8
WSU Currents
•
Fall 2012
Dr. Scott R. Olson,
Winona State University’s fifteenth president, says he’ll
spend much of his time listening in his first few months in
office. With his background at institutions with missions
similar to that of Winona State, Olson believes that he
can help craft a “common narrative” that will guide the
university.
Olson began his leadership of WSU on July 16. He came
from sister institution Minnesota State University, Mankato,
where he was provost, vice president for Academic and
Student Affairs, and professor of Communication Studies
since 2003. During the 2010-11 academic year, he served as
interim vice chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs for
the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.
Before moving to MSU Mankato, he was dean of the
College of Communication, Information and Media at Ball
State, a public university in Muncie, Indiana. While he was at
Ball State, Olson helped create the Global Media Network,
which won a national award from the American Council on
Education, and the Center for Media Design.
Olson began his academic career at Central Connecticut
State University where he was professor, associate and
assistant to the dean of Arts and Sciences, and director of
Graduate Studies in the Department of Communication.
He has published two books, 30 book chapters, and 22
academic papers, and served on 21 different international,
national, and local boards.
