Thoughts from Diane

 

From: Dingfelder, Diane C <DDingfelder@winona.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2016 5:03 PM
To: Barbara Bridges
Subject: RE: Diane- Need your voice

 

Hello Barbara,

 

I apologize for the delay.  I just returned from a conference in Chicago, which I presided over as the president of the association.  I am swamped at work; however, I am very interested.

 

I think you asked for a resume.  I was planning to send my updated LinkedIn profile to you because my 10-page resume is boring and overwhelming.  Here is the link.  It is not the most current but I am hoping that this will be acceptable.  https://www.linkedin.com/in/diane-dingfelder-158a5312?trk=hp-identity-name

 

In terms of issues, I am very concerned about what is happening in our country and how we express our views and values.  In particular, I am concern about the presidential campaign.  We have become a nation where attack is the mode of operation rather than consensus building.  I am very worried about the momentum behind Donald Trump.   His rhetoric reminds me of Hitler.  My mother and her family fled Nazi-occupied Vienna so this is very real to me.  What concerns me is the large number of people that identify with him.  How do we deal with this as a society?  What has happened and how do we move away from this polarization?

 

I was born and raised on the south side of Chicago….in the city.  I went to a racially mixed high school during some very turbulent times.  I am a first-generation college student.  Neither of my parents completed high school.

 

Over the years, I have been involved in many initiatives that support community engagement and consensus building.  Currently, I am on the Design Team for a year-long program in Rochester called Collaborative Leadership Fellows.  The focus is on building collaborative decision-making skills and community engagement.  In another recent grass-roots initiative, I collaborated with other women leaders in Rochester to develop a short-term training program to help people from minority populations learn how to effectively serve on community boards and committees.  Called Ready to Lead, this project is helping people from diverse backgrounds find their voice and get engaged in decision-making.  In a few minutes, I am off to attend a World Café discussion that the local school district is hosting.  On April 2, my department is collaborating with several other organizations to host a Land Ethic workshop for farmers, landowners, city and town dwellers, and students around the critical issues of conservation and sustainability.

 

I hope this information is helpful to you.  Please let me know if you would like additional information and if you would still like me to participate in the initiative.

 

All the best,

 

Dr. Diane Dingfelder, Ed.D.

Executive Director of Adult & Continuing Education

Winona State University

Winona:  507-457-5138