Finalists Named for Interim Presidency of St. Cloud State University

ST. PAUL, Minn., March 28, 2024 - Minnesota State has named two finalists in the search for the interim president of St. Cloud State University. The candidates are Larry Dietz and Henry Morris.

The candidates are scheduled to conduct campus visits on Thursday, April 4. The campus visits provide an opportunity for students, faculty, staff, and members of the community to meet each of the candidates and offer feedback. Details of the candidates' campus visits and the process for providing feedback are available at https://www.stcloudstate.edu/humanresources/search/default.aspx.

Larry Dietz served Illinois State University as president from 2014 to 2021, vice president for student affairs from 2011 to 2014, and tenured associate professor from 2011 to 2021. Previously, he served Southern Illinois University Carbondale as vice chancellor for student affairs and special assistant to the chancellor from 2006 to 2011, as vice chancellor for student affairs and enrollment management and special assistant to the chancellor from 2000 to 2006, and as tenured associate professor from 2000 to 2011. He also served the University of Missouri-Kansas City from 1985 to 2000 in various capacities including vice chancellor for student affairs and enrollment management from 1998 to 2000, associate vice chancellor for student affairs and enrollment management from 1995 to 1998, associate vice chancellor for student affairs from 1988 to 1995, and assistant vice chancellor for student affairs from 1985 to 1988. He holds a bachelor's degree from Southern Illinois University Carbondale, and a master's and a doctorate from Iowa State University.

Henry Morris has served Minnesota State University, Mankato since 1990 in several capacities including his current role as vice president of diversity, equity, and inclusion/senior diversity officer, which he has held since 2020. Previously, he served the University as dean or interim dean of institutional diversity/senior diversity officer from 2010 to 2020; as executive director of off campus centers and enrollment management/assistant to the provost from 2007 to 2010; as presidential fellow from 2005 to 2007; as executive director of student involvement and director of the Centennial Student Union from 1997 to 2005; and as director, student development/director of the Centennial Student Union from 1993 to 1997. He holds a bachelor's degree from Hamilton College (NY), a master's from the University of Rhode Island, and a doctorate from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota.

The Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is expected to consider Chancellor Scott Olson's recommendation at its April 17, 2024 meeting. The anticipated start date of the interim president is July 1, 2024.

About St. Cloud State University

St. Cloud State University shows individualized student support as it serves more than 10,000 students. The institution has over 200 undergraduate academic programs and 60 graduate degrees to choose from, while the 100-acre campus is located about an hour northwest of Minneapolis along the banks of the Mississippi River in St. Cloud, Minnesota. SCSU is leading into the future by boldly altering the way it serves a new generation of students with a focus on research and innovation, allowing students to apply their knowledge in real-world settings. Over 131,000 alumni continue to be changemakers around the globe. Learn more about St. Cloud State University at www.stcloudstate.edu.

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Minnesota State includes 26 community and technical colleges and seven state universities serving approximately 300,000 students. It is the third-largest system of two-year colleges and four-year universities in the United States.