Council staff as well as at our member institutions are available to answer questions about policy issues or research.
Council policy & research contacts
Leadership for the Council's policy efforts comes from Paul Cerkvenik, president, and Alison Piumbroeck Groebner, our director of government relations and community affairs — in consultation with the Policy Committee of the board. If you’re looking for other Council staff, please head to our full staff list.
Paul Cerkvenik
PresidentPaul Cerkvenik is the president of the Minnesota Private College Council and the Minnesota Private College Fund. The Council and Fund serve the shared needs of the 18 nonprofit institutions that are its members.
On behalf of the Council, Paul is particularly active at the Minnesota Capitol, where he works with leaders from the member institutions to advocate for state policy that meets the needs of students, enhances private higher education and strengthens the state. With the Fund, he seeks to sustain corporate and foundation support to support our institutions and their students, including through scholarships.
Paul’s work representing the interests of Minnesota’s Private Colleges includes service on several boards. He is on the Leadership Council of Generation Next, a member of the Minnesota P-20 Education Partnership, a member of the state’s Higher Education Facilities Authority, and a member of the Greater MSP Partner Advisory Council. Nationally he serves on the board of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, as well as on the group’s Tax Policy Committee.
He is also on the Executive Committee of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities State Executives.Paul has been president since 2009. He previously worked as an attorney in private practice in Virginia, Minn.; his previous career in politics included serving as legislative director for the Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives. Before becoming president, he had served on the Council and Fund’s board of directors, including as chair of the Council’s Public Policy Committee.
A native of the Iron Range, he earned his B.S. degree from Saint John’s University in Collegeville and his J.D. from the University of Minnesota. A St. Paul resident and father of three, he’s also a committed curler.
Alison Piumbroeck Groebner
Director of Government and Community RelationsAlison joined the Council in 2018. She was most recently the Director of Government Affairs at the Minnesota Department of Commerce. Prior to her five years at the Commerce Department, she worked in the Minnesota State Senate. Alison is a graduate of the University of St. Thomas, where as an undergraduate she was the recipient of the Spirit of St. Thomas Award for Outstanding Leadership as well as the Global Citizen Award.
Megan Rozowski
Director of Research and Policy DevelopmentMegan joined the Council in 2012. She leads the Council’s research efforts, providing data and analysis to support the Council’s policy agenda and admissions work. She previously worked as a research analyst for Applied Policy Research, Inc., a higher education net revenue management consulting company. Megan earned a B.A. in Economics from Carleton College and Master of Public Policy from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs.
Mitch Radtke
Senior Research AnalystMitch joined the Council in 2020. He coordinates the Council’s research projects and maintains the quality of its data. He previously worked as a data analyst at Community Action Partnership of Hennepin County, a nonprofit dedicated to reducing poverty and increasing economic opportunity. He recently taught political science and research methodology courses at St. Olaf College and Bucknell University. Mitch earned a B.A. in Political Science and International Studies from the University of St. Thomas and a Ph.D. in Political Science from Texas A&M University.
Rachel Wormer
Advocacy and Communications CoordinatorRachel joined the Council in 2022. She coordinates student advocacy for the State Grant program during the legislative session and supports the Council’s communications projects and events. Rachel brings experience supporting various equity-driven advocacy, community engagement and research initiatives. Rachel holds a bachelor’s degree in Community and Public Health from South Dakota State University and a Master of Public Health degree with a concentration in public policy from the City University of New York.
Campus legislative contacts
The campus legislative contacts listed below are the lead contacts at our member institutions on policy matters.
Augsburg University
Elaine Eschenbacher
Asst. Provost for Experiential Learning
Tel: 612-330-1492
Email: [email protected]
Bethany Lutheran College
Lance Schwartz
Director of Institutional Communication
Tel: 507-344-7427
Email: [email protected]
Bethel University
Tim Hammer
Director of Marketing
Tel: 651-638-6784
Email: [email protected]
Carleton College
Elise Eslinger
Vice President and Chief of Staff
Tel: 507-222-5597
Email: [email protected]
Helen Clarke
Associate Vice President for Communications
Tel: 507-222-4183
Email: [email protected]
College of Saint Benedict & Saint John's University
Stuart Perry
Executive Director of Financial Aid
Tel: 320-363-5047
Email: [email protected]
Jon Enriquez
Director of Institutional Research and Assessment
Tel: 320-363-5287
Email: [email protected]
The College of St. Scholastica
Rick Revoir
Dean of Strategic Development & Professor
Tel: 218-723-6424
Email: [email protected]
Concordia College, Moorhead
Karl Stumo
Vice President for Enrollment and Marketing
Tel: 218-299-3887
Email: [email protected]
Eric Addington
Associate Vice President for Enrollment and Financial Aid
Tel: 218-299-3887
Email: [email protected]
Concordia University, St. Paul
Bruce P. Corrie
Associate Vice President, University Relations
Tel: 651-641-8226
Email: [email protected]
Eric LaMott
Provost and Chief Operating Officer
Tel: 651-641-8729
Email: [email protected]
Gustavus Adolphus College
Tim Kennedy
Vice President for Marketing and Communications
Tel: 507-933-6395
Email: [email protected]
Hamline University
Jeff Pappas
Director of Communications
Tel: 651-523-2953
Email: [email protected]
Macalester College
Sara Suelflow
Director of Digital Engagement and Public Affairs, Communications and Marketing
Tel: 651-696-6307
Email: [email protected]
Minneapolis College of Art and Design
Nick Raverty
Assistant to the President
Email: [email protected]
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
Ann Merchlewitz
Executive Vice President and General Counsel
Tel: 507-457-1587
Email: [email protected]
St. Catherine University
LaNita Robinson
Associate Vice President of Financial Aid and Enrollment
Tel: 651-690-6061
Email: [email protected]
St. Olaf College
Chris George
Dean of Admission and Financial Aid
Tel: 507-786-3775
Email: [email protected]
University of Northwestern – St. Paul
Greg Johnson
Vice President for Strategy and Chief of Staff
Email: [email protected]
University of St. Thomas
Amy McDonough
Chief of Staff and Liaison to the Office of the President
Tel: 651-962-6030
Email: [email protected]