Semifinalists for President of North Hennepin Community College Named

ST. PAUL, Minn., April 24, 2015 –Minnesota State Colleges and Universities has named four semifinalists who are under consideration to be president of North Hennepin Community College. The candidates are Matt Entenza, Barbara McDonald, Landon Pirius, and Tony Summers.

The candidates were recommended by a search advisory committee comprised of students, faculty, staff, and community leaders, and chaired by Tim Wynes, president of Inver Hills Community College and interim president at Dakota County Technical College. The candidates are scheduled to visit North Hennepin’s campus between April 27 and April 30, 2015. The campus visits present an opportunity for students, faculty, staff, 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 http://www.nhcc.edu/presidentialsearch.

Matt Entenza

Matt Entenza is a practicing attorney who has served as minority leader of the Minnesota House of Representatives. He served six terms in the House representing St. Paul. He was also an assistant Hennepin County attorney and an assistant attorney general for the State of Minnesota. He was founder and senior fellow at Minnesota 2020 – a Minnesota think-tank. He serves on the Augsburg College Board of Regents and was an adjunct instructor at St. Mary’s University. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Macalester College, a diploma in Legal Studies from Oxford University in the United Kingdom, and a juris doctorate from the University of Minnesota. He will visit the campus of North Hennepin Community College on Wednesday, April 29.

Barbara McDonald

Barbara McDonald has served as interim president at Minnesota West Community and Technical College since 2014. Previously, she served at Itasca Community College as provost, dean of academic affairs and student services, and director of institutional effectiveness. Prior to Itasca Community College, she served as a faculty member at Rainy River Community College. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado, Boulder, a master’s from the American University in Cairo, and a doctorate from the University of Minnesota. She will visit the campus of North Hennepin Community College on Monday, April 27.

Landon Pirius

Landon Pirius has served at North Hennepin Community College as interim chief academic officer since 2014, and as vice president of student affairs and enrollment management since 2011. Previously, he served Inver Hills Community College as dean of students, associate dean of students, and director of enrollment and online service. He also served Minnesota State University, Mankato, as associate registrar and Walden University in several capacities. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Gustavus Adolphus College (MN) and a master’s and doctorate from the University of Minnesota. He will visit the campus of North Hennepin Community College on Tuesday, April 28.

Tony Summers

Tony Summershas served Richland College (TX) as vice president for student services since 1993. Previously, he served the Community College of Allegheny County as director of minority affairs and director of financial aid for the Boyce Campus. He holds an associate’s degree from the Community College of Allegheny County, a bachelor’s degree from Duquesne University, a master’s from the University of Pittsburgh, and a doctorate from Walden University. He will visit the campus of North Hennepin Community College on Thursday, April 30.

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 system includes 24 two-year community and technical colleges and seven state universities serving more than 410,000 students. It is the fifth-largest higher education system of its kind in the United States.

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