History of the Board of Regents

board_of_regents_meeting_1899.jpg
Board of Regents meeting, 1899

The first Board of Regents was elected in February 1851 as part of the founding of the University of Minnesota. Until 1860, the Board consisted of 12 Regents elected by the legislature, as directed by the University Charter.

The 1860s marked a period of financial difficulties for the University. In 1861, the University suspended operations, and the legislature passed a law creating a temporary Board of only three Regents: John Pillsbury, O.C. Merriman, and John Nicols. Their main goal was to eliminate the University’s debt—a goal achieved by 1867, when the University reopened.

The Board grew to 7 members in 1868, 9 in 1889, and 10 in 1923. Following the Minnesota Supreme Court's Chase decision in 1928, which reaffirmed the University’s constitutional autonomy from the State, the Board was restored to 12 members.

Today, the Board remains a 12-member body elected during a joint convention of the Minnesota House and Senate. One member is elected from each of Minnesota's eight Congressional districts. Four seats are at-large. Since 1976, one of the at-large seats has been held by a Regent who is a University of Minnesota student at the time of election.

Regents Seal

The Regents Seal was adopted by the Board of Regents in 1939 as the corporate seal of the University of Minnesota. The Latin motto, Omnibus artibus commune vinculum, means “a common bond for all the arts.” The lamp represents the metaphysical sciences, the telescope the physical sciences, the plow the industrial arts, and the palette and brushes the fine arts.

Using the Regents Seal

Additional History Information

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Additional History Information

Important Firsts

  • Stephen Mahoney, 1889—first University alumnus to serve as a Regent
  • Alice Warren, 1922—first female Regent
  • Josie Johnson, 1971—first African-American Regent
  • Michael Unger, 1976—first student to hold an at-large seat
  • Wenda Moore, 1977-84—first female Chair of the Board
  • Hyon Kim, 1994—first Asian-American Regent
  • Maureen Ramirez, 2007—first Latina Regent
  • Tadd Johnson, 2022—first Native American Regent 

Fun Facts

  • John Pillsbury is the only person made Regent for Life by the Minnesota Legislature.
  • Fred Snyder is the longest-serving Chair of the Board, serving from 1914 to 1950.
  • Former Supreme Court Justice and professional football player Alan Page served on the Board from 1989 to 1993.
  • William J. Mayo, one of the Mayo brothers, founders of the Mayo Clinic, served on the Board from 1907 to 1939.
  • Regents have come from a variety of backgrounds—from farmers to governors, physicians to media executives, CEOs to teachers, legislators to entrepreneurs, and lawyers to lumber millers.

Historical List of Board Chairs

NameYears Served
John Lind1913–1914 
Fred B. Snyder 1914–1950 
Raymond J. Quinlivan 1950–1961 
Charles W. Mayo 1961–1967 
Lester Malkerson 1967–1969 
Elmer L. Andersen 1971–1975 
Neil Sherburne 1975–1977 
Wenda W. Moore 1977–1983 
Lauris Krenik 1983–1985 
Charles F. McGuiggan 1985–1987 
David M. Lebedoff1987–1989 
Charles M. Casey 1989–1991 
Elton A. Kuderer 1991–1993 
Jean B. Keffeler 1993–1995 
Thomas R. Reagan 1995–1997 
William E. Hogan II 1997–1999 
Patricia A. Spence 1999–2001 
Maureen K. Reed 2001–2003 
David R. Metzen 2003–2005 
Anthony R. Baraga 2005–2007 
Patricia S. Simmons 2007–2009 
Clyde E. Allen, Jr. 2009–2011 
Linda A. Cohen 2011–2013 
Richard B. Beeson 2013–2015 
Dean E. Johnson 2015–2017 
David J. McMillan2017–2019  
Kendall J. Powell2019–2023 
Janie S. Mayeron2023–

