New Southeast CIO Knows
Education Transforms Lives
Winona and Red Wing, MN (Nov 13, 2025) -- Scott Fillman, the new College
Information Officer at Minnesota State College Southeast, is excited to bring
his professional expertise in IT to an institution like the one that
“transformed his life.”
“This CIO role at Southeast
perfectly merges my two professional tracks: high-level technology leadership
and a deep, personal passion for the mission of the Minnesota State system,”
Fillman said.
Fillman was born and raised on Minnesota’s
Iron Range, the son of an ore miner and a registered nurse. Fillman said when
he was growing up, attending college wasn’t a clear expectation nor actively
promoted within the community. He recalls dropping out of college after one
semester, and spending most of his twenties working, while increasingly feeling
like “something was missing.”
Fillman frequented libraries
and read more, but the independent study left him feeling unsatisfied. It
wasn’t until he enrolled in the Web Development program at Minnesota State
Community and Technical College (M State) that he discovered the right path for
him.
"That's where everything clicked. That experience changed my life,”
Fillman said.
Fillman can empathize with
Southeast’s adult learners.
“As a non-traditional
student, my main concern was just whether I belonged,” said Fillman. “When
you've been out of school for a long time, walking back into a classroom is an
intimidating step. You worry about whether you'll be able to keep up and fit in
with the younger students.”
Fillman credits the confidence he
gained from graduating with high honors in the AAS program at M State as the
foundation that propelled him to earn a bachelor’s degree in Individualized
Studies from Metropolitan State University, a Master of Liberal Studies from
the University of Minnesota focusing on data and narratology, and ultimately
his Doctorate of Education from Winona State University.
“I couldn't have fathomed any of that just a few years earlier,” he said.
Fillman has been a technology
leader in the private sector for more than 13 years, having served as a
manager, director and most recently Senior Director of IT at KGPCo, leading
teams in enterprise-wide application strategy.
Fillman is excited about leading
Information Technology at Southeast.
“My primary goal is to ensure that
our technology empowers and supports the college's core mission. I've spent my
career studying the gap between the potential of educational
technology and how it's actually implemented,” he said.
Fillman hopes to "merge
technology with empathy" by using empirical data to understand student and
faculty needs, and to ensure Southeast systems are “seamless, accessible, and
genuinely improve student outcomes.”
“A poorly implemented tool distracts from learning, but a well-implemented
one can open up a world of new possibilities,” he said.
“We are excited to have someone
with Scott’s extensive leadership in IT and passion for education serving as
our College Information Officer,” said Dr. Marsha Danielson, President of
Minnesota State College Southeast.
Fillman said IT needs to do
more than “keep the lights on.” It needs to ensure that web technology is not
only reliable and secure, but also intuitive, accessible, and tailored to
student needs.
“The disparity between available features and a poor user experience can create
a disruptive experience for students,” said Fillman.
“I am a proud product of
the Minnesota State system. I believe in its mission down to my core,” Fillman
said. “I feel privileged to be able to contribute and look forward to working
with everyone in the Southeast community."