Minnesota State Presidents

Each college and university within Minnesota State is headed by a president who serves as the chief executive officer. The appointment of presidents is governed by Board of Trustees Policy 4.2 and they report to the system chancellor.

Presidents are responsible for leading the college and/or university faculty, staff, and students in developing and implementing the college or university mission, consistent with the board mission and goals. The president is the primary spokesperson for college or university interests and shall consult regularly with students, faculty, staff, and members of the community. The president shall advise the chancellor, the staff of the system office, and the board of trustees on matters of system policy as appropriate, and otherwise administer and support all Minnesota State policies and programs. The president shall also lead in generating and sustaining the university/college vision as an integral part of Minnesota State. The duties and responsibilities of the president shall include, but not be limited to, adhering to board policies and system procedures, employing personnel, providing innovative educational leadership, allocating campus resources, and implementing the board’s strategic plan.

Kent Hanson

Anoka-Ramsey Community College
11200 Mississippi Boulevard NW
Coon Rapids, MN 55433

Kent Hanson
kent.hanson@anokaramsey.edu
Phone: (763) 433-1179
Fax: (763) 433-1121

 Appointed: July 1, 2013

 

Previous Positions:

  • Interim president, Riverland Community College
  • Provost and vice president for academic and student affairs, Northland Community and Technical College
  • Radiology Program director and health and Human Services dean, Northwest Technical College

Education:

  • Doctorate, University of North Dakota
  • Master’s, Central Michigan University
  • Bachelor’s, University of North Dakota

Kent Hanson

Anoka Technical College
1355 West Highway 10
Anoka, MN 55303

Kent Hanson
khanson@anokatech.edu
Phone: (763) 433-1179
Fax: (763) 433-1121

Appointed: July 1, 2013

 

Previous Positions:

  • Interim president, Riverland Community College
  • Provost and vice president for academic and student affairs, Northland Community and Technical College
  • Radiology Program director and Health and Human Services dean, Northwest Technical College

Education:

  • Doctorate, University of North Dakota
  • Master’s, Central Michigan University
  • Bachelor’s, University of North Dakota

John Hoffman

Bemidji State University
1500 Birchmont Drive NE
Bemidji, MN 56601-2699

John Hoffman
john.hoffman@bemidjistate.edu
Phone:
(218) 755-2011
Fax: (218) 755-4048

Appointed: July 1, 2022

 

Previous Positions:

  • Acting senior vice chancellor, University of Minnesota Crookston
  • Vice chancellor for academic and student affairs, University of Minnesota Crookston
  • Chair of the Department of Educational Leadership, California StateUniversity

Education:

  • Doctorate, University of Minnesota
  • Master's, University of Minnesota
  • Bachelor's, Concordia University, Nebraska

Hara Charlier

Central Lakes College
501 West College Drive
Brainerd, MN 56401

Hara Charlier
hcharlier@clcmn.edu
Phone:
(218) 855-8053
Fax: (218) 855-8057

Appointed: July 1, 2016

 

Previous Positions:

  • Vice president of instruction and student services, Virginia Highlands Community College
  • Dean of Life Science and Human Services, interim vice president of instruction and student services, assistant professor of biology, Blue Ridge Community College
  • Operations director, director of support services, scientific support manager, Synoptics, Inc.
  • Instructor of microbiology, Miami University

Education:

  • Doctorate, Old Dominion University
  • Master's, Miami University
  • Bachelor's, Cornell University

Angelia Millender

Century College
3300 Century Avenue
White Bear Lake, MN 55110

Angelia Millender
angelia.millender@century.edu
Phone:
(651) 779-3342
Fax: (651) 779-3470

Appointed: July 1, 2017

 

Previous Positions:

  • President, Olive-Harvey College
  • District vice president for student affairs and enrollment management, Broward College
  • Vice president of student services, dean of student services, director of career planning and placement, and as a member of the faculty, Robert Morris University

Education:

  • Master's, National Louis University
  • Bachelor's, Chicago State University

Michael Berndt (Interim)

Dakota County Technical College
1300 East 145th Street
Rosemount, MN 55068-2999

Michael Berndt
michael.berndt@minnstate.edu
Phone:
(651) 423-8213
Fax: (651) 423-8032

Appointed: July 1, 2018

 

Previous Positions:

