In 1st-ever State of the University address, MSUM president announces new AI head and new programs
By Robin Huebner and Hunter Schwartz
September 16, 2025
MOORHEAD — The leader of Minnesota State Moorhead highlighted new programs and partnerships, and the person to lead the university’s new artificial intelligence institute, during a history-making event.
President Tim Downs gave MSUM’s first-ever State of the University address Tuesday, Sept. 16, at Roland Dille Center for the Arts.
David Samson / The Forum
The event kicked off with a music and video welcome similar in drama to a Chicago Bulls game, in front of a red curtain backdrop.
With a theme of “Built on Vision. Driven by Fire,” Downs began by laying out four “pillars” of a strategic plan that were subsequently expanded upon by campus leaders in lively panel-style discussions. The leaders detailed new academic and student experience initiatives and new and ongoing partnerships.
Downs said the moves will prepare the region’s most sought-after graduates and position Moorhead as a hub for innovation and workforce development.
“In all my years in higher education, I’ve never felt more energized than I do right now. I’m bursting with pride because of what our Dragon community has accomplished in the last two years,” Downs told the audience gathered inside Hansen Theatre.
He also touted a 31% increase in MSUM’s freshman class, at 774 students this fall compared with 590 last fall.
“That doesn’t just happen. It’s the result of every conversation, every moment of support, and every act of commitment from this community. It’s momentum,” he said.
Downs told The Forum they decided to hold the first State of the University address after announcing a new Honors College and the Institute of Applied AI, and seeing the projected fall enrollment numbers.
“We knew all these things were kind of converging and we said, ‘We need to tell this story,'” Downs said.
The university announced Josh Riedy as its new executive director for the Institute of Applied AI, unveiled last spring and underway this fall.
Riedy is the founder of a technology startup that integrates artificial intelligence into everyday organizational processes and has held senior leadership roles in higher education, the university said.
“I don’t think it’s any secret to say humanity is going down the path of creating intelligence that is going to have a profound impact on our world in ways that we can’t even imagine. Our obligation as an institute is to best prepare our graduates to thrive in that world,” Riedy said.
Ok-Hee Lee, interim provost and senior vice president for academic and student affairs, announced the pursuit of several academic initiatives, including a new Master of Project Management degree, which received approval Tuesday morning.
MSUM is also in the early stages of developing an undergraduate Cybercrime degree.
Kara Gravley-Stack, associate vice president of student affairs and dean of students, shared a series of new programs and partnerships designed to uplift student experiences.
They include a state-of-the-art Makerspace, expanded Celebration of Nations, new internships for military-connected students, as well as the possibility of bringing back The Underground, a 1980s-90s jam space where students can dance and socialize.
Gravley-Stack said the lower level space in Comstock Memorial Union, in a cross between a coffee house and a dance club, once hosted comedians, singer songwriters, a cappella groups, as well as dances.
But during a building renovation approximately 15 years ago, a decision was made to step back from holding those events.
“The idea is to bring it back to life if we can and make it a space that could be reserved by different organizations and different groups,” she told The Forum.
It was also announced there will be new collaborations with Courts and Pints and Jade Presents to further foster a vibrant campus life.