New Trustee Joe Fifield '11

 

Joe Fifield ’11 is a Regional Program Director for the YMCA Center for Youth Voice, a statewide program devoted to civic education and experiential learning opportunities for young people around Minnesota. In his role, Joe is

specifically responsible for working closely with schools in the Southeast region of Minnesota as well as managing the Minnesota Student Election Judge Network, a vehicle for young people to become election officials in their local communities.

Joe graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2015 with a dual Bachelor’s Degree in Gender, Women, & Sexuality Studies and Global Studies, with a focus on human rights and social justice in the Islamic World. He remains committed to diversity and inclusion work, serving on the Y’s national LGBTQ Employee Resource Network Steering Committee and representing YMCAs from all over the world at the United Nations as a member of the World YMCA’s United Nations Advocacy Group.

In his free time, Joe loves to bike around the Twin Cities, explore new restaurants; and travel around Minnesota and the country (when appropriate), especially if it involves driving and camping–two of his greatest passions.

 

New Trustee Patrick M. Johns '72

 

Dr. Patrick M. Johns ’72 spent his career in service of higher education. Before his retirement in 2019, he was the third president of Lake Superior College since the merger of the Duluth Technical College and the Duluth Community College Center in 1995.

Pat is originally from Duluth. He graduated from Duluth Cathedral High School, earned a B.S. in History and a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Minnesota Duluth, and a master’s degree in Guidance & Counseling from the University of Wisconsin–Superior. He also holds a Doctorate in Educational Administration/Adult and Higher Education from the University of South Dakota.

Pat served for twenty years as president of Anoka-Ramsey Community College before taking the helm as president of Lake Superior College in Duluth in 2010. His education leadership experiences also include time spent in administration at Minnesota West Community and Technical College, Riverland Community College, and Mesabi Range Community and Technical College. Pat also was assistant men’s basketball coach at the University of Minnesota Duluth.

Pat has also served as the board chair for Northwood Children’s Services, a board member for APEX (Arrowhead Partnership for Economic Expansion), as a member of the Community Advisory Board for the University of Minnesota Medical School Duluth Campus, and a member of the Arrowhead Growth Alliance.