Michael (Mike) Berthelsen has been appointed vice president for University Services at the University of Minnesota, pending approval by the University’s Board of Regents approval at its October 2017 meeting. Over the past 13 months, Berthelsen has served as interim vice president for University Services since August 2016.
“Over the past 13 months, Mike has demonstrated his strategic, administrative, and relationship-building abilities required to succeed in this important position,” said Brian Burnett, senior vice president for finance and operations at the University. “I have confidence that he will provide the kind of service-oriented leadership necessary to lead University Services.”
In his role as vice president for University Services, Berthelsen will lead non-academic operations of the University’s Twin Cities campus, including some system-wide services. The departments in University Services create and sustain the physical environment and service culture that support and advance the teaching, research and outreach missions of the University of Minnesota system. The five units in University Services include Capital Planning and Project Management, Public Safety, Facilities Management, University Health and Safety and Auxiliary Services. These areas include more than 3,400 employees.
Berthelsen has been with the University of Minnesota since 1993 and graduated with a Master of Arts degree from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs in 1992. As interim vice president of University Services, Berthelsen has worked to build relationships, trust and operational excellence to ensure the University functions effectively and efficiently every day. This includes managing more than 3,400 employees, overseeing an operating budget of $416 million annually, guiding a capital project portfolio of more than $1 billion in active projects and maintaining more than 29 million square feet of campus facilities system-wide. Prior to serving as interim vice president of University Services, Berthelsen held various positions in facilities management and finance.
The University launched a comprehensive search for the position. “I want to thank the hundreds of University staff, students and faculty who attended in person or online to participate and hear from the three finalists for the vice president for University Services,” said Burnett. “I also want to thank the search committee, under the capable leadership of Dean Brian Buhr and Associate Vice President Beth Nunnally, for their hard work in bringing this slate of well-qualified candidates to campus.”
Berthelsen’s appointment is effective October 2, 2017, pending approval by the Board of Regents.
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