Minnesota State Presidents

 

Anoka Technical College
1355 West Highway 10
Anoka, MN 55303

Kent Hanson
khanson@anokatech.edu
Phone: (763) 433-1179
Fax: (763) 433-1121

Appointed: July 1, 2013

 

Previous Positions:

• Interim President, Riverland Community College
• Provost and Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs, Northland Community and Technical College
• Radiology Program Director and Health and Human Services Dean, Northwest Technical

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, University of North Dakota
• Doctorate in Educational Leadership, University of North Dakota
• Master’s degree in Human Resource Administration, Central Michigan University

 

Central Lakes College
501 West College Drive
Brainerd, MN 56401

Hara Charlier
hcharlier@clcmn.edu
Phone: (218) 855-8053
Fax: (218) 855-8057

Appointed: July 1, 2016

 

Previous Positions:

• Vice president of instruction and student services, Virginia Highlands Community College
• Dean of life science and human services, interim vice president of instruction and student services, dean of life science and human services, assistant professor of biology; Blue Ridge Community College
• Operations director, director of support services, scientific support manager; Synoptics, Inc.
• Instructor of microbiology, Miami University (OH)

Education:

• Doctorate, Old Dominion University (Va.)
• Master's, Miami University (OH)
• Bachelor's, Cornell University

 

Dakota County Technical College
1300 East 145th Street
Rosemount, MN 55068-2999

Michael Berndt
Michael.Berndt@dctc.edu
Phone: (651) 423-8213
Fax: (651) 423-8032

Appointed: July 1, 2018

 

Previous Positions:

• Vice President of Academic Affairs, Century College
• Administrator for research, planning, accreditation, and online learning; English instructor and department chair, Normandale Community College

Education:

• Ed.D in Leadership EdD, University of St. Thomas
• M.A. in English, Souther Illinois University at Carbondale
• B.A. in English and Philosophy, University of Minnesota, Morris

 

Hennepin Technical College
9000 Brooklyn Blvd
Brooklyn Park, MN 55445-2399

Merrill Irving, Jr.
merrill.irving@hennepintech.edu
Phone: (763) 488-2401
Fax: (763) 488-2956

Appointed: July 1, 2015

 

Previous Positions:

• Associate Vice President, Continuing Education, Training and Workforce Development, Oakton Community College, Des Plaines, Illinois
• Chairperson, The School of Continuing Education and Professional Development, Wolfson Campus, Miami Dade College, Miami, Florida
• Biosciences Program Director, Miami Dade College, Miami, Florida

Education:

• Doctor of Education, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
• Master of Public Administration, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia
• Bachelor of Arts, Political Science and History, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia

Professional Organizations:

• American Association of Community Colleges (AACC)
  • Board of Directors
  • Co-Chair, Commission on Economic and Workforce Development
• The Presidents Roundtable (PRT)
• National Council for Workforce Education (NCWE)
• National Council on Black American Affairs (NCBAA)
• LGBTQ Presidents in Higher Education
• Minnesota Governor’s Workforce Board
• Higher Learning Commission (HLC) Peer Review Corps

Areas of Expertise:

• Higher Learning Commission (HLC) AQIP Pathway and Comprehensive Quality Review
• Continuing education, workforce and economic development, and adult learning
• Enrollment and persistence
• Internal and external collaborations
• Strategic planning
• Leadership and professional development
• Innovation in education

Honors/Recognitions:

• LeadMN College President of the Year 2017
• League for Innovation-Innovation of the Year Award- Biotechnology 2007
• Millennium Momentum Foundation, Inc. Best and Brightest Fellow USC
• Judith Herndon Fellow to West Virginia House of Delegates

 

Inver Hills Community College
2500 80th Street East
Inver Grove Heights, MN 55076

Michael Berndt
MBerndt@inverhills.edu
Phone: (651) 450-3641
Fax: (651) 450-3679

Appointed: July 1, 2018

 

Previous Positions:

• Vice President of Academic Affairs, Century College
• Administrator for research, planning, accreditation, and online learning; English instructor and department chair, Normandale Community College

Education:

