Leadership Appointments

Colleen Greer named dean
of College of Arts and Sciences

In June, Dr. Colleen Greer was named dean of the university’s College of Arts and Sciences after spending two years as interim dean. In this position, Greer provides leadership for 14 academic programs and approximately
110 faculty and staff.

In addition to her work as interim dean, Greer served as director of women’s studies and gender studies at BSU from 2010-12, was coordinator of BSU’s sociology program, and served as chair of BSU’s Liberal Education Task Force from 2005-08. She chaired BSU’s social relations and services department from 2002-08. She is a full professor with experience in curriculum development, strategic planning, faculty mentoring, student advising, accreditation and collective bargaining agreements.

Greer earned her bachelor’s degree in sociology at Kearney State College and has master’s and doctorate degrees in sociology from the University of Kansas.

Robert Griggs appointed to serve
as interim dean at technical college

Robert Griggs, vice president for innovation and extended learning at Bemidji State and Northwest Technical College, was named interim dean at NTC in May. Griggs will help the college prepare for a restructuring process that will enhance its value to the Bemidji region and more fully leverage its partnership with BSU.

The interim appointment has no fixed timetable, but BSU and NTC President Dr. Richard A. Hanson said Griggs will be responsible for maintaining high educational quality while preparing NTC for changes anticipated to take effect by summer 2015.

Griggs came to BSU in 2000 as dean of distance learning and summer programs. He has been the university’s vice president for innovation and extended learning since June 2012. He served the preceding year as BSU’s interim vice president for academic affairs. Previously, he also was associate vice president for extended learning and library services and interim associate vice president for extended learning.

Griggs holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of North Dakota and earned his juris doctorate from the University of North Dakota School of Law. He is a member of the state bar associations in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota.

Jonathan Yordy joins
BSU Alumni & Foundation

Dr. Jonathan Yordy brings extensive knowledge of and commitment to higher education in his new role as chief development officer for the Bemidji State University Foundation and Alumni Association.

Yordy gained experience as vice president for university advancement and executive director of the Missouri Western State University Foundation in St. Joseph, Mo.; executive director for major gifts at Lewis University in Romeoville, Ill.; coordinator of public relations and fundraising at the University of Missouri-St. Louis; among other positions. In addition, he has lectured and taught at schools in Wisconsin and New York and written works for scholarly publication.

A summa cum laude graduate of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, he went on to earn a doctorate in English from the State University of New York at Buffalo.

Jodi Monerson is university’s
new director of residential life

When classes kicked off at Bemidji State this fall, a new face was overseeing residential life for the first time in decades. Dr. Jodi Monerson was named BSU’s director of residential life in June; she succeeds Dale Ladig, who had been at BSU for 34 years. Monerson comes to BSU looking forward and seeking ways she can put her experiences to work helping students find a home where they can relax, be surrounded by supportive friends and learn new things by involving themselves in a welcoming campus community.

Monerson went to Winona State University intending to be a teacher. However, her own experiences as a resident assistant and the relationships she built with the RAs and other staff in her buildings convinced her to choose a different path. An early sense of connection to her university and her adventures through the Winona State residential experience have blossomed into a career that is well into its second decade.

Monerson has a bachelor’s degree in K-6 education with a minor in music and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Winona State University and a doctorate in higher education administration from St. Cloud State University.

Carol Russell is new president
of BSU Foundation board

Carol Russell74 became president of the BSU Foundation Board of Directors at the organization’s annual meeting in October. Russell is CEO and a founding partner of Russell Herder, an integrated marketing communications firm with offices in Minneapolis and Brainerd. Russell leads the firm’s strategic practice in representing corporate and governmental entities regionally and nationally. She has applied that experience in her leadership on foundation board as vice president and a leader in the group’s recent strategic planning efforts.

Russell was a 2006 Outstanding Alumni Award recipient. She previously served
on the board from 1998-2004 and rejoined in 2009.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from BSU. She also has a master’s degree in communications management and is a graduate of the University of Minnesota Executive Program, Carlson School of Management.