Ashish Vaidya Named Interim President of St. Cloud State University

ST. PAUL, Minn., June 22, 2016 – The Board of Trustees of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities has named Ashish Vaidya interim president of St. Cloud State University. The move follows the unexpected death last week of Earl H. Potter III, who had served as president of St. Cloud State University since 2007. The appointment is for a two-year term effective June 23, 2016.

“St. Cloud State University has never been stronger – a testament to Earl Potter’s thoughtful and insightful leadership,” said Steven Rosenstone, chancellor of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. “We must keep the university’s positive momentum going. Since his arrival last year in St. Cloud, Ashish Vaidya has shown himself to be a gifted leader. As interim president, Dr. Vaidya will provide sound and energetic leadership; keep the university moving carefully but steadily forward; and advance the university’s critical partnerships with the St. Cloud community. I have tremendous confidence in his ability to lead the university, and I also have complete faith that the larger St. Cloud community will lend its support to the interim president and to the university’s leadership team as they work through this difficult time.”

Dr. Vaidya has served as provost and vice president for academic affairs at St. Cloud State University since 2015. Previously, he served California State University, Los Angeles, from 2010 to 2015 as provost and vice president for academic affairs, and as special advisor to the president for regional economic development. He also served California State University Channel Islands as dean of the faculty from 2005 to 2010, as the MBA director from 2003 to 2005, and as founding director of the Center for International Affairs from 2004 to 2006. Prior to that, he served as the MBA director for California State University, Los Angeles, from 1997 to 2001. He has served on the faculty of both California State University, Los Angeles, and California State University Channel Islands. He holds a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from St. Xavier’s College (Mumbai, India), and a master’s and a doctorate from University of California, Davis.

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St. Cloud State prepares students for life, work and citizenship in the 21st Century. Through rigorous academic programs, students apply their knowledge in real-world settings. 200 academic programs, 60 graduate degrees, and education abroad choices on six continents emphasize hands-on learning through community engagement and close interaction with professors. St. Cloud State is ranked in Forbes magazine's "America's Top Colleges" and a Top 25 public university by Victory Media’s Military Friendly Schools list.

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities consists of 37 colleges and universities with over 16,000 employees offering nearly 4,000 educational programs to nearly 400,000 students. It is the fifth-largest higher education system in the United States.