The foundation’s Board of Trustees is elected annually in November for three-year terms. Board members are responsible for providing governance, advocacy, and philanthropic support to advance the mission of the foundation. One-quarter of the trustees are appointed by the University’s Board of Regents. Below are the current foundation Trustees.
Officers
Kenneth C. Glaser, Chair
President
K. Charles Development
Abdul M. Omari, PhD, Vice Chair
CEO and Founder
AMO Enterprise
Regent Emeritus
University of Minnesota
Roger J. Sit, Treasurer
Chairman
Sit Investment Associates
Jacqueline R. Williams-Roll, Past Chair
Chief Human Resources Officer
General Mills
Thomas G. Olson, Secretary
Retired Managing Director
Prime Mortgage
Kathleen M. Schmidlkofer, CEO and President
University of Minnesota Foundation
Christine K. Searson, CFO and VP of Finance
University of Minnesota Foundation
Other members
Wemimo S. Abbey, MPA
Co-Founder and Co-CEO
Esusu Inc.
Blythe A. Brenden*
Founder
Blythe Brenden-Mann Foundation
Dorothy J. Bridges
Interim President and CEO
Meda
Lynn Casey
Former Chair and CEO
PadillaCRT
Rebecca A. Crooks-Stratton*
Former Secretary and Treasurer
Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community
Rebecca M. Cunningham, MD
President
University of Minnesota
Mary A. Davenport*
Regent
University of Minnesota
Kathie J. Eiland-Madison
Chief Engagement & Inclusion Officer
Delta Dental of Minnesota
Acooa Ellis
Founder and Principal Strategist
ABLE Endeavors
Michael B. Fiterman*
Chairman
Liberty Diversified International
W. Anders Folk, JD
Attorney
Jones Day
Julie E. Gilbert
CEO and Founder
Full Throttle Growth
Pahoua Hoffman
SVP, Government & Community Relations
HealthPartners
Hoyt M. Hsiao
President and CEO
Shaw-Lundquist Construction
Douglas A. Huebsch*
Regent, University of Minnesota
President, Goose Group, Inc.
Michael H. Johnson
Chairman
Johnson Brothers Liquor
Ruth E. Johnson, MD*
Regent, University of Minnesota
Physician, Mayo Clinic
James K. Lee, JD
Partner
Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer
Michael P. Lehan, EdD
District Vice President
Fusion Education Group
Beth Kieffer Leonard
Partner
Eisner Advisory Group LLC
Ross Levin
CEO and Founder
Accredited Investors Inc.
John E. Lindahl*
Former Chairman
Norwest Equity Partners
Laurie M. Marsh
EVP and Chief Human Resources Officer
Ecolab
David J. McMillan, JD
Former Executive Vice President
Minnesota Power
Katherine A. Nelson, PhD
Former CEO
Cotton Patch Cafe
Lea B. Olsen
Broadcaster
Bally Sports North
Lisa Opoku, JD
Chief Operating Officer
FS Investments
Bethany M. Owen, JD
Chair, President, and CEO
ALLETE, Inc.
Lynne S. Redleaf, JD
President
Lynne & Andrew Redleaf Foundation
Michael F. Roman*
Chief Executive Officer
3M Co.
Ty R. Silberhorn
President and CEO
Apogee Enterprises
Philip E. Soran*
Technology Entrepreneur
Lead Director
Piper Sandler
Esta E. Stecher, JD
Retired Partner
The Goldman Sachs Group Inc.
Nancy W. Stefani
Independent Trustee, Eaton Vance Mutual Funds
Corporate Director, Rimes Technologies
Darrell A. Thompson
President
Bolder Options
Peter A. Vorbrich
Retired CFO
CarVal Investors
Bradford W. Wallin*
Founding Trustee
Wallin Education Partners
Theresa B. Ward
Managing Director, Private Wealth
Merrill Lynch
* Regent-nominated trustees