Minnesota Public Radio elects Dr. Sameer Badlani and Marilyn Carlson Nelson to its Board of Trustees
Jul 8, 2025
ST. PAUL, MINN., July 8, 2025 – The Board of Trustees of Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) has welcomed two new members. Dr. Sameer Badlani, executive vice president, chief strategy Officer, and chief digital officer for Fairview Health Services, and Marilyn Carlson Nelson, former CEO and chair of Carlson Inc., were recently elected to the board.
“We’re absolutely delighted to welcome Sameer and Marilyn to the MPR Board of Trustees,” said Jean Taylor, CEO of Minnesota Public Radio. “Sameer brings tremendous background in transforming traditional business systems to digitally savvy organizations and the strategic opportunities that presents. Marilyn’s vast experience in business change and continuity, as well as her heart for Minnesota and public service, will add tremendous strength to an already incredible board. I am thrilled to have them join our conversation and bring their wisdom and guidance.”
Dr. Sameer Badlani is executive vice president, chief strategy officer, and chief digital officer at Fairview Health Services, one of Minnesota’s largest nonprofit health systems. A physician by training, Dr. Badlani brings deep clinical and strategy expertise to his leadership, using innovation in consumer experience and technology to advance patient care and create competitive advantage in business domains. He also serves as adjunct faculty for executive education at Carnegie Mellon University.
Dr. Badlani previously held senior executive roles at Sutter Health, Intermountain Healthcare, and the University of Chicago Medical Center and Biological Sciences Division. He began his U.S. medical career as an internal medicine physician at the University of Chicago.
His academic background includes a medical degree from Delhi University in India, advanced training in biomedical informatics from the University of Utah, and completion of the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School in 2022.
He has served on numerous boards, including Q-rounds and Fairview Pharmacy Services LLC. In 2025, he was elected to the board of Optomed. Dr. Badlani lives in Edina, Minnesota, with his wife Kamlika Chandla and daughter.
“Minnesota Public Radio plays a vital role in informing and connecting our communities through thoughtful journalism and storytelling,” said Badlani. “At a time when trusted information and human connection matter more than ever, I’m honored to support the organization’s mission and future.”
Marilyn Carlson Nelson is the former CEO and chair of Carlson, Inc., an international travel, hospitality, and marketing conglomerate. Carlson Nelson joined the Carlson board in 1973 and became CEO in 1999. She currently serves on the Board of Governors of Carlson Holdings, Inc., and is a trustee of the Carlson Family Foundation.
Recently, Carlson Nelson chaired the Board of Inspire Medical Systems. Previous public board experiences include First Bank System, First Trust Company, US West, and Exxon Mobil. As past chair, she is an emeritus public trustee for the Mayo Clinic Board of Trustees. She is a life director of the Minnesota Orchestra, and a trustee emeritus of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the National Endowment for Democracy.
Regularly named as one of Forbes “World’s 100 Most Powerful Women,” Carlson Nelson received the first-ever Presidential Award for Extraordinary Efforts to Combat Trafficking in Persons. She has also been honored with medals from Sweden, Norway, and Finland and the Legion d’Honneur from France.
Carlson Nelson earned her bachelor’s degree in economics from Smith College and holds an honorary doctorate from her alma mater. She lives in Long Lake, Minnesota.
“I have been asking myself where I can have impact at this point in our nation’s history,” said Carlson Nelson. “Freedom of the press and fact-based reporting are essential to our democracy. So, serving on the MPR Board with like-minded people to support and perpetuate these values is an exciting opportunity.”
For more information about MPR and its board of trustees, visit www.mpr.org.
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About Minnesota Public Radio
Minnesota Public Radio® (MPR®) operates a 45-station radio network serving almost all of Minnesota and parts of surrounding states for more than 50 years. MPR reaches over 800,000 weekly listeners. MPR and its three regional services—MPR News, YourClassical MPR and The Current®—produce programming for radio, digital and live audiences. Programs produced by MPR’s national programming division, American Public Media® (APM), reach nearly 15 million listeners across 1,000 public radio stations. APM is one of the largest producers and distributors of public radio programming in the world. For more information on MPR, visit mpr.org.
Source: Data are copyright Nielsen Audio, PSA and PPM data, P12+, Mon- Sun 6a-12m, Fall ‘23 + Spring ‘24.