Elmer L. Andersen - University of Minnesota

University of Minnesota

Few Minnesotans have held the University of Minnesota closer to their hearts than Andersen. He served on the Board of Regents from 1967 to 1975, as Chair from 1972 to 1975. From 1968 to 1988 he was a Trustee of the University of Minnesota Foundation, presiding over it from 1978 through 1981. During the Minnesota Campaign, the University’s major fundraising effort from 1985 to 1988, Governor Andersen played a major leadership role in what was, at the time, the most successful fundraising effort by any public university in the United States.

During his tenure as Regent, the Board was sued for denying employment to James Michael "Mike" McConnell on the basis of McConnell's sexuality. The Board of Regents did not approve the application of McConnell to head, at the rank of Instructor, the cataloging division of the University's St. Paul campus library on the ground that his "personal conduct, as represented in the public and University news media, is not consistent with the best interest of the University." The Eight Circuit court of appeals decided in favor of the Regents in October 1971. McConnell acknowledged that no contract of employment was ever finalized since the Board of Regents refused to approve his application.