Third University of Minnesota President Finalist Knows Duluth and Smoked Fish

Dr. Rebecca Cunningham was third of three finalists visiting UMD as regents face state-wide president decision.

UMD had a chance to meet the last of three finalists for the University’s statewide top job.

Dr. Rebecca Cunningham answered questions and spoke during a campus forum. She is currently the University of Michigan’s Vice President of Research and Innovation. Cunningham is a long-time faculty member at the school of Public Health and Medicine, after completing her residency in emergency medicine.

She was impressed during her campus tour but is also no stranger to the area. She and her family have been to the Boundary Waters many times.

She says UMD has a unique role and potential.

“I can see immediately here what a gem of a campus this is, and how it’s differentiated in providing education that’s different from many other colleges and regionals in the area,” said Cunningham.

“And I would want to work together to help strengthen those assets. And help really make it clear with the partnership of the chancellors, and with the partnership of the system as a whole, what the importance is of having a university poised on the edge of the Great Lakes, serving in this comprehensive way to serve this region,” said Cunningham.

Cunningham said her late father-in-law was on the Twin Cities faculty for forty years. She said that led to many Minnesota visits over the decades, including the best smoked fish ever–right in Duluth.

Dr. Cunningham visits Rochester and the Twin Cities on Friday. The two other finalists were at UMD last week.

Monday, regents are scheduled to decide who will be the next President of the University of Minnesota.