Derrick Lindstrom Named Interim President of Minnesota State College Southeast

ST. PAUL, Minn., May 20, 2026 - The Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities has named Derrick Lindstrom to serve as interim president of Minnesota State College Southeast. The appointment becomes effective July 1, 2026.

"I am impressed with Dr. Lindstrom's experience and progressive career growth over his two decades with Minnesota State," said Scott Olson, Minnesota State chancellor. "His significant contributions across the institutions he has served have equipped him with the experience and insight needed to effectively support the students, faculty, and staff of Minnesota State College Southeast during this year of transition."

Lindstrom's tenure with Minnesota State includes extensive experience leading institutions through periods of transition, accreditation, and organizational change. He has previously served in interim roles within Minnesota State and has a proven track record of maintaining operational continuity while positioning the institutions and leadership teams for long-term success.

He currently serves as vice president of academic affairs at North Hennepin Community College (NHCC) in Brooklyn Park, a position he has held since 2023. In this role, he has led NHCC through a successful Institutional Actions Council process and helped establish systems that strengthen accountability, accreditation readiness, and long-term sustainability. He has also led academic strategic planning with outcomes focused on improving persistence, retention, and completion.

Prior to his current role, Lindstrom served as interim provost and vice president of academic affairs for Inver Hills Community College in Inver Grove Heights from 2021-2022. As interim provost, he led the COVID-19 crisis management planning, co-led the campus responses to the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) site visit and reaffirmation of accreditation, worked with faculty to embed Equity by Design into the program review process, and co-chaired the college's strategic enrollment management efforts.

From 2014-2023 he served Minneapolis College as academic dean for the school of liberal arts and cultures. In this role he co-chaired the college's strategic enrollment management efforts, led the development of an honors program in the school of liberal arts and cultures, and co-led the Minnesota State Z-Degree project and grant requirements. While continuing his role as dean, he served as interim associate vice president of academic operations and institutional effectiveness at Minneapolis College for four months in 2021 where he provided leadership for academic programming and evaluation and worked to provide administrative support for the creation of the Transformation and Re-entry through Education and Community (TREC) program.

He began his career in the classroom and has teaching experience at Minneapolis College, St. Cloud State University, and the College of Saint Benedict/Saint John's University in St. Joseph, Minn.

He holds a bachelor's degree from Saint John's University in Minnesota, a master's from Minnesota State University, Mankato, and a doctorate from St. Cloud State University.

Lindstrom succeeds Marsha Danielson who has served as Minnesota State College Southeast's president since 2021 and has announced her intention to retire.

It is expected that Lindstrom will serve for one year, starting July 1, 2026. A search for the next permanent president will begin in late fall 2026 with the intention of naming the permanent leader in the spring of 2027.

About Minnesota State College Southeast

Located in the historic river towns of Red Wing and Winona, Minnesota State College Southeast is a community and technical college that provides a flexible, affordable, inclusive, and equitable college environment and offers a clear sense of direction to all students. College faculty and staff genuinely care about students' end goals, whether that be earning an academic award, transferring to a university to complete a bachelor's degree, or attaining career skills. Minnesota State College Southeast is a member of Minnesota State. Learn more at https://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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