Jennifer Hall-Lande2018 Rising Alumni

Jennifer Hall-Lande

Jennifer Hall-Lande started her career as a special education teacher and later school psychologist. Today, Jennifer is a research associate and faculty of CEHD’s Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities, or “LEND”, program at the Institute on Community Integration. She was a LEND fellow as a PHD student in educational and school psychology, and says it put her on her career path to support healthy child development and early identification and intervention for children with developmental delays. Jennifer specializes in autism spectrum disorder and other neurodevelopmental disabilities, and has a statewide outreach role through the Centers for Disease Control to promote early development screening and intervention.

Employer

Research Associate/LEND Faculty, University of Minnesota

CEHD Degree

PhD in Educational and School Psychology, 2011

Please list any professional accomplishments you wish to mention.

Named CDC Act Early Ambassador for Minnesota 2014-2018. Helped to build the Autism Spectrum Disorder + Early Intervention Program Area at ICI. Recipient of several grants in ASD and Early Identification of Children.

Please list any past or current volunteer activities.

  • Children's Soccer Coach
  • Volunteered at Open Arms

Please list any awards or honors from your collegiate, professional, or volunteer experiences.


  • Saint Paul Public Schools Outstanding Teacher's Award
  • Gladys Smith Teaching Award
  • Target Teacher Excellence Award
  • Institute on Community Integration (ICI) Future Leader Award
  • LEND Pre-Doctoral Fellowship, University of Minnesota Department of Pediatrics
  • LEND Post-Doctoral Fellowship, University of Minnesota, CEHD
  • CDC Act Early Ambassador to Minnesota (2014-2016)
  • CDC Act Early Ambassador to Minnesota (2016-2018)

What professor(s) or course(s) were most influential during your time in CEHD?

One of the most influential aspects of my education in CEHD is my participation in the MN LEND (Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities) Fellowship at the University of Minnesota. The LEND Fellowship provided valuable leadership training, a variety of clinical and academic experiences, and interdisciplinary connections with other professionals and community members. This program helped me to grow as a clinician and a researcher, and set me on my current professional career path in supporting healthy child development, early identification of developmental delays, and early intervention in children.

What was the impact and benefit of your educational experience in CEHD?

The strongest impact from my educational experience at CEHD on my career has been the MN LEND fellowship and my ongoing development and support I have received at the CEHD'S Institute on Community Integration (ICI). I was a GRA at ICI in CEHD during my entire graduate school career and received valuable support, mentoring, and research skills at ICI.

What is your favorite memory from the University of Minnesota?

One favorite memory is hard. That said, every day when I walk around campus I feel so grateful to be connected to all of the knowledge and innovation that is here on this campus.

Who has inspired you the most during your career?

Many different people have inspired and supported me during my career including my colleagues, friends, and my family. My teaching colleagues and families with whom I worked in special education were a daily inspiration to me. I am forever grateful to my colleagues Jan Ormasa, JoAnne Berg-Bablitch, and Pat Varro who supported me in my career as a school psychologist. At the University of Minnesota, Amy Hewiit, Charlie Lakin, Traci Laliberte, David Johnson, Martha Thurlow, Kelly Nye-Lengerman, and Nancy McCulloh have been a source of inspiration, mentoring, and support.

What skills are important to succeed as an emerging professional today?

Persistence, focus, willingness to learn and a sense of humor!

What are your hobbies?

I would probably sleep or go for a bike ride: ).

How do others describe you?

Others might describe me as kind, collaborative, persistent, and a good listener.

How do you describe yourself?

I would describe myself as kind, collaborative, persistent, and a good listener.

What's a good book you'd recommend to others?

Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner

If you could have coffee with anyone from history, who would it be?

Good question. I think I would like to have coffee with Eleanor Roosevelt.

What gets you excited about work?

I am inspired by power of our work to positively change the trajectory of a child's life. Every day I know our work makes a difference in supporting healthy children and families through early identification and early intervention.

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A teacher.

Outside of your job, how do you grow professionally?

I continue to work to gain new skills and new knowledge through engaging in additional professional development activities, meeting new people, and exploring new ideas.