Historical List of Regents by Last Name

Last Names A through C
First NameLast NameTerm StartTerm End
Elmer E. Adams18971905
Clyde E.Allen, Jr.20032015
Elmer L.Andersen19671975
Thomas J.Anderson20152021
Wendell R.Anderson19851997
IsaacAtwater18511860
HoraceAustin18701874
Saint A.D.Balcombe18571860
Anthony R.Baraga19992011
AlphonsoBarto18951899
George F.Batchelder18611863
Richard B.Beeson20092021
James FordBell19391961
PeterBell20022007
JaredBenson18601864
Robert S.Bergland19972003
Frank R.Berman20012007
John McDonoughBerry18601861
MahlonBlack18551860
Julie A.Bleyhl19931999
EgilBoeckmann19221933
DallasBohnsack19992011
Lyman A.Brink19681972
Laura M.Brod20112017
Charles S.Bryant18701876
Thomas ScottBuckham18761887
Joseph A.A.Burnquist19151921
DavidBurt18751881
Marion LeRoyBurton19171920
Charles R.Butler19311935
PierceButler19071924
Charles H.Casey19791991
TheodoreChristianson19251928
RichardChute*18631864
RichardChute*18761881
Frederick   AnthonyCina19691975
GreenleafClark18791904
David M.Clough18951899
Lotus D.Coffman19201928
LindaCohen20072019
Gordon EarlCole18881890
Julius A.Coller19241937
Solomon GilmanComstock19051908
Edward B.Cosgrove19551961
Mary E. (Peggy)Craig19871993
Last Names D through H
First NameLast NameTerm StartTerm End
OliverDalrymple18721873
Mary A.Davenport2019present
Cushman KellogDavis*18741876
Cushman KellogDavis*18831898
Anna O.Determan19331935
Thomas W.Devine20122017
Ronald SDonaldson18681871
IgnatiusDonnelly18601863
William B. Dosland19791985
Willis (Bill) K.Drake19811987
BenjaminDu Bois19371939
Mark HillDunnell18681870
Adolph OlsonEberhart19091915
Alonzo JayEdgerton18781881
Sloan M.Emery18891893
James T.Farnsworth2021present
William WattsFolwell18721884
BenjaminFranklin18681868
Abram McCormackFridley18551860
JohnFrobenius20032015
Joseph W.Furber18511855
Daniel C.Gainey19391973
William HenryGemmell19291933
ParisGibson18711880
John Bachop (J.B.)Gilfillan18811888
Charles WeymouthGlotfelter19161922
Erwin L.Goldfine19751987
John (Jack) P.Grahek19871990
Richard L.Griggs19391963
Bjarne ElgarGrottum19611967
Robyn J.Gulley2023present
Olaf JensenHagen19311937
Harry B.Hall19681969
Edward O.Hamlin18601864
Winfield ScottHammond19151915
Albert V.Hartl19651971
Avery AmherstHarwood18681878
Gerald W.Heaney19641965
Joel P.Heatwole18911897
Kao Ly IleanHer20192021
Robert E.Hess19591967
WallyHilke19831989
William E.Hogan,C269 II19932005
Henry B.Hovland19081912
Marjorie J.Howard19531971
Michael D.Hsu20152021
Lucius F.Hubbard18821887
Douglas A.Huebsch2021present
Herbert L.Huffington19671973
Fred J.Hughes19611973
VenoraHung20072013
Steven D.Hunter20052011
Last Names J though M
First NameLast NameTerm StartTerm End
Alfred IngvaldJohnson19591965
Dean E.Johnson20072019
John AlbertJohnson19051909
Josie R.Johnson19711973
Ruth E.Johnson2021present
Tadd M.Johnson*20222023
Tadd M.Johnson*2023present
J. SenecaJones19461953
Jean BurhardtKeffeler*19891996
Jean BurhardtKeffeler*20012003
Mike O.Kenyanya2019present
David L. Kiehle18811893
Hyon T. Kim19941997
William M. Kimball18601864
LaurisKrenik19731985
Elton A. Kuderer19871993
MorrisLamprey18741879
David M.Larson20052014
Warren C. Larson19952001
GeorgeLatimer19751976
RobertLatz19751981
George W.Lawson19331959
David M.Lebedoff19771989
L.J.Lee19721979
George B.Leonard19371939
CynthiaLesher20062007
John HamiltonLewis18991900
SamuelLewison19271931
William M.Liggett18881905
JohnLind*18931894
JohnLind*18991901
JohnLind*19081914
Albert J.Lobb19391951
Lewis E. Lohmann19371939
Verne Long19811987
Peggy E.Lucas20132019
