Governor Tim Walz (D) formally appointed Nancy Daubenberger (seen above) to serve as the commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Transportation on May 24. Daubenberger – a 22-year veteran of the agency – has served as interim commissioner since Margaret Anderson Kelliher stepped down from the position in January.
[Above photo by the Minnesota DOT]
“Nancy Daubenberger has immediately taken up Minnesota DOT’s mission to provide safe, reliable transportation for all Minnesotans,” said Gov. Walz in a statement. “With experience in management and engineering, she has quickly made an impact. I have confidence that her leadership will continue to strengthen our state’s transportation system.”
“All Minnesotans rely on this state transportation infrastructure and deserve a safe, sustainable, efficient, equitable, and environmentally-conscious multimodal network of options,” Daubenberger said. “I look forward to collaborating with our many partners in this work, including stakeholders in labor and the building trades, and federal, tribal, state and local transportation and environmental organizations, and many others.”
Daubenberger has served as Minnesota DOT’s deputy commissioner and chief engineer since December 2019. Previously. She served as the agency’s assistant commissioner for engineering services, and the state bridge engineer. She also served in a number of planning, project management, and design roles for the Minnesota DOT Bridge Office and Metro District.
Before joining the Minnesota DOT, Daubenberger worked in consulting for about six years, in both bridge and road design.
Born and raised in Minnesota, Daubenberger holds a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from North Dakota State University as well as a master’s in civil engineering from the University of Minnesota. Nancy and her husband reside in Woodbury, MN, where they raised a daughter and son.