Posted: April 24, 2025
Contact: Noelle Hawton, Noelle.Hawton@MinnState.edu, 651-201-1801
ST. PAUL, Minn. April 24, 2025 – Minnesota State has named three finalists in the search for the next president of Lake Superior College. The candidates are David Clickner, Barbara Embacher, and Linda Kingston.
The candidates were recommended by a search advisory committee that was comprised of students, faculty, staff, and community leaders, and was chaired by Sharon Pierce, president of Minneapolis College.
The candidates are scheduled to conduct campus visits the week of April 28. 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.lsc.edu/president-search/.
David Clickner has been with SUNY Schenectady County Community College (NY) since 2017. He currently serves as vice president for strategic initiatives and planning and previously served the college as interim vice president for academic affairs and assistant vice president for academic affairs. Previously he was with Hudson Valley Community College (NY) from 2007-2017 where he served as interim assistant to the vice president for academic affairs (2015-2017) and director of learning centers (2007-2015). He also has teaching experience at the College of St. Rose (NY) between 2000-2006 and Hudson Valley Community College (NY) from 2011-2012 and taught in K-12 schools prior to that. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Siena College (NY), and a master’s and doctorate from the University at Albany, New York. He is scheduled to visit Lake Superior College on Tuesday, April 29
Barbara Embacher currently serves as the director of academic programs and special projects for the Minnesota State system office, a position she has held since 2024. Previously, she served Riverland Community College as the vice president of academic and student affairs from 2018- 2024. Prior to that she was the interim vice president of academic affairs at South Central College in 2018, dean of academics, workforce education and training at South Central College between 2013-2017, and adjunct faculty at Minnesota State University, Mankato from 2003-2006. Between 2007-2013, she served as vice president of Greater Mankato Growth, Inc. She also spent 14 years in secondary education with Mankato Area Public Schools and Eau Claire Area Public Schools. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Stout, a master’s from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, and a doctorate from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She is scheduled to visit Lake Superior College on Tuesday, April 29.
Linda Kingston has served as the vice president for academic and student affairs a Lake Superior College since 2020. Previously, she held the position of assistant vice president for distance learning and summer session at Winona State University (WSU) between 2017-2020. She was also an adjunct faculty in the college of education at WSU in 2020. Prior to that, she served Saint Paul College as interim vice president of academic affairs from 2016-2017, dean of STEM from 2015-2017, and dean of STEM and liberal arts between 2010-2015. She also was the dean of academic affairs for Minnesota State College Southeast from 2007-2010, distance learning coordinator at Alexandria Technical & Community College (ATCC) between 2004-2007 and instructor of mathematics and computer science at ATCC from 2000-2007. She began her career as a mathematics and computer science instructor at Minnewaska Area High School in Glenwood, Minnesota. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Dakota, a master’s from St. Cloud State University, and a doctorate from Capella University. She is scheduled to visit Lake Superior College on Monday, April 28.
The Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is expected to consider Chancellor Scott Olson’s recommendation at its May 21, 2025, meeting. The anticipated start date of the new president is July 1, 2025.
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Minnesota State includes 26 community and technical colleges and seven state universities serving approximately 270,000 students. It is the fourth-largest system of two-year colleges and four-year universities in the United States.