Meet the Regents
Chair of the Board
Elected: 2007, 2013
Term Expires: 2019
Bio / Contact
Linda A. CohenChair of the Board
At-Large Representative
Elected: 2007, 2013; Term Expires: 2019
Residence: Minnetonka; Spouse: Henry Cohen
Linda Cohen is a licensed psychologist and licensed marriage and family therapist. Previously, she was a consultant for TCF Bank, directing a business-education partnership with Patrick Henry High School in Minneapolis, assistant director/interim director of Blake Middle School, and a senior administrative team member of the Blake School. Since 2000, Cohen is a member of the Board of Education of Wayzata School District, serving as vice-chair and chair. She also has been a member of the Advisory Council of the University of Minnesota's Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, member and chair of the steering committee of Minnesota Women Psychologists, and a member of the board of the Minneapolis Urban League. A graduate of the University of Minnesota with master of arts and Ph.D. degrees in educational psychology, Cohen also earned a master of arts degree in the history of science from Harvard University and is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate in chemistry of Wellesley College.
Contact:
600 McNamara Alumni Center
200 Oak Street SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455-2020
(952) 544-1817
lacohen@umn.edu
Vice Chair of the Board
Elected: 2005, 2011
Term Expires: 2017
Bio / Contact
David M. LarsonVice Chair of the Board
Congressional District 3
Elected: 2005, 2011; Term Expires: 2017
Residence: Wayzata; Spouse: Jani Larson
David Larson is a retired executive vice president for Cargill, Incorporated, where his responsibilities as a member of the Board of Directors and Cargill Corporate Leadership Team included strategic direction and leadership, brand management, employee engagement, business excellence, business conduct and compliance, and overseeing businesses in 67 countries. A graduate of the University of Minnesota with a degree in political science, Larson currently serves on the boards of the University of Minnesota Foundation, the Minnesota Historical Society, Admission Possible, and National History Day. He is past chair of the American Feed Industry Association.
Contact:
David & Janis Larson Foundation
1055 E Wayzata Blvd, Ste. 321
Wayzata, MN 55391
(952) 473-3310
dmlarson@umn.edu
Congressional District 7 Elected: 2003, 2009
Term Expires: 2015
Bio / Contact
Clyde E. AllenCongressional District 7
Elected: 2003, 2009; Term Expires: 2015
Residence: Moorhead; Spouse: Esther Allen
Clyde Allen is retired following a career in the private and public sectors. He most recently served as treasurer and vice president for business affairs for Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota. Before that he was the commissioner of Minnesota’s Department of Revenue, the director of research for the Minnesota Taxpayers Association, and a computer specialist for Honeywell. A graduate of Yale University with a degree in political science, Allen has served on numerous governing boards, including Community Living Services Inc., a nonprofit social service provider, and Prairie Public Broadcasting Inc., both located in Fargo, North Dakota. He previously served a two-year term as Chair of the Board of Regents.
Contact:
318 - 44th Avenue S
Moorhead, MN 56560
(218) 236-7213
allen190@umn.edu
Congressional District 4 Elected: 2009
Term Expires: 2015
Bio / Contact
Richard B. BeesonCongressional District 4
Elected: 2009; Term Expires: 2015
Residence: St. Paul; Spouse: Mary Don Beeson
Richard Beeson serves as EVP for Corporate Development & Government Relations at Sunrise Banks, following twenty years as President & CEO of Sunrise-owned Park Midway Bank in Saint Paul. Previously, he was employed with the city of Saint Paul Department of Planning & Economic Development as senior project manager. Beeson received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Minnesota in political science and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Saint Thomas. He has served on the board of Women Venture, the Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists, and numerous others, including as chair of the Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce, the Central Corridor Partnership and as treasurer of the Saint Paul RiverCentre Authority.
Contact:
Sunrise Banks
2300 Como Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55108
(651) 523-7830
rbeeson@umn.edu
At-Large Representative Elected: 2011
Term Expires: 2017
Bio / Contact
Laura M. BrodAt-Large Representative
Elected: 2011; Term Expires: 2017
Residence: New Prague; Spouse: Wade Brod
Laura Brod was a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2002 to 2010, serving as Assistant Majority Leader and Assistant Minority Leader during her time in office. She is currently President and CEO of Main Street Strategic; a firm specializing in strategic direction, organizational development, and issue advocacy consulting services. Brod received a bachelor of arts from the University of Minnesota, Summa Cum Laude, in geography and a master of arts in urban and regional studies from Minnesota State University Mankato. During her time in the State Legislature, she served as a board member of the Council of State Governments, a member of the 21st Century Foundation, executive board member of the Midwest Legislative Conference, and was the Public Sector Minnesota Chair for the American Legislative Exchange Council.
Contact:
429 Flag Blvd.
New Prague, MN 56071
(612) 625-6300
lbrod@umn.edu
Congressional District 2 Elected: 2012
Term Expires: 2017
Bio / Contact
Thomas W. DevineCongressional District 2
Elected: 2012; Term Expires: 2017
Residence: Chanhassen; Spouse: Pam Devine
Thomas Devine is Executive Vice President/Principal of The David Agency, a four generation insurance agency in Edina, Minnesota.
Devine received a Bachelor of Arts Degree, BES, in Business and Architectural History from the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Minnesota.
He has served as a volunteer on numerous University organizations and has had active involvement in many Insurance Industry boards. Tom is currently serving on the Task Force Working Group for the formation of the Minnesota HealthCare Exchange. He is Past President of the Minnesota Association of Health Underwriters, Presidents Council: Northern Star Council of the Boy Scouts of America and Past National Officer of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity as Board President/CEO, Endowment Fund.
