Keith Butcher (MS ’98)

Keith Butcher manages external affairs for the Center for Energy and Environment (CEE), a nonpartisan, technically focused nonprofit organization based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He works with a diverse group of organizations, including Minnesota’s electric and natural gas utilities, government agencies, elected officials, private firms, and other nonprofits primarily focused on energy and environmental issues. As part of his duties, Keith is involved in such projects as energy policy development, biomass research, energy efficiency program design and development, lighting retrofits, recommissioning, multifamily projects, financing initiatives, and more.

Prior to joining CEE, Keith spent three years helping start-up Infrared Solutions, Inc (ISI), a private technology firm headquartered in Plymouth, Minnesota. At ISI he oversaw production schedules for all ISI products; supervised assemblers, student engineers, and technicians; engineered ISI products from prototype to production; and designed all ISI quality assurance measures.

Keith holds a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering with a minor in political science from the University of Minnesota in addition to an M.S. in science and technology policy. Keith is a member of the Citizens League and past member of the Rotary Club and has been involved in the Institute’s mentor program for the last five years.

Gwendolyn Freed (MPA ’05)

Gwendolyn Freed has been vice president for college relations at Gustavus Adolphus College since 2006. Prior to that, she enjoyed a journalism career that included four and a half years as a Star Tribune reporter, several years as editor-in-chief of a national arts magazine and the opportunity to contribute freelance articles to such outlets as Wall Street Journal, New York Newsday and MSNBC.com. Her nonprofit-related work has featured major gifts fundraising at the Minnesota Orchestra and grants management for the Best Buy Children's Foundation. Gwen served the Oberlin College Alumni Association for nine years, including three years on its executive board. She is also a longtime volunteer for the Minneapolis mental health agency Crisis Connection. Gwen holds master's degrees from the Humphrey School and the Juilliard School as well as a bachelor's degree from Oberlin College. She is now working toward a doctorate in education policy and administration at the University of Minnesota.

Misty Heggeness (MPP ’00)

Misty Heggeness currently is pursuing a Ph.D. in applied economics from the University of Minnesota, where her research focuses on gender, poverty, and economic development. Prior to returning to graduate school, she worked as a principal planning analyst in the Hennepin County Office of Planning and Development, where she managed projects and conducted research relating to community indicators and vulnerable populations. She has worked as a volunteer coordinator and children's advocate for a local Latina battered women's shelter; a family service worker for Migrant Headstart in southern Minnesota; and a youth worker for the Minneapolis YMCA. She has interned with the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and with the Venezuelan child welfare system.

Misty earned a master of public policy and a master of social work (MPP/MSW) from the University of Minnesota in 2002 and a bachelor of science in family social science and Spanish in 1999.

Jim Jernberg (MA ’57)

James E. Jernberg, professor emeritus of public affairs and planning, is interested in policy implementation and management, especially budgeting, intergovernmental relations and legislative policy making. He has served as a research associate with the Brookings Institution and the National Academy of Sciences. He was also part of a Humphrey School study team assessing the future of the state legislature. Before coming to the University of Minnesota, Jernberg taught at the University of North Carolina and the University of Wisconsin at Madison. He also served as a budget officer and assistant to the mayor of Madison.

Jernberg is the recipient of the 2008 University of Minnesota Alumni Service Award, and a fixture at the annual Humphrey School commencement ceremony, a tradition he helped create, where he announces the Jernberg Award for outstanding contribution to student life.

Jernberg holds a master's degree in public affairs from the University of Minnesota and a doctorate in political science from the University of Wisconsin.

Bernadine Joselyn (MPA ’00)

Bernadine Joselyn is a graduate of the Humphrey School's MPA program, a 30 credit program for mid-career professionals. She was president of the Humphrey School's Alumni Board for 2005-2006. A Minnesota native, Bernadine also has a master's degree in international affairs and a certificate in advanced Soviet studies from Columbia University. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota.

