New University of Minnesota's leader gets high praise from colleague

Updated: 11:34 a.m. | Posted: 10:15 a.m.

The University of Minnesota regents hired Joan Gabel as the university's next president. If hired, Gabel would oversee a nearly $4 billion dollar annual budget and 50,000 students. She's be the university's first female president.

Gabel is currently the provost of the University of South Carolina, where she earned a reputation of being a collaborative, business-savvy administrator.

MPR's Cathy Wurzer spoke with Valinda Littlefield, a history professor at the University of South Carolina and a faculty athletics representative before Gabel was officially hired.

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