ST. PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota State trustees scheduled interviews for Wednesday with the two finalists to be the next chancellor of the giant statewide college system — Tonja Johnson of the University of Alabama and Scott Olson of Winona State. There been other candidates who withdrew at late stages in the narrowing process. Interviews will be at the system office at Wells Fargo Place Atrium in St. Paul. Johnson will be at 9 a.m., Olson at 10:15. They will introduce themselves and share thoughts on how MinnState can best meet the needs of students and the Minnesota economy A question-answer period will follow. On Thursday, also 9 to 11:15, will be open forums. Candidate profiles:
Johnson. Current salary: $386,000. Age 54.
Olson. Current salary: $326,000. Age 49.
Tonja Johnson
Since 2019 at the University of Alabama System as r vice chancellor for academic and student affairs. Previously at the University of Tennessee System as vice president and chief operating officer and earlier as vice president for communications and marketing. Previously at State University of New York at Stony Brook as chief deputy to the president, at Middle Tennessee State University as associate vice president for marketing and communications, and at Mississippi Valley State University from 2001 to 2008. She holds a bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Alabama and a doctorate from Jackson State University in Mississippi.
Scott Olson
Since 2012 the president of Winona State University. Previously at Minnesota State University, Mankato as provost and vice president for academic and student affairs, at the MinnState system office as interim vice chancellor for academic and student affairs, at Ball State as dean of communication, information, and media, at Central Connecticut State University as a professor and then an administrator. Holds a bachelor’s, master’s and a doctorate from Northwestern University.