moorhead, MN and an MBA from University of St. Thomas.

Shelley has been working from home since Mid March.  Their transition to the WFH model was smooth.  We have a strong technology team that enables us to be effective.  Her biggest challenge is juggling a substantial job from home with also having kids at home last spring and in the Hybrid model this fall.

Shelley is a mother to 3 adopted children of color.  All of the kids are involved in sports and activities.  They have active social lives and navigating COVID has been a challenge for the entire family.

Koua Yang is a product of Saint Paul Public Schools. During his years as a Como student, athletics played a huge role in his life. Koua was a four-time, all-conference wrestler, twice earning all-state status. He was also a four-time, all-conference tennis player for the Cougars.

He graduated from Como Park High School in 1994 and then attended Augsburg University where he earned his Bachelor's of Science and licensure in teaching secondary education.  He taught Social Studies at Harding High School for 16 years while coaching soccer, wrestling. and boys and girls tennis.  Koua also was an administrator for two years at Harding.  For the past three years, Koua returned to his high school alma mater, Como Park High School, as the Athletic Director.  Additionally, he has a Masters degree in Technology and Learning Design at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota.

Robert Anderson is a father of two, a teacher in the White Bear Lake Area Schools in White Bear Lake, MN, and a student in the Doctor of Education Leadership and Learning program at the University of St. Thomas.  Robert is a High School English Language and Social Studies teacher at the White Bear Lake Area High School and the Area Learning Center.  He also advises the Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) teams at the high school. YPAR is an innovative approach to positive youth and community development based on social justice principles in which young people are trained to conduct systematic research to improve their lives, their communities, and the institutions intended to serve them. He has also worked on the school districts strategic planning and equity plans, and is continuing his journey towards being an anti-racist educator.

Growing Green Hearts is science education to play, learn, and love nature.  Heidi Ferris started Growing Green Hearts in 2011 because it allows her to use her passions for earth’s interconnected systems with creative talents in the teaching of children and educators. Through environmental STEM education with GGH, community groups and schools are boosting their science literacy and creating on-site solutions for today’s environmental issues:  climate change, local nutrition, clean water, childhood health, habitat and creation care.

Prior to Growing Green Hearts, Heidi gained over a decade of first-hand experience through teaching middle and high school level science courses and curriculum writing for classrooms, faith-based groups and secular non-profits.  She’s worked with teachers and students from preschool to high school from Minnesota to Hawaii.   For Growing Green Hearts educators, teaching is an opportunity to empower the learner in their problem-solving skills and unique talents through a real-world scientific lens.

Heidi is a mother of 2 children ages 10 and 12.

Join us for a UNiQUE conversation with 4 UNiQUE women; Kara, Krystal, Sinoun and Ana. These amazing women talk about how important voting is to them on a very personal level. 

UNiQUE Conversation with Jamie E. Smith, Sr.

Jamie is a second generation career EMT Fire Captain for the City of Saint Paul, MN. He currently serves as President of Firefighters United (Black Firefighters’ Assoc.), Citywide Equity Trainer, Committee Chair of the SPFD Equity Team, and a member of the Career Development Team. Jamie has also been a licensed real estate broker in MN since 2004 and has been a licensed salesperson in WI since 2006. He earned a Bachelor’s degree from Augsburg University.

Jamie is a proud father of three active boys and lives in the East Metro area.  Even when he’s not on duty, Jamie lives by his firefighters’ creed. During a recent vacation in Florida, Jamie came to the aid of a drowning swimmer and was credited with saving his life.

*Listen to this UNiQUE conversation to find out how to become a SPFD Firefighter.

Kara Hirdman and Krystal Queen, Co-Founders of UNiQUE and Realm Unlimited have a UNiQUE conversation about being single mothers, how Covid has affected them, affected their children, their work and relationships.