Outstanding Alumni - 2005
Mark Paulson
Bemidji State University Graduate 1961 & 1966
Mr. Paulson was born and raised in the small southwestern Minnesota town of Heron Lake. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in industrial arts from Bemidji State College in 1961 and his Master of Science degree in counseling in 1966. He taught in Stephen, MN for four years, served as a counselor at Blackduck High School for three years before returning to BSU in 1968 as director of the Northern Minnesota Youth Development Project. In 1970, Mr. Paulson accepted the position of Assistant Director of Field Services at BSU to which the Alumni Director responsibilities were added. During this time period he initiated many of the alumni programs that continue to be in place today. In 1981 the position of BSU Foundation Executive Director was combined with the alumni position and Mr. Paulson served in that capacity until1989. He then took a three-year extended leave to enter the business world. In 1992, he returned to BSU as Assistant Director of Admissions and served as the community college transfer coordinator. He was honored as the Outstanding Post-Secondary Counselor of the Year by the Northwest Minnesota School Counselors Association in 1994. He retired from BSU in 1998 and was named Director Emeritus of Alumni Relations in 1999. Mr. Paulson has been an active community member serving two terms on his church council holding the office of President for two years and has sung in the church choir for many years. He was elected to the Bemidji Township Board of Supervisors in 1999, has served as vice-chairman for four years, and was re-elected to a third term last spring. He has been an active member of the Bemidji Lions Club for over 25 years, volunteers for Meals on Wheels and Habitat for Humanity, and is a Salvation Army ?bell ringer.? He also served as a member of the Alumni Association Board of Directors in the 1960?s and 1996-1998. Mr. Paulson has two grown sons and he and his wife, Lanee, currently reside in rural Bemidji.