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St. Olaf mourns death of education professor

By David Gonnerman '90
June 24, 2009

St. Olaf Professor of Education Mark Schelske, 54, died the morning of June 24 after a long battle with cancer. His wife, Janis Johnson, and family were present. Johnson is director of the TRiO McNair Scholars program at St. Olaf.

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Professor of Education Mark Schelske was an advocate for the federally funded TRiO programs that help students overcome class, social and cultural barriers to higher education.
Schelske, who grew up in mining towns in Minnesota and Ontario, came to St. Olaf in 1987, where he taught courses on counseling and multicultural education. At the time of his death he chaired the St. Olaf Department of Education, and previously served as a special assistant to the president for campus diversity. His areas of professional involvement focused on educational opportunity, alternative education and urban education. Schelske's major efforts in the field of education involved program development and grant writing. He also was a strong supporter of the federally funded TRiO programs that help students overcome class, social and cultural barriers to higher education.

Schelske graduated from Red Lake High School in a remote gold-mining area of the Canadian wilderness 300 miles north of the border. He received his bachelor's degree from Carleton University in Ottawa. He earned master's degrees from the University of St. Thomas and University of Minnesota, and a Ph.D. in education psychology (special education) from the University of Minnesota. Before coming to St. Olaf, his professional experience included 10 years in Minneapolis schools as a special education teacher and an alternate school administrator.

A memorial service will be held Monday, June 29, at the Eagan Community Center (1501 Central Parkway
, Eagan), with a 2-3 p.m. visitation followed by a one-hour service at 3 and a reception.

St. Olaf also will host a memorial service in the fall.

Contact David Gonnerman at 507-786-3315 or gonnermd@stolaf.edu.