• Ed.D in Leadership EdD, University of St. Thomas
• M.A. in English, Souther Illinois University at Carbondale
• B.A. in English and Philosophy, University of Minnesota, Morris

 

Lake Superior College
2101 Trinity Road
Duluth, MN 55811-3399

Patricia Rogers
patricia.rogers@lsc.edu
Phone: (218) 733-7614
Fax: (218) 733-5937

Appointed: July 1, 2019

 

Previous Positions:

• Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Winona State University
• Founding Dean of Health Sciences and Human Ecology and the School of Graduate Studies at Bemidji State University, as well as Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, and Professor
• Founding Dean of the School of Education and Graduate Studies at Valley City State University (ND)
• Co-leader of the Health Studies Unit in the Division of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.
• System Director for Instructional Technology at Minnesota State

Education:

• Ph.D., Master's or Arts, and bachelor's degree from the Univeristy of Minnesota, Twin Cities

Professional Organizations:

• Chair for Minnesota Online Council and recipient of Minnesota Pioneer Award for Distance Learning and Teaching
• Fullbright Scholar

 

Metropolitan State University
700 East 7th Street
St. Paul, MN 55106-5000

Ginny Arthur
ginny.arthur@metrostate.edu
Phone: (651) 793-1900
Fax: (651) 793-1907

Appointed: July 1, 2016

 

Previous Positions:

• Provost, Metropolitan State University
• Associate provost for faculty affairs, University of Northern Iowa
• Professor of management, Management Department chair, vice chair and chair of the joint faculty assembly; College of Saint Benedict/Saint John’s University

Education:

• Juris doctorate, American University Washington College of Law
• Bachelor’s, Syracuse University 

 

Minnesota State College Southeast
1250 Homer Road, P.O. Box 409
Winona, MN 55987-0409

Larry Lundblad
larry.lundblad@southeastmn.edu
Phone: (507) 453-2721
Fax: (507) 453-2424

Appointed: February 1, 2018

 

Previous Positions:

• President, Central Lakes College
• Vice president and chief academic officer and dean of curriculum and instruction, South Central College

Education:

• Doctorate, University of Minnesota
• Master's and bachelor's, Minnesota State University, Mankato
• Bachelor's, Iowa State University

 

Minnesota State University, Mankato
309 Wigley Administration Center
Mankato, MN 56001

Richard W. Davenport
richard.davenport@mnsu.edu
Phone: (507) 389-1111
Fax: (507) 389-6200

Appointed: July 1, 2002

 

Previous Positions:

• Provost and vice president, Central Michigan University
• Dean of the graduate school and associate vice president for academic affairs, Western State College of Colorado
• Chairperson and professor, Winona Tri-College/University Cooperative Program

Education:

• Ph.D., higher education administration, Iowa State University
• M.S., speech and hearing sciences, Colorado State University
• B.A., speech and hearing disorders, University of Nebraska - Kearney

Professional Organizations:

• American Council on Education
• American Association of State Colleges and Universities, Council for Advancement

Other Organizations:

• Center for Rural Policy and Development, board of directors
• Greater Mankato Economic Growth Corporation
• Cities, Colleges and University Council
• AASCU's Rural Institutions Committee
• AASCU's Professional Development Committee
• Mankato Diversity Council

Areas of Expertise:

• Higher education administration consulting, shared governance, extended learning and global issues

Statement/Biography:

• With a teaching career that spans over a 30-year period, Dr. Davenport has received several teaching excellence awards and earned tenure and full professor rank before entering academic administration on a full-time basis. In his administrative roles, Dr. Davenport has emphasized teaching excellence, scholarly work, and promotion of student learning as primary goals for faculty.

