Board Members
The Authority Board consists of eight 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.
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
Mary F. Ives
- Real Estate Agent and Business Owner-Operator of Hospitality Properties
- Term Expires: January 2024*
- Resident of Grand Rapids, Minnesota
- Outstate Minnesota Member
Bonnie M. Anderson Rons, FISCAL YEAR 2024 BOARD SECRETARY
- Retired Banker
- Term Expires: January 2027*
- Resident of Rosemount, Minnesota
David D. Rowland, FISCAL YEAR 2024 BOARD CHAIR
- Executive Vice President and Co-Chief Investment Officer
- The Travelers Companies, Inc.
- Term Expires: January 2025*
- Resident of Edina, Minnesota
- Municipal Finance Expertise Member
Nancy Sampair, FISCAL YEAR 2024 BOARD VICE-CHAIR
- Retired Banker
- Term Expires: January 2026*
- Resident of St. Paul, Minnesota
MarY THAO
- Vice President and Controller
- St. Catherine University
- Term Expires: January 2025*
- Resident of Circle Pines, Minnesota
- Higher Education Affiliation Member
Raymond VinZant Jr.
- Founder, Midway Vo-Tech, Saint Paul
- Term Expires: January 2024*
- Resident of Wyoming, 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.)