Gov. Walz appoints 4 new members to the U of M Board of Regents

On Tuesday, Gov. Tim Walz announced four new appointments to the University of Minnesota Board of Regents.

“The University of Minnesota Board of Regents is gaining four accomplished, knowledgeable, and dedicated leaders,” said Walz. “They will bring a wide range of experiences and perspectives, united by a deep commitment to the University’s mission. Their leadership will be critical as the Board addresses current challenges and shapes the University’s future.”

Joel Bergstrom — member at large — is a principal at Orion Search Group, where he focuses on higher education, social services, housing and the arts, according to the governor’s office. Bergstrom was previously the vice president at CohenTaylor Executive Search Services and was in leadership roles at Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery and the Minnesota Medical Foundation.

Samuel Heins — member at large — is a retired U.S. ambassador to Norway under President Barack Obama and a human rights advocate and attorney, the governor’s office said. He previously served as a senior partner at Heins Mills & Olson and founded The Advocates for Human Rights and co-founded the Center for Victims of Torture.

Ellen Luger — Congressional District 5 — most recently served as minister counselor for agriculture at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations food agencies in Rome and was later appointed acting deputy chief of mission. In that role, the governor’s office adds that Luger represented U.S. agriculture in efforts to improve food security, including supporting CODEX and collaborating with the Rockefeller Foundation on expanding school meal programs.

Kowsar Mohamed — student at large — is the enterprise director of inclusion for the State of Minnesota’s Office of Inclusion and a doctoral student in Natural Resources Science and Management at the University of Minnesota. She was previously the director of strategic partnerships at the Center for Economic Inclusion and a senior project manager with St. Paul’s Department of Planning and Economic Development.
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