The Role

Associate Vice Chancellor Leadership Profile 2026 - click to read

The Associate Chancellor has responsibility for the day-to-day management and leadership of the University of Minnesota Crookston campus as well as partnering with the Chancellor to identify and implement new strategies aligned with the campus and university strategic roadmap. This role is responsible for the day-to-day management of campus operations, including personnel and financial stewardship. The Associate Chancellor acts as the Chancellor’s primary deputy, ensuring academic and support services are aligned across the campus and system while fostering a modern, flexible leadership culture that responds to regional and statewide opportunities and needs for the future workforce. See additional details in our Leadership Profile and application materials.

This search is being supported by the executive search firm of Buffkin/Baker.

Search Committee

  • Charles Nies, University of Minnesota Duluth Chancellor, Hiring Authority
  • Ryan Schmiesing, Vice President for Strategic Initiatives, Search Chair
  • Praveen Aggarwal, University of Minnesota Duluth Dean of Labovitz School of Business and Economics
  • Eric Watkins, University of Minneosta Vice Provost for Distributed Learning
  • Tony Kern, University of Minnesota Crookston Associate Vice Chancellor of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and Math, Science and Technology 
  • Megan Kragness, University of Minnesota Crookston Lecturer in Business/Faculty Assembly Chair
  • Diane Cilengi, University of Minnesota Crookston Student

Search Updates

We will update this page throughout the search process.

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1st Search Committee Meeting - October 19, 2026

The search consultant (Buffkin/Baker) made contact with many potential candidates and others across the country and we have received a very positive and significant response to this opportunity.  The search advisory committee will begin their work of reviewing the applicants over the next few weeks or more.  We anticipate sharing more information as we move into the campus interview phase which we hope will be this semester, but will finalize as the process unfolds. There will be opportunity for broad level input at the finalist interviews.