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Television, radio executive Jan McDaniel named to head college relations at St. Olaf

By Amy Gage
July 25, 2002

Jan McDaniel, former vice president and general manager at WCCO-TV in Minneapolis, has been named vice president for college relations at St. Olaf College. She will begin her duties Sept. 3.

Jan McDaniel
McDaniel
McDaniel, who holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Missouri, has more than 20 years of experience in local radio, television and network news in Boston, New York, Washington, D.C., and Wichita, Kan.

"It's a huge honor to be selected for such a key position at St. Olaf, which has an international reputation for excellence," she said. "I'm looking forward to applying the skills I've gained in broadcasting and applying them in a different arena. It's also going to be wonderful to be around young people and around academically minded people."

A dedicated volunteer during her six years in Minneapolis, McDaniel has served on the boards of Catholic Charities, the Minnesota Orchestra Association, the YWCA of Minneapolis and the University of Minnesota Journalism Center, among other nonprofit organizations.

She also is a member of World Presidents Organization and is an immediate past chapter chair of Young Presidents Organization in the Twin Cities.

St. Olaf President Christopher M. Thomforde, who named McDaniel to the post, characterized her as an ideal fit for a private, ambitious liberal arts college of the church whose mission emphasizes a global perspective, community service and lifelong learning.

"Jan brings both experience in business and an appreciation for church-related education that is an extremely good match for St. Olaf," he said.

As head of the college relations division, McDaniel will oversee church relations, communications, lifelong learning, music organizations and 89.3 WCAL, the public radio service of the college. She and her family will continue to live in Prior Lake.

St. Olaf College, a residential liberal arts college affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), fosters the development of mind, body and spirit. The college provides personalized instruction and diverse learning environments, with more than two-thirds of its students participating in international studies. For more information, see www.stolaf.edu.

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