 

Minnesota West Community and Technical College
1450 College Way
Worthington, MN 56187

Terry Gaalswyk
terry.gaalswyk@mnwest.edu
Phone: (507) 372-3464
Fax: (507) 372-5801

Appointed: July 1, 2015

 

Previous Positions:

• Executive vice president, Western Nebraska Community College
• Vice president of educational services, Western Nebraska Community College
• Mathematics instructor, Iowa State University
• Dean of Instruction, division chair - computer science, mathematics instructor, Western Iowa Tech Community College
• Mathematics instructor, South Dakota State University

Education:

• Pd.D. in Educational Leadership/Policy Studies, Iowa State University
• M.S. in Mathematics, South Dakota State University
• M.Ed. in Vocational/Technical Education, South Dakota State University
• B.A. in Mathematics; Secondary education endorsement, Northwestern College, Iowa

 

North Hennepin Community College
7411 85th Avenue North
Brooklyn Park, MN 55445

Rolando García
rolando.garcia@nhcc.edu
Phone: (763) 424-0820
Fax: (763) 493-0577

Appointed: July 1, 2020

  

Previous Positions:

• President, Vice Provost of Academic Resources, Dean of Academic Resources and Assessment; and Faculty at Judson A. Samuels South Campus, Broward College (FL)
• Dean of Learning and Technology Resource at Woodbridge Campus, Southern Virginia Community College
• Program Coordinator, Instructional Designer/Technology Trainer, Director of the Computer Courtyard, and Campus Director of Learning Resources, Miami Dade College

Education:

• Doctorate, Florida International University
• Master's, Florida International University
• Bachelor's, University of Miami

Professional Organizations:

• Miramar Pembroke Pines Regional Chamber of Commerce
• YMCA of South Florida
• Hispanic Unity of Florida

 

Northwest Technical College
905 Grant Ave. S.E.
Bemidji, MN 56601
(Northwest Technical College is administered by Bemidji State University)

Faith Hensrud
fhensrud@bemidjistate.edu
Phone: (218) 755-2011
Fax: (218) 755-4048

Appointed: July 1, 2016

 

Previous Positions:

• Provost/vice chancellor for academic affairs, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs and outreach, leader of distance education and continuing education programs and activities, associate professor; University of Wisconsin-Superior
• US Army and US Army Reserve

Education:

• Doctorate, University of Minnesota
• Master's, College of St. Scholastica (Duluth)
• Bachelor's University of Wisconsin-Green Bay

Hibbing Community College
1515 East 25th Street
Hibbing, MN 55746
(Hibbing Community College is part of the Northeast Higher Education District (NHED), a consortium comprising of Hibbing Community College, Itasca Community College, Mesabi Range College, Rainy River Community College, and Vermilion Community College)

Michael Raich
michael.raich@nhed.edu
Phone: (218) 471-0015
Fax: (218) 471-0017

Appointed: July 1, 2019

Previous Positions:

• Provost and Dean of Academic Affairs and Student Services at Hibbing Community College
• Principal and math teacher at Hibbing High School

Education:

• Doctorate from University of North Dakota
• Master's from St. Cloud State University
• Bachelor's degree from the University of Minnesota, Duluth

 

Riverland Community College
1900 Eighth Avenue NW
Austin, MN 55912

Adenuga Atewologun
adenuga.atewologun@riverland.edu
Phone: (507) 433-0607
Fax: (507) 433-0370

Appointed: July 1, 2013

 

St. Cloud State University
720 4th Avenue South
St. Cloud, MN 56301-4498

Robbyn Wacker
president@stcloudstate.edu
Phone: (320) 308-2122
Fax: (320) 308-5139

Appointed: July 1, 2018

 

Previous Positions:

• Provost and vice president for academic affairs, University of Northern Colorado
• Provost and vice president for academic affairs, special advisor to the president for regional economic development; California State University, Los Angeles
• Dean of faculty, MBA director, founding director of the Center for International Affairs
• MBA director, California State University, Los Angeles
• Faculty, California State University Channel Islands

Education:

• Certificate of Management Development Program, Harvard University, Graduate School of Education
• Ph.D. in Sociology, Iowa State University
• M.S. and B.A. in Gerontology, University of Northern Colorado
• B.S. in Social Sciences, University of Northern Colorado

Professional Organizations:

