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!
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
Dr. David Hood serves as Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs. Dr. Hood reports directly to President Edward Inch, serves on the President’s Cabinet, participates with the Vice Presidents in overall management of the University, and acts on behalf of the President. Dr. Hood oversees the work of Academic Affairs, including five academic colleges, library and learning, graduate education, research, global education and online education.
Strategic Focus
Throughout his 14-year administrative career in higher education he has focused on student learning and key performance indicators centered on student success outcomes. Dr. Hood’s diverse experience equips him to provide critical insight into some of the most challenging problems facing higher education through data-driven solutions.
Dr. Hood has focused his team and the Division of Academic Affairs’ efforts on:
- creating a student transfer-friendly campus and solidifying transfer pathways with area 2-year colleges,
- establishing ONLINE minimum teaching standards to provide our students with high-quality and consistent online experiences,
- crafting research-proven plans and setting benchmarks for the Minnesota State System Equity 2030 initiatives related to faculty and staff hiring and student learning opportunity gaps,
- implementing an online faculty success application called Watermark,
- completing the 2-year College of Humanities & Social Sciences merger process, and
- building a campus presence and relationships with students, faculty, and staff.
Education
Dr. Hood earned his EdD and MS in Administration and Supervision from Tennessee State University and his BS in Secondary Education, Biology and History from Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University.
Joseph J. Kmiech III is an innovative technology leader with over two decades of experience developing and executing strategic technology initiatives in university environments. He has a proven history of leading and managing IT departments, fostering collaboration among stakeholders, and aligning technology solutions with organizational objectives. Kmiech works cooperatively with campus constituents to establish priorities and achieve institutional goals. His areas of expertise include management, organizational development, IT service management, project management, budget administration, and information security.
Background
Previously, Kmiech was the Chief Information Officer (CIO) at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, where he provided strategic leadership for all campus technology services. He was responsible for overall planning, budgeting, development, integration, maintenance, security, and support of information and instructional technology. Additionally, he served a one-year term as UW CIO Council Chair and two terms as Vice Chair.
Before his tenure at UW-River Falls, Kmiech served as the interim CIO and Director of Technology Support Services at the University of Wisconsin-Superior. He also previously held roles as Help Desk Manager and Help Desk staff member at Superior.
Kmiech has taught management and computer science courses as an adjunct instructor at both the undergraduate and graduate levels at his alma mater, The College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, MN. His experience includes online, hybrid, and in-person instructional formats. Currently, he is a faculty member in the EDUCAUSE Institutes, where he helps develop the next generation of higher education IT leaders through their Executive Leaders Academy and Managers Institute.
His military service includes time in the United States Army and Minnesota Army National Guard as an enlisted member in the Field Artillery and Air Defense Artillery.
Kmiech is actively involved in various volunteer and service activities. At UW-River Falls, he served as the Falcons-to-Falcons representative for the UW-River Falls women’s basketball team and the esports team advised the UW-River Falls Veterans Club. He is a member of the American Legion, demonstrating strong advocacy for Veterans and Veterans-related issues.
Kmiech holds an M.A. in Management with a specialization in Organization Development and a B.A. in Management with a Computer Information Systems minor from The College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, MN.
A
nne 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.
