Shari Olson Will Be the Next Leader of Northland Community & Technical College in Minnesota

Shari Olson has been selected to serve as interim president of Northland Community & Technical College in St. Paul, Minnesota, effective July 1. Northland Community & Technical College enrolls about 2,500 students, 59 percent of whom are women.

Dr. Olson’s appointment marks a return to Northland Community & Technical College. During her initial 12-year tenure with the community college, she served as vice president of planning and administrative services, vice president of outreach and planning, and vice president of outreach and technology.

Most recently, Dr. Olson served as president of South Mountain Community College in Arizona from 2011 to 2022. Earlier in her career, she served as interim president of Anoka Technical College in Minnesota, director of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act with the Minnesota State College and Universities system, and president of Eastern Wyoming College.

Dr. Olson received her bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from North Dakota State University. She holds a Ph.D. in higher education leadership from the University of North Dakota.