Bernadine currently is the Director of Public Policy & Engagement at the Blandin Foundation, in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. As director, Bernadine is responsible for promoting rural perspectives in the realm of public policy in Minnesota.  Under her leadership, the Foundation currently is implementing two public policy initiatives: Vital Forests/Vital Communities, and the Blandin Broadband Initiative: Keeping Rural Communities Competitive. Bernadine served for seven years as a diplomat with the United States Department of State, including assignments in New Delhi, India and Moscow, Russia. She spent the better part of a decade living and working in Russia, including as Director of the Moscow office of the Eurasia Foundation, and Director of the Moscow office of the International Research and Exchanges Board.

Sida Ly-Xiong (MS-STEP ’01)

Sida Ly-Xiong is the Reatha Clark King Fellow and associate director of evaluation and research at the Women's Foundation of Minnesota. Sida is interested in using evaluation to foster learning within and among organizations.Her work has included consulting with local and national nonprofits; creating leadership programs for refugee communities in Wisconsin; researching community development and environmental management initiatives in Botswana; and mediating dispute resolutions for the State of Minnesota. In addition to serving on the Humphrey alumni board, she is also involved in many national and local groups, including the Asian Pacific Islanders In Philanthropy, Alliance for Nonprofit Management, and Hmong American Partnership Board of Directors, where currently serves as the vice chair. Sida is Hmong and was born in a refugee camp in Thailand. In 1976, her family was sponsored by a Catholic parish in Wisconsin. Sida lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two children.

She holds a bachelors degree from Macalester College and a master of science in science, technology and environment policy from the Humphrey School.

Molly McCartney (MURP '01)

Molly McCartney is a senior city planner with the City of Minneapolis' Department of Community Planning and Economic Development. Molly has worked for Minneapolis since 2004 and focuses on a variety of planning activities, including development review, heritage preservation, and long range planning. Prior to Minneapolis, Molly worked for 1000 Friends of Minnesota located in St. Paul. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners and the American Planning Association.

Molly received her bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Minnesota and a master’s degree in urban and regional planning from the Humphrey School. She also completed a Certificate of Transportation Studies from the Center for Transportation Studies at the University of Minnesota. She has been involved with the Humphrey School Mentor Program as a student and a mentor, and appreciates the benefits of reconnecting to the Institute as an alumna. Molly loves all things Minneapolis, including her South Minneapolis neighborhood, where she lives with her husband David, and their two children.

Scott McMahon (MPP ’03)

Upon the completion of graduate studies at the Institute, Scott McMahon served as special assistant to Dean Atwood, working on strategic planning, accreditation, and redesign of the organizational structure and the budgeting for the Institute. He then served for two years as the research director at the National Institute of Health Policy, and just began a new job as director of government and community affairs for Minnesota Private College Council.

Scott’s involvement with the Humphrey School alumni board goes back to its reorganization upon Dean Atwood’s arrival at the Institute. When the alumni board was going through its redevelopment phase, Scott was president of the Public Affairs Students Association (PASA) and worked with the dean, Michelle Potter, and board at the time to create greater opportunities for student representation on the board.

In addition to his public policy degree from the Humphrey School, Scott holds a master of science in administration from the Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Saint John’s University.

Brad Moore (MA ’83)

On December 18, 2006, Governor Tim Pawlenty named Brad Moore as commissioner of the MPCA, where he has served as acting commissioner since August 1.

Moore was the Assistant Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, where he oversaw seven operating divisions. In this position, he helped to establish the DNR’s strategic direction, developed policy and managed the department’s budget.

Moore worked for the DNR since 1988. Prior to that, he served as a public utilities rate analyst at what is now the Minnesota Department of Commerce.

Moore, 45, received his bachelor’s degree in political science from St. Olaf College and his master’s degree in public affairs from the University of Minnesota, Humphrey School.

Brad previously served on the alumni board from 1991 to 1993.

Jim Mulder (MA ’82)

Jim Mulder is the executive director of the Association of Minnesota Counties (AMC).  He is a graduate of the University of Minnesota, Morris, with a bachelor of science degree.

