Three New Trustees Join Women’s Foundation Board
The Women’s Foundation of Minnesota welcomes three new trustees to its Board. To kick off the new fiscal year, their three-year terms began on April 1, 2024.
The Women’s Foundation of Minnesota envisions a world of opportunity where all women, girls, and gender-expansive people have the power to create and lead safe, prosperous lives. Gloria Perez, President & CEO, said, “The foundation’s new trustees are committed to investing in solutions to end systemic inequities. Their leadership and perspectives across Minnesota communities will be an asset to our mission and to our board.”
Welcome Our New Trustees:
Bethlehem Gronneberg is director of Data Science at St. Catherine University, with extensive experience as a seasoned software engineer and a social entrepreneur. As a Bush Fellow with over 20 years of experience in the software industry, Dr. Bethlehem is dedicated to fostering a world where the creators and builders of technological products and services mirror the diversity of the societies they serve. Bethlehem holds a Ph.D. and a Master of Science degree in software engineering from North Dakota State University, as well as a Bachelor of Science degree in statistics/computer science from Addis Ababa University. Her technology career began with her first job as a webmaster for the United Nations – Economic Commission for Africa. Recognized as the “unlikely STEMinist” by Huffington Post, Dr. Gronneberg is the founder of uCodeGirl, a social enterprise fostering computational design thinking, entrepreneurial skills, and leadership traits among underrepresented groups.
Ellen Krug is the author of Getting to Ellen: A Memoir about Love, Honesty and Gender Change (2013), and has presented on diversity and inclusion to governmental entities, court systems, Fortune 100 companies, law firms, nonprofits, and colleges/universities. A hopeless idealist, Ellie has presented her human inclusivity training, “Gray Area Thinking®” across North America. In 2016, Advocate Magazine named Ellie one of “25 Legal Advocates Fighting for Trans Rights.” Ellie views herself as an “Inclusionist” and founded an inclusion-oriented consulting and training company, Human Inspiration Works, LLC, in 2016. Ellie is the recipient of the 2019 Business of Pride Career Achievement Award from the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, and the 2019 Legacy Award from OutFront Minnesota, the state’s largest LGBTQ+ advocacy organization. Ellie is also a weekly radio and podcast host of “Ellie 2.0 Radio,” on AM950 in the Twin Cities. In 2022, Ellie was elected to the Eastern Carver County School Board for a four-year term.
Susan Sands has applied her leadership and influence to increase equity and opportunity for Minnesota women, girls, and families over a lifetime in business, board service, and volunteer activism. Since 1979, Susan has been the founder and owner of S&B Properties, specializing in real estate consulting with small businesses and nonprofits. Susan began her career as a social worker after graduating from the University of Minnesota. In 1977, she co-founded the first chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners. She is a founding member of the Minnesota Women’s Campaign Fund, which became WomenWinning. Susan’s passions have inspired her commitment to service, and she is most proud of the gifts of time and energy she has given. In 2013, she and her husband, Bill, established the Sands Family Social Venturing Fellowship at the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Business. Susan has served in leadership roles with Jeremiah Program (both local and national), District Energy St. Paul, Venn Foundation, Westminster Presbyterian Church, James J. Hill Reference Library, F.R. Bigelow Foundation, Women Venture, and Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity. She holds an honorary Doctorate from United Seminary of the Twin Cities.
