Welcome to new ICD staff
ICD is welcoming three new staff members for the 2024-25 academic year. We're thrilled to have them join us and we look forward to introducing them to the department at our Welcome Back Event on September 11.
- Hannah Baxter, Communications Generalist
- Tom Boyle, Indigenous Education Program Specialist
- Addy Hernick, Early Childhood Licensure Specialist
Here is a brief introduction and Q&A with each of them.
Hannah Baxter
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I grew up in Duluth and majored in French at UMD. I pursued graduate studies in Welsh literature after that and lived in Wales for a lot of my twenties. After briefly teaching writing at Lake Superior College, a wonderful Duluth community college–emphasis on community–I landed in Cleveland, Ohio. I was hired for my first marketing and communications role at Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Management. It was a great match for my skills and interests, and I was hooked! I returned to Minnesota in 2014 and have enjoyed discovering the Twin Cities metro along with my young family.
Hannah Baxter
Please tell us about your new role at ICD and what you were doing previously.
While I support ICD as a whole in my new role as communications generalist, much of the time I’m focused on the Center for Early Education and Development (CEED) and the Child Development Laboratory School (CDLS). As the dedicated communicator for each of these two units within ICD, I take care of their internal and external marketing and communications needs. That entails things like maintaining websites, managing newsletters, writing blog posts, creating promotional flyers, and providing strategic guidance.
Previously, I worked as a part-time communications consultant for CEED from 2019 up until just a couple of months ago when I transitioned into this full-time position. The nature of my work has remained the same, I just get to do more of it now!
What drew you to this position?
The short answer is the people. When I was first brought on at CEED, I was struck by the center’s warm, collegial atmosphere and the passion the whole team brought to their work. Gradually, I got to know people elsewhere within ICD, both in my professional capacity and as a parent whose children took part in research studies through the ICD participant pool (which I highly recommend. It’s fascinating!). I experienced the same positive energy, commitment to excellence, and sheer friendliness everywhere at ICD. I also learn so much from my colleagues here. For example, as a parent, I understand the value of play as entertainment, but having talked with the experts at ICD about their research, I’ve been amazed by what they have uncovered about the depth and complexity of the learning that happens during play.
What inspires you most about working to support the fields of early childhood education and developmental psychology?
It’s a core value for me that every child, regardless of their circumstances, deserves the best possible opportunity to grow and thrive as the unique individual that they are. Science tells us that early childhood is such a critical time in human development, with implications for our health and wellness, as well as our social, academic and work lives, later on. It’s a privilege to be a part of improving people’s lives by supporting the research and education that happens at ICD.
What is your favorite summer activity?
It’s a tie between hiking and eating ice cream. Come to think of it, I’ve never tried doing both at the same time, but that might be my next move!
Tom Boyle
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I grew up in a family with eight children and have been surrounded by young children my entire life -- brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, and now my own daughter!
Please tell us about your role at ICD.
I am part of the team that is developing a new focus within the B.S. in Early Childhood degree. The new program integrates Indigenous language and culture studies with early childhood education, with the goal of helping train teachers who would be ready to teach in Ojibwe and eventually Dakota language immersion preschool classrooms -- with an eye toward supporting the growing Indigenous language revitalization efforts in the Midwest.
Tom Boyle
What drew you to this position?
For the past seven years, I have taught in preschool and kindergarten classrooms, most recently in Bayfield, WI, where I had the opportunity to teach in a district that serves a student population that is eighty percent Native. That district will be implementing an Ojibwe-immersion kindergarten classroom this school year, and the community couldn't be more excited. I look forward to using my experience as a teacher and the incredible resources of ICD to help address the thirst for this kind of education among many Native communities.
What are you most excited about in your new position?
Getting to know the landscape of Indigenous language immersion classrooms in the early childhood space in the metro area and in the region more broadly. There is so much exciting stuff happening!
What inspires you most about the field of early childhood education?
The openness, curiosity, and unselfconsciousness of young children.
What is your favorite summer activity?
Swimming.
Addy Hernick
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I grew up in Richfield and am a proud lifelong Gopher! I received both my undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Minnesota and am so excited to be back at ICD. I have two girls, a 3 year old and a 1.5 year old. I enjoy getting outside, doing projects, reading, exploring breweries and restaurants, and spending time with my children and friends.
Please tell us about your role at ICD.
I am the “new Ann Ruhl Carlson!” I will be taking over her duties as the Early Childhood Teacher Licensure Specialist. My primary responsibilities include supporting, observing and supervising Masters of Education/Initial Licensure Program students in their placements at elementary schools throughout the school year, but I also am responsible for advising and admissions in the Early Childhood Masters of Education Program.
Addy Hernick
What drew you to this position and what were you doing previously?
Ann emailed alumni announcing her retirement and I actually had a friend reach out and mention that she thought I should apply. I have always been interested in a career at ICD, and have a passion for mentorship and supporting young teachers. This role felt like the perfect fit for me!
I actually took an intentional career break to stay home with my two girls for the last few years and worked as an office specialist/social media manager at a niche chiropractic office for women and children in the west metro when I could. Prior to that, I worked in the world of early childhood. The role that prepared me most for this position was my role as an early childhood upervisor at Eden Prairie Schools, but I was also an adjunct professor here at the University, and an early childhood family education teacher in the years prior to my career break.
What are you most excited about in your new position?
There are so many things! First and foremost, I’m so excited to be supporting and working with students again. It’ll be fun to get to know my students and have the opportunity to be back in elementary schools. I am also excited to connect and reconnect with colleagues and friends here at the U!
What inspires you most about the field of early childhood education?
The children! They’re the whole reason the field exists, and they’re just amazing. I’ve been working with children my entire life, and I still find something new and exciting about them daily. I also think the ever growing body of research and information on how children learn, grow and develop is absolutely fascinating.
What is your favorite summer activity?
My girls and I have been loving going to nature centers this summer! We’ve spent a lot of time making our own wildflower bracelets, going on scavenger hunts, and listening for animal sounds. And I guess if I had to pick something grown up, I’d say paddleboarding–it’s been so fun to get out on the lake with friends and enjoy the sun!