At campus microphone. The tousled-hair, still-freckled 49-year-old Scott Olson taking student calls and spinning music in his annual air shift on campus radio station KQAL.
His progress toward racial, gender equity noted
ST. PAUL, Minn.—The president of Winona State for 11 years, Scott Olson, has been put in charge of the 326,000-student MinnState statewide system of universities, colleges and vocational schools. Olson’s appointment as chancellor is effective in August. The trustees were unanimous in naming Olson to succeed Devinder Malhotra, who is retiring. In a statement, trustees cited Olson for “a reputation for academic excellence.” The tustees said he was known for delivering “high rates of student success” that have been recognized in national rankings. Roger Moe, chair of the MinnState trustees, said: “Scott has deep roots in Minnesota State and is known throughout the system as a collaborative and strategic leader. He has amassed an outstanding reputation in every role he has played, and has the skills needed to build a common vision of what Minnesota can become.” Olson, who grew up in a Minneapolis suburb, knows well the MinnState system of 30 state colleges and seven state universities with 54 campuses. He arrived at Winona Sate from Mankato State, where he rose through administrative ranks to become vice president for academics and student affairs. He has been at Winona State since 2012.
Olson’s touch, flair
At Winona State, Olson is known for his well-rehearsed speech “What It Means to be a Warrior,” which he rolls out for ceremonial occasions ranging from welcoming new students to congratulating graduates at commencements. He has extensive collection of ties in Winona State’s traditional purple color. On the podium Olson can cleverly mix references to Shakespeare and the Greek philosophers, pop culture icons like his favorite Bruce Springsteen, Biblical passages, and stanzas from Lutheran hymnals. He was at home with the Winona State motto he inherited from Darrell Krueger, one of his predecessors as president: “A community of learners to improve the world.” He always seemedcomfortable rearranging the words to keep it ever fresh.
Olson record
Olson has served on 21 different international, national, and local boards, currently including:
> Great River Shakespeare Festival Board of Directors.
> Higher Learning Commission Institutional Actions Council.
> WSU Foundation Board.
> Chair of the Executive Alliance of HealthForce Minnesota.
Prior to Winona State he was at Minnesota State University-Mankato as academic provost and vice president for academic and student affairs. Earlier he was a professor of communication studies. During his Mankato tenure, the university saw significant growth in enrollment, diversity, innovation, industry partnerships, international programs, system collaboration, and applied research.
Olson also served for one year as interim vice chancellor for academic and student affairs in the state university and college system headquarters in St.Paul.
Through a $20 million gift from the Lilly Endowment, he created the Global Media Network, which won a national award from the American Council on Education.