Governor Tim Walz named Jodi Harpstead commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Human Services in August 2019.
Prior to her appointment, Commissioner Harpstead was the president and CEO of Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota (LSS) since September 2011. She also was the executive vice president and chief operating officer for LSS and spent 23 years in a variety of positions with Medtronic, Inc.
Commissioner Harpstead has volunteered in leadership capacities for a variety of other organizations including Augsburg University, Lutheran Services in America and ARRM – the statewide association of community-based service providers for people with disabilities.
She received her Master of Business Administration in finance and bachelor’s degree in business administration from Michigan State University.
