Winona State University announces three new interim appointments to its administrative leadership team in the areas of University Advancement and Student Life and Development.
Gary Evans will serve as Interim Vice President for Advancement. Evans is the retired president and CEO of Hiawatha Broadband Communications and served as Vice President of University Relations and Development at WSU from 1987-1998. Evans has held many community and civic positions, including work with Winona Health, Winona Area Chamber of Commerce, the WSU Foundation and the Greater Rochester Area University Center.
Karen Johnson will serve as Interim Associate Vice President for Student Life and Development. Johnson, who has been at WSU since 1998, has served as Dean of Students in both permanent and interim capacities since 2007. Johnson has bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Saskatchewan, a master’s degree in speech communication from the University of Northern Colorado, and a Ph.D. in educational administration with an emphasis on higher education from the University of Southern Mississippi.
Barbara Oertel will serve as Interim Associate Vice President for Enrollment Services. Oertel has been at WSU since 1985 and currently serves as Director of the Warrior Success Center. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Winona State and her Ed.D. from the University of Minnesota.
About Winona State University
Founded in 1858, Winona State University is a comprehensive, regional public university with nearly 8,900 students. The oldest member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, Winona State offers more than 80 undergraduate, pre-professional, licensure, graduate and doctorate programs on its three campuses in southeast Minnesota: the original Main Campus in Winona, the West Campus in Winona, and Winona State University-Rochester.
The university’s mission is to enhance the intellectual, social, cultural and economic vitality of the people and communities we serve: a community of learners improving our world. For more information, visit: www.winona.edu.
