Posted: June 19, 2019
Contact: Doug Anderson, doug.anderson@MinnState.edu, 651-201-1426
ST. PAUL, Minn., June 19, 2019 – The Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities has named Michael Raich to serve as interim president of the Northeast Higher Education District (NHED), a consortium of five colleges of Minnesota State that includes Hibbing Community College, Itasca Community College, Mesabi Range College, Rainy River Community College, and Vermilion Community College. The appointment becomes effective July 1 and is for a two-year term.
“Michael Raich believes fully that NHED is uniquely positioned to strategically grow, to enhance services to business and industry in the region, and to provide broader educational opportunities to our students,” said Devinder Malhotra, chancellor of Minnesota State. “He is passionate about our mission of opening the doors of hope and opportunity to all Minnesotans, and he has dedicated himself to the stewardship of the communities in which our campuses are located. I am pleased to recommend him as the interim president of the Northeast Higher Education District.”
Raich has served Hibbing Community College as provost since 2015, and previously as dean of Academic Affairs and Student Services from 2006 to 2014. He also served Itasca Community College as interim provost from 2014 to 2015. His many accomplishments in higher education include collaborating with faculty and industry to develop and implement innovative academic programs in high demand sectors, implementing best practices for student success, and solidifying partnerships with area high schools. Previously, he served Hibbing High School, most recently as principal from 2004 to 2006, and he served as a high school mathematics instructor from 1989 to 2000. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota, Duluth, a master’s from St. Cloud State University, and a doctorate from the University of North Dakota.
Raich will serve as interim president of NHED while Bill Maki, the permanent president of NHED, serves as the interim vice chancellor for finance and facilities of Minnesota State. Maki and Raich will both return to their permanent roles when Minnesota State has identified a permanent vice chancellor for finance and facilities.
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About Minnesota State
Minnesota State includes 30 community and technical colleges and seven state universities serving approximately 375,000 students. It is the third-largest system of two-year colleges and four-year universities in the United States.
About the Northeast Higher Education District
NHED is a consortium of five colleges of Minnesota State that includes Hibbing Community College, Itasca Community College, Mesabi Range College, Rainy River Community College, and Vermilion Community College. The consortium was launched in 1999 to provide unified leadership, promote academic cooperation, and maximize educational resources in the region. Each college is led by a provost and retains its unique identity and accreditation. Working together, the colleges serve approximately 6,500 students in credit courses annually and provide a variety of educational programs and delivery options.