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Board Members

The Authority Board consists of nine* members appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. A representative of the Minnesota Office of Higher Education and the President of the Minnesota Private College Council, who is a non-voting member, are also members of the Authority.*

*On June 12, 2025, Governor Tim Walz signed legislation which added two additional board members: one Governor-appointed member having healthcare expertise and one ex-officio member in healthcare. This became effective August 1, 2025. As of October 2025, these two additional board seats have not yet been filled. The list below reflects the eight members appointed by the Governor and the two ex-officio members prior to the expansion of the board on August 1, 2025.

Gary D. Benson

  • Director of Project Planning & Development
  • Kraus-Anderson Construction Company
  • Term Expires: January 2027*
  • Resident of New Brighton, Minnesota
  • Construction Expertise Manager

MiKEYA GRIFFIN

  • Executive Director
  • Rondo Community Land Trust
  • Term Expires: January 2026*
  • Resident of Saint Paul, Minnesota

ERICH HEPPNER

  • Director of Student Life
  • Central Lakes College
  • Term Expires: January 2029*
  • Resident of Staples, Minnesota
  • Higher Education Affiliation Member and Outstate Minnesota Member

Mary F. Ives, FISCAL YEAR 2026 BOARD VICE-CHAIR

  • Real Estate Agent and Business Owner-Operator of Hospitality Properties
  • Term Expires: January 2028*
  • Resident of Grand Rapids, Minnesota
  • Outstate Minnesota Member

Bonnie M. Anderson Rons, FISCAL YEAR 2026 BOARD CHAIR

  • Retired Banker
  • Term Expires: January 2027*
  • Resident of Rosemount, Minnesota

David D. Rowland

  • Executive Vice President and Co-Chief Investment Officer
  • The Travelers Companies, Inc.
  • Term Expires: January 2029*
  • Resident of Edina, Minnesota
  • Municipal Finance Expertise Member

Nancy Sampair

  • Retired Banker
  • Term Expires: January 2026*
  • Resident of St. Paul, Minnesota

Kenneth Westphal, FISCAL YEAR 2026 BOARD SECRETARY

  • Retired College Vice President for Finance
  • Term Expires: January 2028*
  • Resident of St. Peter, Minnesota
  • Outstate Minnesota Member

Ex-officio MemberS:

Paul Cerkvenik

  • President, Minnesota Private College Council
  • Ex Officio, Non-Voting
  • Saint Paul, Minnesota
  • Minnesota Private College Council Member

Poawit Yang

  • Chief Financial Officer
  • Minnesota Office of Higher Education
  • Ex Officio
  • Saint Paul, Minnesota
  • Office of Higher Education Member

*Pending Senate Confirmation (The Senate has not exercised their consenting power since 2016.)