At the Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing, our vision is to advance the health and wellbeing of people and the planet. Advancing this vision is no light task and requires persistance, hope, and a deep commitment to service - to our community, the state of Minnesota, and the globe.
As I reflect of the past year, I am filled with joy and gratitude for the engagement, commitment, and accomplishments of the Center team. From the Integrative Health & Wellbeing Research Program with faculty, who are global leaders in manual therapies research, working to advance community-engaged research that offers alternatives to opioids in pain management to our academic programs training the next generation of health coaches and other professionals who understand the importance of wellbeing in their lives and the lives of those they serve, the impact has been profound.
In 2023-2024, the Center's strategic priorities included:
- Improving student, faculty, staff, and community mental health and wellbeing;
- Addressing equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging in all areas of the Center’s work;
- Supporting the mentorship/development of new researchers in integrative health and wellbeing;
- Expanding Arts and Healing initiatives;
- Increasing enrollment and retention in the Center’s academic programs; and,
- Furthering alignment between the Integrative Health & Wellbeing Coaching program and the health coaching workforce.
As you review this report, you will see how these priorities were advanced by the team this year. Under the leadership of director Cherie O’Neill, the Integrative Health & Wellbeing Coaching Program was updated to include curriculum focused on diversity and trauma-informed practices, and to align with revised National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching standards. Center faculty and staff continue to put student health and wellbeing first through courses and student support.
The launch of the University of Minnesota NeuroArts Network was an exciting addition to the Center’s work in Arts and Healing. This community of University faculty and staff interested in the area will set the stage for collaboration on research and other knowledge sharing. The network is complemented by outreach programming like Waking the Oracle and collaborations with arts organizations throughout the community including Weisman Art Museum, the Minnesota Orchestra, and the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.
All of the efforts illustrated in this report could not have been successful without the support of the Center’s Learning Resources Group, Operations, Development, and Communications staff. With a budget of $7.4 million with diverse revenue streams, responsible fiscal stewardship and maintaining a lean, yet nimble, infrastructure has been a cornerstone of the Center’s success. I would also like to highlight the Center staff’s dedication to serve the greater University through governance. Many serve on campus and system-wide committees, including Communications Director, Kit Breshears, who is the Chair of the P&A Senate this year.
Towards the end of this report, you will find a list of individuals and organizations who have made philanthropic contributions to the Center this year. Philanthropy is critical to sustaining the Center’s history of innovation and the accessibility of our academic and community programs and events. In 2025, the Center will celebrate its 30th anniversary and I have immense hope for the future. I am astonished everyday and deeply grateful to all the staff, faculty, and donors who have chosen to invest in the Center with their time and with their financial support.
I hope you enjoy reading this year's Annual Report.
With Gratitude,
Mary Jo Kreitzer, PhD, RN, FAAN, FNAP
Mary Jo Kreitzer Chair for Health and Wellbeing Leadership
Director, Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality & HealingProfessor, School of Nursing
University of MinnesotaFellow Ad Eundem Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland