The original act of incorporation of Hamline University, enacted by the territorial legislature in 1854, created the Board of Trustees to be called the “Trustees of the Hamline University of Minnesota.”
The Board of Trustees was created for the purpose of "establishing, maintaining, and conducting an institution of learning for the education of youth of both sexes.”

It was to be (and still is) a board in perpetual succession. It is authorized, under the charter, to "create by-laws as it may deem necessary for government of the institution, its officers and that all affairs and operations of the university shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Trustees.”

The board was also given the power to “confer on such person or persons, as they may deem worthy, all honors and degrees as are conferred by the most learned institutions in the United States.”

2004-2005 Board Members

OFFICERS Kenneth Woodrow Chair Vice Chairman, Retired Dayton-Hudson Corporation Minneapolis, Minnesota Rodney Jordan Second Vice Chair General Counsel TLC Companies Arden Hills, Minnesota Larry G. Osnes Third Vice Chair President Hamline University Saint Paul, Minnesota Peg Birk Secretary Senior Vice President/General Counsel Federated Insurance Comp. Owatonna, Minnesota Kita McVay Treasurer Director Minnwest Corporation Minnetonka, Minnesota

TRUSTEES Richard Borchers CEO, Retired Decisions Systems, Inc. United Kingdom Mary K. Murray Boyd President & CEO MKB & Associates Roseville, Minnesota Laura Chin Edina, Minnesota Allan R. DeBoer ‘64 Chief Executive Officer, Retired Rochester, Cheese Rochester, Minnesota Sally Dyck Resident Bishop, Minnesota Area United Methodist Church Minneapolis, Minnesota Irving D. Fish ‘71 Founding Partner & Chief Operating Officer, Retired Fallon Minneapolis, Minnesota Kay Fredericks † President & CEO TREND enterprises, Inc. New Brighton, Minnesota Joan L. Gardner ‘66 White Bear Lake, Minnesota Joseph P. Graba Dean, Retired Graduate School of Education Hamline University Saint Paul, Minnesota Louis F. Hill Chairman Rockwood Capital Management Minneapolis, Minnesota Richard A. Hoel ‘69 Winthrop & Weinstine, P.A. Minneapolis, Minnesota Gloria H. Kauls MALS ‘92 Secondary School Teacher, Retired Roseville, Minnesota John M. Lavander President Caliber Development Corp. Maple Grove, Minnesota Gwen Lerner JD ‘78 Attorney at Law The General Counsel, Ltd. Saint Paul, Minnesota Barbara K. Lupient CEO Lupient Enterprises Minneapolis, Minnesota Katherine Austin Mahle Metro West District Superintendent, Minnesota Conference United Methodist Church Minneapolis, Minnesota Thomas J. McGough, Sr. President & CEO McGough Construction Co. Saint Paul, Minnesota Jerome B. Pederson ‘57 Officer & Shareholder, Retired Fredrikson & Byron P.A. Minneapolis, Minnesota Teri E. Popp JD ‘88 Attorney at Law Golden Valley, Minnesota Joel Portice MAPA ‘93 Vice President, Health Care Division Fair Isaac Corporation Minneapolis, Minnesota Rozanne L. Ridgway ‘57 LLD ’78 (Honorary) Ambassador, retired Arlington, Virginia Gloria Roach Thomas Lead Pastor Camphor Memorial United Methodist Church Saint Paul, Minnesota Gary Stern President & CEO Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis Minneapolis, Minnesota John G. Turner † Vice Chairman, Retired ING Americas Minneapolis, Minnesota Ricardo Paul Vallejos Founder & President International & Ethnic Communications, Inc. Minneapolis, Minnesota Gordon Walker ‘51 Director Turner Corporations New York, New York

LIFE TRUSTEES Mrs. Howard W. Alkire Naples, Florida Gladys S. Brooks President, Retired Brooks/Ridder & Associates Saint Paul, Minnesota Ralph P. Hofstad ‘46 President & CEO, Retired Land O’ Lakes Edina, Minnesota Alexandra “Sandy” Klas Saint Paul, Minnesota Robert C. Klas, Sr. ‘52 President & Chairman Tapemark Company Saint Paul, Minnesota Ronald A. Mitsch ’56 † Vice Chairman & Executive Vice President, Retired 3M Saint Paul, Minnesota Gerald M. Needham Assistant Dean, Retired Mayo Medical School Rochester, Minnesota Charles B. Purdham ‘48 Minister, Retired United Methodist Church Brooklyn Center, Minnesota Orem O. Robbins † Chairman Security American Financial Enterprises, Inc. Minneapolis, Minnesota Walter B. Saunders † Vice Chairman, Retired Cargill Minneapolis, Minnesota Mary L. Schilling Carefree, Arizona Edward R. Titcomb Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota † Chair Emeritus