WINONA, Minn. – A search committee has narrowed the field for Winona State University’s chief academic officer to four candidates. None are local. In the interim after Ken Janz vacated the position to become university president has been Julie Furst-Bowe. Her academic background has been in personnel. Candidate interviews have been staggered through February 5. The finalists:
Monica Devers. She was dean of professional studies and other posts at Augsburg University at Minneapolis from 2017 to 2024. Earlier she was dean of health and human services at St. Cloud State. She also has been at Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis and dean at the University of Minnesota dental college. She holds a doctorate in communication disorders from the University of Minnesota and degrees in information technology, English and politics from the University of Glasgow in Scotland.
Brenda Kowalewski. For two years she had been vice provost at Weber State University in Utah and earlier other administrative posts including international studies, and continuing education. Earlier she had Weber State the veterans. She holds a doctorate in sociology from the University of Maryland and other degrees in sociology from Hofstra Unversity and also Maryland.
Ok-Hee Lee. She has been ean of education and human services and associate vice president of student affairs at Minnesota State University since February 2024. Earlier she was dean education and human service. She taught four years of teaching and learning Her academic experience includes elementary and early childhood education. She taught at Indiana University and at an elementary school in South Korea. She holds a doctorate in curriculum and instruction from Indiana. Other degrees are in arts in elementary education from Seoul National Teachers College in Korea.
Brian Martensen. Currently he is interim rxecutive director for the Minnesota Polytechnic and Applied Learning Institute at Minnesota State University-Mankato. Earlier he was interim provost for academic affairs and interim associate provost and also dean of science, engineering and technology. He has experience techg m mat and statistics. He hold s doctorate in math from Montana State University-Bozeman. He also has degrees from University of Texas at Austin and Mankato State.