StephenMahoney18891907
Lester A. Malkerson19511977
William R. Marshall*18511853
William R. Marshall*18681870
William R. Marshall*18731882
Janie S.Mayeron2019present
Charles W.Mayo19511968
William JamesMayo19071939
James M.McConnell19191928
Andrew R. McGill18871889
Charles F. McGuiggan19771989
David J.McMillan20112022
Richard (Pinky)McNamara20012005
Bradley B.Meeker18511857
Orlando CrosbyMerriam18641871
William RushMerriam18891893
David RogerMetzen19972009
StephenMiler18641864
William K.Montague19631969
Wenda W.Moore19731989
Frank W.Murphy19331939
Last Names N through R
First NameLast NameTerm StartTerm End
H. BryanNeel, III19912003
Edward DuffieldNeill18601864
Benjamin F. Nelson19051916
KnuteNelson18821895
SocratesNelson18511859
Karl G. Neumeier19531959
JohnNicols18641873
CyrusNorthrop18841911
E.E.Novak19391955
Daniel RogersNoyes19041908
MichaelO'Keefe19962002
John WayenblazOlsen19011908
Albert E.Olson19331939
Martin M.Olson19371939
Andrew JuliusOlson*19291937
Andrew JuliusOlson*19391964
Abdul M.Omari20132019
Sidney M. Owen*19071910
Sidney M. Owen*19831901
Alan C.Page19891993
Mary J. Page19891995
George H. Partridge19141931
William Wirt Pendergast18931898
Lawrence Perlman19931995
Lloyd HenryPeterson19751983
Otto M. Peterson19371939
William R. Peterson19932000
AlbertPfaender19351946
Jessica J.Phillips19952001
John SargentPillsbury18631901
LaForest E.Potter19201922
Kendall J.Powell20172023
Jacob A.Preus19211925
Raymond J. Quinlivan19351961
Maureen Ramirez20072013
AlexanderRamsey*18511857
AlexanderRamsey*18601863
Rufus R. Rand, Jr.19311937
Eugene WilsonRandall19041907
Lakeesha K.Ransom20012007
George W.Rauenhorst19651977
Thomas R.Reagan19911999
Maureen K. Reed19972005
Albert E.Rice18971920
Henry MowerRice18511859
John Gillian Riheldaffer18531859
David K.Roe19811993
F. J. (Frederick)Rogstad19391949
Darrin M.Rosha*19891995
Darrin M.Rosha*20152023
Last Names R through V
First NameLast NameTerm StartTerm End
Stanley D.Sahlstrom19851997
Theodore LeopoldSchermeier19011904
Mary T.Schertler19771991
Carl GustavSchulz19091919
Neil ClintonSherburne19691983
Charles D.Sherwood18641864
Henry HastingsSibley*18511860
Henry HastingsSibley*18681891
Otto A.Silha19611969
Patricia S.Simmons20032018
Randy R.Simonson20182021
Herman FridtjofSkyberg19491968
Charles AxelSmith19081912
Charles KilgoreSmith18511851
Samuel GeorgeSmith18981901
SimeonSmith18601860
Fred BealSnyder19121951
Charles L.Sommers19101922
Patricia A. Spence19952001
Ozora PiersonStearns18901895
Franklin Steele18511860
John HarringtonStevens18521859
Ora C.Strickler19011907
J.E.G. Sundberg19231931
SteveSviggum20112012
Steven A. Sviggum20172023
Lauritz S.Swenson18951897
Henry AdoniramSwift18631864
Nathan C.D.Taylor18511855
Lars O.Teigen19291930
UriahThomas18601863
Edwin J.Thompson18681870
Loanne R.Thrane19711977
Milo R.Todd18971898
Orson V.Tousley18801883
Charles AdrianTullar19001901
Mary C.Turner2023present
Michael W.Unger19761983
David C.Utz19731979
Samuel RinnahVan Sant19011905
Abram J.Van Vorhes18511860
Kathryn C.Vander Kooi19731975
Kodi J.Verhalen2021present
George EdgarVincent19111917
Last Names W though Z
First NameLast NameTerm StartTerm End
Alice RockwellWarren19221927
Penny A.Wheeler2023present
James VonWilliams19311933
John G.Williams19121937
Milton M.Williams19101925
Archie DellWilson19221929
Bess M.Wilson19251933
Horace B.Wilson18701875
Thomas Wilson18981910
James M. Winslow18571860
Sheldon V.Wood19391953
James ThomasWyman19011908
Ann J.Wynia19911994
William HallYale18941896
John AntonYngve19691975

