Biographies
RiShawn Biddle
RiShawn Biddle is Editor and Publisher of Dropout Nation — the leading commentary Web site on education reform — a columnist for The American Spectator, award-winning editorialist, and a speechwriter and communications consultant specializing in education policy issues. More importantly, he is a tireless advocate for improving the quality of K-12 education for every child. The co-author of A Byte at the Apple: Rethinking Education Data for the Post-NCLB Era, Biddle combines journalism, research and advocacy to bring insight on the nation’s education crisis and rally families and others to reform American public education.
Before founding Dropout Nation, Biddle was an editorial writer for the Indianapolis Star covering education and urban affairs. There, he wrote and oversaw three award-winning special projects revealing the depths of the nation’s dropout crisis and exposing judicial abuse against alleged juvenile offenders. Before becoming a tireless editorialist for school reform, Biddle was a reporter for such publications as Forbes, worked on news documentaries for ABC News, and reported on goverment and crime for newspapers in Atlanta, Ga.
As part of his advocacy and journalism efforts, Biddle has helped focus attention on the need to ensure that every child is taught by a high-quality teacher. This includes serving as co-author of Invisible Ink in Collective Bargaining Agreements, a widely-cited report from the National Council on Teacher Quality that revealed the role of state laws, policies and lobbying in shaping contracts between school districts and teachers unions.
An accomplished public speaker, he has spoken at conferences sponsored by such organizations as the Hechinger Institute on Education and the Media, Reason Foundation and the National Conference of Editorial Writers. A commentator on radio and television, Biddle has also appeared on such shows as Marketplace and Midmorning with Kerri Miller.
The New York City native – who now lives with his lovely wife, Davina, in Alexandria, Va. – has also written for such publications as USA Today, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Television Week, National Review, The Catholic World Report, Politico andThe Los Angeles Daily News. A communications and marketing consultant, he has also served as a speechwriter for education advocates such as actress Tichina Arnold, National PTA leaders Chuck Saylors and Betsy Landers, and former National PTA CEO Byron V. Garrett. Biddle also served as Markeiting and Creative Services Officer for the Fulbright Scholar Program, served as its editor-in-chief of publications, produced videos and revamped marketing and communications operations. As part of his role in spurring school reform, Biddle is an advisory board member of the Connecticut Parents Union, a new group devoted to building Parent Power in education and giving families their rightful places as lead decision-makers and reformers in schools.
Richard Vedder, Ph.D.
Richard Vedder is Edwin and Ruth Kennedy Distinguished Professor of Economics at Ohio University, an adjunct scholar at the American Enterprise Institute and Director of the Center for College Affordability and Productivity in Washington, DC. He is an economic historian by training specializing in the history of American labor markets and issues such as immigration, internal migration, slavery, unemployment and education. His book, Out of Work: Unemployment and Government in Twentieth-Century America, co-authored with Lowell Galloway, was the 1994 recipient of the Sir Antony Fisher International Memorial Award and was a Mencken Award finalist for Best Book. In addition to his several books, he has authored over two hundred scholarly papers which have appeared in The Journal of Economic History, Agricultural History, Explorations in Economic History and numerous other prestigious academic journals. Dr. Vedder has also written hundreds of shorter pieces for the serious popular press including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Christian Science Monitor, The American Enterprise, Forbes and the Chronicle of Higher Education.
Professor Vedder has held a number of visiting appointments, including serving as a Senior Economist with the Joint Economic Committee of the United States Congress and as John M. Olin Visiting Professor of Labor Economics and Public Policy at Washington University in St. Louis. In addition, he has been a visiting professor at the University of Colorado, Boulder and Claremont Men’s College. Dr. Vedder is frequently asked to testify before Congress and he has advised numerous political leaders on public policy issues, including Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. Additionally, he is active in grassroots level advocacy working with many state-level organizations. In 2009 he was presented the Adam Smith Award by the American Legislative Exchange Council for his “visionary leadership in the spirit of Adam Smith.”
Over the past decade, Dr. Vedder’s research has increasingly addressed the issue of education. In 2004, he offered a critique of American higher education in his acclaimed book, Going Broke by Degree: Why College Costs Too Much. The next year he was appointed by U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings to serve on her Commission on the Future of Higher Education. In 2006 Dr. Vedder founded the Center for College Affordability and Productivity (CCAP), an independent research institute in Washington, DC that is dedicated to researching public policy and economic issues relating to post-secondary education. CCAP aims to facilitate a broader dialogue that challenges conventional thinking about costs, efficiency and innovation in American higher education.
Professor Vedder received a BA from Northwestern University and a MA and PhD from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He has taught over 10,000 students in his career as a university professor and has received countless awards for teaching excellence. He and his wife Karen have been married for 42 years and live in Athens, Ohio. They have two grown children, Virin and Vanette, a daughter in-law, Kristie, and two grandchildren, Corey and Evelyn.”
