Leadership

Leadership Team

Director and CEO: Kent Whitworth

Deputy Directors:

  • Melanie Adams, Learning Initiatives
  • Jennifer Jones, Preservation and Outreach
  • Doug Marty, Administration

Governing Board

Officers

  • David Hakensen, President
  • William Green, Vice President
  • Daniel Schmechel, Treasurer
  • Kent Whitworth, Secretary
  • Phyllis Rawls Goff, Immediate Past President

Executive Council

  • Cawo Abdi
  • Eric Ahlness
  • Ford Bell
  • Suzanne Blue
  • Kurt BlueDog
  • Barbara Burwell
  • Grant Davis
  • Michael Davis
  • Mitch Davis
  • Michael Farnell
  • Stephanie Fehr
  • Thomas Forsythe
  • Steve Gibson
  • Phyllis Rawls Goff
  • William Green
  • David Hakensen
  • MayKao Hang
  • Dennis Lamkin
  • Jean Larson
  • Monica Little
  • Richard Nash
  • Joe Nayquonabe
  • Peter Reyes, Jr.
  • Daniel Schmechel​
  • Anton Treuer
  • Ben Vander Kooi
  • Warren Zaccaro

Ex-Officio

  • Mark Dayton, Governor
  • Michelle Fischbach, Lieutenant Governor
  • Steve Simon, Secretary of State
  • Lori Swanson, Attorney General
  • Rebecca Otto, State Auditor

Emeritus Council

  • D. H. Ankeny, Jr.+
  • Nina M. Archabal+
  • Charles W. Arnason+
  • Annette Atkins+
  • Sharon Avent+
  • Bruce W. Bean+
  • Gretchen U. Beito+
  • Diane Berthel
  • Kathleen Blatz
  • Robert Bruininks
  • John A. Cochrane
  • Judith S. Corson
  • Mark Davis+
  • Charlton Dietz+
  • D. Stephen Elliott
  • Harold A. Frederick
  • Ram Gada
  • James T. Hale
  • Stanley S. Hubbard 
  • Karen A. Humphrey+
  • Ruth S. Huss
  • Lucy R. Jones+
  • Sylvia Kaplan+
  • Elizabeth S. MacMillan+
  • Charles Mahar
  • Susan B. McCarthy
  • Malcolm W. McDonald
  • Donald C. McIlrath+
  • Pierce A. McNally
  • William C. Melton+
  • Grant J. Merritt
  • Joseph S. Micallef+
  • Dean Nelson
  • Richard H. Nicholson
  • Elizabeth M. Nordlie
  • Peter Reis
  • Mark Ritchie
  • Kennon V. Rothchild+
  • Janet R. Shapiro+
  • Susan Kenny Stevens
  • William R. Stoeri
  • Edward Stringer
  • Bo Thao-Urabe
  • Karen Wilson Thissen
  • Missy Staples Thompson
  • Kathy H. Tunheim
  • Paul A. Verret+
  • Eleanor Winston

Honorary Council

  • Lowell C. Anderson
  • Marvin R. Anderson
  • Russell Anderson
  • D. H. Ankeny, Jr.+
  • Nina M. Archabal+
  • Charles W. Arnason+
  • Annette Atkins+
  • Sharon Avent+
  • Bruce W. Bean+
  • Gretchen U. Beito+
  • Ford W. Bell
  • Mark Davis+
  • Charlton Dietz+
  • Hiram M. Drache
  • Elizabeth S. Driscoll
  • Richard L. Ferrell
  • Michael J. Fox
  • Ram Gada+
  • Karen A. Humphrey+
  • John Huss
  • Ruth Huss+
  • Lucy R. Jones+
  • Sylvia Kaplan+
  • Alexandra (Sandy) Klas
  • Robert C. Klas
  • Colles Larkin
  • John Larkin
  • Elizabeth S. MacMillan+
  • Donald C. McIlrath+
  • Peg Meier
  • William C. Melton+
  • Joseph S. Micallef+
  • Richard Moe
  • Walter F. Mondale
  • Larry G. Osnes
  • Fred Perez
  • Kennon V. Rothchild+
  • Ramedo J. Saucedo
  • Jeff Savage
  • Janet R. Shapiro+
  • Robert J. Sivertsen
  • F. L. Spanier
  • Paul A. Verret+
  • Gerald Vizenor
  • Vernell Wabasha
  • Mary Lethert Wingerd

+ Emeritus and Honorary Council Member

Kent Whitworth, Secretary