Historical List of Regents by Year Elected

1850s to 1900
First NameLast Name
*multiple terms
Term
IsaacAtwater1851–1860
Joseph W.Furber1851–1855
William R. Marshall*1851–1853
Bradley B.Meeker1851–1857
SocratesNelson1851–1859
AlexanderRamsey*1851–1857
Henry MowerRice1851–1859
Henry HastingsSibley*1851–1860
Charles KilgoreSmith1851–1851
Franklin Steele1851–1860
Nathan C.D.Taylor1851–1855
Abram J.Van Vorhes1851–1860
John HarringtonStevens1852–1859
John Gillian Riheldaffer1853–1859
MahlonBlack1855–1860
Abram McCormackFridley1855–1860
Saint A.D.Balcombe1857–1860
James M. Winslow1857–1860
JaredBenson1860–1864
John McDonoughBerry1860–1861
IgnatiusDonnelly1860–1863
Edward O.Hamlin1860–1864
William M. Kimball1860–1864
Edward DuffieldNeill1860–1864
AlexanderRamsey*1860–1863
SimeonSmith1860–1860
UriahThomas1860–1863
George F.Batchelder1861–1863
RichardChute*1863–1864
John SargentPillsbury1863–1901
Henry AdoniramSwift1863–1864
Orlando CrosbyMerriam1864–1871
StephenMiler1864–1864
JohnNicols1864–1873
Charles D.Sherwood1864–1864
Ronald SDonaldson1868–1871
Mark HillDunnell1868–1870
BenjaminFranklin1868–1868
Avery AmherstHarwood1868–1878
William R. Marshall*1868–1870
Henry HastingsSibley*1868–1891
Edwin J.Thompson1868–1870
HoraceAustin1870–1874
Charles S.Bryant1870–1876
Horace B.Wilson1870–1875
ParisGibson1871–1880
OliverDalrymple1872–1873
William WattsFolwell1872–1884
William R. Marshall*1873–1882
Cushman KellogDavis*1874–1876
MorrisLamprey1874–1879
DavidBurt1875–1881
Thomas ScottBuckham1876–1887
RichardChute*1876–1881
Alonzo JayEdgerton1878–1881
GreenleafClark1879–1904
Orson V.Tousley1880–1883
John Bachop (J.B.)Gilfillan1881–1888
David L. Kiehle1881–1893
Lucius F.Hubbard1882–1887
KnuteNelson1882–1895
Cushman KellogDavis*1883–1898
CyrusNorthrop1884–1911
Andrew R. McGill1887–1889
Gordon EarlCole1888–1890
William M.Liggett1888–1905
Sloan M.Emery1889–1893
StephenMahoney1889–1907
William RushMerriam1889–1893
Ozora PiersonStearns1890–1895
Joel P.Heatwole1891–1897
JohnLind*1893–1894
William Wirt Pendergast1893–1898
William HallYale1894–1896
AlphonsoBarto1895–1899
David M.Clough1895–1899
Lauritz S.Swenson1895–1897
Elmer E. Adams1897–1905
Albert E.Rice1897–1920
Milo R.Todd1897–1898
Samuel GeorgeSmith1898–1901
Thomas Wilson1898–1910
John HamiltonLewis1899–1900
JohnLind*1899–1901
1900s & 1910s
First NameLast Name
*multiple terms
Term
Charles AdrianTullar1900–1901
John WayenblazOlsen1901–1908
Theodore LeopoldSchermeier1901–1904
