U. Minnesota Pays DEI Staffers More Than $1.4 Million Annually

U. Minnesota Pays DEI Staffers More Than $1.4 Million Annually

And people continue to wonder why college has become so expensive.

Campus Reform reports:

University of Minnesota pays DEI staff nearly $1.5 million annually

The University of Minnesota pays its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) staff members more than $1.4 million annually, according to publicly available state payroll records.

Despite federal executive orders restricting DEI offices and activities, the University of Minnesota maintains an Office for Equity and Diversity, which consists “of over 15 offices and major initiatives.”

“Equity and diversity is fundamental to everything we do at the University of Minnesota,” the office’s website says.

The central office employs four leadership staff and five administrative staff. Five of those staff members are receiving six-figure salaries, according to OpenPayrolls.

Record from 2025 list Vice President for Equity and Diversity Mercedes Ramírez Fernández ($391,759), Associate Vice President for Equity and Diversity and Faculty Development Keisha Varma ($238,540), Associate Vice Presidents Tina Marisam ($230,444) and Malinda Lindquist ($196,267), and Chief of Staff Elizabeth Martinez-Podolsky ($164,800).

The payroll data also lists Kate Klosterman ($74,298), John Michael Bradshaw ($50,086.40), Jenna Olien ($47,237), and Tia Phan ($99,194).

Combined, the nine employees earn $1,492,625.40 annually, according to the publicly available payroll records.

The University of Minnesota has continued promoting DEI initiatives even after President Donald Trump signed a January 2025 executive order directing federally funded colleges and universities to end unlawful DEI programs.

In a February 2025 message to the university community, President Rebecca Cunningham said the institution would not make changes in response to the executive order.

”I am writing to address any confusion and reaffirm my—and the University’s—longstanding commitment to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment,” Cunningham wrote.

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