This collection contains interviews with important members of the University of Minnesota Morris campus, including many interviews done for the Promise of the Prairie documentary.
The digitization of some of these oral histories was made possible in part by the people of Minnesota through a grant funded by an appropriation to the Minnesota Historical Society from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. Any views, findings, opinions, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the State of Minnesota, the Minnesota Historical Society, or the Minnesota Historic Resources Advisory Committee.
Some additional interviews with UMN Morris faculty and administrators are available in the UMN Digital Conservancy, including interviews with Jack Imholte, Bettina Blake, Bill Stewart, and Bill and Ida Stewart.
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Ken Hodgson Interview, 2023
Ken Hodgson and Stephen Gross
Ken Hodgson was the choral director at the University of Minnesota Morris from 1978-2013, when he retired from the position. In this oral history, Ken talks about his background before coming to UMN Morris, the choir program at Morris, and his activities since retirement.
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John Q. Imholte Interview, 1976
John Q. Imholte
In this interview, UMN Morris Provost Jack Imholte briefly talks about his pre-UMN Morris education and his decision to come to UMN Morris. Particularly interesting is his discussion of his first classes, his students, and an evaluation of his work. Faculty "politics" were delved into, with emphasis on the decision to organize UMN Morris divisionally and not departmentally. Much of the interview involves the first years at UMN Morris in comparison with later succeeding years.
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Lucy Imholte Interview
Lucy Gibbs Imholte
Lucy Imholte, wife of Jack Imholte, was interviewed for the University of Minnesota Morris documentary Promise of the Prairie: Education in Three Parts.
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Anna Jackson Interview, 2021
Anna Jackson and Sam Fellers
Anna Jackson '20 discusses her time as a student at UMN Morris and her work as the Transfer Pathway Navigator with the Native American Student Success (NASS) program.
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Mickey Jacobson Interview, 2021
Mickey Jacobson and Sam Fellers
Mickey Jacobson '18 discusses his role as Area Coordinator in the Office of Residential Life, as well as LGBTQIA2S+ Programs Coordinator in EDI. He discusses his experiences as a queer college student at UMN Morris.
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Joe Jesseph Interview, 1986
Joe Jesseph
Joe Jesseph discusses the Vietnam War and the University of Minnesota Morris.
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David Johnson Interview
David C. Johnson
Dave Johnson, former chancellor, was interviewed for the University of Minnesota Morris documentary Promise of the Prairie: Education in Three Parts.
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Dennis Johnson Interview
Dennis Johnson
Dennis Johnson, professor and dairy scientist with the Department of Animal Science in the West Central Research and Outreach Center, was interviewed for the University of Minnesota Morris documentary Promise of the Prairie: Education in Three Parts.
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Jacqueline Johnson Interview, 2022
Jacqueline Johnson
Jacqueline (Jacquie) Johnson was the 5th chancellor of UMN Morris, leading the campus from 2006 until her retirement in 2017. During her time at UMN Morris, she worked to promote the Morris campus in the UMN system and implement new sustainability practices. She continued teaching Sociology classes remotely for the University of Minnesota Morris after her retirement.
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Jacquie Johnson Interview
Jacqueline Johnson
University of Minnesota Morris Chancellor Jacquie Johnson was interviewed for the University of Minnesota Morris documentary Promise of the Prairie: Education in Three Parts.
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Arne Kildegaard Interview, 2025
Arne Kildegaard and John C. Barber
In this oral history Arne Kildegaard discusses his early life, his career as an Economics professor at UMN Morris from 2001-2026, his research, the University community at UMN Morris, environmental sustainability, and the Center for Small Towns.
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Athena Kildegaard Interview, 2025
Athena Kildegaard and John C. Barber
Athena Kildegaard discusses her early career, her time as an English professor at Morris from 2005-present (as of 2026), the honors program and DVPLA, her community involvement with the PRCA, community life, including SOFA, Prairie Gate Literary Festival. and open mic nights.
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Eric Klinger Interview
Eric Klinger
Eric Klinger, professor emeritus of psychology, was interviewed for the University of Minnesota Morris documentary Promise of the Prairie: Education in Three Parts.
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Eric Klinger Interview, 2016
Eric Klinger
Eric Klinger, professor emeritus of Psychology, discusses his education and career path that eventually lead him to University of Minnesota, Morris. He talks about the early years of UMN Morris, community relations, campus planning and growth.
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Karla Klinger Interview, 2016
Karla Klinger and Dennis Gimmestad
Karla Klinger discusses her career at the University of Minnesota Morris, first in Continuing Education and Universities Without Walls, then later in Advising. She also discusses the social and community life of University of Minnesota Morris faculty and staff in the 1960s.
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Ron Kubik Interview, 2023
Ron Kubik and Lex Lhotka
Retired office coordinator and senior communications technician in Instructional and Media Technologies (IMT) Ron Kubik discusses the path that led him to his role at UMN Morris and his time at Morris as a student and staff member and community member. In particular, he discusses LGBTQIA2S+ student groups when he was a student and being a gay man in the Morris community.
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Margaret Kuchenreuther Interview, 2023
Margaret Kuchenreuther and Kayde Moore
Margaret Kuchenreuther, Biology professor, discusses the Biology discipline, SOFA (Something on a Friday Afternoon), and the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Edward J. LaFave, Jr. Interview, 1978
Edward J. LaFave Jr.
Edward J. LaFave Jr. was the managing officer of Citizens Bank of Morris and was active in civic affairs. He was one of the longtime leaders of the West Central Education Development Association (WCEDA).
In this interview, Edward LaFave discusses the many ways in which the West Central Education Development Association (WCEDA) helped to establish the University of Minnesota Morris.
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Ardath Larson Interview, 2016
Ardath Larson
Ardath Larson began as a librarian at UMN Morris in 1966, and officially retired in 2004. However, she returned twice to help in an interim capacity after her retirement, and continued to serve as the library gift coordinator until her death in 2017. In this interview, Ardath talks about the path that led to her hiring at UMN Morris and the early years of UMN Morris, including the construction of the library. She discusses the changes over time of the student body along with technology changes that happened in the library.
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Sheri Breen Interview, 2025
Lex Lhotka and Sheri Breen
Sheri Breen discusses her time at UMN Morris as a political science professor from 2007-2023. She discusses her childhood and early career, her career at Morris, her research on seed sovereignty, study abroad, system-wide committees, and the local community.
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Les Lindor Interview, 2004
Les Lindor
Les Lindor attended WCSA from 1934-1938. He was an instructor in the Ag Engineering department and was superintendent of buildings and grounds from 1949 through 1959 for WCSA, and for UMM from 1960-1965.
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Les Lindor Interview, Part I
Les Lindor
Les Lindor attended WCSA from 1934-1938. He was an instructor in the Ag Engineering department and was superintendent of buildings and grounds from 1949 through 1959 for WCSA, and for UMM from 1960-1965.
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Les Lindor Interview, Part II
Les Lindor
Les Lindor attended WCSA from 1934-1938. He was an instructor in the Ag Engineering department and was superintendent of buildings and grounds from 1949 through 1959 for WCSA, and for UMM from 1960-1965.
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Andy Lopez
Andy Lopez
Andy Lopez, professor of Computer Science, discusses his education and career path that took him to University of Minnesota, Morris. He also talks about the evolution of campus wise computer usage and services at UMN Morris and the changes within the Computer Science discipline.
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Andy Lopez Interview
Angel Andres Lopez
Andy Lopez, former computer science faculty, was interviewed for the University of Minnesota Morris documentary Promise of the Prairie: Education in Three Parts.