Ora C.Strickler1901–1907
Samuel RinnahVan Sant1901–1905
James ThomasWyman1901–1908
Daniel RogersNoyes1904–1908
Eugene WilsonRandall1904–1907
Solomon GilmanComstock1905–1908
John AlbertJohnson1905–1909
Benjamin F. Nelson1905–1916
PierceButler1907–1924
William JamesMayo1907–1939
Sidney M. Owen*1907–1910
Henry B.Hovland1908–1912
JohnLind*1908–1914
Charles AxelSmith1908–1912
Adolph OlsonEberhart1909–1915
Carl GustavSchulz1909–1919
Charles L.Sommers1910–1922
Milton M.Williams1910–1925
George EdgarVincent1911–1917
Fred BealSnyder1912–1951
John G.Williams1912–1937
George H. Partridge1914–1931
Joseph A.A.Burnquist1915–1921
Winfield ScottHammond1915–1915
Charles WeymouthGlotfelter1916–1922
Marion LeRoyBurton1917–1920
James M.McConnell1919–1928
1920s & 1930s
First NameLast Name
*multiple terms
Term
Lotus D.Coffman1920–1928
LaForest E.Potter1920–1922
Jacob A.Preus1921–1925
EgilBoeckmann1922–1933
Alice RockwellWarren1922–1927
Archie DellWilson1922–1929
J.E.G. Sundberg1923–1931
Julius A.Coller1924–1937
TheodoreChristianson1925–1928
Bess M.Wilson1925–1933
SamuelLewison1927–1931
William HenryGemmell1929–1933
Andrew JuliusOlson*1929–1937
Lars O.Teigen1929–1930
Charles R.Butler1931–1935
Olaf JensenHagen1931–1937
Rufus R. Rand, Jr.1931–1937
James VonWilliams1931–1933
Anna O.Determan1933–1935
George W.Lawson1933–1959
Frank W.Murphy1933–1939
Albert E.Olson1933–1939
AlbertPfaender1935–1946
Raymond J. Quinlivan1935–1961
BenjaminDu Bois1937–1939
George B.Leonard1937–1939
Lewis E. Lohmann1937–1939
Martin M.Olson1937–1939
Otto M. Peterson1937–1939
James FordBell1939–1961
Daniel C.Gainey1939–1973
Richard L.Griggs1939–1963
Albert J.Lobb1939–1951
E.E.Novak1939–1955
Andrew JuliusOlson*1939–1964
F. J. (Frederick)Rogstad1939–1949
Sheldon V.Wood1939–1953
1940s & 1950s
First NameLast Name
*multiple terms
Term
J. SenecaJones1946–1953
Herman FridtjofSkyberg1949–1968
Lester A. Malkerson1951–1977
Charles W.Mayo1951–1968
Marjorie J.Howard1953–1971
Karl G. Neumeier1953–1959
Edward B.Cosgrove1955–1961
Robert E.Hess1959–1967
Alfred IngvaldJohnson1959–1965
1960s & 1970s
First NameLast Name
*multiple terms
Term
Bjarne ElgarGrottum1961–1967
Fred J.Hughes1961–1973
Otto A.Silha1961–1969
William K.Montague1963–1969
Gerald W.Heaney1964–1965
Albert V.Hartl1965–1971
George W.Rauenhorst1965–1977
Elmer L.Anderson1967–1975
Herbert L.Huffington1967–1973
Lyman A.Brink1968–1972
Harry B.Hall1968–1969
Frederick  AnthonyCina1969–1975
Neil ClintonSherburne1969–1983
John AntonYngve1969–1975
