Stories at the Station - Marlene M. Johnson

Overview

Join local Minnesotan author, former Lieutenant Governor Marlene M. Johnson, for a discussion of her memoir, Rise to the Challenge. Sponsored by Story Line Books.

The event will include a book discussion with Margaret Anderson Kelliher, City Operations Officer for the City of Minneapolis, complimentary appetizers and a cash bar. This event will be held on the Mezzanine above 1881 Restaurant inside Union Depot.

Rise to the Challenge: A Memoir of Politics, Leadership, and Love

The inspiring life story of Minnesota’s first woman lieutenant governor: breaking political ground, navigating patriarchal tradition, and persevering through great personal loss

About Marlene M. Johnson:

Marlene M. Johnson was Minnesota’s first woman lieutenant governor, serving in Governor Rudy Perpich’s administration from 1983 until 1991. She is cofounder of the Minnesota Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners and the Minnesota Women’s Campaign Fund and was executive director and CEO of NAFSA: Association of International Educators for nearly two decades. She is now on the advisory board of Kakenya’s Dream, a board member of the Washington Office on Latin America, and a trustee of The Alexandria Trust. In 1988, she was awarded the Royal Order of the Polar Star by the Kingdom of Sweden. She lives in Washington, D.C.

About Margaret Anderson Kelliher:

Margaret Anderson Kelliher was appointed City Operations Officer for the City of Minneapolis by Mayor Jacob Frey and confirmed by the Minneapolis City Council in 2024. In this pivotal role, she leads key departments, including Civil Rights, Public Works, and 17 departments under Internal Services, Communications and Engagement, and Development, Health, and Livability.

Before her appointment, she served as Minnesota’s Commissioner of Transportation, where she prioritized safety, climate resilience, and equity within the transportation system. She has also led the Minnesota Technology Association, chaired Governor Dayton’s Broadband Task Force, and pioneered a paid internship program to connect small businesses and students with opportunities in technology and sciences.

A former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives for twelve years, she made history as the first woman to serve as Speaker of the House. During her tenure, she was a passionate advocate for renewable energy, transportation infrastructure, and the Legacy Amendment, which supports clean water and conservation efforts in Minnesota.

Raised on a family farm in southern Minnesota, she holds a Master’s degree from Harvard Kennedy School of Government. She currently resides in Minneapolis with her husband, where she enjoys outdoor activities, art, and reading in her leisure time