Growing Destinations
Your go-to source for insightful discussions on destination development. The Growing Destinations podcast delves into the strategies, challenges, and successes that drive community growth. Each episode features in-depth conversations with local and national experts, uncovering universal themes and innovative practices that can be applied to any city or region.
Growing Destinations
A Conversation with Chancellor Lori Carrell - University of Minnesota Rochester
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On Growing Destinations, we’re joined by Chancellor Lori Carrell of the University of Minnesota Rochester (UMR). Chancellor Carrell received the Rochester Mayor’s Medal of Honor in 2025 for her leadership in higher education and her impact on the city. Under her leadership, UMR has experienced significant enrollment growth and continues to expand its role as a downtown campus preparing the next generation of healthcare and research professionals. We discuss UMR’s unique place within the University of Minnesota system, its innovative approach to learning, and how the university’s growth is shaping the future of Rochester.
Sponsor And Rochester Welcome
SPEAKER_01The Growing Destinations Podcast is brought to you by Experience Rochester. Learn more about Minnesota's third largest city, which is home to Mayo Clinic and features wonderful recreational and entertainment opportunities by visiting ExperiencedRochesterMN.com.
SPEAKER_00Our students from day one are embedded in the industry that they will serve. Here on the UMR campus, spread across downtown Rochester, if students are on their way to class or getting a cup of coffee, they are sure to see two other kinds of people, patients and healthcare professionals. This is the world to which they aspire and by which they are inspired. And it is such a gift for students to be shoulder to shoulder with those they will serve and those who are just a little ahead of them in developing their health careers.
SPEAKER_01Welcome to the Growing Destinations Podcast, where we take a deep dive into destination development and focus on a wide range of topics, from tourism and entertainment to economic development and entrepreneurism and much more. I'm your host, Bill Von Bank. Today on Growing Destinations, we're joined by Chancellor Lori Carroll of the University of Minnesota Rochester. Chancellor Carroll received the Rochester Mayor's Medal of Honor last year for her leadership in higher education and her impact on the city. Under her leadership, UMR has experienced significant enrollment growth and continues to expand its role as a downtown campus, preparing the next generation of healthcare and research professionals. We'll talk about UMR's unique place within the University of Minnesota system, its innovative approach to learning, and how the university's growth is shaping the future of Rochester. Chancellor Lori Carroll, welcome to the Growing Destinations Podcast.
Why She Chose UMR
SPEAKER_00Well, thank you so much. I'm delighted to be here.
SPEAKER_01I've been in Rochester since 2017 and I've seen the growth of this university firsthand. What drew you to Rochester and to this relatively young university?
SPEAKER_00Well, the vision of this new campus with a new way of doing things did draw me like a magnetic force. But I have to admit, when the search firm first reached out and described what they had in mind here, I was just a little bit skeptical. Could it be that a university campus actually would center students and their learning and development? Could it be that faculty would do their research on students and put the results into practice? I didn't think it was possible. I shared these emails with a colleague who said to me, Well, why don't you just drive over there and check it out? And her famous words were, I mean, what could happen?
SPEAKER_01Because you were across the border, right, in Wisconsin.
SPEAKER_00Correct. So I drove four hours over here, checked it out, and I have never looked back. The opportunity here to do something for students that was highly impactful and to be a model for the future of higher education as a campus in a community so dedicated to innovation and collaboration and health was a gift, a gift. It's been a joy ride.
SPEAKER_01We are now in 2026. What year was that when you came here?
SPEAKER_002014.
SPEAKER_01Okay, 12 years.
SPEAKER_00Wow.
SPEAKER_01UMR is different from other University of Minnesota campuses. How would you describe its role within the broader U of M system and what makes it stand out?