Dick T. Andzenge, Ph.D.
Dr. Andzenge was born and raised in Nigeria and is professor and respected international scholar of Criminal Justice and Victimology at St. Cloud State University. He is a past member of the executive committee of the World Society of Victimology and a life member of the Organization which has a consultative status with the United Nations and the Council of Europe. Dr Andzenge directs post-graduate courses in victimology and victim services at respected Inter-university Center in Dubrovnik (Croatia), the University of Bair (Italy), and Monash University of South Africa in Johannesburg. He is also Associate Editor of the Journal of Ethnicity and Criminal Justice.
Jeff Johnson, Ph.D.
Jeff Johnson is a professor of aviation at St. Cloud State University and a small business owner. He previously was an airline pilot, mechanic, and airline ground instructor. He has a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from Bowling Green State University, a Master of Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Daytona Beach campus), and a B.S. degree in Aeronautical Studies from UND Aerospace at the University of North Dakota. Dr. Johnson has an extensive publication record on aviation education and believes that a university education should incorporate both industry practices along with academic theory. He is currently a council member for the City of St. Cloud.
A.J. Kern
A. J. Kern holds a B.S. in political science from Montana State University and an M.S. in planning from the University of Wyoming. A.J. has worked as a land use planner for both the public and private sectors, served as a Benton County Planning Commissioner, and is an owner of Kern Statistical Services, Inc. A.J. is actively involved in research and activisim effots targeted toward education reform.
John W. Kern, Ph.D.
Dr. John W. Kern holds a Ph.D. in Statistics from the University of Wyoming and B.S. and M.S. degrees in applied mathematics. He is a nationally recognized expert with over 20 years of experience using mathematical and statistical models to solve complex problems in ecological, environmental and social sciences. Dr. Kern established KERN Statistical Services, Inc. in 2000, providing experimental design and statistical analysis for risk assessment, environmental decision making, epidemiology, wildlife-impact assessment and litigation support. Much of Dr. Kern’s work involves evaluation and refereeing the applicability of scientific research and analysis for public policy decisions.
State Representative Gene Pelowski
State Representative Gene Pelowski represents Winona and nearby communities. He was first elected in 1986 and is currently serving his 13th term. Before running for the state legislature, Pelowski chaired the Winona Human Rights Commission and the local League of Women Voters, serving as the only elected male president of a local chapter in the nation.
Rep. Pelowski teaches AP Government and Social Studies classes at Winona Senior High School and teaches the course “Teaching Social Studies in the Secondary” at Winona State University.
A committed reformer, Pelowski has long been a leader in pushing technology both in the classroom and at the state legislature. In St. Paul, he was the first legislator to present a bill using a laptop computer and has spearheaded efforts to increase public access to legislative hearings.
In 2009, Pelowski received an honor that no Minnesota lawmaker had ever received. The Distinguished Service to Journalism Award presented by the Minnesota Newspaper Association went to Pelowski for his “significant contribution during the 2008 legislative session to promote the freedom of press, freedom of speech, open meetings and freedom of information.”
Rep. Pelowski most recently served as the Chair of the State and Local Government Operations Reform, Technology and Elections Committee. He is currently the lead DFL member on the Rules and Administration committee.
Pelowski is married to Deborah and has two children, Ryan and Gene.
Prof. Allen Quist
Allen Quist is Adjunct Professor of Political Science at Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, Minnesota. He is a widely recognized writer and speaker throughout the United States. Allen Quist is author of five books, the most recent being America’s Schools: The Battleground for Freedom. Quist authored the best-selling book, FedEd: The New Federal Curriculum and How It’s Enforced. In his books he explains the federal No Child Left Behind legislation and programs such as International Baccalaureate, he describes the math and reading wars, and he discusses the effects of international agreements on our schools. Quist writes about the preservation of America’s sovereignty, our commitment to truth and unalienable rights, and our resolve to pass our liberty on to the next generation.
Allen Quist has been a member of two school boards and holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Gustavus Adolphus College (St. Peter, MN), a Master of Arts degree from the University of Minnesota, Mankato, and a Bachelor of Divinity degree from Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary (Mankato, MN). He and his wife Julie live in rural St. Peter, Minnesota.
State Representative King Banaian
Professor King Banaian is a professor in the Department of Economics at St. Cloud State University. He holds the Ph.D. in economics from the Claremont Graduate School. He has consulted at the central banks of Ukraine, Egypt and Macedonia and the ministries of finance of Indonesia, Macedonia and Armenia. He is author of The Ukrainian Economy since Independence (Edward Elgar, 1998), co-editor of The Design and Use of Political Economy Indicators (Palgrave, 2008) and more than forty articles and book chapters discussing monetary policy and political economy. He is a fellow of the Armenian International Policy Research Group in Washington, DC and Yerevan, Armenia. King is currently state representative in the Minnesota House for District 15B. He is also host of the King Banaian Show of the Northern Alliance Radio Network , broadcast in Minneapolis, and co-author of the St. Cloud Quarterly Business Report. He lives in St. Cloud, Minnesota, with his wife and daughter. A full resume is available by request.
