Minnesota West Names Diana Fliss as Vice President of Finance & Facilities After 25 Years of Service

Minnesota West Community & Technical College is proud to announce the appointment of Diana Fliss as the College’s next Vice President of Finance & Facilities, marking a milestone in her 25 years of dedicated service to the institution.

Fliss joined Minnesota West in 2001 as a Payroll Accountant, bringing strong accounting experience and a passion for serving her community. She advanced steadily through the years, holding key financial roles including Accounting Technician, Business Manager, Director of Financial Operations, and most recently Interim Vice President of Finance & Facilities.

Her interest in accounting began early. Growing up, she excelled in math and discovered a love for bookkeeping. After high school, Fliss balanced family life with her studies at the Area Vocational Technical Institute in Canby, MN, where she was honored as an Outstanding Graduate. She later built a successful career as a bookkeeper, tax accountant, and CPA before joining Minnesota West.

Fliss credits her role as Director of Financial Operations as a key step in preparing her for executive leadership. “That role was like the icing on the cake,” she said. “It pulled all my knowledge and experience together and gave me the base I needed to understand the finances of the college and support strategic decision-making.”

In 2021, she received the Outstanding Service Award at the Minnesota State Finance Conference. Minnesota West’s leadership praised her for helping maintain the college’s financial stability.

“Diana’s work to assure Minnesota West and our Foundation remain viable and fiscally prudent has enabled our college community to focus our energies and precious resources on our students.”

Minnesota State Vice Chancellor of Finance and Facilities, Bill Maki, added “Though often behind the scenes, the work done by these individuals has a dramatic impact on the operations of our colleges and the success of our students.”

During her interim appointment, Fliss helped advance nearly $4 million in major campus improvements, including HVAC upgrades at the Granite Falls campus and boiler updates at the Jackson campus. She also played an essential leadership role during the implementation of Workday, the statewide finance and administrative transition across Minnesota State.

As Minnesota West navigates financial reconciliation cycles, systemwide integrations, and statewide fiscal pressures, her guidance ensures stability rooted in strong financial stewardship.

Beyond Minnesota West, Fliss is a long-standing community member leader. She currently serves as: Council Member for the City of Canby, Board Chair for the Canby Community Hospital District and a Board Member for the Sanford Health Network Board in Sioux Falls.

Her previous community service includes serving on a school board, a fundraising foundation board, a chamber of commerce board (including time as chair), and a local bank board.

Her community commitments mirror the same values she brings to Minnesota West: service, accountability, and a passion for improving the lives of others.

“As I step into this role, my focus is on strengthening the systems that support our college every day. Stabilizing Workday, reviewing how our business services are structured, and planning for future leadership are all essential to our long‑term success. I’m also excited to explore new opportunities, like a potential EDA grant, that could help us enhance and renovate our campus facilities. These efforts will position Minnesota West for a strong and sustainable future.”

Her leadership is guided by transparency, accountability, and integrity, paired with a commitment to clear communication.

Our college and system leadership emphasized that Fliss’s appointment reflects not only her experience and reliability but also her commitment to Minnesota West’s mission. Her multi-decade service, deep understanding of college and system operations, and student-centered approach make her prepared to lead during this pivotal period.

Minnesota West is honored to celebrate Diana Fliss’s 25 years of service and her well-deserved advancement to Vice President of Finance & Facilities. Her leadership, financial expertise, and dedication have shaped the college’s past, and will continue to guide its future with clarity and purpose.

Please join us in congratulating Vice President Fliss!