Chris Helgestad, MA

Chris Helgestad, MA, is the Academic Vice President, including the role of dean of students. While completing his undergraduate degree in Child Development at the University of Minnesota, Chris completed a field study of the education of adolescents. He served as a research assistant for experimental studies of the early memory of children, the effects of chronic illness on the development of adolescents, and gender classification by preschool children. For his senior project in Child Development, Chris conducted original research entitled, "The Effect of Extracurricular Activities on the Self- Image of High School Students".

Chris received his Master of Arts in Counseling and Student Personnel Psychology and licensure in School Counseling from the University of Minnesota. His thesis was entitled, "Matching the Temperament Types of Teachers and Alternative Learners".

Then Chris completed a post-masters Principal Licensure Program at the University of Minnesota. As a topic of special interest, Chris wrote "Suspending Suspensions" for the Department of Educational Policy and Administrations' electronic newsletter.

Chris has experience with a variety of special populations. He has worked in a special education day treatment program for violent and aggressive youth. He was employed by the University of Minnesota in that program as an Experiential Learning Coordinator. Chris collaborated with teachers and therapists to develop non-traditional experiences for students to supplement their learning and treatment goals.

Chris has worked with a local school district to develop a School-Within-a-School alternative program for high school students. He also worked for five years as the program facilitator and administrative intern for a special education program serving middle- and high school students with emotional and behavioral disorders.

Strengths as an Instructor:
Hands-on, experiential learning
Practical application
Student-directed learning