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The Konopka Institute is a program of the Academic Health Center and is housed in the Division of Adolescent Health and Medicine in the Department of Pediatrics.

Konopka Institute for Best Practices in Adolescent Health
Division of Adolescent Health and Medicine
Department of Pediatrics
University of Minnesota
717 Delaware Street SE, 3rd Floor West
Minneapolis, MN 55414-2959

Phone: (612) 626-1980
Fax: (612) 626-2134
E-mail: konopka@umn.edu

Staff

Mark Mahon, MA, Community Relations Coordinator
Konopka Insititute
Phone: (612) 625-6185
Email: mmahon@umn.edu

Mark Mahon is Community Relations Coordinator for the Konopka Institute for Best Practices in Adolescent Health at the University of Minnesota's Department of Pediatrics.  

Mark graduated from the University of Minnesota with a B.A. and later received a M.A. in International Relations from the American University in Washington, DC. His past work experience has included communication and marketing efforts for the American Cancer Society in Minnesota and assistant account executive duties with Himle Horner, Inc., a public affairs firm in the Twin Cities. He also served as research assistant to the CEO of the Minneapolis Foundation, where he helped identify philanthropic and foundation support opportunities for at-risk communities.

He is a member of the Citizens League and the Minnesota International Center.

Pam Moore, MA, Community Capacity Builder
Konopka Insititute 
Phone: (612) 626-6787
Email: moore068@umn.edu

In her work, Pamela provides technical assistance, support, and training to community coordinators. Pamela graduated from the Drake University with a B.A. In Speech Communications with an emphasis in Cultural Studies. Later she received a M.A. in Human Development from St. Mary's University of Minnesota. She has 15 years experience working with youth and families in the Twin Cities area. Her professional and volunteer background includes working in within school systems, community agencies and philanthropic organizations.

Glynis Shea, BA, Communications Coordinator
Konopka Institute
Phone: (612) 624-3772
Email: sheax011@umn.edu

Glynis Shea is Communications Coordinator for the Division of Adolescent Health at the University of Minnesota. Glynis received her BA from Mount Holyoke College and has worked in the marketing communications field for 18 years.

Ms. Shea brings a wealth of professional experience to her position. As a former Vice President at Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising San Francisco, Glynis has managed the production of TV, print and radio advertising, fielded national market research efforts, lead new business presentations, pioneered new advertising approaches, and coordinated international account services.

Ms. Shea's communications experience spans many different markets and audiences. Her client list includes prominent corporations including Hewlett-Packard, Blue Diamond Almond Growers, and US West Communications (now Qwest). Of particular interest in Glynis' work with the AIDS Legal Referral Panel. A pro bono client, Ms. Shea was able to apply the resources and talents of her agency team to the important work of this non-profit organization.

In an effort to shift the focus of her career, Ms. Shea joined the Division staff to work on the Konopka Institute's State Adolescent Health Resource Center. Since that time she has also been tapped to assist the Healthy Youth Development-Prevention Resource Center's work on a Minnesota State Plan for Teen Pregnancy and Prevention. Glynis' strategic marketing and communications skills in combination with her writing, project management, production, technology, editing, graphic design and team building skills have proven to be valuable assets for the Division.

Paul V. Snyder, MSW, MDiv, Program Director
Konopka Institute
Phone: (612) 626-8412
Email: psnyder@umn.edu

Paul Snyder is Program Director at the Konopka Institute for Best Practices in Adolescent Health, University of Minnesota.

Paul has a B.A. in Political Science from Bates College, an M.Div. from Pacific School of Religion, and an M.S.W. from the University of Minnesota. Before moving to Minnesota, he worked for the federal government as a research analyst in Washington, DC and as a community organizer in California. In Minnesota, prior to his work at the Konopka Institute, he served as a community health specialist for a county public health department, a researcher on two different disabilities projects, a community educator for the Minnesota Extension Service, and a violence prevention educator for a school district. In recent years, he has volunteered as a youth mentor, a facilitator for a weekly youth support group, and as an adult advisor to a self-directed youth board.

Kristin Teipel, BSN, Project Manager
State Adolescent Health Resource Center
Phone: (612) 624-0182
Email: teipe001@umn.edu

Kristin Teipel is an adolescent health advocate who has worked in the public health field for 18 years. She is the Project Coordinator for the State Adolescent Health Resource Center (SAHRC) of the Konopka Institute for Best Practices in Adolescent Health at the University of Minnesota. Her work focuses on strengthening the capacity of state maternal and child public health agencies to systematically address adolescent health issues.

Her academic background is in nursing (BSN from St. Olaf College in Northfield Minnesota, 1980-1984), maternal and child public health (MPH degree from the School of Public Health at the University of Minnesota, 1985-1990) and adolescent health (Adolescent Health Training and Fellowship Program, Division of Adolescent Health at the University of Minnesota. 1995-1996).

Ms Teipel has worked on adolescent health issues in the public health system at the local, county and state levels in Minnesota. Her focus has been on reproductive health, healthy youth development, the interconnection of youth issues, adolescent health strategic planning, youth leadership, and the systematic approach to supporting healthy youth. She has worked directly with youth and their families on a variety of youth issues at the local level. In addition she worked as the State Adolescent Health Coordinator for the MN Department of Health with a focus on strengthening the systems that address youth issues. She coordinated and wrote the MN Adolescent Health Action Plan and assisted in development of a statewide program to address youth risk behaviors in Minnesota. She also served as the President of the State Adolescent Health Coordinators Network.

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