Building a Purpose-Driven Campus from Scratch with University of Minnesota-Rochester Chancellor Emeritus Dr. Stephen Lehmkuhle

When Dr. Stephen Lehmkuhle became the chancellor of the brand-new University of Minnesota-Rochester campus, he had to start from scratch. There was no legacy mission, no physical campus, no academic programs, no athletic teams and so on.  Lehmkuhle quickly realized that his first and most important act was to confirm the central organizing purpose of the campus. In our conversation, Stephen shares what it takes to build a campus from scratch.  According to this seasoned educator, even for those who work on campuses with long histories and enduring missions, a renewed focus on campus purpose can inspire new and fresh ways of thinking about the many elements of campus operation and function that we take for granted.

Stephen Lemkuhle is the author of the recent book, Campus with Purpose: Building a Mission-Driven Campus, a book that tells the story of the creation of the University of Minnesota-Rochester where he served as inaugural Chancellor.