Josie R.Johnson1971–1973
Loanne R.Thrane1971–1977
L.J.Lee1972–1979
LaurisKrenik1973–1985
Wenda W.Moore1973–1989
David C.Utz1973–1979
Kathryn C.Vander Kooi1973–1975
Erwin L.Goldfine1975–1987
GeorgeLatimer1975–1976
RobertLatz1975–1981
Lloyd HenryPeterson1975–1983
Michael W.Unger1976–1983
David M.Lebedoff1977–1989
Charles F. McGuiggan1977–1989
Mary T.Schertler1977–1991
Charles H.Casey1979–1991
William B. Dosland1979–1985
1980s & 1990s
First NameLast Name
*multiple terms
Term
Willis (Bill) K.Drake1981–1987
Verne Long1981–1987
David K.Roe1981–1993
WallyHilke1983–1989
Sidney M. Owen*1983–1901
Wendell R.Anderson1985–1997
Stanley D.Sahlstrom1985–1997
Mary E. (Peggy)Craig1987–1993
John (Jack) P.Grahek1987–1990
Elton A. Kuderer1987–1993
Jean BurhardtKeffeler*1989–1996
Alan C.Page1989–1993
Mary J. Page1989–1995
Darrin M.Rosha*1989–1995
H. BryanNeel, III1991–2003
Thomas R.Reagan1991–1999
Ann J.Wynia1991–1994
Julie A.Bleyhl1993–1999
William E.Hogan,C269 II1993–2005
Lawrence Perlman1993–1995
William R. Peterson1993–2000
Hyon T. Kim1994–1997
Warren C. Larson1995–2001
Jessica J.Phillips1995–2001
Patricia A. Spence1995–2001
MichaelO'Keefe1996–2002
Robert S.Bergland1997–2003
David RogerMetzen1997–2009
Maureen K. Reed1997–2005
Anthony R.Baraga1999–2011
DallasBohnsack1999–2011
2000s & 2010s
First NameLast Name
*multiple terms
Term
Frank R.Berman2001–2007
Jean BurhardtKeffeler*2001–2003
Richard (Pinky)McNamara2001–2005
Lakeesha K.Ransom2001–2007
PeterBell2002–2007
Clyde E.Allen, Jr.2003–2015
JohnFrobenius2003–2015
Patricia S.Simmons2003–2018
Steven D.Hunter2005–2011
David M.Larson2005–2014
CynthiaLesher2006–2007
LindaCohen2007–2019
VenoraHung2007–2013
Dean E.Johnson2007–2019
Maureen Ramirez2007–2013
Richard B.Beeson2009–2021
Laura M.Brod2011–2017
David J.McMillan2011–2022
SteveSviggum2011–2012
Thomas W.Devine2012–2017
Peggy E.Lucas2013–2019
Abdul M.Omari2013–2019
Thomas J.Anderson2015–2021
Michael D.Hsu2015–2021
Darrin M.Rosha*2015–2023
Kendall J.Powell2017–2023
Steven A. Sviggum2017–2023
Randy R.Simonson2018–2021
Mary A.Davenport2019–present
Kao Ly IleanHer2019–2021
Mike O.Kenyanya2019–present
Janie S.Mayeron2019–present
2020s to present
First NameLast Name
*multiple terms
Term
James T.Farnsworth2021–present
Douglas A.Huebsch2021–present
Ruth E.Johnson2021–present
Kodi J.Verhalen2021–present
Tadd M.Johnson*2022–2023
Robyn J.Gulley2023–present
Tadd M.Johnson*2023–present
Mary C.Turner2023–present
Penny A.Wheeler2023–present