Steve Sviggum

Areas of Expertise

State finance; leadership; taxation; education funding and policy; labor management; special legislative sessions

Biography

Sviggum served in the Minnesota State Legislature for 29 years. He was first elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 1978. He served as House Minority Leader from 1993 to 1998 and later as Speaker of the House from 1999 to 2007, during which time he served on the board of directors for the National Speakers Conference. In July of 2007, he assumed his new role as commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry.

Sviggum has been honored by many business organizations, advocacy groups for the mentally disabled, and taxpayer watchdog groups. He has held many different leadership positions during his career, but he is most proud of being a dad. He and his family reside in Kenyon, Minnesota, where they also maintain a family farm.

Sviggum earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics from St. Olaf College in 1973.

Courses Taught

For syllabi for the current semester, view the University of Minnesota's Course Guide. For syllabi for public affairs classes for Fall 2007 or earlier, view the Humphrey Institute's course syllabi web page. Syllabi are available in alternative formats. Please send requests to Stacey Grimes, Humphrey Institute Office of the Associate Dean (grime004@umn.edu).

Go to the University of Minnesota One Stop website to apply for these and other public affairs courses.

No Fall 2009 courses.