Posted: February 13, 2015
Contact: Doug Anderson, doug.anderson@MinnState.edu, 651-201-1426
ST. PAUL, Minn., February, 13, 2015 – Minnesota State Colleges and Universities has named three semifinalists who are under consideration to be president of the Northeast Higher Education District (NHED), a consortium of five state colleges: Hibbing Community College, Itasca Community College, Mesabi Range College, Rainy River Community College, and Vermilion Community College. The candidates are William Maki, Barbara McDonald, and Michael Raich.
William Maki
The candidates were recommended by a search advisory committee comprised of students, faculty, staff, and community leaders. Joe Opatz, retired president of Normandale Community College, is serving as the executive search chair. The candidates are scheduled to visit the NHED campuses between February 17 and February 25. The campus visits present an opportunity for faculty, staff, students, and members of the community to meet each of the candidates and offer feedback.
William Maki has been vice president of finance and administration at Bemidji State University and Northwest Technical College since 2004. Previously, he served at NHED as the chief financial and facilities officer (2003-2004), and at Itasca Community College as dean of student and administrative services (2000-2003), director of finance and facilities (1997-2000), and business manager/business officer (1995-1997). He holds an associate degree from Vermilion Community College and a bachelor’s degree and a master’s from the University of Minnesota Duluth. He will visit Mesabi Range College on February 17, Itasca Community College and Hibbing Community College on February 18, and Rainy River Community College and Vermilion Community College on February 19.
Barbara McDonald
Barbara McDonald has served as the interim president at Minnesota West Technical and Community College since 2014. Previously, she served at Itasca Community College as provost (2013-2014), dean of academic affairs and student services (2009-2013), dean of academic affairs (2000-2009), and director of institutional effectiveness (2000). Prior to Itasca Community College, she served as a faculty member at Rainy River Community College (1997-2000). She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado, Boulder, a master’s from the American University in Cairo, and a doctorate from the University of Minnesota. She will visit Itasca Community College and Hibbing Community College on February 23, Rainy River Community College and Vermilion Community College on February 24, and Mesabi Range College on February 25.
Michael Raich
Michael Raich has served as interim provost at Itasca Community College since 2014 and Hibbing Community College since 2015. Previously, he served as dean of academic affairs and student services at Hibbing Community College (2006-2014) and as the principal of Hibbing High School (2004-2006). 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. He will visit Hibbing Community College and Itasca Community College on February 23, Vermilion Community College and Rainy River Community College on February 24, and Mesabi Range College on February 25.
The MnSCU Board of Trustees is expected to act on Chancellor Steven Rosenstone’s recommendation of a final candidate at its March 18 meeting. The new president is expected to begin in July 2015.
The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities include 24 two-year community, technical, and comprehensive colleges and seven state universities serving more than 430,000 students. It is the fifth-largest higher education system of its kind in the United States.
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