Board Members

Thomas Flunker
President

Thomas currently serves as the Director of the Diversity Center at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter. He returned to South Central MN in 2007 after spending fourteen years in WI, where he first served as an elementary/middle teacher, coach, and principal in Milwaukee, followed by teaching various levels of high school Spanish, in addition to coaching football and track in Appleton, WI. Upon relocating to Mankato, he spent eight years as the Intercultural Center Coordinator, Admissions Counselor, and Adjunct faculty at Bethany Lutheran College and Seminary. As an adopted son of a missionary, Thomas spent the majority of his childhood on the island of Puerto Rico, until returning to the states to attend high school in Nebraska. He obtained a Bachelor of Education degree from Dr. Martin Luther College in New Ulm, MN, and a Masters in Psychology of Culture from Walden University. He is the father of three continuously growing sons, and husband to Sandi…amazing wife, mom, and educator. “Throughout my twenty-five years employed within the field of education, the goal has always included mentoring, advising, and guiding students from all walks of life, in efforts to better navigate the educational options and opportunities that are available.”

Adam Bemmels

Loyola Catholic School

Audra Nissen Boyer

Mankato Area Schools

Karen Foreman

Karen currently serves on the Mankato City Council, representing Ward 1 and represents the City Council on the GMDC Board of Directors.

Dr. Jean Haar

Jean is currently serving as the dean for the College of Education at MN State University, Mankato. She has also been a professor and chairperson in the Department of Educational Leadership. She began her education career as an English teacher and later served as a high school principal. The college is committed to meeting the needs of all students and is focused advancing teacher diversity to match the changing student demographics. The vision of the college is to inspire lifelong learning and professional engagement through racial consciousness, social justice, and inclusion within a global context.

Kelley Haeder

Blue Earth County

John Harper

South Central College

Kingsley Iheasirim

Dr. Iheasirim is employed at the Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato, specializing in the area of internal medicine.

Colleen Landkamer

Blue Earth County Commissioner

Jeni Kolstad

Open Door & SM Pride

Guadalupe Quintero

Minnesota State University- Mankato

Kristin Cafarelli