SPEAKER_00The gift to the University of Minnesota and to all of us who are part of this campus community was the gift of starting a public university from scratch. So to do that, rather than enact change management, we were able to put in place evidence-based practices that we know would support student success from the very beginning and to make sure every student had those practices. Every student. This was a great privilege, an honor. And other campuses in the University of Minnesota have been around for a very long time. I think we're having our 175th anniversary. And that is so different from starting after the research about how students learn and develop and how we can support their success has been accomplished. So knowing that research and putting it into practice on a blank canvas is how we have been able to be different. It's not that we're so special and we know what to do and others don't. Every campus in the University of Minnesota wants to do what's best for students, but we were able to start with that blank canvas, and that has made a difference. So we're specialized in health. And in addition to that, our faculty all do their research on student learning and development. And we put such research results into practice for students to support their deep learning, their well-being, their sense of belonging, their timely completion, and their career launch.
SPEAKER_01Unlike a typical university campus, UMR is integrated throughout downtown Rochester rather than built around a traditional quad. How does this model shape student learning and campus life?
SPEAKER_00Another gift for our students and their futures, and really Minnesota's future. So our students from day one are embedded in the industry that they will serve. Here on the UMR campus, spread across downtown Rochester, if students are on their way to class or getting a cup of coffee, they are sure to see two other kinds of people: patients and healthcare professionals. This is the world to which they aspire and by which they are inspired. And it is such a gift for students to be shoulder to shoulder with those they will serve and those who are just a little ahead of them in developing their health careers.
SPEAKER_01Truly the definition of integrated.
SPEAKER_00Exactly. Exactly.
SPEAKER_01UMR was founded with a focus on health sciences, which we've talked about. How does this mission influence the kinds of students who come here and the programs you offer?
SPEAKER_00UMR students are extraordinary. They come from such a wide variety of backgrounds, and yet they have one thing in common, and that is a passion to make a difference in the world through a career in health. And that passion to make a difference in the world brings us high achievers who are studious and committed and who want to serve communities. They measure their value and purpose on impact. That's similar to the faculty and staff who serve them. So we all have that in common: a shared value on making a difference for others.
SPEAKER_01Where does the student body come from, primarily the upper Midwest or all over?
Learning By Doing With Partners
SPEAKER_00We are primarily Minnesotan, but also the upper Midwest. And we are split in our student body of Minnesotans between rural and urban. So about half of the Minnesota students come from the Metro and about half come from rural Minnesota.
SPEAKER_01UMR emphasizes hands-on experiential learning rather than traditional lecture-based instruction. Can you share an example of how students get real-world experiences as part of their studies and how that prepares them for careers in healthcare and beyond?
SPEAKER_00Absolutely. This is a critical element. Reminder that we have three principles here. Students are at the center, research informs practice, and partners make it possible. And it is our partners in downtown Rochester, in Discovery Square, and at Mayo Clinic who help make possible these kinds of experiences so that students are immersed in the learning and in the industry that they will be serving. A primary example is undergraduate research opportunities, both in Discovery Square and with Mayo Clinic researchers. And we have countless alumni who experienced undergraduate research for the first time as sophomores and suddenly were so thrilled with the possibility, again, of purpose and impact that they never knew could be a reality for them. Many come as young teenagers thinking, I want to cure cancer or do something about Alzheimer's because of a story within their own family or friendship group. But when they get into an undergraduate research experience with a partner, because partners make it possible, the world opens up for them as they think about new ways to have impact. So we have many, many alumni journey stories that where the trajectory changes when they get into a research lab with our partners at Mayo Clinic and Discovery Square.
SPEAKER_01You mentioned Discovery Square. Let's take a deeper dive into that campus. It's a life science campus in downtown Rochester, part of the Destination Medical Center initiative connected with Mayo Clinic. Tell us a little bit more about Discovery Square and your role in it.
SPEAKER_00Yes, thank you for that opportunity. First of all, the name of the place, right? Discovery Square. We are making discoveries about how students learn, how they are well, how they discover a sense of belonging, how they thrive. That is our faculty research contribution. Those who are discovering in Discovery Square are advancing all kinds of beautiful outcomes, health outcomes. And this inspires our students. So we have classroom and lab classroom facilities in Discovery Square 1 and 2. We will shortly be expanding those if all things go well. And I love about Discovery Square many things, but one of them is that our first-year student sitting in a sociology class on the first floor of two Discovery Square routinely see professionals exiting nucleus, radio pharma, with a small container that has in it an experimental cancer drug. They walk out of their biomanufacturing area past our classroom, down Discovery Walk, up to the cancer center in the Gonda, right next to our students who are engaged in their learning and aspiring to make an impact through a career in health.