  • Vice president of academic affairs, Century College
  • Vice president of planning and institutional effectiveness, Normandale Community College

Education

  • Master's, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
  • Bachelor’s, University of Minnesota, Morris

Anita Hanson

Fond du Lac Tribal & Community College
2101 14th Street
Cloquet, MN 55720

Anita Hanson
anita.hanson@fdltcc.edu
Phone: (218) 879-0804
Fax: (218) 879-0728

Appointed: June 21, 2023

 

Previous Positions:

  • Vice president of student services and enrollment management, Fond du Lac Tribal & Community College
  • Dean of student services, Fond du Lac Tribal & Community College

Education:

  • Master’s, University of Minnesota Duluth
  • Bachelor’s, North Dakota State University

Joy Bodin

Hennepin Technical College
9000 Brooklyn Blvd
Brooklyn Park, MN 55445-2399

Joy Bodin
joy.bodin@hennepintech.edu

Phone:
(763) 488-2414
Fax: (763) 488-2414

Appointed President: June 1, 2022

 

Previous Positions:

  • Vice president of academic and student affairs, Central Lakes College

  • Academic dean, Hennepin Technical College

Education:

  • Master’s, Capella University
  • Bachelor's, Metropolitan State University 

Michael Berndt (Interim)

Inver Hills Community College
2500 80th Street East
Inver Grove Heights, MN 55076

Michael Berndt
michael.berndt@minnstate.edu
Phone:
(651) 450-3641
Fax: (651) 450-3679

Appointed: July 1, 2018

 

Previous Positions:

  • Vice president of academic affairs, Century College
  • Vice president of planning and institutional effectiveness, Normandale Community College

Education

  • Master’s, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
  • Bachelor’s, University of Minnesota, Morris

Photo of Patricia Rogers

Lake Superior College
2101 Trinity Road
Duluth, MN 55811-3399

Patricia Rogers
patricia.rogers@lsc.edu
Phone:
(218) 733-7614
Fax: (218) 733-5937

Appointed: July 1, 2019

 

Previous Positions:

  • Provost and vice president for academic affairs, Winona State University
  • Founding dean of Health Sciences and Human Ecology and the School of Graduate Studies, Bemidji State University, as well as assistant professor, associate professor, and professor
  • Founding dean of the School of Education and Graduate Studies, Valley City State University
  • Co-leader of the Health Studies Unit in the Division of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
  • System director for instructional technology, Minnesota State

Education:

  • Doctorate, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
  • Master's, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
  • Bachelor's, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

Ginny Arthur

Metro State University
700 East 7th Street
St. Paul, MN 55106-5000

Ginny Arthur
ginny.arthur@metrostate.edu
Phone:
(651) 793-1900
Fax: (651) 793-1907

Appointed: July 1, 2016

 

Previous Positions:

  • Provost, Metro State University
  • Associate provost for faculty affairs, University of Northern Iowa
  • Professor of management, Management Department chair, vice chair and chair of the joint faculty assembly, College of Saint Benedict/Saint John’s University

Education:

  • Juris doctorate, American University Washington College of Law
  • Bachelor’s, Syracuse University 

Sharon Pierce

Minneapolis College
1501 Hennepin Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55403

Sharon Pierce
sharon.pierce@minneapolis.edu
Phone:
(612) 659-6300
Fax: (612) 659-6310

Appointed: July 1, 2016

 

Previous Positions:

  • Vice president of academic affairs, chair of the Health Sciences Division, director of the Nursing Education Program, nursing course leader, nursing faculty, Howard Community College
  • Practicing nurse

Education:

  • Doctorate, Morgan State University
  • Master's, University of Maryland
  • Bachelor's, University of Maryland

Photo of Michael RaichMinnesota North College
1515 East 25th Street
Hibbing, MN 55746

Michael Raich
michael.raich@minnesotanorth.edu
Phone: (218) 471-0015
Fax: (218) 471-0017

Appointed: April 12, 2021



Previous Positions:

  • President, Northeast Higher Education District
  • Interim president, Northeast Higher Education District
  • Provost and dean of academic affairs and student services, Hibbing Community College
  • Principal and math teacher, Hibbing High School

Education:

  • Doctorate, University of North Dakota
  • Master's, St. Cloud State University
  • Bachelor's, University of Minnesota Duluth

