Biography
Earl H. Potter III, President
Dr. Earl H. Potter III has been President of St. Cloud State University since July 2007. President Potter leads Minnesota’s second largest university offering an affordable, high-quality education and well-rounded college experience for students who hail from Minnesota and around the world. Under his leadership there is a strong commitment to student success, academic distinction, global education, diversity and community partnerships.
President Potter has established himself as a leader who envisions the University as a driving force for progress and problem solving in the region and a source of great pride for the community and the state. The University community has been energized by his forward-looking perspectives and his innovative approach to bringing about positive change.
In addition to his duties as President of St. Cloud State University and responsibilities to the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, President Potter serves on the City of St. Cloud's Create CommUNITY Steering Committee, Initiative Foundation Board of Trustees, Minnesota Campus Compact Board of Directors, United Way of Central Minnesota Board of Directors, St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, and other community task forces and initiatives.
Previously, Dr. Potter was executive vice president and provost at Southern Oregon University, dean of the College of Business at Eastern Michigan University; dean of the School of Management at Lesley University; director for organizational development and employment services at Cornell University; associate dean for academics at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy; a fellow for the American Council on Education in the Office of the Chancellor at the University of Colorado; and chief negotiator for management and head of the Department of Economics and Management at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.
President Potter holds a Ph.D. in organizational psychology and a master's degree in psychology, both from the University of Washington; and a bachelor's degree in psychology with honors from Williams College. He also served in the U.S. Coast Guard from 1969 to 1993 and retired at the rank of captain.
Dr. Potter and his wife Christine Marshall Potter have adult children.
EDUCATION
| Ph.D. | University of Washington, 1978 Organizational Psychology |
| M.S. | University of Washington, 1977 Psychology |
| B.A. | Williams College, 1968 Psychology (with Honors) |
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
| 2007 - | President, St. Cloud State University. |
| 2003 - 2007 | Executive Vice President and Provost, Southern Oregon University. |
| 2000 - 2003 | Professor and Dean, College of Business, Eastern Michigan University. |
| 1997 - 2000 | Professor and Dean, School of Management, Lesley University. |
| 1/97 - 6/97 | Director, Organizational Development and Employment Services, Cornell University. |
| 1994 - 1996 | Director, Organizational Development and Educational Service, Cornell University. |
| 1993 - 1994 | Director, Organizational Development Services, Cornell University. |
| 1991 - 1993 | Associate Dean for Academics, U.S. Coast Guard Academy. |
| 1988 - 1990 1990 - 1991 |
Fellow, American Council on Education, Office of the Chancellor, (Sabbatical Assignment) University of Colorado, Boulder, CO. |
| 1985 - 1987 | Chief Negotiator for Management vis-à-vis Faculty
Union, (Concurrent Assignment) U.S. Coast Guard Academy. |
| 1985 - 1988 | Head, Department of Economics and Management, U.S.
Coast Guard Academy. |
MILITARY SERVICE
| 1969 - 1993 | United States Coast Guard, Retired 1993 at the rank of Captain (O-6). |
ADDITIONAL MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE
| 1970 - 1977 | Operations Officer; Personnel Officer; Chief, Recruiting and Training for U.S. Coast Guard commands in Alaska, Antarctica & Pacific Northwest. |
