Submitted by Julian Ernst, MSW, LICSW

On the evening of Friday, June 9th, we gathered in downtown Minneapolis near the banks of the Mississippi to recognize the achievements of several distinguished members of the MPSI community and honor the recently departed Laurie Curtis, MSW, LICSW and David Stagner, MD. As shared by our gracious emcee for the evening, Michelle Meehan, “Dr. David Stagner was a prized and sought-after provider, mentor, supervisor and guidepost for many students, fellows, and colleagues over the years. And Laurie Curtis was a graduate of the Institute’s first class in 1999 as well as part of the first Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Training Program.”

During the evening, we also honored the grace, guidance, and patience of our Executive Director, Heidi Holste, whose leadership strengthens the structural integrity and operations of MPSI as a nonprofit organization. Nick Flier, our President, also received recognition for his tireless work of ushering the organization through further stages of growth by developing new policies and encouraging collaboration among the Society, Institute, and Psychotherapy Center. 

We recognized the involvement and dedication of the volunteers that make up the MPI Education Committee: Bev Caruso (Secretary), Kim Rorie (Treasurer), and Helen Anthony (Progression Chair); and its Members at Large: Hal Steiger, Deb Boughton, Jeanne Bailey, Peter Grant, and Joan Lentz. We also recognized the work of the PPTP Committee: Rafael Cohen, Victoria Kohl, Michelle Meehan, Corbin Quinn, and Allison Ward. 

In the last year, the Society welcomed a new Treasurer, MJ Mignogna, and several new members of the Programming Committee, including Simon Benarroch (Chair), Julian Ernst, Nadia Kolesski, and Danielle Kasprzak. We also recognized the essential efforts of the Center Advisory Committee, including Bridget Bender, Patricia Holdahl, Kate McRaith, and Corbin Quinn.

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