Marsha Danielson

Minnesota State College Southeast
1250 Homer Road, P.O. Box 409
Winona, MN 55987-0409

Marsha Danielson
marsha.danielson@southeastmn.edu
Phone: (507) 453-2721
Fax: (507) 453-2424

Appointed: July 1, 2021

 

Previous Positions:

  • Vice president of economic development, senior associate to the president, and dean of economic development, South Central College
  • Development, alumni relations, external relations, and marketing and communications, Minnesota State University, Mankato

Education:

  • Doctorate, Ferris State University
  • Master’s, Minnesota State University, Mankato
  • Bachelor's, Minnesota State University, Mankato

Carrie Brimhall

Minnesota State Community and Technical College
1414 College Way
Fergus Falls, MN 56537

Carrie Brimhall
carrie.brimhall@Minnesota.edu
Phone:
(218) 736-1503
Fax: (218) 736-1511

Appointed: July 1, 2018

 

Previous Positions:

  • Chief academic officer and vice president of academic affairs, associate vice president of academic and student affairs, interim provost, dean of enrollment, director of housing, admissions, recruitment, and retention, Minnesota State Community and Technical College

Education:

  • Doctorate, Capella University
  • Master’s, Capella University
  • Bachelor’s, Concordia College
  • Associate's, Minnesota State Community and Technical College

Edward Inch

Minnesota State University, Mankato
309 Wigley Administration Center
Mankato, MN 56001

Edward Inch
edward.inch@mnsu.edu
Phone: (507) 389-1111
Fax: (507) 389-6200

Appointed: July 1, 2021

 

Previous Positions:

  • Provost and vice president for academic affairs and tenured professor, California State University, East Bay
  • Dean of the College of Arts and Letters and tenured professor, California State University, Sacramento
  • Provost and vice president for academic affairs and tenured professor, Capital University
  • Dean of the School of Arts and Communication, chair of the Department of Communication and Theatre, director of forensics, and tenured professor, Pacific Lutheran University

Education:

  • Doctorate, University of Washington
  • Master’s, University of Oregon
  • Bachelor's, Western Washington University

Tim Downs

Minnesota State University Moorhead
1104 7th Avenue South
Moorhead, MN 56563

Timothy Downs
timothy.downs@mnstate.edu
Phone:
(218) 477-2243
Fax: (218) 477-5093

Appointed: July 1, 2023

 

Previous Positions:

  • Interim chief of staff, Cal Poly Humboldt
  • President/CEO, Northern State University
  • Chief academic officer , Niagara University

Education:

  • Doctorate, University of Oklahoma
  • Master’s, West Virginia University
  • Bachelor’s, California State University

Terry Gaalswyk

Minnesota West Community and Technical College
1450 College Way
Worthington, MN 56187

Terry Gaalswyk
terry.gaalswyk@mnwest.edu
Phone: (507) 372-3464
Fax: (507) 372-5801

Appointed: July 1, 2015

 

Previous Positions:

  • Executive vice president, Western Nebraska Community College
  • Vice president of educational services, Western Nebraska Community College
  • Mathematics instructor, Iowa State University
  • Dean of instruction, division chair - Computer Science, mathematics instructor, Western Iowa Tech Community College
  • Mathematics instructor, South Dakota State University

Education:

  • Doctorate, Iowa State University
  • Master’s, South Dakota State University
  • Master’s, South Dakota State University
  • Bachelor’s, Northwestern College

Joyce Ester

Normandale Community College
9700 France Avenue South
Bloomington, MN 55431

Joyce Ester
joyce.ester@normandale.edu
Phone:
(952) 487-8149
Fax: (952) 487-8140

Appointed: August 2, 2014

 

Previous Positions:

  • President, City Colleges of Chicago: Kennedy-King College
  • Associate vice president for student services, Bakersfield College
  • Assistant vice president for judicial affairs and division planning, California State University, Fresno
  • Assistant dean of students/judicial affairs, University of California, Santa Barbara
  • American sign language adjunct professor, Santa Barbara City College

Education:

  • Doctorate, University of California, Santa Barbara
  • Master’s, University of California, Santa Barbara
  • Bachelor’s, Northern Illinois University, DeKa

Rolando Garcia

North Hennepin Community College
7411 85th Avenue North
Brooklyn Park, MN 55445

Rolando García
rolando.garcia@nhcc.edu
Phone: (763) 424-0820
Fax: (763) 493-0577

Appointed: July 1, 2020

  

