Star Tribune
Larry Dietz and Henry Morris are finalists to lead St. Cloud State University
ST. CLOUD — Minnesota State on Thursday named two finalists for the interim president position at St. Cloud State University, which will become vacant this summer as President Robbyn Wacker steps down.
Wacker, who was appointed as the 24th president of the institution in 2018, announced last fall she planned to depart June 30 upon completion of her contract.
The finalists — who will visit the campus next Thursday to meet with students, staff and community members — are Larry Dietz and Henry Morris.
Dietz served Illinois State University as vice president for student affairs from 2011-2014 and president from 2014-2021. During that time, he also served as a tenured associate professor in the department of education administration. He also worked at Southern Illinois Carbondale and the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Dietz has a bachelor’s degree in political science from Southern Illinois University Carbondale, as well as a master’s and doctorate in higher education from Iowa State University.
Morris has served Minnesota State University, Mankato since 1990 in several roles, including since 2020 as vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion. Previous positions include dean of institutional diversity and executive director of student involvement. He has a bachelor’s degree in arts, history and government from Hamilton College in New York, a master’s in education from the University of Rhode Island and a doctorate in education from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota.
Minnesota State’s board of trustees is expected to consider Chancellor Scott Olson’s recommendation at its April 17 meeting, with the chosen candidate to start July 1.
Wacker is leaving amid turbulence over budget cuts, faculty layoffs and a controversial partnership with a for-profit company to provide accelerated online classes. The first three accelerated online undergraduate programs — software engineering, general business and a registered nurse-to-bachelor’s degree program — launched in January.
Last fall, Wacker told the Star Tribune she wasn’t planning on retiring and wanted to continue work in higher education. She was named as a finalist for president at Idaho State University in November but was not chosen for the position. Prior to coming to SCSU, Wacker studied gerontology and sociology and then served as professor and administrator at the University of Northern Colorado.
Wacker said she feels it is time to hand over the reins following successes in the strategic framework that has led to increased enrollment and retention rates through more diverse programming for learners at all ages and stages of their careers.
“When I first arrived, there had been a decade worth of challenges here,” Wacker said. “My task, as I saw it, was to lead this university to a better place. And I feel like I have.”
Mohamed Omar is the new board chair of Hennepin Healthcare System, the organization that runs HCMC, making him Minnesota’s first Somali American hospital board leader.
The health care system board permanently appointed Omar to the position Wednesday at their regular meeting. He had served as interim chair since Babette Apland stepped down in September.
Omar has been on the volunteer board for three years, working on the finance, investment, audit and compliance committees. He is the chief administrative officer at the Washburn Center for Children and previously was chief financial officer at the Greater Minnesota Housing Fund.
In a statement, Omar said he was excited to lead a hospital board in the state with the largest Somali American population in the U.S. He said he shared the health system’s dedication to providing “equitable, high-quality care.”
“My commitment is to deepen our community engagement, build more authentic connections between patients and team members, and build a confident future together,” Omar’s statement said.
CEO Jennifer DeCubellis and Nneka Sederstrom, chief health equity officer, praised Omar’s selection to lead the board. They said more inclusive leadership with a commitment to ending health disparities are key to HCMC’s success.
Hennepin County Board Chair Irene Fernando, who is also on health system board, said she was excited to work with Omar. She said county leaders are dedicated to good stewardship of the “state’s last public safety-net hospital.”
“As the first Hennepin County Board Chair of color, I know how impactful it is for our communities to see themselves represented in public leadership,” Fernando said.
DULUTH – The Superior National Forest has lifted its forestwide campfire ban, including the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, effective Friday.
Recent rain and humidity have improved conditions across the national forest’s 3 million acres, forest officials said in a news release.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has also lifted fire restrictions in Cook, Koochiching, Lake and northern St. Louis counties.
Fire danger is still a concern this time of year, said Karen Harrison, DNR wildfire prevention specialist.
“As leaves fall and vegetation continues to dry out, it’s important for people to be cautious with anything that can cause a spark,” she said.
The national forest imposed its broad campfire ban nearly two weeks ago, after a third wildfire, named for Bogus Lake, was discovered on forest land. No significant fire activity has been reported in recent days for any of those three fires. A fourth fire inside the forest, the 8.5-acre Pfeiffer Lake Fire, started Oct. 17. It was contained within 24 hours, the Forest Service said.
Much of northeast Minnesota is still classified in the “severe drought” stage by the U.S. Drought Monitor.
WASHINGTON — Vice President Kamala Harris was asked this week if she thought Donald Trump was a fascist, and she replied ‘’Yes, I do.’’ She subsequently called him the same thing herself, saying voters don’t want ‘’a president of the United States who admires dictators and is a fascist.’’
But what exactly is a fascist? And does the meaning of the word shift when viewed through a historical or political prism — especially so close to the end of a fraught presidential race?
An authoritarian, ultranationalist political ideology and movement. It is often associated with the far right and characterized by a dictatorial leader who uses military forces to help suppress political and civil opposition.
History’s two most famous fascists were Nazi chief Adolf Hitler in Germany and Italian dictator Benito Mussolini. Known as Il Duce, or ”the duke,” Mussolini headed the National Fascist Party, which was symbolized by an eagle clutching a fasces — a bundle of rods with an axe among them.
At Mussolini’s urging, in October 1922, thousands of ”Blackshirts,” or ”squadristi,” made up an armed fascist militia that marched on Rome, vowing to seize power. Hitler’s Nazis similarly relied on a militia, known as the ”Brownshirts.” Both men eventually imposed single-party rule and encouraged violence in the streets. They used soldiers, but also fomented civilian unrest that pit loyalists against political opponents and larger swaths of everyday society.
Hitler and Mussolini censored the press and issued sophisticated propaganda. They played up racist fears and manipulated not just their active supporters but everyday citizens.
