Finalists Named for Minnesota State College Southeast President

ST. PAUL, Minn., February 19, 2026 - Minnesota State has named four finalists in the search for the next president of Minnesota State College Southeast. The candidates are Joshua Gamer, Luca Lewis, Amy Maxeiner, and Lester Sandres Rápalo.

The candidates were recommended by a search advisory committee that was comprised of students, faculty, staff, and community leaders, and was chaired by Deidra Peaslee, president of Saint Paul College. The candidates are scheduled to conduct campus visits the week of February 23. The campus visits provide an opportunity for students, faculty, staff, and members of the community to meet each of the candidates and offer feedback. Details of the candidates' campus visits and the process for providing feedback are available at southeastmn.edu.

Joshua Gamer currently serves as associate vice president of workforce partnerships and innovation at Western Technical College (Western) in Wisconsin, a role he has held since 2025. Previously, he served Western as dean of integrated technology from 2014 to 2025, interim vice president of academic affairs between 2017 and 2018, associate dean of business from 2012 to 2014, instructor for supervisory management between 2009 and 2012, and business and industry trainer and consultant from 2009 to 2012. He also spent ten years in various roles at RTP Co. in Winona and continues to teach at Western as adjunct faculty. He holds an associate's degree from Minnesota State College Southeast, a bachelor's from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, a master's from Viterbo University, and a doctorate from the University of Wisconsin-Stout. He is scheduled to visit Minnesota State College Southeast on February 25 beginning on the Winona campus.

Luca Lewis serves as interim president of Ventura College in California, a position he has held since September 2025. Prior to that, he served Ventura College as vice president of student affairs in 2025. From 2022 to 2025, he was the associate vice chancellor of education and student services at West Hills Community College District, California. Between 2015 and 2022, he served as vice president for student services at Whatcom Community College in Washington. Additional prior roles include dean for student success and retention at Edmonds Community College, Washington, from 2012 to 2015, director of high school programs for Bellevue College, Washington, between 2010 and 2012, and interim student affairs specialist at the University of Washington from 2006 to 2007. He has also served as adjunct faculty or instructor at several colleges. He holds a bachelor's, master's, and doctorate degree from the University of Idaho. He is scheduled to visit Minnesota State College Southeast on February 25 beginning on the Red Wing campus.

Amy Maxeiner currently serves as the vice president of student success at Minnesota State College Southeast, a role she has held since 2024. Previously, she held several positions at Black Hawk College in Illinois between 2016 and 2024 including vice president for instruction, chief academic officer, chief diversity officer, and chief student services officer. Before that, she was the executive dean of mathematics, sciences and health professions at McHenry County College in Illinois from 2011 to 2016 and dean of education at the college between 2009 and 2011. Between 2006 and 2009, she was the director of clinical education and an assistant professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago and from 2001 to 2006 she served Northern Illinois University as the academic coordinator of clinical education. She holds a bachelor's degree from Marquette University, and a master's and doctorate from Northern Illinois University. She is scheduled to visit Minnesota State College Southeast on February 26 beginning on the Winona campus.

Lester Sandres Rápalo currently serves as ambassador and global advisor on sustainable education for the Organization for Poverty Alleviation and Development (OPAD) a role he has held since 2024. Prior to that, he served as president of SUNY Rockland Community College, New York, from 2023 to 2024. He also served as provost and vice president for academic affairs at CUNY Bronx Community College, New York, between 2020 and 2023 and as provost and dean of the Institute for Intensive English at Union County College, New Jersey, from 2017 to 2020. Between 2015 and 2018 he was the dean of social sciences, business and history at Union County College and from 2016 to 2017 he was the interim dean of American Honors at the college. From 2008 to 2014, he held various positions at Valencia College in Florida, including program director, chair of humanities and foreign language, and professor of foreign language and humanities. He holds a bachelor's and master's degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, an MBA from Syracuse University, and a doctorate from Nova Southeastern University, Florida. He is scheduled to visit Minnesota State College Southeast on February 26 beginning on the Red Wing campus.

The Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is expected to consider Chancellor Scott Olson's recommendation at its March 18, 2026, meeting. The anticipated start date of the new president is July 1, 2026.

About Minnesota State College Southeast

Located in the historic river towns of Red Wing and Winona, Minnesota State College Southeast is a two-year technical and community college that prepares students for a lifetime of learning by providing education for employment, skill enhancement, retraining, and transfer. The two campuses have distinctive characteristics but are one college in structure, policies, procedures, and mission, and the college is a member of Minnesota State. Learn more at southeastmn.edu.

About Minnesota State

Minnesota State includes 26 community and technical colleges and seven state universities serving approximately 270,000 students. It is the third-largest system of two-year colleges and four-year universities in the United States.

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