Mary L. Trettin of Ashland has been elected co-chair of the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) Presidential Spouses and Partners Task Force. Trettin is married to Northland College President Michael A. Miller.
Trettin will serve a one-year term from January 2017 to January 2018.
CIC is the only national higher education association that focuses solely on providing services and a broad range of initiatives directly to independent colleges and universities to help improve the quality of education and strengthen institutional resources.
“The CIC spouse/partner group has supported participants in making a positive transition and long term commitment to the partnership with the presidents focused on the success of the president and the institutions,” Trettin said. “It is a privilege to work with the men and women who help to make CIC institutions thrive.”
As presidential spouse, Trettin has participated in planning for a Higher Learning Commission accreditation visit to Northland College, supported the College advancement office, encouraged the campus sustainability effort, planned programs for spouses and partners of the Board of Trustees, and represented the College at functions for alumni and friends.
Trettin is also an active member of the Ashland area community, serving on the Chequamegon Bay Area Community Fund Board, a volunteer advisory board whose mission is to promote private giving for the public good. As part of this, Trettin has chaired a grant writing workshop for local non-profits and chaired the grant awards committee for the last five years.
Before her role as presidential spouse, Trettin was the associate dean of Academic Affairs in the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Minnesota, and served in various all campus administrative and academic roles. She also served in state and national leadership roles in teacher education, worked with state policy makers on education issues, was a founding member of a tri-college research team to improve education and secured funding for the improvement of educator preparation.
“The Council is pleased to have Mary Trettin as a co-chair of the Task Force,” said CIC senior vice president Kathy Whatley. “CIC continues to implement many programs and services for presidential spouses and partners and needs a strong Task Force to offer advice and feedback. I am certain that Dr. Trettin will serve CIC admirably, and I look forward to working with her.”