Normandale Community College has officially dropped the “interim” from Pakou Yang’s title, naming her president on April 22, 2026. The move marks a milestone that the Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal reported makes her the first Hmong-American to lead a college in the United States.
Yang has been steering the Bloomington campus since the summer of 2025, serving as interim president while the college worked through leadership transitions and ongoing efforts to boost enrollment and student support.
As noted by the Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal, Yang’s appointment is both a historic first in higher education and a distinctly local story about who leads one of the Twin Cities’ largest community colleges.
Yang first took the reins on June 4, 2025, after the Minnesota State Board of Trustees named her interim president, according to a system news release. In that statement, Chancellor Scott Olson praised Yang’s “extensive knowledge and experience in higher education” and said her vision “positions the college for continued growth and excellence.”
Yang’s background and campus work
Before arriving at Normandale, Yang served as provost and vice president for academic and student affairs at Century College and held system-level roles focused on P–20 alignment and college readiness, according to Normandale Community College. Her publicly posted CV highlights work on enrollment and retention initiatives and includes honors such as a 2024 Leadership Excellence award from the National Institute of Staff and Organizational Development.
Why this matters in Minnesota
The symbolism of the appointment lands especially hard in Minnesota, where Hmong communities are large and visible in civic life. The Minnesota Historical Society notes that more than 66,000 Hmong live in the state and that the Twin Cities host the country’s largest urban concentration of Hmong Americans, making Yang’s elevation to the presidency a particularly resonant moment for representation.
About Normandale
Normandale is the largest two-year college in the Minnesota State system and, according to college materials, serves roughly 17,000 credit students each year. The campus offers more than 70 degree and certificate programs and in recent years has emphasized student support and clear pathways to four-year transfer institutions, according to the college’s published profile.
For students and community members who have watched Normandale over the past year, Yang’s promotion completes the arc that began when she stepped in as interim president in June 2025. As she moves into the permanent role, local leaders and higher-education observers will be watching how her stated priorities on enrollment, equity, and transfer success show up in day-to-day campus policy and regional partnerships.
