SCSU Appoints Interim President Following Potter's Death

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- St. Cloud State University has announced the selection of an interim president following the death of President Earl H. Potter III last week.

School officials say Dr. Ashish Vaidya was appointed Wednesday to a two-year term, which will start Thursday.

Vaidya, who has worked in university administration for about 20 years, has been SCSU's vice president of academic affairs and a provost since 2015. Directly prior to that, he served the same roles at California State University, Los Angeles for five years.

Potter, 69, was killed in a car crash on Interstate 94 in Brooklyn Center on June 13. Investigators say he over corrected while trying to avoid hitting a guardrail, causing his vehicle to flip. The Minnesota State Patrol is still investigating the fatal crash.