Recent Program Features

We are proud to celebrate the success of our faculty, students and programs. We welcome you to learn more about our college through reading our recent features!

Dr. Brian Jones Brian Jones is the Acting Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management at Minnesota State University, Mankato. As the chief student affairs officer, Dr. Jones is responsible for managing enrollment growth and providing excellent student services including campus housing, campus recreation, career services, counseling, student health, student union, university security, university admissions, and New Student and Family Programs for the University.

Background

Brian Jones has worked in college admissions and enrollment management at Minnesota State University, Mankato for 24 years and has three degrees from the university. As an admissions professional he has worked extensively with students and families from around Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and South Dakota, coordinated scholarship programs, and implemented policies to remove barriers to higher education and expand college readiness. As an enrollment management professional Brian has selected and implemented a variety of software products and electronic workflow processes to enhance the experience students have with the university. He has provided the vision for and led the undergraduate student recruitment efforts for the university for more than 15 years and during this time enrolled eight of the ten largest new first-year student classes in MSU’s history.
 
Brian served in the Presidents Cycle for the Minnesota Association for College Admission Counseling (MACAC) from 2021-2024 and as the chair of the Minnesota state ACT council in 2018. He is married to fellow-alumna Christianne Jones (’02) and they have three daughters, Lalayna, Lola, and Hattie. Needless to say he knows his place at the bottom of the family organizational chart and takes direction well.

 

(More information available on the Student Affairs website.)

Aheadshot of Anne Gillespienne Gillespie is the Vice President for Finance and Facilities. She serves as the Chief Financial Officer with overall responsibility for leadership and coordination of the fiscal and physical operation of the university, including budget, business services, facilities services, student financial services, environmental health and safety, contracts, cand apital construction. Anne has been with the university in this capacity since January 2024.

Background

Gillespie joined Minnesota State Mankato after serving higher education institutions in finance, administration and business services positions for nearly 30 years.

While serving as vice president for business and finance for the past five years at Mount Mercy, Gillespie has also served as Mount Mercy’s acting CIO and interim vice president of enrollment and marketing.

Prior to her position at Mount Mercy University, Gillespie was campus/market president for Kaplan University/Kaplan, Inc., in Indianapolis.

Gillespie served the University of Phoenix/Apollo Group, Inc., in various positions from 1994-2013, including three vice president positions in Indianapolis from 2006-2013.

Gillespie earned Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Business Administration – Finance degrees from the University of Iowa.

(More information available on the Finance and Facilities website.)

Henry Morris Henry Morris is the Vice President of the office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Minnesota State University, Mankato. As the Chief Diversity Officer, he provides leadership for the development and implementation of university-wide diversity policies, practices and initiatives including programs for at-risk students. He also provides leadership to the staff and programs of the Women’s Center, LGBT Center, Multi-Cultural Center, and the Opportunity, Access, Success- Intercultural Services Center. Finally, he provides overall leadership to major diversity/cultural programs and diversity enrollment management initiatives and represents the University in system-wide and community decision-making/strategic planning endeavors related to institutional diversity issues; and works collaboratively with academic departments, student affairs departments, and financial departments.

Achievements

Dr. Morris has served on many University and community committees and boards. In addition to serving on community boards, he has also served in numerous leadership positions in the State of Minnesota and the Greater Mankato Area (e.g. Chair of the Greater Mankato United Way Board of Directors, executive positions of the Mankato, YMCA, Girl Scouts, and Boy Scouts) and he is a former member of the Minnesota Combined Charites Board. In his many University and community positions, Dr. Morris has been and continues to be a voice for access and inclusion.

Background

Prior to joining Mankato, Henry worked at William Paterson University and the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Morris earned his Bachelor of Arts at Hamilton College, his Master of Arts at the University of Rhode Island, and his Doctor of Education at The University of St. Mary’s of Minnesota. He has also earned other leadership certificates.

(More information available on the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion website.)