David Kelliher

Vice President of Public Policy & Government Relations

As the Vice President of Public Policy & Government Relations, David Kelliher works in conjunction with Minnesota’s state, federal, and local government leaders, building relationships and advocating for support for the Minnesota Historical Society and history across the state.

David represents the MNHS on various boards and commissions, including the Mississippi River Parkway Commission, the St. Anthony Falls Heritage Board, the Fort Snelling Joint Powers Board and the Scenic Byways Commission, and is a member of the MN Council of Nonprofits’ Public Policy Cabinet.

David played a key role in the passage of the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment in 2008, which supports efforts to preserve Minnesota land, water and legacy, including Minnesota history and cultural heritage. MNHS administers Legacy funds to support historical efforts in all of Minnesota’s 87 counties.

David began his work in public history as a project historian for the National Park Service’s Historic American Building Survey in Illinois and began with the Minnesota Historical Society as a tour guide on the Minneapolis Riverfront / St. Anthony Falls. He holds a B.A. in History from Carleton College.

Executive council

Ford W. Bell
Jesse Bethke Gomez
Linda Brekke Mona
M. Mitchell Davis
Elizabeth Driscoll Hlavka
Joanell M. Dyrstad
Richard E. Engebretson
Carolyn M. Essig
Stephanie L. Fehr
Thomas M. Forsythe
David R. Hakensen
Dustin B. Heckman
Bridget A. Larson-Lindner
Jennifer J. Murray

Richard C. Nash
Krista E. O’Malley
John Pacheco Jr.
Peter M. Reyes Jr.
Sharon Sayles Belton
Daniel J. Schmechel
Diana L. Schutter
Daniel W. Shogren
Roger J. Sit
Anton S. Treuer
John R. Tunheim
Noelle P. Turner
Kyle R. Ward
Gwen N. Westerman
Kent Whitworth (Nonvoting, Director & CEO)

Emeritus council

Nina M. Archabal+
Charles W. Arnason+
Annette Atkins+
Sharon Avent+
Bruce W. Bean+
Gretchen U. Beito+
Diane Berthel
Kathleen Blatz
Suzanne Blue
Robert Bruininks
Barbara E. Burwell
Judith S. Corson
Grant W. Davis
Mark Davis+
Michael J. Davis
Charlton Dietz+
D. Stephen Elliott
Michael B. Farnell

Harold A. Frederick
Ram Gada+
Phyllis Rawls Goff+
William Green
James T. Hale
MayKao Y. Hang
Stanley S. Hubbard
Karen A. Humphrey+
Ruth S. Huss
Lucy R. Jones+
Sylvia Kaplan+
Dennis L. Lamkin
Jean M. Larson
Monica Little
Elizabeth S. MacMillan+
Charles Mahar
Susan B. McCarthy
William C. Melton+

Joseph S. Micallef+
Dean M. Nelson
Richard H. Nicholson
Elizabeth M. Nordlie
Peter R. Reis
Mark Ritchie
Kennon V. Rothchild+
Susan Kenny Stevens
William R. Stoeri+
Edward C. Stringer
Bo Thao-Urabe
Karen Wilson Thissen
Missy Staples Thompson
Kathy H. Tunheim
Benjamin Vander Kooi
Eleanor C. Winston
Warren J. Zaccaro

Honorary council

Lowell C. Anderson
Marvin R. Anderson
Nina M. Archabal+
Charles W. Arnason+
Annette Atkins+
Sharon Avent+
Bruce W. Bean+
Gretchen U. Beito+
Ford W. Bell
S. K. Dash
Mark Davis+
Charlton Dietz+
Elizabeth S. Driscoll
Dennis Dvorak
Richard L. Ferrell
Michael J. Fox

Ram Gada+
Phyllis Rawls Goff+
Karen A. Humphrey+
John Huss
Ruth Huss+
Lucy R. Jones+
Sylvia Kaplan+
Colles Larkin
Robert C. Mack
Elizabeth S. MacMillan+
Terry McGibbon
Peg Meier
William C. Melton+
Joseph S. Micallef+
Richard Moe
Stephen Nelson

Larry G. Osnes
Donald G. Patton
Fred Perez
Mark Peterson
Kennon V. Rothchild+
Ramedo J. Saucedo
Jeff Savage
Barbara W. Sommer
William R. Stoeri+
Gerald Vizenor
Vernell Wabasha
Jeanette E. Warner
Annette M. Whaley
Mary Lethert Wingerd

+ Emeritus and Honorary
Council Member

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David Kelliher

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