Advisory Board

Best Kept Secret

One of the best kept secrets of the Paralegal Program is our Advisory Board. We are so fortunate to have a fantastic group of well-informed, highly motivated members to guide us to success. Each Board member has experience or an expertise that significantly contributes to our outstanding program.

What does the Advisory Board do?

Our Board meets each semester to advise and support our Paralegal Program educators and students. The Advisory Board evaluates and verifies the quality of our paralegal education, advocates for improvement and growth, and strives to keep the program current.

What is the Role of the Advisory Board?

The main role of our Advisory Board is to ensure that our graduates are competent to assume the responsibilities of a paralegal. The Board makes certain that the Program's education and training aligns with employers' needs, and that our American Bar Association (ABA) approval is maintained.

Priorities

The priorities of our Advisory Board are to review, advise, develop, and promote:

paralegal curriculum and admission requirements
student recruitment, retention, and placement
instructor recruitment and training
input from competent instructors
program marketing
evaluation and assessment
paralegal internship sites
online coursework and legal technology
program resources - equipment, funding, and personnel
library and physical facilities
changes and trends in the paralegal profession
job opportunities

ABA Recommendations for Advisory Board

Our Advisory Board pursues the recommendations and guidelines of the American Bar Association by:

Advising with regards to admission standards for the selection of qualified students for the program.
Assisting in securing competent instructors.
Informing the program about changes and trends in the field.
Assisting the program in assessing the job market and in exploring and developing career opportunities for paralegals.
Publicizing the program and securing community cooperation and interest.
Evaluating the adequacy of library resources.
Assessing the effectiveness of the total program in terms of its curriculum and objectives, the needs of the legal community, and graduate performance.

Who is our Advisory Board?

Meet our wonderful blend of legal and business professionals, students, and college personnel who are dedicated to your excellent paralegal education. A big thank you to the Board for all their time and energy!

Mary Giesler
Attorney at Law
Kaplan, Strangis & Kaplan, P.A.
Minneapolis, MN

Judith W. Hornbacher
Paralegal
Lindquist & Vennum, PLLP
Minneapolis, MN

Kathleen Knutson - Mary McLaughlin
Attorney at Law
Faculty Member
Inver Hills Community College
Inver Grove Heights, MN

Susan E. Fortney Renstrom
Senior Investigator/Legal Assistant
Office of Minnesota Attorney General
St. Paul, MN

Michelle Schmidt
Enrolled Agent
Briggs and Morgan
St. Paul, MN

Honorable Gordon W. Shumaker
Judge of Minnesota Court of Appeals
St. Paul, MN

Tom Van Horn
Attorney at Law
West St. Paul, MN

Kathleen Schur - Rob Harris
Counselor
Inver Hills Community College
Inver Grove Heights, MN

Bor Yang
Attorney at Law
Central Minnesota Legal Services
Minneapolis, MN

Lee Ann Joy
Dean of Instruction: Allied Health Services
Inver Hills Community College
Inver Grove Heights, MN

Julia Rau
Attorney at Law
Dorsey & Whitney
Minneapolis, MN

Eric Lindberg
Paralegal
Zelle Hoffman Law Firm
Minneapolis, MN

Sandra Ottley
Student Representative

Sally Dahlquist
Attorney at Law
Paralegal Program Director
Inver Hills Community College
Inver Grove Heights, MN

Grace Jones
Bookstore Representative
Inver Hills Community College
Inver Grove Heights, MN

Sara Galligan
Law Librarian
Dakota County Court Law Library
Hastings, MN

Florence Nelson
Online Consultant
Anami Designs
Minneapolis, MN

John Kastan
Senior Paralegal
Cargill Corporation
Minnetonka, MN

J. Timothy Bumgarner
Retired Senior Legal Assistant
Minneapolis, MN

Linda Napue
Student Representative

Christine Rued
Paralegal Manager and Senior Paralegal
Ramsey County Public Defender's Office
St. Paul, MN