WINONA, Minn. – The president of State College Southeast, who has been in office only 1-1/2 years, issued a written apology to her staff for financial irregularities and gratuitous gender and race references. The apology from Marsha Danielson followed separate investigations – one by state auditors, the other by the state college system’s personnel office. This much is known from the investigations:
> Danielson solicited a package of free tickets from the energy company Xcel to attend Minnesota Wild hockey games (which range as high as $200 a seat per game).
> Danielson awarded contracts to friends, including $30,000 deal for marketing, $15,500 academic consulting, and $7,500 fo ra custom training program.
> Danielson used a state vehicle to commute back and forth from home to the college’s campuses in Red Wing and Winona.
> Danielson used nouns of direct address like “hon,” “girlie” and “babe,” which co-workers took as diminutive.
> Danielson called meetings “pow-wows,” a word that Native American used for medicine but whose meaning was corrupted by European colonists and to which Indians over the centuries have taken growing offense.
> Danielson demeaned a fellow college president by imitating his foreign accent.
> Danielson once commented that the state college system president, Devinder Malhotra, didn’t pick up the tab for a lunch, branding him a cheapskate consistent, she implied, with his Subcontinent parentage.
> Danielson said all Asian people look alike, suggesting a racial bias that denies respect for individuals.
The investigation by the state college system’s internal auditors acknowledged ambiguities about some issues, like preferential treatment of friends in contracts. Even so, there were questions of judgment.
Danielson. Accused of multiple misdeeds and misjudgments as president of Southeast State College in Winona and Red Wing. Had been been a rising star in the state college system.
Danielson profile
in July 2021 Marsha Danielson became president of the dual-campus Minnesota State College Southeast. She has more than 25 years experience in higher education. From 2015 to 2021, she was vice president of economic development at South Central College in Mankato and Faribault as Earlier she was senior associate to the president and dean of economic development at South Central. At Minnesota State University, Mankato she worked in development, alumni relations, external relations, and marketing and communications from 1996 to 2007. Danielson holds a bachelor’s degree in business and a master’s degree in higher-ed administration from Minnesota State-Mankato and a doctorate in community college leadership from Ferris State in Michigan. Danielson has served as a racial justice facilitator since 2004. She is affiliated with the Trans-Atlantic Technology and Training Alliance; the American Association of Community Colleges’ Commission on Diversity, Inclusion and Equity; and the NOCTI organization that provides industry-based credentials for career and technical education programs.
Danielson profile
in July 2021 Marsha Danielson became president of the dual-campuss Minnesota State College Southeast. She has more than 25 years experience in higher education. From 2015 to2021, she was vice president of economic development at South Central College in Mankato and Faribault as Earlier she was senior associate to the president and dean of economic development at South Central. At Minnesota State University, Mankato she worked in development, alumni relations, external relations, and marketing and communications from 1996 to 2007. Danielson holds a bachelor’s degree in business and a master’s degree in higher-ed administration from Minnesota State-Mankato and a doctorate in community college leadership from Ferris State in Michigan. Danielson has served as a racial justice facilitator since 2004. She is affiliated with the Trans-Atlantic Technology and Training Alliance; the American Association of Community Colleges’ Commission on Diversity, Inclusion and Equity; and the NOCTI organization that provides industry-based credentials for career and technical education programs.