Semifinalists for President of Minnesota West Community and Technical College Named

ST. PAUL, Minn., April 10, 2015 – Minnesota State Colleges and Universities has named two semifinalists who are under consideration to be president of Minnesota West Community and Technical College. The candidates are Terry Gaalswyk and Martin Reimer.

The candidates were recommended by a search advisory committee comprised of students, faculty, staff, and community leaders, and chaired by Joe Opatz, president emeritus of Normandale Community College. The candidates are scheduled to visit the Minnesota West Community and Technical College campuses April 13 and 14, 2015. The campus visits present an opportunity for faculty, staff, students, and members of the community to meet each of the candidates and offer feedback. Details of the candidates’ campus visits and the process for providing feedback are available at www.mnwest.edu/index.php/about/presidential-search.

Terry Gaalswyk

Terry Gaalswyk has served Western Nebraska Community College as executive vice president since 2014 and vice president of educational services from 2009 to 2014. Previously, he served Iowa State University as a mathematics instructor; and Western Iowa Tech Community College as dean of instruction, associate dean of instruction, division chair, and mathematics instructor. He served South Dakota State University as a mathematics instructor and Southeast Technical Institute (SD) as an adjunct instructor and customized mathematics instructor. Prior to his career in higher education, he was a craftsman, manager, and field representative for S&G Laminates (IA). He holds a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern College (IA), master’s degrees from South Dakota State University, and a doctorate from Iowa State University. He will visit the Minnesota West Community and Technical College campuses in Pipestone, Canby, and Granite Falls on April 13, and the Worthington and Jackson campuses on April 14.

Martin Reimer

Martin Reimer has served Western Iowa Tech Community College as dean of student support since 2014 and as dean of Western Iowa Tech’s Corporate College from 2006 to 2014. Previously, he served JPMorgan Chase Bank as a project manager, transaction management group manager, and relationship manager. He also served at Trouvay & Cauvin, Inc. as a project manager. He has experience as a teacher and trainer having taught in both academic and corporate environments at Western Iowa Tech Community College and JPMorgan Chase Bank, and was an elementary teacher at Colegio Americano de Puebla (Puebla, Mexico). He holds a bachelor’s degree from Central College (IA), a master’s from Thunderbird School of Global Management, and a doctorate from Capella University. He will visit the Minnesota West Community and Technical College campuses in Jackson and Worthington on April 13, and the Pipestone, Canby, and Granite Falls campuses on April 14.

The MnSCU Board of Trustees is expected to consider Chancellor Steven Rosenstone’s recommendation at its May 20 meeting. The anticipated start date of the new president is July 1, 2015.

The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities include 24 two-year community, technical, and comprehensive colleges and seven state universities serving more than 430,000 students. It is the fifth-largest higher education system of its kind in the United States.

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