On Purpose: Portrait of University Governance
University of Minnesota Executive Vice President and Provost
As the University of Minnesota’s chief academic officer, the executive vice president and provost oversees the colleges and schools—including faculty hiring and development, collaborative curricular planning, and the recruitment and education of undergraduate, graduate, and professional students—as well as overseeing international programs, academic support, and public outreach and engagement. This is a broad and deep portfolio, one central to the core missions of the University.
The current executive vice president and provost, Karen Hanson, did her undergraduate work in CLA, concentrating in philosophy and mathematics. She says she’s grateful for the great education she got at the University. Her undergraduate experience in CLA prepared her well for graduate study at Harvard University and laid a firm foundation for the broad academic engagement that’s at the heart of her work today.
University of Minnesota Board of Regents
The Board of Regents is the 12-member governing body of the University of Minnesota. Regents are appointed by the state legislature to serve six-year terms and do not receive compensation for their service. The regents work to help the University of Minnesota pursue research and prepare students to grow Minnesota’s economy and advance the well-being of diverse communities throughout the world.
The board is responsible for clarifying the mission of the University of Minnesota, monitoring and evaluating the University’s performance, approving major policies, long-range plans, educational programs, and annual budgets while delegating administrative responsibilities to the University president and administration.
Many alumni from the College of Liberal Arts have served on the Board of Regents. A third of the current board members earned degrees from the College of Liberal Arts: Richard Beeson (BA ‘76, political science) Peggy Lucas (BA ‘64, history; M.S.W. ‘78) Abdul Omari (BA ‘08, global studies; MPP ‘10, public policy; PhD ‘15, organizational leadership and policy development) Darrin Rosha (BS ‘90, applied economics; BA ‘91, political science; MPA ‘93; JD ‘96).
