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.