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For Immediate Release
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Minnesota State College - Southeast Technical welcomes new Dean of Trade and Technology, Travis Thul 

 Winona, MN (June 3, 2016) -- Educator, leader, engineer, veteran -- all words that describe Travis Thul, Minnesota State College - Southeast Technical's new Dean of Trade and Technology. Travis Thul (pronounced "Thull") comes to Southeast Technical from the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area, where he previously served as Engineering Technology Program Coordinator and as an adjunct electrical engineering professor at the Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) in Catonsville, MD.  

At CCBC, Travis was responsible for hiring faculty, curriculum development, laboratory construction, and equipment procurement. He led outreach to industry and academia, increasing resource sharing and student transfer opportunities.  In 2015, he was honored with the college's D.R.E.A.M. Innovation and Resource Award for facilitating $3 million in equipment donations. An outstanding educator, he was also recognized in 2013 with the School of Information and Applied Science Adjunct Faculty of the Year award.

In addition to his role at CCBC, Travis held a full-time position as an electronics engineer at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in Washington, D.C., where he led research on wireless power transfer, managed an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) team of 30 engineers, and was honored with a 2015 FCC Superior Achievement Award for leadership. In February 2016, he was recognized by the National Society of Professional Engineers with the Federal Engineer of the Year Award for his agency.

"We are very excited to have Travis on board. He has an impressive resume, a positive, can-do attitude, and boundless energy," says Dr. Leslie Bleskachek, Vice President of Academic Affairs. "He will be a great addition to our team and will help take the college to the next level." 

Originally a Midwesterner before being stationed on the east coast, Travis was raised in Vadnais Heights, MN and Cumberland, WI. He began his college career at Century College in White Bear Lake, MN, and would go on to graduate cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering Technology from the Milwaukee School of Engineering. Travis earned a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He continues work towards his doctorate and is a licensed professional engineer in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

"Although my wife and I enjoyed the time spent near our nation's capital, our hearts never left the lakes and rivers of our youth." says Travis. "Getting a chance to move back home while simultaneously helping to develop the great innovators of tomorrow is truly an honor and a dream come true." 

Travis is a Coast Guard veteran and continues to serve as a Lieutenant in the Coast Guard Reserves. "As a military-friendly college, we appreciate Travis's service to our country and are proud to have him join our college administration," notes Dr. Dorothy Duran, Minnesota State College - Southeast Technical President. "With the knowledge, background, and experience Travis brings to Southeast Technical, we look forward to seeing a positive evolution of current programs and the beginning of several new technology programs in both the Red Wing and Winona communities."

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About Minnesota State College - Southeast Technical

Southeast Technical is a two-year institution that provides its students with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes they will need for a lifetime of learning. With more than 30 programs of study and 90 degree, diploma, and certificate options, many students are prepared to launch a career in a technical or trade field as soon as they graduate. Others begin the pathway to a four-year bachelor's degree by earning transferable college credits in liberal arts and sciences. The Winona campus opened in 1949, merging with the Red Wing campus in 1992 and becoming Minnesota State College - Southeast Technical in 1999. Southeast Technical is a member of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. For more information, visit www.southeastmn.one.