In an already heartbreaking week, the news of St. Cloud State University President Earl H. Potter’s death in a car accident is devastating. A past board member, vice-chair, and chair of the Minnesota Campus Compact (MNCC) board of directors, he steadfastly advocated and practiced thoughtful civic dialogue and action. He sought to integrate community engagement into every aspect of SCSU’s operations as essential to its communities and to education for “work, life, and citizenship.” He was a national leader too, serving on Campus Compact’s organizational development and strategic planning task force, while also contributing significantly to AASCU’s American Democracy Project and other networks. For the MNCC staff, Earl was a role model and guide who inspired us to strive for excellence, to continue learning from people in a wide range of fields, and to ground decisions in clear analysis, goals, and values.

Read the full tribute from Minnesota Campus Compact.