Jeanne Markell retired in July 2009 from a 40-year career at the University of Minnesota. Her positions included University Extension professor, legislative director for the Institute of Agriculture, chief of staff to U of M President, assistant vice president for external affairs, and associate provost for Professional Studies.

In 1997, Jeanne returned to U of M Extension as associate dean for external relations, the role she held up to her retirement in 2009. Her final two years were spent in Washington D.C. as the Land Grant fellow at the National Association of Counties. Jeanne has served one term on the UMRA board beginning in 2014.