Two key appointments would complete new chancellor’s leadership team

Steven Rosenstone, chancellor of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, recommended on Monday that the Board of Trustees appoint Douglas Knowlton to be vice chancellor for academic and student affairs and Michael Dougherty to be vice chancellor for advancement.

Knowlton is the president of Dakota State University in Madison, S.D., and Dougherty is vice president of communications at the Valspar Corp. and president of the Valspar Foundation.

“I selected these two exemplary candidates to complete my leadership team from exceptionally strong applicant pools,” Rosenstone said. “I am confident they will be superb leaders.”  The Board of Trustees is expected to vote on the recommendations at its Wednesday board meeting.

“Dr. Knowlton is a person of great passion, who cares deeply about education, learning, access and student success,” Rosenstone said. “And he’s been an innovator in using technology on his campus and in the South Dakota system as a whole.”

Before taking his current position in 2004, Knowlton was vice chancellor for academic affairs and a tenured professor at the University of Minnesota, Crookston; chair of special education and the Department of Teaching and Learning and associate professor of special education at the University of North Dakota; a faculty member at the University of North Dakota’s Conflict Resolution Center; director of child evaluation and treatment at the University of North Dakota Medical Center Rehabilitation Hospital; and a consulting psychologist at the Minnesota Health Department.  He also has served on what was the Minnesota State Board of Technical Colleges and the Minnesota Higher Education Board before the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities began operations in 1995.

Knowlton holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Denver; and a master's degree in psychology and a Ph.D. in clinical psychology, both from the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks.

“Michael Dougherty will be a fantastic addition to our leadership team and a great partner with our colleges and universities,” Rosenstone said.  “He brings tremendous expertise and an ability to think strategically in the areas of communications, government relations, marketing, public relations and fundraising.”

Before taking the Valspar position, Dougherty held a variety of positions at 3M, including director of global communications; managing director of a Swedish subsidiary, Svenska AB; communications manager of special material markets and automotive and chemical markets group; manager of environmental and regulatory affairs and investor relations counselor; vice president of policy and legislation and vice president of operations at the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce; acting deputy assistant secretary for legislation at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; and manager of government relations and legislative assistant at Pillsbury Co.

Dougherty holds a bachelor's degree in speech and communications, and a master's degree in public affairs, both from the University of Minnesota, and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of St. Thomas.

If approved by trustees, Knowlton would succeed Larry Litecky, who has been interim vice chancellor for academic and student affairs, and Dougherty will succeed Bernie Omann, interim leader of the advancement unit.

Minnesota's 31 state community and technical colleges, and universities serve more than 420,000 students across the state. Riverland Community College is part of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.