Previous Positions:

  • President, vice provost of academic resources, dean of academic resources and assessment, and faculty at Judson A. Samuels South Campus, Broward College
  • Dean of learning and technology resource at Woodbridge Campus, Southern Virginia Community College
  • Program coordinator, instructional designer/technology trainer, director of the Computer Courtyard, and campus director of learning resources, Miami Dade College

Education:

  • Doctorate, Florida International University
  • Master's, Florida International University
  • Bachelor's, University of Miami

Sandra Kiddoo

Northland Community and Technical College
2022 Central Ave NE
East Grand Forks, MN 56721

Shari Olson
shari.olson@northlandcollege.edu 
Phone:
(218) 793-2465

Appointed: July 1, 2024

 

Previous Positions:

  • President, South Mountain Community College
  • Interim president, Anoka Technical College
  • System director of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Minnesota State

Education:

  • Doctorate, University of North Dakota
  • Master’s, North Dakota State University
  • Bachelor's, North Dakota State University

John Hoffman

Northwest Technical College
905 Grant Ave. S.E.
Bemidji, MN 56601
(Northwest Technical College is administered by Bemidji State University)

John Hoffman
john.hoffman@bemidjistate.edu
Phone:
(218) 755-2011
Fax: (218) 755-4048

Appointed: July 1, 2022

 Previous Positions:

  • Acting senior vice chancellor, University of Minnesota Crookston
  • Vice chancellor for academic and student affairs, University of Minnesota Crookston
  • Chair of the Department of Educational Leadership, California State University

Education:

  • Doctorate, University of Minnesota
  • Master's, University of Minnesota
  • Bachelor's, Concordia University, Nebraska

Joe Mulford

Pine Technical & Community College
900 4th Street SE
Pine City, MN 55063

Joe Mulford
mulfordj@pine.edu
Phone:
(320) 629-5120
Fax: (320) 629-5120

Appointed: July 1, 2015

 

Previous Positions:

  • System director for education industry partnerships, Minnesota State
  • Dean of emergency services, manufacturing, and customized training, Hennepin Technical College
  • Dean of institutional services, custom training, and emergency services, Anoka Technical College
  • Building and industrial trades customized training coordinator, Century College
  • Chief academic officer, Globe College

Education:

  • Master’s, University of Nebraska
  • Graduate certificate, University of Nebraska
  • Master’s, Metropolitan State University
  • Bachelor’s, St. Cloud State University
  • Associate's, Moorhead State University

Craig Johnson

Ridgewater College
2101 15th Avenue NW
Willmar, MN 56201-2098

Craig Johnson
craig.Johnson@ridgewater.edu
Phone:
(320) 222-5201
Fax: (320) 222-5212

Appointed: July 1, 2018

 

Previous Positions:

  • Executive director of the University Center, South Dakota Public Universities & Research Center
  • Director, branch campus of Winona State University in Rochester
  • Administrator, West Bend Campus of Moraine Park Technical College
  • Academic resources coordinator/visual resources curator, University of Minnesota, College of Architecture and Landscape Architecture

Education:

  • Doctorate, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
  • Master’s, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
  • Master’s, Tulane University
  • Bachelor’s, University of WisconsinStevens Point

Kathleen Linaker

Riverland Community College
1900 Eighth Avenue NW
Austin, MN 55912

Kathleen Linaker
kathleen.linaker@riverland.edu
Phone:
(507) 433-0607
Fax: (507) 433-0370

Appointed: July 1, 2023

 

Previous Positions:

  • Vice president of academics, Western Technical College 
  • Assistant vice president of academics and dean of the School of STEM, Health, and Natural Sciences, Mohawk Valley Community College

Education:

  • Doctorate, Loyola University
  • Doctorate, Northwestern Health Sciences University
  • Bachelor’s, University of Alberta

Jeffery Boyd

Rochester Community and Technical College
851 30th Avenue SE
Rochester, MN 55904-4999

Jeffery Boyd
jeffery.boyd@rctc.edu
Phone:
(507) 285-7215
Fax: (507) 285-7108

Appointed: July 1, 2018

 

Previous Positions:

