DULUTH — A new leader will soon helm the University of Minnesota Duluth, stepping in at a pivotal moment for the campus as it looks to trim costs and overcome steady student loss.
The UMD community of about 9,400 students and 1,700 employees had the chance to meet all three chancellor finalists at forums last week, and University of Minnesota regents will choose one of them to replace interim leader David McMillan, a former regent and Minnesota Power executive.
The next leader will need to help the school navigate a tough time in higher education.
Since 2018, undergraduate enrollment at UMD has dropped by about 300 students annually, in part because of the pandemic, but also because of a long-term trend in higher education. The university is working through a process to streamline low-demand majors and courses to remain viable. It overcame a $15 million deficit last year with half the funds coming from one-time money left over from departments across campus and half from the U system.
The new chancellor will need to help fill other leadership roles: Vice Chancellor Lisa Erwin will retire this summer and two other vice chancellors are serving on an interim basis.
The faculty union and administration are also locked in prolonged contract negotiations.
The finalists all have ties to Minnesota, and one is a former UMD vice chancellor. The U has not responded to a request for the total number of applicants.
The finalists
Fernando Delgado is president of Lehman College in New York, a designated Hispanic- and minority-serving institution that enrolls 14,000 students. Before that, he spent five years in a UMD leadership role as vice chancellor for academic affairs until 2021. He has also held leadership roles at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, Hamline University and Minnesota State University, Mankato.