Page 7 - CEHD Commencement Undergrad Program

Bo Thao-Urabe
Bo Thao-Urabe is a consultant and former executive and network director at
the Coalition of Asian American Leaders (CAAL). She is also a small business entrepreneur and is a partner at RedGreenRivers and Sage Farm Market. Bo has built and led local, national, and global efforts and previously served in senior executive roles in local and national nonprofits. She serves on the boards of Propel Nonprofits, Drake Bank, and The Minneapolis Foundation. She has been recognized locally and nationally for her leadership and impact, including being named a Distinguished Alumni by University of Minnesota’s College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) in 2017 and a Bush Fellow in 2019. Bo received her undergraduate degree in family social science from CEHD.
Briana Ardolf
Briana Ardolf is graduating with a bachelor of science degree in business and marketing education with a double major in economics and a minor in leadership. She is originally from Madelia, Minnesota. While a student, she has been involved with the Panhellenic Community, Student Government, and Scholars of Finance. She also worked for the University of Minnesota Office of Human Resources as a student payroll assistant. Her favorite memories include rushing the football field after winning against Penn State and traveling with friends. Her future plans are to stay in Minneapolis to work for J.P. Morgan Private Bank as an Analyst.
John Leonard
John Leonard joined the University of Minnesota band faculty in the fall of
2021 after completing his DMA in Wind Conducting at the University of Kansas.
In 2018 he was the Interim Assistant Director of Bands, and Director of the Bronco Marching Band at Western Michigan University. Previously, John was the Assistant Director of Bands at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, and worked as an adjunct lecturer at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst teaching music arranging techniques as well as leading the UMass “Hoop” Band and assisting with the Minuteman Marching Band. A prolific arranger, Leonard writes music for many university marching bands, as well as working on new arrangements and transcriptions for wind band. In the summers he teaches at the George N. Parks Drum Major Academy where he is both a Lead Clinician, as well as the Staff Manager for the company.
Minnesota, hail to thee! Hail to thee our college dear Thy light shall ever be
A beacon bright and clear; Thy sons and daughters true
Will proclaim thee near and far; They will guard thy fame
And adore thy name
Thou shalt be their Northern Star.
“Hail! Minnesota”
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