ST. PAUL, MN - Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan today announced the following appointments to the Board of the Minnesota State Academies, Board of Water and Soil Resources, Board on Aging, Council for Minnesotans of African Heritage, Minnesota Commission on National Community Service, Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission, and Ombudsman Committee for Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities.

Hernán Moncada - Eden Prairie, MN
Board of the Minnesota State Academies
Blind Community Member
Effective: July 1, 2024
Term Expires: January 4, 2027
Replacing: Jessica Eggert

Jamie Speier - Albany, MN
Board of the Minnesota State Academies
Public Member with Business, Administrative, or Financial Expertise #1
Effective: July 1, 2024
Term Expires: January 3, 2028
Reappointment

About the Board on Minnesota State Academies:
The board governs the Minnesota State Academies for the Deaf and the Blind. The board must promote academic standards based on high expectations and an assessment system to measure academic performance toward the achievement of those standards.

Additional information about the Board on Minnesota State Academies can be found on the Secretary of State’s website.

Eunice Biel - Harmony, MN
Board of Water and Soil Resources
Township Officer
Effective: July 1, 2024
Term Expires: January 3, 2028
Reappointment

Joseph Collins - Saint Paul, MN
Board of Water and Soil Resources
Watershed District Representative #2
Effective: July 1, 2024
Term Expires: January 3, 2028
Reappointment

Jayne Hager Dee - Northfield, MN
Board of Water and Soil Resources
Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor #2
Effective: July 1, 2024
Term Expires: January 3, 2028
Reappointment

Ted Winter - Fulda, MN
Board of Water and Soil Resources
Citizen Member
Effective: July 1, 2024
Term Expires: January 3, 2028
Reappointment

About the Board of Water and Soil Resources:
The board oversees and coordinates the water and soil resources management activities of local units of government through approval of local plans, administration of state grants, cost-sharing contracts, performance evaluation, and administrative appeals and hearings. The board’s mission is to improve and protect Minnesota’s water and soil resources by working in partnership with local organizations and private landowners.

Additional information about the Board of Water and Soil Resources can be found on the Secretary of State’s website.

Dave Beal - Rochester, MN
Board on Aging
Member
Effective: July 1, 2024
Term Expires: January 3, 2028
Replacing: Cathleen Faruque

Kate Grathwol - Minneapolis, MN
Board on Aging
Member
Effective: July 1, 2024
Term Expires: January 3, 2028
Reappointment

Mazel McCoy-Anderson - Maplewood, MN
Board on Aging
Member
Effective: July 1, 2024
Term Expires: January 3, 2028
Replacing: Maria Michlin

Valentina Mgeni - Welch, MN
Board on Aging
Member
Effective: July 1, 2024
Term Expires: January 4, 2027
Replacing: Johnny Johnson

Christine Mueller - Roseville, MN
Board on Aging
Member
Effective: July 1, 2024
Term Expires: January 3, 2028
Replacing: John Doan

Maureen Schneider - Willmar, MN
Board on Aging
Member and Chair
Effective: July 1, 2024
Term Expires: January 3, 2028
Reappointment

Ann Thole - Bloomington, MN
Board on Aging
Member
Effective: July 1, 2024
Term Expires: January 3, 2028
Reappointment

Karen Webb - Rosemount, MN
Board on Aging
Member
Effective: July 1, 2024
Term Expires: January 4, 2027
Replacing: William Tiedemann

About the Board on Aging:
The Minnesota Board on Aging develops, coordinates, evaluates, and administers federal and state funds for programs for the aging, makes grants to seven area agencies on aging and nonprofit agencies, and serves as an advocate for older persons.

Additional information about the Board on Aging can be found on the Secretary of State’s website.

Gloria Atika - Eden Prairie, MN
Council for Minnesotans of African Heritage
Member
Effective: July 1, 2024
Term Expires: January 3, 2028
Replacing: Nerita Hughes

Cindy Devonish - Eagan, MN
Council for Minnesotans of African Heritage
Member
Effective: July 1, 2024
Term Expires: January 3, 2028
Replacing: Biftu Bussa

Ellena Kaine-George - Big Lake, MN
Council for Minnesotans of African Heritage
Member
Effective: July 1, 2024
Term Expires: January 3, 2028
Replacing: Alfreda Daniels

Victor Obisakin - Mendota Heights, MN
Council for Minnesotans of African Heritage
Member
Effective: July 1, 2024
Term Expires: January 3, 2028
Replacing: Hollies Winston

About the Council for Minnesotans of African Heritage:
The council advises the Governor and the legislature on issues confronting the constituency of the council, legislative changes needed to improve the economic and social condition of the constituency of the council, and effect of proposed administrative and legislative changes on the constituency of the council. The council serves as a liaison between state government and organizations that serve the constituency of the council and performs or contracts for the performances of studies designed to suggest solutions to the problems of the constituency of the council.

Additional information about the Council for Minnesotans of African Heritage can be found on the Secretary of State’s website.

Sarah Clyne - Minneapolis, MN
Minnesota Commission on National Community Service
Community Member
Effective: July 1, 2024
Term Expires: January 3, 2028
Reappointment

Mary Quirk - Minneapolis, MN
Minnesota Commission on National Community Service
Volunteerism with Older Adults
Effective: July 1, 2024
Term Expires: January 3, 2028
Reappointment

Philip Rutherford - Rochester, MN
Minnesota Commission on National Community Service
Community Member
Effective: July 1, 2024
Term Expires: January 3, 2028
Reappointment

About the Minnesota Commission on National Community Service:
The Minnesota Commission on National and Community Service, also known as ServeMinnesota, provides grant funding, training, and technical assistance to nonprofits, government agencies, and schools that run AmeriCorps programs. The commission also pioneers strategic initiatives in a variety of impact areas to solve complex social problems.?

Additional information about the Minnesota Commission on National Community Service can be found on the Secretary of State’s website.

Amirthini Keefe - Minneapolis, MN
Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission
Public Member - Felony Crime Victim
Effective: July 1, 2024
Term Expires: January 4, 2027
Replacing: Brooke Morath

About the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission:
The Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission establishes and modifies the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines, which promote uniform and proportional sentences for convicted felons and helps to ensure that sentencing decisions are not influenced by factors such as race, gender, or the exercise of constitutional rights by the defendant.??

The guidelines serve as a model for the criminal justice system, and provide a standard to measure how well the system is working. The purpose of the guidelines is to establish rational and consistent sentencing standards that promote public safety, reduce sentencing disparity, ensure that the sanctions imposed for felony convictions are proportional to the severity of the offense and the offender's criminal history. The guidelines also support the appropriate use of finite correctional resources.?

Dupree Edwards - Fridley, MN
Ombudsman Committee for Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities
Consumer Representative
Effective: July 1, 2024
Term Expires: January 3, 2028
Reappointment

About the Ombudsman Committee for Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities:
The Ombudsman Committee for Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities advises and assists the ombudsman in developing policies, plans, and programs to benefit persons with mental illness, developmental disabilities, chemical dependence, and emotional disturbance.

Additional information about the State Advisory Council on Mental Health can be found on the Secretary of State’s website.

The Governor and Lieutenant Governor are seeking qualified and diverse individuals who are passionate about using their knowledge, skills, and lived experiences to serve Minnesota. A list of boards and commissions, including open positions, can be found on the? Minnesota Secretary of State’s website.