Cheryl Norman Named President of Ridgewater College

ST. PAUL, Minn., April 22, 2026 - The Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities has named Cheryl Norman to serve as president of Ridgewater College. The appointment becomes effective July 1, 2026.

"Dr. Norman brings a proven track record in enrollment management, developing data-driven strategies that strengthen student recruitment, retention, and completion," said Scott Olson, Minnesota State chancellor. "Her ability to lead initiatives that drive equitable student success and post-completion outcomes will serve Ridgewater College and the Willmar and Hutchinson communities well."

Dr. Norman has dedicated her career to higher education at Minnesota State colleges as well as outside of the Minnesota State system. She currently serves as the vice president of academic and student affairs at Central Lakes College (CLC) in Brainerd and Staples, Minn., a position she has held since 2023. In that role, she provides strategic leadership for academic programs, student services, accreditation, workforce partnerships, and institutional planning. At CLC, she has successfully led efforts to align programs with workforce demand, strengthen employer partnerships, and advance fundraising and scholarship access through advisory board engagement and community collaboration.

Prior to joining CLC, she was the dean of assessment and academic administration at the University of Northwestern (UNW) in St. Paul from 2017-2023. While at UNW, Dr. Norman led the analysis of 65 programs using mission, metrics, market, and margin indicators to ensure institutional sustainability and responsiveness to workforce needs, resulting in the growth of core programs and launch of new programs to meet market demands. She also was the accreditation liaison officer to the Higher Learning Commission and served as adjunct faculty in the School of Education.

Dr. Norman held several positions at Minneapolis College from 2011-2017 including customized training and workforce development representative (2016-2017), academic liaison (2014-2016), learning outcomes assessment director (2012-2016), and was a faculty member in education, English to students of other languages, reading, informational technology, and first year student experience (2011-2017).

She holds a bachelor's degree from Concordia University St. Paul, a master's from Shenandoah University in Virginia, and a doctorate from St. Cloud State University.

Dr. Norman succeeds Craig Johnson, who has served as president of Ridgewater College since 2018 and has announced his intention to retire.

About Ridgewater College

Ridgewater College is a community and technical college with campuses in the central Minnesota communities of Willmar and Hutchinson. The college is a member of Minnesota State and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Learn more at https://www.ridgewater.edu.

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Minnesota State includes 26 community and technical colleges and seven state universities serving approximately 270,000 students. It is the third-largest system of two-year colleges and four-year universities in the United States.