[ST. PAUL, MN] – Governor Tim Walz today announced the appointment of Tamar Gronvall to serve as Commissioner of Administration. Gronvall will start as commissioner on October 9, replacing Stacie Christensen, who has been serving as temporary commissioner since June.

​“From securing critical resources during the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuring fairness on the Minnesota Tax Court to advocating for thousands of employees in the University of Minnesota’s Office of Conflict Resolution, Tamar Gronvall is a dedicated public servant and effective leader," said Governor Walz. “I look forward to Gronvall’s continued service to Minnesotans in this important role.”

​“Tamar Gronvall has dedicated her career of public service to advocating for justice and equity for Minnesotans,” said Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan. “Gronvall is an accomplished and effective leader who will ensure our state systems continue to deliver the best and most efficient services for Minnesotans. I’m excited to watch her serve the state in this role.”

“I am honored to be appointed as Commissioner of Administration,” said Tamar Gronvall. “The Department of Administration plays an important role in supporting all state agencies, their employees, and our Minnesota stakeholders. I look forward to collaborating with the Governor and Lieutenant Governor, my Administration colleagues, state agencies, and with our partners in the legislature and entire Minnesota community to provide excellent service to Minnesotans.”

Since 2019, Tamar Gronvall has served as director at the Office for Conflict Resolution at the University of Minnesota, providing legal counsel and mediations and overseeing the employee grievance process for over 20,000 employees across all five system campuses. In this role, she has initiated and led processes to improve the university’s practices and policies to advance fairness, transparency, equity, and inclusion. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Gronvall served in a temporary position with the State Emergency Operations Center, where she led efforts across numerous state agencies to secure federal funding for urgent pandemic needs. In 2017, Governor Dayton appointed Gronvall as one of three judges on the Minnesota Tax Court where she expanded free mediation to all parties and increased court accessibility for self-represented litigants. She previously served as general counsel at the Minnesota Department of Commerce and served in the Minnesota State Attorney General’s office, managing several divisions representing numerous state agencies. Gronvall earned her B.A. from the University of Minnesota and her J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School.

“Tamar demonstrated exceptional legal skills when she represented the Departments of Revenue and Commerce as an attorney, and later when served with distinction as a Minnesota Tax Court Judge,” said University of Minnesota’s Senior Vice President of Finance and Operations Myron Frans. “Tamar also provided excellent management and analytical skills when she supported Minnesota Management and Budget as an advisor. She is a dedicated public servant, and she will excel as Commissioner of Administration in the Walz-Flanagan Administration.”

“Ms. Gronvall’s interpersonal skills, communication skills, and ability to see strategic opportunities in complex and dynamic work will make her an extraordinary Commissioner of Administration,” said Chief Administrative Law Judge Jenny Starr.

About the Minnesota Department of Administration
The Minnesota Department of Administration oversees and manages the administrative functions of other executive branch state agencies, including purchasing and contracting, facilities management, and more. State law also authorizes the department to engage in strategic planning efforts for the state and to investigate and study the management of state agencies, reorganizing them when necessary to ensure effective and efficient operations.