SPEAKER_01And can maybe see themselves in that person in the future.
SPEAKER_00That's right. So many of our students are first generation in their family to go to college. And the idea of doing something about cancer motivated them to pursue a career in health. And yet to see that in action, what does that take? What are the career roles that have anything to do with that whole process of drug discovery and testing and eventual impact? They learn about that in part because of the facilities and how we're integrated into Discovery Square.
SPEAKER_01It's such a fantastic building and area of Rochester.
SPEAKER_00Agreed.
SPEAKER_01Well, UMR recently experienced a significant surge in freshman enrollment. What's driving that growth and how does it reflect the university's distinct approach?
SPEAKER_00I would think the first thing that's driving that growth is the quality of the teaching and learning that happens here. Because we put research into practice in how we help students learn and support their development, every class is relevant to what the student is studying. So if it's philosophy, we're going to look at medical ethics cases. So we keep that relevancy high. It's active and collaborative. So first of all, there's quality. Second, there is value. So these pursuits with in UMR lead to careers in health that have not only purpose, meaning, and impact, but also a family-sustaining wage. We have recently received a national recognition as an opportunity university, meaning that the variety of backgrounds of our students and the salaries they earn are much higher than the national average. And that word opportunity, I think, is a big draw for prospective students and their families to have immersive learning experience in America City for Health with the partners in Discovery Square and Mayo Clinic, to have active, engaged, immersive experiential learning with faculty who are dedicated to student success. This is a high-value college education. Further, we do innovate. We have three-year options for baccalaureate degrees if that's right for a student. And we are constantly adapting what we do to reflect the research. So the student experience in and out of class is ever better. This city and this community is also a part of the attraction. And we can't forget that.
Get Forward Faster Pathways
SPEAKER_01How does UMR collaborate with other U of M campuses and research student experiences or healthcare partnerships?
SPEAKER_00We have a variety of programs we put under the umbrella term of Get Forward Faster. So, in partnership with University of Minnesota graduate and professional programs that lead to health careers, we advance a senior year capstone here that is the first year of the graduate or professional program. And that accelerates the entire journey. So many health careers do take advanced study, and the academic journey is long, and there's the workforce needs waiting. We need more rural physicians, more rural PAs, the list goes on, more pharmacists, the list goes on. So we have uh partnerships that enable that journey, the full journey, to be one year shorter. And those partnerships are part of the value of the University of Minnesota Rochester college education.
Expanding Downtown Facilities
SPEAKER_01As enrollment continues to rise, what are the next steps for campus development and how might the physical expansion of UMR shape downtown Rochester?
SPEAKER_00First, and very important for us to say I talk about quality and value. Sustaining the excellence of the education we offer is job number one as we grow. While we do that, of course, we need to expand facilities and academic programs and colleagues. We need more colleagues. So the expansion of facilities, I think, is of particular interest and the focus of your question. We have a campus and climate action plan that had input from community members, faculty staff, and students as well, and employer partners, and was approved by our Board of Regents. That's recently been translated into a more specific vision for which we're seeking strategic investment. It includes expansion of lab classrooms in Discovery Square. It includes a new academic building. It includes residential and recreational facilities on university-owned land that was purchased in part with city sales tax, thanks to the citizens of Rochester. And that land is adjacent to Soldiers Field. So it's a three-part expansion.
SPEAKER_01And all still near downtown?
SPEAKER_00All downtown, yes. This is a critical element of our students' experience. We want the opportunities in and out of class to be walkable opportunities and for them to be a part of this environment that I've been describing where there's such inspiration and mentorship provided to them.
SPEAKER_01I hear this a lot from people visiting Rochester, how easy it is to navigate. It's got to be great for the students.
