Government Relations Staff

Mary Davenport

Director of Government Relations
651-296-0664
mary.jacquart@so.mnscu.edu

Mary is the director of state and federal government relations for the Board of Trustees, Office of the Chancellor and the colleges and universities. She also directs the Federal agenda of the colleges and universities including higher education appropriations, laws and policy. She joined the Government Relations Staff in 2003 from the Office of the Chancellor Academic and Student Affairs Staff. Mary administered the Carl D. Perkins Federal Vocational Education Act for Minnesota since 1995 and worked at Range Technical College (Hibbing) for five years. She has been a University faculty member in Colorado, Wisconsin, and Missouri.

Mary has a bachelor's degree in home economics, a master's degrees in home economics and textile design, a specialist degree (EdS) in counseling, and a PhD in Education Administration from Colorado State University. She is also a Bush Leadership Fellow at Harvard University.

Melissa Fahning

Director of Legislative Communications
651-296-0669
melissa.fahning@so.mnscu.edu

Melissa manages the flow of legislative information to the Board, Office of the Chancellor, and the colleges and universities, and tracks bills and higher education issues at the Legislature. She joined the staff in December 2003, transferring from the Budget Unit in the Finance Division of the Office of the Chancellor. Melissa worked for the Minnesota House of Representatives as a Committee Legislative Assistant serving the Sales and Income Tax committee prior to joining the Office of the Chancellor in 1999.

Melissa has a bachelor's degree in Political Science and Communications from the University of San Diego and a master's Degree from Minnesota State University, Mankato in Public Administration.

Jerry Janezich

Director of State Legislative Relations
651-296-6097
jerry.janezich@so.mnscu.edu

Jerry works with State and Federal lawmakers to present the agenda from the Board of Trustees. Jerry joined the Office of the Chancellor staff in 2000 to work on legislative relations. He came from the Minnesota State Senate where he served for eight years. Prior to that Jerry served four years in the Minnesota House of Representatives and was a St Louis County Commissioner. Jerry was endorsed by the State Democratic Farmer Labor party to run for the United States Senate in 2000, but lost a primary election to Mark Dayton, who went on to the U.S. Senate.

Jerry attended Hibbing Community College and graduated from St. Cloud State University with a degree in Speech.

Minnesota Reference Library: Legislators Past and Present: Janezich, Jerry R.
A permanent record of Jerry's legislative history including sessions, district, bills, committees and additional biographical data.

Bernie Omann

Government Relations
651-296-6277
320-308-1600 (St. Cloud State)
bernie.omann@so.mnscu.edu

Bernie works with State and Federal lawmakers to present the agenda from the Board of Trustees. Bernie provides legislative services to the Office of the Chancellor during the session through a reassignment from St. Cloud State University. Bernie served three terms in the Minnesota House of Representatives and ran for the United States Congress two times. He worked in the Administration of Governor Arne Carlson as an Assistant Commissioner of Agriculture and went on to become the Governor's Chief of Staff for four years.

Bernie graduated from Central Lakes College (Brainerd Community College) with an associate of science degree and from St. Cloud State University with a degree in Political Science.

Minnesota Reference Library: Legislators Past and Present: Omann, Jr., Bernard P. "Bernie"
A permanent record of Bernie's legislative history including sessions, district, bills, committees and additional biographical data.

Candi Walz

Government Relations
651-296-6518
candi.walz@so.mnscu.edu

Candi’s work on the Government Relations team includes the Friends Action Network, social networking, ‘Get Out The Vote’ and researching legislative information for the Board of Trustees, Office of the Chancellor and the colleges and universities. Candi joined the staff in 2007. Prior to this position, she worked for the Minnesota State College Student Association and at the state capitol as a legislative correspondent for newspapers in northeastern Minnesota.

Candi has bachelor’s degrees in political science and mass communications from Bemidji State University and a master’s of public policy degree from the University of Minnesota, Humphrey Institute.