University pays diversity staff 1.5 million
The University of Minnesota spends more than $1.4 million each year on salaries for its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) staff, according to state payroll records released to the public.
Salary breakdown shows nine employees earning nearly $1.5 million
OpenPayrolls data for 2025 lists nine individuals in the Office for Equity and Diversity. Four of them hold senior leadership roles while five serve in administrative capacities.
Among the leadership team, the Vice President for Equity and Diversity, Mercedes Ramírez Fernández, receives $391,759. The Associate Vice President for Equity and Diversity and Faculty Development, Keisha Varma, is paid $238,540. Two other associate vice presidents, Tina Marisam and Malinda Lindquist, earn $230,444 and $196,267 respectively. The office’s Chief of Staff, Elizabeth Martinez‑Podolsky, draws $164,800.
Administrative staff salaries range from $47,237 to $99,194. The payroll lists Kate Klosterman at $74,298, John Michael Bradshaw at $50,086.40, Jenna Olien at $47,237, and Tia Phan at $99,194.
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Combined, these nine positions total $1,492,625.40 in annual compensation, a figure that reflects the school’s stated commitment to equity work.
The data is public.
University leadership says DEI programs will stay in place
President Rebecca Cunningham addressed the issue in a February 2025 message to the campus community. She wrote that the institution would not alter its DEI programs in response to a 2025 federal executive order that directed federally funded colleges to end what the order deemed “unlawful” DEI activities.
“I am writing to address any confusion and reaffirm my—and the University’s—longstanding commitment to supporting a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment,” Cunningham said. She added that the university “has not rolled back diversity, equity and inclusion… and we are not making any preemptive changes to our existing programs.”
The Office for Equity and Diversity oversees more than 15 offices and major initiatives, according to the institution’s website. Its public statements describe equity and diversity as “fundamental to everything we do at the University of Minnesota.”
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For students, the university continues to offer a paid online DEI certificate program that costs $1,575. The curriculum includes courses on implicit bias, microaggressions, and strategies for removing barriers. A separate “Equity Certificate” is also available, aimed at helping learners develop skills for equity work.
From a practical standpoint, the continued investment means that faculty and staff who interact with these programs will likely see more resources devoted to training and outreach. That could translate into additional workshops, mentorship opportunities, and perhaps more robust reporting mechanisms for bias incidents on campus.
Comparison with other state schools
Campus Reform noted that Michigan State University pays five DEI employees a total of more than $880,000 annually. While the figures differ, both institutions appear to prioritize funding for equity roles despite the broader political pressure on such programs.
The University of Minnesota has not responded to requests for comment beyond the payroll data already in the public domain. The article will be updated if further information becomes available.
