The President's Message - 2025 Newsletter

April 01, 2025

It is an exciting time at Anoka-Ramsey Community College! As spring semester winds down, many of our students are about to finish their degree programs, preparing to celebrate their graduation and dive into new futures. This time also provides our college with a similar opportunity to recognize our successes and reflect on where we’re going — new investments in our students and communities and plans for the future of the institution.

We are continuing to grow our enrollment, up 13 percent over the last two years. I am also proud of our student completion rate at Anoka-Ramsey, which is at a 20-year record high of 53.2 percent (as far back as data is available).

Student success is at the core of what we do at the college and is a central theme as we embark on our strategic planning process. Many of our community and industry partners have already provided input into this strategic plan development process and I am looking forward to sharing a new five-year strategic plan with the Anoka-Ramsey community this fall.

Anoka-Ramsey has also welcomed new college leaders this year and this newsletter will introduce you to the excellent new vice presidents and deans who will continue to advance innovative approaches to student success. This newsletter also highlights some points of pride across Anoka-Ramsey Community College, from the national recognition of our Therapeutic Massage program, to sustainability efforts like a solar array at our Cambridge campus, to the college’s successful inaugural clay target season. You’ll learn about new ways Anoka-Ramsey is addressing student mental health, food insecurity and student service needs. You’ll also read about the recent donation of pieces from potter Warren MacKenzie to our college art collection. Lastly, you’ll meet some of our amazing alumni who are making positive change in our communities.

Thank you for your continued support of our programs and our students, and here’s to another great year at Anoka-Ramsey!
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This feature appeared in the 2025 Anoka-Ramsey Community Newsletter. View a full PDF version of this story and additional pieces.