Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the appointment of Constance Doepke, Lois West Duffy, Brent Hovdestad, and Christine Smalley to the Minnesota Humanities Center Board of Directors. All are appointed to four-year terms that expire January 3, 2011.

Doepke, of Wayzata, is an experienced marketing and merchandising manager. She is a former member of the Wayzata Board of Education where she contributed to the finance and business, and legislative action committees. Doepke is a member of the TwinWest Chamber of Commerce and the Minneapolis Chapter of Fashion Group International, Inc. Doepke holds a bachelor of arts degree in communications arts from Michigan State University.

Duffy, of Rochester, is a communication consultant and former vice president of Ecolab Foundation. She has extensive experience with administering grants to non-profit organizations, public relations, and working with the arts. Duffy is a member of both the Rochester Art Center and Loft for Writers boards of directors. Duffy has a masters degree in public administration from Harvard University.

Hovdestad, of Minneapolis, is a financial consultant currently working as an independent contractor for RBC Dain Rauscher. He is an experienced full service investment broker and certified public accountant. Hovdestad is a former president of Kiwanis International and an alumni member of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. Hovdestad received his bachelor of arts in accounting, magna cum laude, from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks.

Smalley, of Edina, is an experienced retail buyer and community volunteer. She is a member of the Minneapolis Institute of Art and former member of the Minneapolis Children’s Theater board of governors. Smalley earned her bachelor of arts degree in journalism and advertising from the University of Minnesota.

The Minnesota Humanities Center is a nonprofit organization affiliated with the National Endowment for the Humanities. The Humanities Center fulfills its mission through humanities-based programs including professional development opportunities, early literacy workshops, and bilingual and heritage language programming. The Minnesota Humanities Center is governed by a 30-member board of directors, including six appointed by the Governor.