Outstanding Achievement Award Recipient
College of Education and Human Development, November 17, 2022
Richard A. Weinberg is an alumnus of the University of Minnesota, graduating in 1968 with a PhD in educational psychology and child development. After briefly serving on the faculty at Columbia University, Weinberg returned to the University of Minnesota for the balance of his 40+ year career, embarking on a prolific career dedicated to teaching, research, and service. His research focused on children and human development across the lifespan, behavioral genetics, strategies for assessing social-emotional behaviors, and promoting healthy development of children and youth. In 1973, Weinberg helped found the University’s Center for Early Education and Human Development (CEED) to coordinate interest and work across campus related to the welfare of young children and their families. In addition, he established the Children, Youth, and Family Consortium (CYFC) in 1991. Currently housed within UMN Extension, CYFC coordinates community-wide efforts to address timely issues affecting children and families, and its cross-disciplinary, university-community structure has been replicated by several universities across the U.S. For almost 10 years, Weinberg served as co-director of the Irving B. Harris Training Center for Infant Toddler Development, a highly visible program dedicated to the training and continuing education of individuals working with children during the first three years of their lives. Weinberg also served as a University Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR) during a particularly difficult time in Intercollegiate Athletics. In that role, he contributed toward rebuilding a culture of academic integrity, helped guide the merger of the men’s and women’s athletic departments, and influenced the expansion of mental health and academic programs for student-athletes. Thanks to his groundwork, Minnesota serves as a model for its support of student-athletes’ overall wellness. His life and work radiate his passion for scholarship excellence, service in the public interest, and his commitment to fostering positive human development in children, youth, and families.
Biographies are as-of time of award presentation.