By LEE BLOOMQUIST FOR MESABI TRIBUNE
 
Michael Raich early in life learned a lot about how to treat people from two influencers. His mother and father.

Raich is retiring as Minnesota North College president after a 37-year career in education. A native of Pengilly, Raich said growing up in the small rural community helped shape him.

“It was such a great place to grow up,” Raich said. “We could see the golf course from our window. I worked at the golf course from probably eighth grade through my sophomore year in college. I would be up early to cut the greens and then I would golf until it was dark.”

Raich participated in football, basketball and baseball at Greenway High School. He started out seeking an engineering degree at the University of Minnesota Duluth, but switched to education in a move “that made a lot of sense because I knew I wanted to coach,” Raich said.

Raich went on to teach math and coach at Menahga High School in Menahga, Minn., before teaching math, coaching and serving as athletic director and as principal at Hibbing High School.

Raich served Hibbing Community College as dean of Academic Affairs and Student Services and provost, Itasca Community College as interim provost and Northeast Higher Education District interim president and president.

But it was his parents, Nancy and late father Tom, both elementary teachers in the Greenway school system, who shaped his outlook on life and working with people, Raich said.

“I think that’s what guided me, is to treat people well and be consistent,” Raich said of his parents. “You approach it that everybody has good in them and if they’re struggling, to give them a little support. It’s a people business and I think people are valued by that leadership.”

Raich has for past seven years served as Minnesota North College president.

That included a short stint as interim president before being named to the permanent position.

Since then, Raich has helped guide Minnesota North College through a major merger in which all five of the former Northeast Higher Education District colleges joined together under one umbrella.

Minnesota North College’s five colleges includes six campuses in Grand Rapids, Hibbing, Virginia, Eveleth, Ely, and International Falls.

The merger has helped steady enrollment within the college system, allow students to take classes at any campus under one united college, created efficiencies and allows each campus to maintain its identity.

“I was hired knowing that something was going to happen,” Raich said. “It was a planned process over three years. It was a big lift for our whole staff, faculty and administrative team.”

Jessalyn Sabin was named March 18 by the Minnesota State Colleges Board of Trustees to succeed Raich.

“His visionary work with our merger set us up to be creative and collaborative moving forward,” Sabin said. “It will have a lasting impact.”

Sabin said Raich is respected by all and also served as a sector leader, leading meetings of all the state’s two-year colleges.

“He’s very well respected by our higher education community,” Sabin said. “He’s steady, direct and calm. He did a good job of opening the doors for new people coming in and develop team leadership. He’s a leader among leaders.”

Raich credits the merger success to all the college employees along with support from Blandin, Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation, area legislators, and others.

“We’ve seen certainly a recognizable brand region wide,” Raich said of the merger. “There’s not five competing colleges people have to think about. We’ve seen a stabilization of enrollment where before it was declining. There have been slight increases, very slight, but it’s better than declining.”

Structural budget challenges with the system still exist, but it’s better under the new college model, he said.

Delivering quality higher education across a wide geographic area of northeastern Minnesota is different compared to larger cities and metropolitan areas as enrollment challenges remain, Raich said.

Increasing numbers of students are seeking online learning opportunities and the methods in which high school students access education has changed along with colleges working closer with high schools than ever before, he said.

Northeastern Minnesota higher education has a lot going for it, Raich said.

With a wide variety of two-year degrees, certificate programs, customized training, and partnerships with four-year colleges in careers such as nursing and engineering, Minnesota North College has a lot to offer, he said.

“People absolutely now recognize the value in a two-year degree or a short-term certificate,” Raich said. “People are seeing value in going through two-year courses like HVAC, nursing, diesel mechanic, forester, and others.”

Minnesota North College receives strong support from a variety of northeastern Minnesota organizations, he said.

“In our region of northeastern Minnesota, we are blessed with so many organizations like the IRRRB, Blandin Foundation, Iron Mining Association, AEOA and RAMS to lean on and call on,” Raich said. “These organizations have been great to lean on and to work with together. I think the presidents (at other state colleges) are somewhat envious of all the support mechanisms and the pride we have collectively up here.”

An invitation-only event to honor Raich will be held in early May at Mesabi Range College—Virginia.

Raich’s last official day is June 30.

But Raich won’t be sitting still for long.

Like his years as a high school coach, Raich will continue coaching in a different way.

Raich is launching his own consulting firm, Center Ice Leadership Collective.

Center Ice Leadership Collective will focus on coaching executive leaders to help leaders reach their full potential, offer project facilitation and other professional leadership services, Raich said.

Like a true Iron Ranger, the consulting firm name reflects an important part of Iron Range heritage.

“It’s kind of a nod to hockey,” Raich said. “You compete hard and shake hands at center ice when you’re done.”

It’s also another reflection on what Raich’s parents taught him.

“A leader not only has to develop relationships with the people you work with, but between other people,” Raich said. “It’s all about relationships. You not only build relationships with other people, but you help people.”

Meanwhile, Raich says Minnesota North College graduations this year, like all other years, have special meaning.

“You can’t escape the fact that education is the difference in people’s lives,” Raich said. “You see these people walk across the stage and see that they are going to get a job, go into a trade and start a new life. It’s been a blessing.”