Senior Leadership Update—Crookston

Dear colleagues,

Following nearly a decade of distinguished leadership as Chancellor of the University of Minnesota Crookston, Mary Holz-Clause has shared with me her plans to retire at the end of the year. I am deeply grateful to her for her dedication and unwavering commitment to the University of Minnesota Crookston and its students, faculty, staff and alumni.

During her tenure, Chancellor Holz-Clause strengthened the University of Minnesota Crookston’s national reputation for innovation, online education, sustainability and rural engagement. Under her leadership, the campus achieved record enrollment growth and built a strong data infrastructure that supports early intervention, retention and a more equitable approach to student success. Her leadership also led to the University of Minnesota Crookston becoming the smallest university in the nation to receive the prestigious American Public Land-Grant Universities Innovation and Economic Prosperity designation. Her legacy at the University of Minnesota—and across her 40-year career in higher education—is truly remarkable.

What’s next

Beginning in January, I have asked Chancellor Charles Nies to serve in a dual role as interim Chancellor of the University of Minnesota Crookston, while maintaining his role as Chancellor of the University of Minnesota Duluth. This 18-month appointment reflects my confidence in his leadership and in the strength of the established teams on both campuses.

To ensure a seamless transition, Chancellor Nies will spend time on the Crookston campus this fall, collaborating with the Crookston leadership team and Chancellor Holz-Clause ahead of her retirement. Over the next 18 months, we will thoughtfully evaluate opportunities to build upon Crookston's distinctive strengths while identifying ways to strengthen our support of students, faculty and staff of the University of Minnesota Crookston. The University of Minnesota remains strongly committed to the University of Minnesota Crookston students, faculty, staff, alumni and the community of Crookston and the Red River Valley region.  

In addition, we will create an associate chancellor role in Crookston. Together, this new leader and Chancellor Nies will ensure continuity, support the needs of students, faculty and staff, and maintain the momentum and progress Chancellor Holz-Clause and her team have created. We will share information about this role as it is solidified. 

Please join me in congratulating Chancellor Holz-Clause and thanking her for her ongoing commitment to the University of Minnesota. We look forward to celebrating her leadership and her many contributions as her retirement date approaches.

Sincerely,

Rebecca Cunningham

President