• UC Health Greeley Hospital, inaugural board member (currently active)
• State of Colorado’s 19th Judicial District Nominating Commission (currently active)
• Board of Governors of the Accreditation for Gerontology Education Council, Vice President (currently active)
• Weld County Long Term Care Bioethics, Committee Member
• Retired Senior Volunteer Program, Ex Officio Member
• Coalition for Care, Inc. President, Board of Directors
• Eldergarden Adult Day Program, Board of Directors, Chair-Planning Committee
• Weld County Long Term Care Task Force

Honors/Recognitions:

• Northern Colorado Women of Distinction Award Nominee for Education (2016)
• The Association for Gerontology in Higher Education, Administrative Leadership Award (2014)
• Colorado School of Public Health, Dean’s Leadership Award (2010)
• A Woman’s Place, Outstanding Woman of Weld County Award (2005)
• University of Northern Colorado, Academic Leadership Excellence Award (2003)
• University of Northern Colorado, UNC Research Corporation and UNC Graduate School, Outstanding Achievement Award in Sponsored Programs (1998)
• UNC Women’s Resource Center, Leadership Award (1998)
• University of Northern Colorado, Motar Board, Professor of the Year (1995, 1996)
• University of Northern Colorado, College of Human Sciences, Faculty Member of the Year (1994)

 

Saint Paul College
235 Marshall Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55102

Deidra Peaslee
deidra.peaslee@saintpaul.edu
Phone: (651) 846-1335
Fax: (651) 846-1451

Appointed: July 1, 2019

 

Previous Positions:

• Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs and Dean of Educational Services at Anoka-Ramsey Community College
• Assistant Dean, Director of Kellstadt Graduate School of Business, and Director of MBA International Marketing and Finance at DePaul University

Education:

• Doctorate from St. Mary's University (MN)
• Master's from Minnesota State University
• Bachelor's degree from South Dakota State University

 

Southwest Minnesota State University
1501 State Street
Marshall, MN 56258

Kumara Jayasuriya
kumara.jayasuriya@smsu.edu
Phone: (507) 537-6272
Fax: (507) 537-6241

Appointed: July 1, 2019

 

Previous Positions:

• Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, as well as a professor of mathematics, at West Virginia State University
• Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and professor of mathematics at Purdue University-North Central Campus
• Assistant Professor and Chair of the Department of Mathematics, Associate Professor and Chair of the Division of Natural Science and Mathematics, and Dean of the School of Natural Science and Mathematics at Indiana University East

Education:

• Doctorate from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
• Master's from Southern Illinois University
• Bachelor's degree from the University of Colombo

Professional Organizations:

• College Board leader representing the State of Indiana in the Affinity Network project
• Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association peer reviewer and accreditation officer

 

Winona State University
8th & Johnson Streets
P.O. Box 5838
Winona, MN 55987-5838

Scott R. Olson
solson@winona.edu
Phone: (507) 457-5003
Fax: (507) 457-2415

Appointed: July 1, 2012

Previous Positions:

• Provost and vice president for academic and student affairs, Minnesota State University, Mankato
• Interim vice chancellor for academic and student affairs, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities
• Dean of the College of Communication, Information and Media, Ball State University
• Assistant to the dean of Arts and Sciences, director of graduate studies in the Department of Communication, and professor at Central Connecticut State University.

Education:

• Ph.D., [Radio-Television-Film], Northwestern University
• M.A., [Radio-Television-Film], Northwestern University
• B.A., European Intellectual History, Northwestern University

Professional Organizations:

• Council for the Advancement and Support of Education
• American Association of State Colleges and Universities

Other Organizations:

• Peer Review Corps, Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association
• National Communication Association
• Rotary Club

Areas of Expertise:

• Strategic planning, diversity in higher education, faculty development, media literacy, digitalization, globalization of media

Statement/Biography:

• Prior to becoming a university administrator, Dr. Olson earned the tenure and the rank of professor of communication. What he learned as a classroom teacher then has been a major focus of his career ever since: improving teaching and enhancing student learning. He has also been active as a scholar, publishing two academic press books, 30 scholarly book chapters, and 22 journal articles in national and international publications. Through a gift from the Lilly Endowment, he worked with colleagues to create the Global Media Network (which won a national award from the American Council on Education) and the Center for Media Design.