Contact:
7640 - South Shore Drive
Chanhassen, MN 55317
(952) 949-9100
twdevine@umn.edu
Congressional District 6 Elected: 2003, 2009
Term Expires: 2015
Bio / Contact
John R. FrobeniusCongressional District 6
Elected: 2003, 2009; Term Expires: 2015
Residence: St. Cloud; Spouse: Nancy Frobenius
John Frobenius is a retired hospital administrator and served most recently as co-president for the CentraCare Health System in St. Cloud and president of St. Cloud Hospital. Previously, he was an executive vice president and chief operating officer for St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center in Boise, Idaho. Frobenius, who received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska and a master’s degree in health care administration from the University of Minnesota, has served on numerous boards, including the American Hospital Association, the Minnesota Health Care Partnership, and the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce.
Contact:
3008 Dunbar Road
St. Cloud, MN 56301
(320) 255-9951
froben@umn.edu
At-Large Representative Elected: 2007, 2013
Term Expires: 2019
Bio / Contact
Dean E. JohnsonAt-Large Representative
Elected: 2007, 2013; Term Expires: 2019
Residence: Willmar; Spouse: Debbie Johnson
Dean Johnson has been a parish pastor at Calvary Lutheran Church in Willmar, Minnesota for 36 years. He also was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives (1978 to 1982) and the Minnesota Senate (1982 to 2006), where he served as minority and majority leader. A brigadier general in the United States Army National Guard, he was special assistant to the chief of chaplains, National Guard Bureau, Washington, D.C., and received numerous awards and commendations, including the Legion of Merit. Johnson grew up on a farm near Lanesboro, Minnesota. He received a bachelor of arts degree in business administration from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, a master of divinity degree from Luther Theological Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, and, in 2002, a master's degree in strategic studies from the United States Army War College.
Contact:
3009 Eagle Ridge Drive E
Willmar, MN 56201
(320) 235-6815
djohns@umn.edu
Congressional District 5 Elected: 2013
Bio / Contact
Peggy E. LucasCongressional District 5
Elected: 2013; Term Expires:
Residence: ; Spouse:
Peggy Lucas is a founder and partner in Brighton Development, a housing development company known for its small inner city infill projects and historic preservation. She is a two time graduate of the University of Minnesota receiving both a BA and an MSW.She and her husband served for two years in the Peace Corps in Iran. She has been an active community volunteer having served for 18 years on the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission and is currently on the board of Art Space. Her University activities include the Board of theUniversity Foundation, the Advisory Board of the Humphrey School and the Athletics Advisory Committee.
Contact:
600 South 2nd Street, #701
Minneapolis, MN 55401
(612) 362-9527
lucas070@umn.edu
Congressional District 8 Elected: 2011
Term Expires: 2017
Bio / Contact
David J. McMillanCongressional District 8
Elected: 2011; Term Expires: 2017
Residence: Duluth; Spouse: Cari McMillan
David McMillan is Executive Vice President, Minnesota Power, where he has served in a variety of roles since 1989. He received a bachelor of arts degree in economics and history from the University of Minnesota Duluth and a law degree from the University of Minnesota. McMillan has extensive board experience, previously serving as the board chair of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, the Natural Resources Research Institute, the Area Partnership for Economic Expansion, and Goodwill Industrial Vocational Enterprises. Active in his community, he is a past member of the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center's Board of Directors and currently is on the Board of Directors of St. Luke's Hospital.
Contact:
2724 Greysolon Road
Duluth, MN 55812
(218) 724-4684
dmcmillan@umn.edu
At-Large Representative Elected: 2013
Bio / Contact
Abdul M. OmariAt-Large Representative
Elected: 2013; Term Expires:
Residence: ; Spouse:
Abdul M. Omari graduated from the University of Minnesota with a B.A. in global studies, continued on to earn a master’s of public policy from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs, and is currently working towards his doctorate in comparative and international development education at the University of Minnesota. Omari’s research is focused on mentoring programs in the United States that serve African and African American males and the differences in needs and outcomes for these two populations. Currently, he teaches a leadership course at the University of Minnesota and serves on the Board of Directors for the Minnesota Red Cross. Omari has been the recipient of numerous academic honors, having been named a Wallin Scholar, President's Distinguished Scholar, Page Foundation Scholar, and MacArthur Foundation Fellow. Omari is a proud native of south Minneapolis, with immigrant parents from Kenya and Jordan.
Contact:
600 McNamara Alumni Center
200 Oak Street SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455-2020
(612) 625-6300
omari002@umn.edu
Congressional District 1 Elected: 2003, 2009
Term Expires: 2015
Bio / Contact
Patricia S. SimmonsCongressional District 1
Elected: 2003, 2009; Term Expires: 2015
Residence: Rochester; Spouse: Lester E. Wold
Patricia Simmons is a physician and professor of Pediatrics (Mayo Medical School) in the Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Mayo Clinic, where she is chair of the Division of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology. At the Mayo Clinic she has served on the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees and the Board of Governors, and as Chair of the Executive Board of Mayo Medical Ventures, and as president of her national professional society, among other leadership positions. Simmons, who received a bachelor's degree from Carleton College, magna cum laude, and a medical doctorate from the University of Chicago, completed her residency and fellowship at the Mayo Graduate School of Medicine. She is actively involved in her community, a frequent author and lecturer in her field, and recipient of awards for excellence in teaching. Simmons previously served a two-year term as Chair of the Board of Regents.
Contact:
2505 Hillside Lane SW
Rochester, MN 55902
(507) 289-0616
simmons@umn.edu