Monday, March 14, 2016

9:30 – 10:30 HEALTH

Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)

Speaker: Dr. Erik van Kuijk, Chair, University of Minnesota Department of Ophthalmology and Neurosciences

Dry AMD is a public health problem in the elderly population, affecting as many as 25% of the elderly over 65 years old. It causes central vision loss making it difficult to read and drive, thus causing loss of independence. There are currently no treatments. A large gift from an anonymous donor has funded a number of research programs at the University of Minnesota that are aimed at finding a cure for dry AMD.

10:45 – 11:45 PUBLIC POLICY

Rights and Realities of Native American Women

Speaker: Sarah Deer, Professor of Law, 2014 MacArthur Fellow, Co-Director, Indian Law Program, William Mitchell College of Law, St. Paul

Deer will discuss the historic and contemporary contexts in which Native women experience violent crime. She will explain how limits on tribal jurisdiction aggravate the problem of domestic violence and sexual assault. Recent changes in federal law that are designed to address the disparities Native women experience will be highlighted.

11:45 – 12:15 BUSINESS MEETING

12:15 – 1:15

1:15 – 2:15 THE ARTS

From the Little Gallery to WAM

Speaker: Lyndel King, Director and Chief Curator at the Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum, University of Minnesota

King has been director and chief curator at the Weisman Art Museum at the University of Minnesota (WAM) since 1982. Most notable, she was instrumental in securing funding to build the new art museum building. She helped select Frank O. Gehry as architect and worked with him on its design and construction. She will share her knowledge and experience of the museum’s history and its collection.