The Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities has named Shari Olson to serve as president of Northland Community & Technical College. The appointment becomes effective immediately.
“Dr. Olson has tremendous understanding of the region and of what makes Thief River Falls and East Grand Forks amazing and distinctive from each other,” said Scott Olson, Minnesota State chancellor. “During her year as interim president, Dr. Olson has shown a real commitment towards shared governance and towards serving the communities of northwest Minnesota. It’s clear that she is the right choice to continue to lead Northland.”
Dr. Olson is an experienced educator committed to the role that comprehensive and technical colleges play in our society and brings with her a passion for continuous learning, self-improvement and shared governance.
Dr. Olson has been serving as interim president at Northland since July 2024. As interim president, Dr. Olson has been providing strategic and operational leadership and working with stakeholders to advance the college’s mission during this transition.
Previously, she served as president in the Maricopa County Community College District at South Mountain Community College, (AZ) from 2011 until her retirement in 2022. Under her leadership, the college achieved several important milestones, including a 10-year reaffirmation of Higher Learning Commission (HLC) accreditation, securing a Department of Education Title V grant of nearly $3 million, receiving HLC approval to offer a Bachelor of Science program in Behavioral Science, opening the SMCC Science Complex after a $19 million remodeling, and recognition by the Aspen Institute as one of the nation’s top 150 community colleges four times from 2015 to 2021.
Prior appointments include serving as interim president of Anoka Technical College from 2010 to 2011 where her many accomplishments included facilitating the creation of the college master technology plan and redesigning the organizational structure to maximize employee talent and create efficiencies. In 2011, she was recognized by the Minnesota State College Student Association (now called LeadMN) with the President of the Year award.
She also served Minnesota State as System Director of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) from 2009 to 2010 where she designed and led a systemwide, multi-faceted project related to the federal stimulus legislation.
In addition, Dr. Olson served as president of Eastern Wyoming College from 2007 to 2008, where she led a strategic planning process and instituted a new organizational structure.
From 1995 to 2007, she served Northland Community & Technical College in several capacities including vice president of planning and administrative services, vice president of outreach and planning, and vice president of outreach and technology. Her many accomplishments included securing a $7.8 million capital bonding project for Nursing, spearheading the revitalization of classroom space for a new degree program in Automated Systems Technology, facilitating the creation of Digi-Key University (a corporate college), and collaboratively developing several new programs including an Associate of Applied Science degree program in Electronic Technology and Robotic Technology, a new Associate of Science degree program for working adults in Manufacturing Technology, and several credit-based manufacturing certificates for working adults.
National recognition that Olson has received includes the Paul A. Elsner International Excellence in Leadership Award by the Chair Academy (2021), the Shirley B. Gordon Leadership Award of Distinction by the International Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society (2019), and the Entrepreneurial President of the Year Award by the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (2014).
Recent national board appointments include the International Leadership Advisory Board and the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship, serving as Board Chair 2020-2022.
She holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s from North Dakota State University, and a doctorate from the University of North Dakota.
