Kathleen O’Brien retired from the University in 2012 after 10 years as vice president for University Services. As a direct report to the President, she was in charge of one of the University’s largest and most diverse programs and operating budgets. Among her accomplishments were developing the University Sustainability Policy and Programs and more than $2 billion in construction including the Biodiversity District, TC Bank Stadium, Bruininks Hall, and the Northrop renovation. She also led negotiations with the Green Line LRT to protect University research.

Other positions: Minneapolis City Coordinator, Minneapolis City Council member for the University and its neighborhoods, and chief of staff for President Nils Hasselmo.

She has a B.A. from the College of St. Catherine, an M.A. from Marquette University, and all of the coursework for a Ph.D. in history from the U. In her retirement, she has created and is conducting the “Women in Minnesota City Government, 1970 to 2000” oral history project and has been awarded grants from the UMRA grant program.