Regent McMillan's Resignation
The University of Minnesota- Duluth campus has been in the midst of a search for a new Chancellor for the past 8 months since the resignation of Chancellor Black.
The initial search for his replacement failed, costing the university $166,000.
Regent McMillan has served as a regent representing Minnesota's 8th district since 2011, and submitted his resignation on June 14, 2022. In his resignation letter addressed to Governor Walz, McMillan noted that he has been nominated to temporarily lead UMD in this capacity. This is an appointment made by President Gabel.
Regent McMillan has cast many defining votes that have structured President Gabel's presidency, including her $1.1M salary decision, the cutting of 3 men's sports teams last year, numerous tuition increased, among others. As a regent, McMillan was tasked with dealing with the U's $4B budget.
Additionally, and perhaps most disappointingly, McMillan was one of 4 sitting regents who donated to the controversial Maroon and Gold PAC in 2020.
In a June 2022 email correspondence, President Gabel announced her distance from this selection process. She pointed out the members and role of the selection committee in the making of this decision. What her correspondence failed to explain is the members sitting on this committee.
Sitting on this committee are a few recognizable names, notably Representative Jen Schultz and CEO Allan Rudeck. Rep. Schultz was a sitting and actively campaigning MN State Representative. The insider dealings of having her on the search committee for the state's name-sake public institution that runs on the same tax and donor dollars that she campaigns on should be obvious. Less obvious is the 3 MN based CEO's of major corporations on this search committee, most interestingly being Allan Rudeck of ALLETE Clean Energy. If you read into Regent McMillan's resume, you would see that he was the registered lobbyist of Clean Energy and managed to secure millions in state funding for their corporation.
If you don't see the back door deals and payoffs, you should look closer. Nothing about the hiring of this high-level and high-paying public leadership position are ethical.
Sources:
June 15, 2022 Star Tribune article
March 31, 2022 MN Daily article
President Gabel Search Committee Announcement