Gwen Halaas

Gwen Halaas has over 30 years of work experience in various healthcare and academic roles. Gwen currently serves as the Dean of the Sanford Heimarck School of Health Professions at Concordia College since July 2022. Prior to this, Gwen worked at Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota as the Medical Director, responsible for quality management activities. Gwen also served as the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at Washington State University Spokane from December 2019 to June 2022. Gwen has a strong background in education and leadership, having held positions such as Senior Associate Dean and Associate Dean at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Gwen has also worked as a Professor and Director at the University of Minnesota and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Gwen's expertise spans across diverse areas such as interprofessional education, rural healthcare, and healthcare policy.

Gwen Halaas has a diverse educational background. Gwen first attended Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota from 1971 to 1975 and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Social Work/Music. Later, from 1978 to 1982, they pursued further education at Harvard Medical School and obtained a Medical Doctor (MD) degree with a focus on Family Medicine. Finally, they attended the University of St. Thomas from 1993 to 1996, completing a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Medical Group Management.