Michael Vekich Re-Elected Chair of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board of Trustees

ST. PAUL, Minn., June 23, 2016 – The Board of Trustees of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities has re-elected Michael Vekich as chair and re-elected Margaret Anderson Kelliher as vice chair.

“I am delighted by the outcome of the board election,” said Steven Rosenstone, chancellor of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. “Continuity in strong board leadership is critical at this time in the system’s history.”

Vekich has served on the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board of Trustees since 2010, and also previously served from 1996 to 2002 including four years as chair. He is CEO of Vekich Chartered in Minneapolis; chairman of HF Financial Corp. (NASDAQ: HFFC), and Home Federal Bank; and former chairman, president and chief operating officer of Skyline Exhibits in Eagan. He is president of The Bank Holding Company, chair of the Minnesota Board of Accountancy, interim executive director of the Minnesota State Lottery, and he serves on a number of corporate and civic boards. He earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting and business administration from the University of Minnesota.

“This past year has been remarkable in many ways, and we can be very proud of the many critical initiatives we have begun,” said Vekich, “but there remains much to be done. I look forward to continuing this critical work with my fellow trustees in partnership with the faculty and the staff at our state colleges and universities to make an extraordinary and affordable education available to all Minnesotans.”

Anderson Kelliher has served on the Board of Trustees since 2012. She served as a state representative from 1999 to 2011 and as speaker of the House from 2007 to 2011. She is the president and CEO of the Minnesota High Tech Association, the chair of the Minnesota Ballpark Authority – Target Field, and serves on the boards of directors for the Greater Twin Cities United Way, and the Textile Center. In 2011, she was appointed by Gov. Mark Dayton as chair of the Governor's Broadband Task Force. Anderson Kelliher earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Gustavus Adolphus College and a master's degree in public administration from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

“Serving as vice chair of the Board of Trustees is a tremendous honor,” said Anderson Kelliher. “I am grateful for the confidence that my fellow members of the board have placed in me and I look forward to continuing our work on behalf of the most affordable and accessible higher education for all Minnesotans.”

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