  • Provost, chief operating officer, and academic and student affairs administrator, Tidewater Community College
  • Dean of business and career technologies, Elgin Community College
  • Director of education and employment, Quad County Urban League
  • Student services administrator, Olivet Nazarene University
  • Student services administrator, Waubonsee Community College

Education:

  • Doctorate, National Louis University
  • Master’s, University of Phoenix
  • Bachelor’s, Judson University
  • Associate's, San Joaquin Delta College

Robbyn Wacker

St. Cloud State University
720 4th Avenue South
St. Cloud, MN 56301-4498

Larry Dietz
president@stcloudstate.edu
Phone:
(320) 308-2122
Fax: (320) 308-5139

Appointed: July 1, 2024

 

Previous Positions:

  • President, Illinois State University
  • Vice president for student affairs, Illinois State University
  • Vice chancellor for student affairs and special assistant to the chancellor, Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Education:

  • Doctorate, Iowa State University
  • Master’s, Iowa State University
  • Bachelor’s, Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Lori Kloos

St. Cloud Technical and Community College
1540 Northway Drive
St. Cloud, MN 56303

Lori Kloos
lkloos@sctcc.eduPhone:
(320) 308-5017

Appointed: July 1, 2022

 


Previous Positions:

  • Vice president of administration and chief financial officer, St. Cloud Technical and Community College
Education:
  • Bachelor’s, Moorhead State University

  • Diploma, Austin Area Vocational Technical Institute 

Photo of Deidra Peaslee

Saint Paul College
235 Marshall Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55102

Deidra Peaslee
deidra.peaslee@saintpaul.edu
Phone: (651) 846-1335
Fax: (651) 846-1451

Appointed: March 17, 2021

 

Previous Positions:

  • Interim president, Saint Paul College
  • Vice president of academic and student affairs and dean of educational services, Anoka-Ramsey Community College
  • Assistant dean, director of Kellstadt Graduate School of Business, and director of MBA International Marketing and Finance, DePaul University

Education:

  • Doctorate, St. Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Master's, Minnesota State University, Mankato
  • Bachelor's, South Dakota State University

Annette Parker

South Central College
1920 Lee Boulevard
North Mankato, MN 56003

Annette Parker
annette.parker@southcentral.edu
Phone:
(507) 389-7207
Fax: (507) 388-9951

Appointed: July 1, 2013

 

Previous Positions:

  • System director, National Center of Excellence in Advanced Automotive Manufacturing, system director workforce & economic development, Kentucky Community & Technical College System
  • Department chair, Manufacturing Engineering Technologies, lead faculty/faculty - computer aided drafting & design, Lansing Community College
  • Professor, Kent Intermediate School District
  • Tool design, Wohlert Corporation
  • Material handling and investment recovery, General Motors Corporation

Education:

  • Doctorate, Western Kentucky University
  • Master’s, Ferris State University
  • Bachelor’s, Ferris State University
  • Michigan Provisional Vocational Teacher Certification, Ferris State University
  • Associate's, Lansing Community College

Photo of Kumara Jayasuriya

Southwest Minnesota State University
1501 State Street
Marshall, MN 56258

Kumara Jayasuriya
kumara.jayasuriya@smsu.edu
Phone: (507) 537-6272
Fax: (507) 537-6241

Appointed: July 1, 2019

 

Previous Positions:

  • Provost and vice president of academic affairs, professor of mathematics, West Virginia State University
  • Associate vice chancellor for academic affairs and professor of mathematics, Purdue University-North Central Campus
  • Assistant professor and chair of the Department of Mathematics, associate professor and chair of the Division of Natural Science and Mathematics, and dean of the School of Natural Science and Mathematics, Indiana University East

Education:

  • Doctorate, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
  • Master's, Southern Illinois University
  • Bachelor's, the University of Colombo

Kenneth Janz

Winona State University
8th & Johnson Streets
P.O. Box 5838
Winona, MN 55987-5838

Kenneth Janz
kjanz@winona.edu 
Phone:
(507) 457-5003
Fax: (507) 457-2415

Appointed: March 20, 2024 


Previous Positions:

  • Associate vice president for academic affairs and CIO, Winona State University 
  • Director of the Center for Instruction, Research, and Technology, Indiana State University
  • Director of information technology for the College of Education, Indiana State University

Education:

  • Doctorate, Indiana State University
  • Master’s, North Dakota State University
  • Bachelor’s, Dickinson State University