Posted: March 28, 2024
Contact: Doug Anderson, doug.anderson@MinnState.edu, 651-201-1426
ST. PAUL, Minn., March 28, 2024 – Minnesota State has named two finalists in the search for the interim president of Northland Community & Technical College. The candidates are Anthony Kinkel and Shari Olson.
The candidates are scheduled to conduct campus visits on Wednesday, April 3 and Thursday, April 4. The campus visits provide 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 www.northlandcollege.edu/president-search.
Anthony Kinkel has served the Mount Dora Christian Academy & Children’s Home (FL) as the vice president of development since 2021. Previously, he served the Minnesota State Board for School Administrators as Executive Director from 2017 to 2022, Motlow State Community College (TN) as president from 2015 to 2017, Wichita State University-Tech (KS) as president from 2010 to 2015, Pikes Peak Community College (CO) as president from 2007 to 2010, the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville as chancellor from 2004 to 2007, the Maryland Association of Community Colleges as executive director and CEO from 2002 to 2004, and Northwest Technical College (MN) as dean of general education from 2000 to 2002. He also served in the Minnesota State Senate from 1999 to 2002 and the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1986 to 1998. He holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Minnesota Duluth and a doctorate from the University of Minnesota.
Shari Olson served the South Mountain Community College (AZ) as president from 2011 until her retirement in 2022. Previously, she served Anoka Technical College (MN) as interim president from 2010 to 2011, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (now Minnesota State) as system director of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act from 2009 to 2010, Eastern Wyoming College as president from 2007 to 2008, and Northland Community & Technical College from 1995 to 2007 in several capacities, most recently as vice president of planning and administrative services from 2006 to 2007, vice president of outreach and planning from 2005 to 2006, and vice president of outreach and technology from 2004 to 2005. She holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s from North Dakota State University, and a doctorate from the University of North Dakota.
The Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is expected to consider Chancellor Scott Olson’s recommendation at its April 17, 2024 meeting. The anticipated start date of the interim president is July 1, 2024.
Northland Community & Technical College (Northland) is a comprehensive college with campuses in East Grand Forks, Minnesota, and Thief River Falls, Minnesota. Northland also has an aerospace site in Thief River Falls, Minnesota, and campus extension sites in Roseau, Minnesota, and Warroad, Minnesota. Northland offers certificates, diplomas, transfer courses, and two-year degrees (A.A.S., A.S., A.A.) in more than 80 areas of study, workforce training, and education programs. Northland is a member of Minnesota State, the third-largest system of two-year colleges and four-year universities in the United States, and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association. For more information about Northland Community & Technical College, visit www.northlandcollege.edu.
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Minnesota State includes 26 community and technical colleges and seven state universities serving approximately 300,000 students. It is the third-largest system of two-year colleges and four-year universities in the United States.