ST. PAUL (April 1, 2013) – The Minnesota Historical Society announced today that Jill Rudnitski will join the Society as its chief development officer, effective May 1, 2013.

Rudnitski comes to the Society from the Science Museum of Minnesota where she has held the position of vice president of development since 2008. Previously, she served in leadership roles for development and corporate and foundation relations at a number of universities, including the University of Minnesota, St. Cloud State University, Washington State University, Oregon Graduate Institute of Science and Technology and the College of Saint Benedict. Rudnitski holds an M.S. in Information Media from St. Cloud State University and an M.S. in Geography from the University of North Dakota.

"The breadth of knowledge Jill Rudnitski brings, her background in education and development, her Minnesota connections, and her passion for helping others change the world through philanthropy will benefit the Minnesota Historical Society greatly as we strive to serve more and more Minnesotans,” said Stephen Elliott, director and CEO. “Her leadership skills, coupled with her experience at the Science Museum of Minnesota – one of the nation’s finest museums – will serve us well. We are thrilled to welcome her aboard."

As chief development officer, Rudnitski will serve on the senior leadership team and will be responsible for oversight of the Society's development and membership strategies.

The Minnesota Historical Society is a non-profit educational and cultural institution established in 1849. The Society collects, preserves and tells the story of Minnesota’s past through museum exhibits, libraries and collections, historic sites, educational programs and book publishing. Using the power of history to transform lives, the Society preserves our past, shares our state’s stories and connects people with history.