Minnesota North College names new president

The Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities named Jessalyn Sabin to serve as president of Minnesota North College, the system announced Wednesday, March 18.

Sabin currently serves Minnesota North College as the academic dean for career and technical education and the campus director at the Eveleth campus, positions she has held since 2021. The college includes five other campuses in Hibbing, Grand Rapids, Virginia, International Falls and Ely.

In these roles, according to a news release, Sabin oversees curriculum development and program review, develops and manages academic budgets, facilitates community partnerships to align education programs with workforce needs, and advocates for remote learning initiatives and diversity, equity and inclusion.

She has also led accreditation processes for the technical programs at Minnesota North and has secured major grants for the college’s career and technical programs.

“Dr. Sabin is a proven leader in higher education,” stated Scott Olson, chancellor of Minnesota State, in the release. “As a member of Minnesota North’s leadership team, she has built strong, supportive connections with the campuses of Minnesota North, as well as with employers and the communities of the Iron Range. She exhibits through her work great leadership traits and has the experience and expertise to assume the presidency of Minnesota North College.”

Previously, Sabin served as the interim dean of academics at Hibbing Community College from 2019 to 2021 and at Rainy River Community College from 2020 to 2021. Both colleges are now Minnesota North campuses.

In those roles, she provided leadership for academic programs across two independently accredited colleges simultaneously. Also, as dean, she worked with liberal arts faculty to establish a zero-cost textbook pathway for an associate of arts degree, led two Higher Learning Commission site visits and oversaw core merger development teams in cross-sectional, cross-campus groups to align counseling and advising practices as part of the merger to Minnesota North College.

Prior appointments include serving as a biology instructor at Hibbing Community College from 2013 to 2019 and as a graduate teaching assistant and researcher at the University of Minnesota-Duluth from 2011 to 2013.

She earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree from the University of Minnesota-Duluth and a doctorate from Minnesota State University-Moorhead.

Sabin succeeds Michael Raich, who has served as president of Minnesota North College and its predecessor, the Northeast Higher Education District, since 2021 and has announced his intention to retire. The appointment is effective July 1.