Hello everyone! My name is Matt Gutsch and I am the new Director of Government Relations for the LeadMN team. I come to LeadMN with a background in and passion for higher education advocacy and state politics. This past legislative session, I worked for the Minnesota State Senate where I served as the Committee Legislative Assistant to Deputy Majority Leader, Jeremy Miller, and the Jobs and Economic Growth Finance and Policy Committee. Prior to my work at the state legislature, I worked as a field staffer for the Senate Victory Fund during the 2016 election. I spent much of my time door knocking, and roaming the corn and beet fields of western Minnesota helping to get Senator Andrew Lang elected for his first term with the state senate.
Before my time with the Minnesota Senate, I found my love of higher education as a student in the Minnesota State system - just like many of our students here at LeadMN! My educational experiences definitely led me down this path to a career in higher education government relations and helped shape the person I have become. I grew up in Menomonie, Wisconsin (Yes, I am a diehard Green Bay Packers fan) and after graduation I decided I wanted to be an architect like Ted Mosby. I spent my first year of college attending Lake Superior College, where I probably spent too much time snowboarding, and not enough learning about architecture. After a year, I realized maybe I actually liked Ted Mosby because he taught at a university….so I transferred to an institution where I could pursue my true passion: political science.
After transferring to St. Cloud State University, I earned my B.A. in Political Science and International Relations, and am now just wrapping up a M.S. in Higher Education Administration. As a full time student, working 40 hours a week, and serving in the Army National Guard, I had to learn quickly how to find a work/life/school balance. During my sophomore year at SCSU, I decided that I needed even more to do, so I ran for a senator position with student government and the rest is history! I spent the next three years serving in a variety of student leadership positions and on multiple university committees. My experiences as a member of student government and as a MSUSA (now Students United) delegate, led me to realize that advocating for students and higher education was what I wanted to do as a career.
But enough about what I did before I came to LeadMN though, let’s get to the fun stuff! I was born at the end of the Cold War, I am a Leo, and I enjoy long walks on the beach…..I actually prefer long walks through the woods and going to really loud rock concerts with my wife, Lindsey. When I am not working you can usually find me out on a boat fishing for Bass and Muskie, watching football and motocross, reading, or exploring the Twin Cities food scene.
I am extremely excited to begin my work with LeadMN and hope that we can work together to find new and innovative ways to truly make higher education in Minnesota affordable and accessible to everyone who wants to pursue a post secondary education. If you ever have any questions, concerns, or just want to chat about higher education and legislative happenings, please do not hesitate to contact me. You can reach me by phone at 651-203-458 or by email at mgutsch@leadmn.org. I look forward to meeting all of you!
Matt graduated from St. Cloud State University in 2015 with a B.A. in Political Science and International Relations. During his time at SCSU, Matt served in a variety of positions on student government that led him to develop a passion for higher education advocacy and student affairs. After graduation Matt decided to further pursue his passion for higher education and is currently finishing his M.S. in Higher Education Administration at St. Cloud State University.
In his last position, Matt served at the Minnesota legislature as the Committee Legislative Assistant for the Senate Jobs and Economic Growth Finance and Policy Committee. In his free time Matt enjoys fishing, attending rock concerts with his wife, Lindsey, and playing with his dog, Stella.