Mr. Mulder has been the executive director for AMC for seventeen years.  Prior to holding this position, Mr. Mulder served as the county coordinator for McLeod County. He worked for the Minnesota House of Representatives as a researcher, and as a committee administrator for the House Tax Committee. 

The AMC is a voluntary association of all of Minnesota’s eighty-seven counties. The Association provides a broad range of services that include lobbying the Minnesota Legislature, working with state departments and agencies and providing training and information to Minnesota County officials.

Rogelio L. Muñoz, Jr. (MPP ’04)

Rogelio L. Muñoz, Jr. (Roy) was appointed as executive director by board of directors for the Chicano Latino Affairs Council, State of Minnesota. In this capacity, Muñoz works to carry the voice of Minnesota’s Latino community to the Governor and Minnesota Legislature on public affairs that impact the community. Through new approaches under Muñoz’s leadership, the Council has engaged Latino communities statewide to ensure that the Latino community is civically engaged with full access to their elected officials and the legislative process. Some of the issues that the Council works on are the following: education, health, economic development, housing, and immigration.

At the federal level, Roy has worked for the U.S. Congressman Ruben Hinojosa, TX-15, the U.S. Farm Credit Administration in McLean, Virginia, and at the Central Intelligence Agency in Langley, Virginia. Before coming to the Council, he worked in the National Security Law Branch at the Federal Bureau of Investigation headquarters office in Washington, D.C.Roy currently sits on the governing board for the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities Alumni Association in Washington, DC and Centro Legal, Inc. in St. Paul and volunteers at the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis.

Roy came to Minnesota to pursue graduate school at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs. He also has a business degree in management from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, Texas and has other undergraduate studies from the University of Pittsburgh and Coastal Bend College.

Kiyoshi Nakasaka (MA ’89)

Kiyoshi Nakasaka is president & CEO of a business and public policy consulting firm, Washington CORE, L.L.C. Kiyoshi advises top business/government/trade association executives on strategic business & policy issues. He has played a key role in establishing numerous successful alliances/collaborations across the Pacific.
He is a member of the Radio Club of America, a wireless communications professional society, and is selected as a member of the International Who's Who of Information Technology in 1998.

Prior to starting his consulting firm, Kiyoshi worked as a public policy and government affairs analyst in the Washington, D.C., and also worked for CBS News in Tokyo, Japan.

Kiyoshi earned an MA in public affairs from the University of Minnesota's Humphrey School of Public Affairs, and a B.A. from Sophia University in Tokyo, Japan.

Anissa Rogness (MPP ’99)

Anissa Rogness is the director of economic development for United States Senator Kent Conrad (D-ND) in Washington, D.C. She works on projects and legislation on a variety of issues ranging from energy to transportation, small business development, and homeland security. Prior to working on Capitol Hill, much of Anissa’s work was in the nonprofit sector. She served as a campaign director in fundraising and community development for the Greater Twin Cities United Way from 1996 to 2001. She also has corporate and private sector experience in management, sales, and marketing.

Anissa holds a master’s degree in public policy with a concentration in economic and community development from the Humphrey School. She earned her bachelor’s degree with a major in economics from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. Anissa is excited to serve on the alumni board as a way to stay connected to Minnesota and the Humphrey School.

Mary Vidas (MPA ’03)

Mary Vidas is the public policy program manager for the University of Minnesota’s Landscape Arboretum working closely with diverse stakeholders regarding issues of land-use and design, ecology, preservation of natural resources, low impact development and sustainability. Mary is also a consultant to the University of Minnesota’s Business and Community Economic Development Center assisting locally owned businesses and public/private partnerships, as well as, non-profit organizations looking to strengthen their capacity and outreach.

Recently, Mary was the recipient of the 2005 Arthur Naftalin Award for her public service and community governance work. She received a 2004 television Emmy while working as a project partner with the U.S. Attorney General’s Office. She is a former human rights commissioner and recognized leader for her work in education, media and public engagement. Mary earned a B.A. in communications from Metropolitan University, is a trained mediator certified in community development, and completed a MPA with concentrations in public leadership, nonprofit management, and social policy from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs.