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Four new members gained spots Tuesday on the University of Minnesota's Board of Regents, a full third of the board at a time of immense challenge for the land-grant college.

They include a former U.S. ambassador to Norway, a past United Nations food aid counselor who also worked abroad, a doctoral student with a focus on economic planning, and a prominent search firm executive who graduated from the university before pursuing a career in nonprofit leadership.

Gov. Tim Walz announced the appointments after getting more than two dozen applicants.

In a news release, Walz characterized his picks as “four accomplished, knowledgeable and dedicated leaders.” He said their varied experience will come in handy as the board “addresses current challenges and shapes the university’s future.”

While the Minnesota Legislature usually elects members of the board, that did not happen this last session, handing the decision to the governor. 

The slate includes two at-large seats, a seat for congressional district 5 and a student-at-large seat.

time of uncertainty for the university system

, which is facing investigations by the Trump administration over antisemitism and its diversity in admissions policies. The school has also seen cuts to research funding and other funding streams for the federal government. 

Joel Bergstrom — He is an attorney who grew up in the Twin Cities, has led nonprofits and is a top official with an executive search firm. He earned an undergraduate degree in history from the University of Minnesota before attending law school at New York University. 

Samuel Heins — He was the U.S. Ambassador to Norway between 2016 and 2017. He is a human rights attorney who helped establish the Center for Victims of Torture in Minneapolis. He's an attorney with Heins, Mills and Olson Law Firm in Minneapolis and has a bachelor's and a law degree from the University of Minnesota.

Ellen Luger — While she is the only appointee who didn’t attend the University of Minnesota at some point, she has held prominent roles in the Twin Cities and beyond. Most recently, Luger served in a U.N. food agency post in Rome. She has been in philanthropic positions at the Minneapolis Foundation and General Mills and has served on the Twin Cities Public Television board. Luger has a bachelor’s degree from Wellesley College and a law degree from Georgetown University.

Kowsar Mohamed — She was named to a seat on the board reserved for a student. Mohamed is a doctoral student in natural resources sciences. While doing her graduate studies, she has served in economic planning and inclusion roles for the state of Minnesota and with the City of St. Paul. She was part of the Regent Candidate Advisory Council for four years.

Heins, Luger and Bergstrom are all regular donors to Walz campaigns — either Congress, governor or both. Heins has been a prominent Democratic donor for decades, including being listed as a campaign contribution bundler for Obama prior to his selection to the ambassadorship. 

Mohamed also made small political donations in 2022 to a single state Senate campaign.

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The four people appointed by Gov. Tim Walz will make up one third of the University of Minnesota’s Board of Regents, which oversees the five campuses of the state system.

Former ambassador, ex-UN food aid leader among 4 new regents selected for U of M

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