Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the appointment of Kathleen Beehler, William Cullen, Rosemary Kassekert, Peter Langseth and Beverly Ryan to the Minnesota Board of Social Work. 

Kathleen Beehler, of Bemidji, has been a Licensed Social Worker (LSW) in Minnesota since 1989.  She currently works as an independent contractor for the Red Lake Public Schools.  Beehler previously worked as a Renal Social Worker for DaVita Dialysis in Red Lake and Cass Lake.  She also served as Director of Social Services for Jourdain/Perpich Extended Care Facility in Red Lake.  Beehler is appointed to a Board position for a bachelor's level social worker.  She will serve a four-year term which ends January 5, 2009.  Beehler was first appointed to the Board in July 1999. 

William Cullen, of Minneapolis, is the president of Cullen Homes, Inc.  He founded this company in 2000.  Cullen was director of applications development at Silicon Graphics (SGI) in Eagan from 1997 to 2000.  He worked in research and development at Cray Research in Eagan from 1987 to 1997.  Cullen received a B.S. in Computer Science from the School of Mines and Technology in Rapid City, South Dakota.  He is appointed to a Board position for a public member and will serve a four-year term which ends January 5, 2009.  Cullen replaces Timothy Schmidt on the Board. 

Rosemary Kassekert, of St. Paul, is a retired attorney.  She currently serves as a trustee and as a member of the board of directors of St. Bernard's School in St. Paul.  Kassekert served as a public member of the Minnesota Board of Chiropractic Examiners from 1993 to 2005.  She received a B.A. in English and Political Science from the University of St. Thomas, and a J.D. from the Hamline University School of Law.  Kassekert is appointed to a Board position for a public member and will serve a four-year term which ends January 5, 2009.  She replaces Antonia Apolinario-Wilcoxon on the Board. 

Peter Langseth, of Baudette, has been a Licensed Social Worker (LSW) in Minnesota since 1990.  He currently serves as the Director of Social Services for the LakeWood Health & Care Center in Baudette.  Langseth previously served in the Peace Corps as a volunteer in Thailand.  He received a B.A. in Social Work and Criminal Justice from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  Langseth received the 1996 Annual Service Award from the Minnesota Nursing Home Social Worker Association.  He is appointed to a Board position for a bachelor's level social worker.  Langseth will serve a four-year term which ends January 5, 2009.  He was first appointed in 1993 and is the immediate past Board chair. 

Beverly Ryan, of Mendota Heights, has been a Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW) in Minnesota since 1996.  She has worked as a social worker since 1979.  Ryan currently serves as a medical social worker at United Hospital in St. Paul.  She previously worked as a social worker for Augustana Home Health Care in Minneapolis, Hospice of the Twin Cities in Minneapolis, and Hospice of Health East in St. Paul.  Ryan received a M.S.W. from the University of St. Thomas/College of St. Catherine.  She is appointed to a Board position for a master's level social worker and will serve a four-year term which ends January 5, 2009.  Ryan replaces Marilyn Kiloran on the Board. 

The Minnesota Board of Social Work is responsible for licensing and disciplining social workers.  The board is made up of 15 members appointed by the Governor.