Semifinalists for President of Pine Technical and Community College Named

ST. PAUL, Minn., April 17, 2015 – Minnesota State Colleges and Universities has named three semifinalists who are under consideration to be president of Pine Technical and Community College. The candidates are Terry Gaalswyk, Joe Mulford, and Martin Reimer.

Terry Gaalswyk

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 campus of Pine Technical and Community College between April 20 and 23, 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.pine.edu/presidential-search.

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 campus of Pine Technical and Community College on April 20.

Joe Mulford

Joe Mulford has served Minnesota State Colleges and Universities as system director for education industry partnerships since 2013. Previously, he served Hennepin Technical College as dean of emergency services, manufacturing, and customized training; Anoka Technical College as dean of institutional services, customized training, and emergency services; Century College as building and industrial trades customized training coordinator; and Globe College as chief academic officer. He has also owned and operated multiple businesses during his professional career. He holds an associate’s degree from Moorhead State University (now Minnesota State University Moorhead), a bachelor’s degree from St. Cloud State University, and a masters from Metropolitan State University, and he is completing a doctorate from the University of Nebraska. He will visit the campus of Pine Technical and Community College on April 21.

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 campus of Pine Technical and Community College on April 23.

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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