SPEAKER_00Absolutely. And uh we we hear that from them often. You know, we now have the Student Life Center, which was previously the Double Tree Hotel, and students have their dining facility within the Student Life Center. This is the first year student population, so they can stay in their jammies and get breakfast.
SPEAKER_01And connected by Skyway.
Economic Impact And Future Learning
SPEAKER_00And connected by Skyway to their classrooms. So it is nice when we're going to have the kind of weather that some call spring here in Minnesota.
SPEAKER_01As UMR grows, what impact are students and faculty having on downtown vitality, local culture, and the broader economy?
SPEAKER_00We have recently had an economic impact study completed by the an external partner for the whole of the University of Minnesota. And this was before our enrollment surge last fall, just before. And the economic impact of the Rochester campus was put at 89.9 million. And of course, we've grown significantly since then. The vibrancy of young people who are driven by purpose and who are engaged in their community, I think cannot be underestimated. We see community engagement as a critical part of undergraduate education. We have community engagement projects embedded in coursework that is required. And so UMR students, undergraduates, 18, 19, 20-year-old students are every semester engaged in contributing to this community that is giving so much to them. And as they contribute, they're also learning. So many community-engaged projects with students involved in those and learning, mostly in the fall and spring semesters, but also in the summer. So there's economic impact, there's community engagement and contribution and giving back. And students, of course, are also many of them working part-time in downtown Rochester. And those opportunities are walkable as well. And in some roles that may have difficulty attracting workers. I think we want to be sure to emphasize that. Further, the kinds of internships that are offered that advance research and where there are gaps, research coordination. We also see some work with our primary partner, Mayo Clinic, by students in some of the jobs that maybe you and I wouldn't be able to do anymore, like the overnight sleep lab, uh, and other kinds of contributions on their way to advanced health careers. This is also part of the impact. And then I hear routinely, especially when the weather's good and our students are out and about outside of the skyways, that student life and vibrancy and optimism and engagement has added a new dimension to downtown Rochester. We're over 1,100 students at present who live and learn and work and play in downtown Rochester, who are dedicated to healthy lifestyles and who want to contribute to their community. So the contribution goes well beyond economic impact.
SPEAKER_01Also, as we talk about impact, what about faculty and staff?
SPEAKER_00Their work is a national, even international model for higher education and the future of learning. In fact, the broader University of Minnesota's new strategic roadmap, Elevate Extraordinary 2030, places an emphasis on innovation for the future of learning. And our faculty and staff are providing models of how to do that in a research-based way that centers students, their well-being, belonging, and success. We're so proud of UMR faculty and staff and recently received news that yet two more of our faculty have won the university's highest teaching honor, and a cohort of faculty are representing our novel research-based model, a high-quality, high-value education. They are representing us in an international venue. So we are really proud of their contributions. I think they are well aligned with what the community of Rochester expects. National visibility, international impact, innovation, and collaboration. We fit right in with America City for Health.
SPEAKER_01Very cool. When you look 10 years into the future, how do you hope UMR will be? Remembered for its role in Rochester and in the University of Minnesota system.
SPEAKER_00Well, here I have to think about the citizens who were advocates for a University of Minnesota campus in Rochester, Minnesota, and that that work began in the 60s with Marilyn Stewart and many others, and that it continued over decades and decades. And I often hear from those who were engaged in that advocacy about what they imagined would happen with this campus. I hope that now and 10 years from now that they are proud of the quality of education that's offered, the quantity of graduates that are filling needs in health care, and the community impact of the students, the faculty, and the staff.
SPEAKER_01Chancellor Lori Carroll, it's been a pleasure to have this conversation with you. Congratulations on the success of enrollment and the growth of the campus. And thank you for being our guest on the Growing Destinations Podcast.
SPEAKER_00Well, thank you so much for your interest.
Closing And Subscribe Reminder
SPEAKER_01Thank you for tuning in to the Growing Destinations Podcast. And don't forget to subscribe. This podcast is brought to you by Experience Rochester. Find out more about Rochester, Minnesota, and its growing arts and culture scene, its international culinary flavors, and award winning craft beer by visiting Experience Rochester Mn.com.
