Minnesota DNR Has its First Female Commissioner

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Minnesota's Department of Natural Resources is getting its first female commissioner.

Forty-six-year-old Sarah Strommen was appointed to the lead the agency Thursday.

Strommen has held high-ranking positions at environmental advocacy groups Friends of the BWCA and Minnesota Land Trust. She was with the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources before joining the DNR as the assistant commissioner four years ago.

Former colleagues describe Strommen as someone who ``gets so much done.''

Eran Sandquist is the Minnesota coordinator for conservation group Pheasants Forever. Sandquist says Strommen has a strong conservation background and has based her decisions on science.

Democratic Representative Rick Hansen chairs the House Natural Resources Committee. He says Strommen is well-qualified with her ideas, skills, and problem-solving abilities.