Dr. Leslie K. Bleskachek joins administration of Minnesota State College - Southeast Technical as Vice President of Academic Affairs

Minnesota State College - Southeast Technical is pleased to announce that Dr. Leslie Bleskachek (BLESS-kah-check) has been appointed Vice President of Academic Affairs, effective January 5, 2015. 

Dr. Bleskachek comes to the college from Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College, where she had served as a districtwide academic dean and divisional dean since 2008. Previously she held leadership roles at Chippewa Valley Technical College in River Falls, WI, and at the New Richmond campus of Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College. She also served as an academic program manager at the University of Wisconsin at River Falls from 1995-2004. 

Bleskachek holds an Ed.D. in higher education from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, a master of arts in organizational leadership from Bethel University in St. Paul, and a bachelor of arts in Spanish and communications from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. An educator herself, she has post-secondary teaching experience in business leadership and Spanish. 

Leslie Bleskachek has been named a 2015 fellow in the Association for Career and Technical Education National Leadership Fellowship Program. This exclusive program for community and technical college educators encourages leadership development, public policy knowledge, and professional development.

"I am very excited to be joining the team at Southeast Technical and I really look forward to serving the students and the region. The college has a wonderful reputation in career and technical education," Leslie Bleskachek said, adding, "I have been very impressed by the faculty, staff and facilities, and I am grateful for the opportunity to work with President Duran and everyone here at the college."

President Dorothy Duran noted that one of Leslie Bleskachek's first actions when starting her new position at the college was to make a personal donation to Southeast Technical Foundation's scholarship fund. "I am impressed that Leslie's commitment to our students already extends to her personal support of their financial needs. This is just one facet of her focus on student success," she said.

We are delighted to welcome Dr. Bleskachek to Minnesota State College - Southeast Technical!

Southeast Technical criminal justice student Beckie Taylor awarded international public safety scholarship 

Minnesota State College - Southeast Technical is proud to announce that criminal justice student Beckie Taylor has been awarded the Richard L. Resurreccion Public Safety Scholarship, one of two $1000 scholarships given by the International Public Safety Leadership and Ethics Institute in cooperation with the Phi Theta Kappa Foundation.

Beckie Taylor, an enrolled member of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Tribe, now lives on the Prairie Island Indian Community reservation with her husband and sons. Instructor Greg Cady says, "Not only is she active within her Native American community, she’s a leader at Southeast Technical. Her work ethic and dynamic personality is contagious, creating a positive culture in the classroom and on campus."

Describing herself as someone who has succeeded despite obstacles such as drug and alcohol abuse, poverty, and racial profiling, Beckie says she was overwhelmed when she received a phone call from Dr. Resurreccion himself notifying her of the award. "He personally called me from California to tell me about the scholarship. To me it was like a culmination of everything that I had worked for and everything I've overcome."

Beckie is now finishing transfer classes at Southeast Technical and plans to pursue a bachelor's degree in drug and alcohol counseling next fall. "I already have colleges competing for me, so I will wait and see which offers the best scholarship package. I want to help my community and those who are still suffering from drug and alcohol abuse. And I want to have a meaningful job, one that can give a real income and provide good health benefits for my family," she says.

Southeast Technical's Associate in Science Degree program in Criminal Justice is a comprehensive program designed to cover the fundamental preparation and coursework needed for a rewarding career in law enforcement and related social services. Prospective students are invited to sit in on an introductory criminal justice class with the permission of the instructor. For more information, contact Greg Cady, [email protected] and/or 651-385-6411.