As McKnight’s 75th Anniversary Project Manager, Laura Salveson drives planning and coordination for a bold, multi-year campaign honoring McKnight’s history, legacy, and impact. This role is a fitting capstone in Laura’s accomplished career, uniting her deep experience and passions in service of a once-in-a-generation Foundation milestone. Laura brings deep knowledge of public history exhibits and programming, a background that makes her exceptionally well positioned to bring this vision to life.
Laura Salveson joined the McKnight Foundation as Director of Facilities and Guest Services in 2017. In that role, she worked to ensure the facility is safe, inspiring, and welcoming for guests and staff. She played a major role in stewarding the design, renovation, and move into our new sustainable headquarters at 921 Washington Avenue in Minneapolis. Prior to that major undertaking, Laura re-envisioned some of the highly public areas of our Mill City office, making the Foundation’s mission and values tangible for people entering the space. She has also had the great pleasure of hosting and supervising Step Up interns for the Foundation.
Throughout her career, Laura has kept people, their stories, and the power and meaning of place at the core of her work. Prior to coming to McKnight, she worked for the Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS) at Mill City Museum. She was on the team that opened Mill City Museum, working first as museum program supervisor, then site manager and finally director. Laura previously worked for the Minnesota AIDS Project in volunteer recruitment and management, and as a site guide and performer at four MNHS historic sites. After receiving a BA in theater arts, Laura worked for many years as a freelance actor, producer, and director. She is an avid gardener and cook.
