Board Staff
The Office of the Board of Regents, headed by Executive Director and Corporate Secretary Brian Steeves, supports the 12 Regents in their governance and policy-making roles on behalf of the University and serves as a liaison to the University's administration and other constituencies. The staff manages the monthly agenda and docket process, maintains Board policies, documents official actions, coordinates open forums, and responds to public inquiries.
Brian Steeves
Executive Director and Corporate Secretary
Bio / Contact
Brian Steeves
Executive Director and Corporate Secretary
bsteeves@umn.edu
Brian Steeves serves as executive director of the Board of Regents and corporate secretary of the University of Minnesota. This dual role is a unique leadership position of significant importance to the Board. Since the position was created in 1972, it has evolved to become a key adviser to each Board member, as well as to Board leadership, and also an advocate for good governance practices. The position serves as a liaison between the Board and senior leaders of the University, coordinates Board planning and communications with Regents, oversees Board of Regents policy review, and manages meeting logistics and day-to-day Board operations.
Before assuming this position, Brian served as deputy director in the Office of the Board of Regents for two years. Prior to joining the University, Brian spent seven years as an executive budget officer/team leader at Minnesota Management and Budget, where he managed a team of analysts and confidentially advised senior state government leaders on budget policy related to K-12 education, taxes, and state government operations. Before that, he served as a project coordinator for the City of Minneapolis, where he negotiated real estate redevelopment and financing arrangements and guided projects through regulatory approvals. Brian also completed a rural policy fellowship at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C. before earning a master's degree from the University's Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs. He was awarded the prestigious Truman Scholarship and graduated summa cum laude from Minnesota State University Moorhead with a bachelor's degree in political science.
Sarah Dirksen
Deputy Director
Bio / Contact
Sarah Dirksen
Deputy Director
sdirksen@umn.edu
Sarah Dirksen joined the Board of Regents staff in 2012 as deputy director. In that role, she supervises staff, manages the daily operations of the Board Office, serves as coordinator for the Board's Academic & Student Affairs Committee and Faculty & Staff Affairs Committee, and partners with the executive director to ensure good governance practices. Previously, Sarah managed special projects and board governance for the League of Minnesota Cities, a statewide association of city governments. She also served as constituent services manager for the Minnesota Department of Revenue, where she worked with the revenue commissioner to develop strategies for communicating policy initiatives and tax laws. In addition, Sarah built and managed the communication and research function for QI International, a consulting firm that designed tools to help organizations quantify customer perceptions. Sarah holds a bachelor's degree in news-editorial journalism from the University of Illinois, and was a 2003-2004 Humphrey Policy Fellow through the University of Minnesota's Center for the Study of Politics and Governance.
Ken Savary
Assistant to the Executive Director
Bio / Contact
Ken Savary
Assistant to the Executive Director
sava0111@umn.edu
Ken Savary joined the Board of Regents staff in 2011. Previously, he served as the assistant coordinator for operations related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act at Minnesota Management and Budget. Ken provides direct support to the Audit, Finance, and Facilities and Operations Committees; manages Board communication; and coordinates the review process for Board policy. He holds graduate and undergraduate degrees in public management from the University of Maine and a graduate degree in public policy from the University of Minnesota’s Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs.
Pamela Hudson
Executive Assistant
Bio / Contact
Pamela Hudson
Executive Assistant
phudson@umn.edu
Pamela Hudson has served the University of Minnesota for her entire professional career, joining the Board of Regents office staff in 2003. She coordinates the calendar for the executive director, compiles Board of Regents meeting agendas and dockets, staffs and prepares minutes for full board meetings, and arranges and staffs the annual Board retreat. Before assuming her Board office position, she worked at the University’s Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs, where she provided administrative support to four deans, the associate dean for instruction, and for directors of several public policy research centers. Pamela attended the University of Minnesota.
Angie Menzel
Executive Assistant
Bio / Contact
Angie Menzel
Executive Assistant
menzel@umn.edu
Angie Menzel joined the Board of Regents staff in 2011. Previously, she held administrative positions in the Medical School Dean’s Office and the Office of the Senior Vice President for Health Sciences in the Academic Health Center. Angie provides administrative support to the chair and vice chair of the Board; manages the distribution of athletic tickets; coordinates Board lunches, dinners, and special events; staffs two of the board committees; and oversees Regent and event calendars. She holds a bachelor of arts degree in psychology from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.
Mary Swords
Executive Secretary
Bio / Contact
Mary Swords
Executive Secretary
mswords@umn.edu
Mary Swords joined the Board of Regents staff in 2010. Previously, she held positions in the Office of Service and Continuous Improvement and the Office of the Registrar. She serves as receptionist, processes expense reports and financial transactions, and maintains related records. Mary also coordinates a variety of activities, including Regent attendance at Commencement ceremonies, committee room usage, and many logistics for Board and committee meetings, and maintains office databases. She received an associate in arts degree from the University of Minnesota.