Board of Governors

The Board of Governors guides the strategic direction of the School of Engineering and assists it in accomplishing its mission. The Board utilizes its influence, both internally within the University and externally, to promote and support the engineering programs at the University of St. Thomas and to enhance the value of the engineering profession as viewed by society.  Board membership consists of prominent academic, industry, and public sector leaders.

The Board of Governors performs the following functions:

• Promotes the UST reputation as an outstanding School of Engineering.
• Facilitates the acquisition of the resources necessary to develop and maintain a world-class engineering program at UST.
• Provides guidance in the formation of an engineering education responsive to the demands of contemporary society that advocates ethical and principled behavior.
• Guides the UST School of Engineering in dealing with critical contemporary issues.
• Creates a forum for critical thought, analysis and knowledge on ethical, resource sustaining engineering in a societal context.
• Attracts additional Board of Governors members who can leverage achievement of the Board’s objectives.

Board Members

• Bernie Aldrich - Rimage
• Clifford Anderson - Crown Iron Works Company
• Ronald Bennett, Dean, UST School of Engineering 
• Kris Burhardt, VP Honeywell and 3M, retired
• Winslow Buxton, CEO Pentair, retired
• Sue Critzer, President and CEO (Retired), Restore Medical
• Ric Dressen - Edina Public Schools
• Chip Emery (Chair), Chairman, MTS Systems
• Joel Houlton, VP & GM, Honeywell
• Ken Jenson, COO Alliant Techsystems (Retired)
• Lawrence Jodsaas, Chairman, PolarFab (Retired)
• Steve Kelly, Minnesota State Senator
• Rick Krueger, Executive Director, MN Transportation Alliance
• Clint Larson, Corporate VP Operations, Honeywell (Retired)
• Dennis Leisz, CEO, Wave Crest Corp.
• C. McKenzie (Mac) Lewis III, Founder and Partner, Sherpa Partners
• Kerry Marusich - Third Wave Systems 
• Larry Matthews, Cofounder Zytec (Retired)
• Ernie Micek, CEO Cargil (Retired)
• Kevin Nicholson, President, Mate Precision Tool
• Jim Porter, VP HR, Carlson Companies
• John Povolny, Associate Director, UST School of Engineering and VP 3M (Retired)
• Jill Reilly - Academy of Holy Angels
• Jim Renier, CEO, Honeywell (Retired) 
• Mike Rowan, UST Development Office 
• Kate Rubin, President, Minnesota High Tech Association
• Jay Schrankler, Executive Director, Office for Technology Commercialization, University of Minnesota
• Steve Schultz, Sr. VP of Engineering and Program Management, Textron Systems
• Mark Schumacher, VP and GM, Pressure Marketing, Rosemount Inc.
• Dale Wahlstrom, Chair, BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota and former VP, Medtronic (Retired)
• Arnie Weimerskirch, 3M Co-Chair. UST School of Engineering and VP Corporate Quality, Honeywell (Retired)
• Rachel Wobschall, UST Alumni and Constituent Relations
• Barbara Zell, Adjunct Faculty, UST School of Engineering