Joan T.A. Gabel serves as the 17th president of the University of Minnesota, where under her leadership, the University established MPact 2025, a systemwide strategic plan, surpassed $1 billion in annual research expenditures, achieved record-setting private giving, and advanced transformational collaborations, including NXT GEN MED, the ground-breaking partnership between the University, the Mayo Clinic and Google.
President Gabel most recently served as executive vice president and provost at the University of South Carolina, and previously held faculty appointments at Georgia State University and Florida State University. She also served as dean of the University of Missouri’s Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. College of Business, where she was recognized as a shining star in business school administration by the Wall Street Journal.
She earned her bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Haverford College and her Juris Doctor from the University of Georgia. She has been recognized with numerous research, service, and teaching awards, including as a Fulbright Scholar.