Erin Haust
Erin Haust is the CEO of EJH Consulting, a career counseling, resume writing and recruitment firm, published writer and mother of 3 who has been heavily involved in school districts both in Minnesota and Alabama. She has done extensive research in the areas of energy and environmental activism, education and policy.
Doc Severson
The fourth of 4 siblings, he grew up in Hermantown in Northern Minnesota, the son of Leland and Eleanor. His father Leland came from Cokato, was a WWII veteran serving in the Army Air Corps as gunnery sergeant and Eleanor from South Dakota who worked during WWII welding on ships in Washington Ship yards. Both parents were school teachers who had meet while attending foreign missionary training at Lutheran Bible Institute in Minneapolis.
At the age of 13 Dans’ family moved to St. Cloud where Dan attended Tech High School. He graduated in 1973 and attended St. Cloud State University. In 1974 Dan meet Cathy Jo through a blind date set up by both sets of parents and they were married 10 months later. Dan graduated in 1978 with a degree in Physics and minor in Math and Computer Science and went on to receive a commission in the US Navy. In 1979 he started flight training and earned his wings December of 1980. Dan was assigned the call sign “Doc” while going through flight training because of the resemblance of his name to the band leader on the Tonight Show, Doc Severinson. Tactical aviators often receive call signs (you don’t get to pick one) similar to famous celebrities or for some infamous act or incident that has a story behind it. “Doc” stuck through his career and friends still use it today.
Doc instructed in Basic Jet for 14 months after receiving his wings and then selected for the A-7E Corsair, a single seat attack bomber. In 1983, Doc deployed to the USS Midway home ported out of Japan. He acquired about 270 day and night carrier landings in a 30 month tour. Doc transferred to NAS Alameda and then transitioned to the F/A-18 Strike Fighter flying out of Pt. Mugu, California. In 1992 Doc attended Top Gun Training in support of Fleet Adversary Training for the West Coast Air Wings. Finishing his tour as Officer in Charge of VFA-305, Doc transferred to Washington DC in 1994 and worked on Plans and Policy for the Naval Reserve. He received the Meritorious Service Medal from the Chief of Naval Operations for his service and went on to be the Executive Officer of Weapons Test Squadron China Lake, Ca. Doc flew the F/A-18 as an evaluator of new weapons systems and pilot in command of the SA-227 commuter aircraft for logistics. He also flew the UH-1 Huey and on one occasion the F-16, AV8 Harrier and Cobra helicopter. He again received the Meritorious Service Medal for his actions as Executive Officer.
In 2000 Doc retired from the Navy and worked with a startup business developing a patent using light emitting diodes. In November of 2000 Doc, his wife Cathy Jo and John Pederson established a patent that was titled “Free space communications using Light emitting diodes. “
In 2001 Doc meet with Speaker Steve Sviggum and was asked to run for the Minnesota House of Representatives. In November of 2002, Doc won the election by 315 votes out of 15,000 cast and was sworn in January of 2003.
Doc served 4 terms in the Minnesota House, the last being in leadership as the Minority Whip. While in the House, Doc served on numerous committees. He worked diligently to improve the treatment of Veterans, reform tort litigation and promote judicial accountability through state statute. In 2008 Doc worked on an investigation into voter fraud allegations that were brought to his attention. He tried to get the Secretary of State, County Attorney and Supreme Court to act on the allegations, they would not. Doc’s frustrations with the system lead him to run for Secretary of State in 2010 to promote the need for Photo ID. Though he was outspent 2 to 1, he narrowly lost that election against a sitting incumbent but accomplished his task of informing Minnesota on the need for election reform.
In December through March, Doc was approached by others to consider running for the US Senate seat in 2012 against Sen Klobuchar. After reviewing her record and performance as a sitting US Senator, he announced his decision to run in May 2011 from the St. Paul Capitol steps.
Doc is husband to Cathy Jo and father to Nicole and Joshua and daughter-in-law, Amber.
State Representative Sondra Erickson
Longtime Princeton resident
- Retired Princeton High School English teacher
- Immanuel Lutheran Church: organist, choir, Sunday School teacher, Bible Study
- Elim Care, Inc., former board member
- Rum River Life Choices, board chair
- InterGrace CareGivers (formerly InterFaith Caregivers), mentor
- Princeton Civic Betterment Club, life member
- American Legion Auxiliary member
- Farm Bureau member
- Minnesota Board of Teaching 1992-1997
- State Representative 1998-2008
