Local College Students Appointed to Minn State Board

Two local college students will have a voice in the future of Minnesota colleges and universities. Hennepin Technical College Student Ashlyn Anderson and North Hennepin Community College student Samson Hne Williams will both serve on the Minnesota State College and Universities Board of Trustees.

The 15-member board governs Minnesota State’s system planning, academic programs, fiscal management, personnel, admissions requirements, tuition and fees, and rules and regulations.

Appointees serve for two years.

Ashlyn Anderson, Hennepin Technical College

Ashlyn Anderson attends classes at Hennepin Technical College in Brooklyn Park. The student also works as a nanny and caretaker. She is active at Hennepin Tech, a PCA with Accra Care and a Grassroots Legislative Assistant with LEADMN. Anderson received the 2017 mark Welter World Citizen Award and recently attended the Power in Leadership Conference.

“I want to be able to offer the students of Minnesota more opportunity, that’s what it comes down to,” says Anderson. “I want college to be more affordable and more accessible.”

Anderson plans to finish up her degree at the University of Minnesota. She lives in Champlin.

Samson Hne Williams, North Hennepin Community College

Samson Hne Williams recently finished up classes at North Hennepin Community College. He serves as chair of the Government Relations Community with the Minnesota Paralegal Association and secretary of the African Student Association. He founded and acts as executive director of Liberians United for Future Empowerment.

“This is a great honor. Not just for me, but for every student out there,” explains Williams. “It’s just about knowing what you want to do and who you want to be. I don’t see this as a position, but I see this as a way of serving and giving back to fellow students.”

Williams plans to continue his education at Metropolitan State University and eventually become a lawyer. He recently interned at Solution-Focused Family Law. He lives in Brooklyn Center with his family.