Sara Johnson is the Director of the Academic Success Center for Northland Community & Technical College. She currently serves MN AHEAD as President of the Board.

Fun facts:

• How would you spend your days if you had unlimited time and resources? I would travel the world with my family: Italy, Ireland, England, Hawaii to name a few.

• You’re cooking for the whole membership. What is your signature dish? I would have to say lasagna or meatballs and mashed potatoes- those are the two dishes I get the most compliments on.

• What’s your favorite season and what do you enjoy most about it? I used to love the fall because of the beautiful colors but the older I get I appreciate spring as it signifies new beginnings.

• If you could have one superpower today, what would it be, and what would you use it for? I would have the ability to add more time to the day… it always seems like there is never enough time to get things done. 

Allie Quinn, M.A., is the Director of Disability and Student Services at the Mitchell Hamline School of Law. She serves as President Elect of the MN AHEAD Board.

Fun facts:

• If you could have one superpower today, what would it be, and what would you use it for? 100% being able to communicate with plant, fungus, and animal biological kingdoms. I would use this superpower to listen and support their goals

• What's the best piece of advice you've ever been given? "Don't compare yourself to your brother" - my parents

• What is your favorite season and what do you enjoy about it? Winter! I love outdoor fires, snowshoeing, ice sculptures and cross-ountry skiing. I have a goal to ski the American Birkebeiner, the largest cross-country skiing race in North America, by 2025.

• Fun fact about you? I submitted an entry for the annual Peeps (marshmallow) Diorama Contest this year, sponsored by the Pioneer Press, and won honorable mention

Andria Belisle, M.S., is a Senior Disability Services Advisor in the Disability Services office at Capella University. She serves as Secretary of the MN AHEAD Board.

Fun facts:

• How would you spend your days if you had unlimited time and resources? I would enjoy hanging with my family, hiking, camping, fishing, and exploring new places.

• What's the best topping for ice cream? I love sprinkling some hot chocolate coco powder on vanilla ice cream. You must try it 😉 

• What's the best piece of advice you've ever been given? "You never know when you're making a memory." During college, a professor of mine shared this quote and it stuck with me. You never know if that smile you give someone, that compliment you share with a stranger, that small gesture of help you offer someone, is going to make an impact and what kind of impact that makes. So remember: “You never know when you’re making a memory.” 

• Fun Fact about you? I have been Gluten Free for over 18 years and LOVE finding and researching new gluten free recipes, new gf snacks and gf friendly restaurants.  And happy to share my tips with anyone who is on a gf journey as well #celiacdisease.

Ruth Fries, ED.D, is the Director of the Disability Services/Academic Achievement at the University of Northwestern in St. Paul, MN. She serves as Treasurer of the MN AHEAD Board.

Fun facts:

• If you could live in another historical period, would you? If so, which one? I would like to think I could adapt to another historical period, but I REALLY appreciate indoor plumbing.

• If you could have one superpower today, what would it be, and what would you use it for? Teleportation. My commute is fairly long, even on good days. With the long snowy winter we had and now road construction, I would be so happy to get those hours back in my day!

• You're cooking for the entire membership. What is your signature dish? When cooking for a large group, my favorite dish to make is carnitas with homemade tortillas and all the fixings. They can easily be customized to fit a variety of dietary needs and are so tasty!

• What's your favorite season and what do you enjoy about it? Summer!! I love everything about it - sunshine, warmth, beach days with my girls, my paddleboard, not having to bundle up to go outside, the more relaxed pace of the academic calendar, all of it!

Molly Tast, M.S., CRC,  is the Assistant Director for the Office for Students with Disabilities at Anoka-Ramsey Community College, having served MN AHEAD as President in the past and sits on the MN AHEAD Equity Task Force.

Fun facts:

• What's the best topping for ice cream?
  Hot fudge and whip cream

• You're cooking for the whole membership. What is your signature dish? Italian feast (I love feast!) My signature lasagna, homemade alfredo, garlic bread, salad, and homemade cheesecake with strawberry glaze.

• What's your favorite season and what do you enjoy about it? FALL! The weather finally gets cool (summer is my least favorite season), the colors are beautiful, and it means the holidays are right around the corner. Bonus fun fact-my birthday is on the first day of fall, so it seems meant to be.

• Fun fact about you? I'm hoping to represent MNAHEAD on the AHEAD Boar as Director-at-large. AHEAD members please consider casting your vote for me!

Matt Axelson currently works as a Disability Services Advisor at Capella University, while also serving MN AHEAD Board as the Equity Advocate.

Fun facts:

• If you could live in another historical period, would you? If so, which one? I'm going to have to go with a future era (pre-apocalypse) when accessibility will be the norm.

• If you could have one superpower today, what would it be, and what would you use it for? As cliché as it may be, probably teleportation/portal travel - to get around inaccessible barriers and to travel wherever the heck I'd like! 😊 

• What's the best piece of advice you've ever been given? Assume the best until shown otherwise.

• What's your favorite season and what do you enjoy about it? Autumn - for the one week we have it here in MN, the weather is absolutely delightful.

Julie Olson Rand, M. Ed., NIC, is the Associate Director of Access Programs within the Disability Resource Center at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

Fun facts:

• How would you spend your days with unlimited time and resources? Read, do yoga and do arts/crafts with and without my family/kids.

• What is the best topping for ice cream? Ice cream is my favorite dessert! I love adding malt powder, milk and a little chocolate syrup to make a chocolate malt.

• What is your favorite season, and what do you enjoy about it? I love summer--especially when it's not rainy-- I love to walk, bike, and ride my moped outdoors.

• Fun Fact about me? I LOVE karaoke.

Dylan Larsen, B.A., is a Library Technician at the Metro State University Library and Learning Center.

Fun facts:

• If you could have one superpower today, what would it be, and what would you use it for? Teleportation, or airbending. Make my commute so much nicer, and help me reach others.

• What's the best piece of advice you've ever been given? Eat the brownie, take the elevator. 

• You're cooking for the whole membership, what's your signature dish? Chicken nuggets, or Costco orange chicken.

• Fun fact about me? I am an Eagle Scout and would be an airbender if in the Avatar: the Last Airbender universe.