About Public Affairs
The Public Affairs Division of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities provides services to the Board of Trustees, Chancellor and Office of the Chancellor staff, as well as individual college and university presidents and campus key communicators.
In addition to producing system publications, Public Affairs assists other units within the Office of the Chancellor and staff from system institutions with publications for external audiences. If you need assistance with an upcoming project, please read through our publications process guide to acquaint yourself with our publications process and then contact the appropriate division staff for assistance with your project.
Public Affairs staff write speeches for the chancellor and members of the Board of Trustees. This may include preparing talking points on specific issues, commencement speeches or greetings, and prepared remarks and materials for presentations.
Each year, the division produces many system publications, develops system marketing campaigns, and maintains the Minnesota State system's public Web site, the Office of the Chancellor Web site, and the Public Affairs Division Web site.
The Public Affairs Division is also responsible for coordinating and designing the system's state fair and National College Fair booths, and arranging other special events, such as campus visits for the chancellor and news conferences.
Over the years, the Office of the Chancellor has also won numerous state, regional and national awards for a variety of Minnesota State system publications, special events and public relations and marketing campaigns. The Public Affairs division maintains a list of the awards received by Office of the Chancellor print and Web publications, public relations materials, marketing campaigns, editorials and feature articles.
The Public Affairs mission, vision and values statement
Complete list of Public Affairs Division staff
Services provided by Public Affairs:
Public Relations
The Public Affairs Division creates and disseminates press releases about Minnesota State system and Board of Trustees actions and responds to media inquiries on behalf of the Board, the chancellor and the system. News clippings about Minnesota State Colleges and Universities are compiled regularly and distributed to a list of interested persons, including trustees and Office of the Chancellor staff. The division also provides technical assistance to the Board, Office of the Chancellor and individual campuses in media relations, public relations, marketing, development and advancement and crisis communications.
Contact: Melinda Voss, Director of Public Relations
Phone: 651-296-9443
E-mail: melinda.voss@so.mnscu.edu
Publications
Public affairs staff write speeches for the chancellor and Board members, provide editorial assistance for print and Web publications, and develop print and Web publications for internal and external audiences.
Contact: Nancy Conner, Director of Publications
Phone: 651-296-0541
E-mail: nancy.conner@so.mnscu.edu
Marketing Communications
The Public Affairs Division is responsible for Minnesota State system branding, logo development, market research and advertising. System marketing campaigns typically utilize a variety of mediums, including print, radio, television and Web.
Contact: Paul Berger, Director of Marketing
Phone: 651-296-9450
E-mail: paul.berger@so.mnscu.edu
Creative Services
The Public Affairs Division provides creative and technical services for Office of the Chancellor and system print and Web projects.
Contacts:
Deb Thayer, Graphic Design Manager
Phone: 651-297-7469
E-mail: deborah.thayer@so.mnscu.edu
Jeff Crandall, Web Communications Coordinator
Phone: 651-297-7190
E-mail: jeff.crandall@so.mnscu.edu
Downloads
The Public Affairs and system downloads center houses system logos and identity standards, various MS Office and Powerpoint templates and other materials related to system publications, public relations and marketing.
