U of M names Wheelock to top administrative post

by Tim Nelson, Minnesota Public Radio

MINNEAPOLIS — Former state finance director and hockey executive Pam Wheelock has been named to a top administrative post at the University of Minnesota.

Pam Wheelock was most recently the head of Blue Cross/Blue Shield in Minnesota. Before that, she was a senior staffer at the St. Paul-based Bush Foundation.

Wheelock was being considered to run the state authority to build the new Vikings stadium when she was tapped for the U post. President Eric Kaler has appointed her to be Vice President for University Services, handling a wide range of non-academic University operations.

Wheelock has also served in the past as chief financial officer for the Minnesota Wild and as deputy mayor in St. Paul, where she played a key role in bringing the team to Minnesota during the administration of Norm Coleman.

At the U, Wheelock succeeds Kathleen O'Brien, who held the post for a decade. O'Brien is retiring this summer. Wheelock will have to be confirmed by the U's board of regents.