Breanne Tepler will join the Marshall H & Nellie Alworth Memorial Fund as its next Executive Director.
Tepler replaces Patty Salo Downs, who is retiring after 19 years of dedicated service.
For the past 14 years, Tepler has been at the College of St. Scholastica in Admissions, Marketing, and recently, Career Services. In 2019, she earned a Master of Arts in Management degree with a concentration in Change Leadership and started teaching SBT 2000 Career Exploration and Planning in the Stender School as an adjunct instructor.
Prior to this, having received a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from the University of Minnesota Duluth, Tepler worked in the areas of sales, marketing, fundraising, management and event planning.
She is a lifelong Duluthian with a passion for supporting young adults.
“I am so thrilled to be able to apply my skills and experience to this new role working with the students in our region,” she said.
The Alworth Fund grants scholarships that support students going into a STEM field with high scholastic records and financial need in the Alworth Memorial Fund region. The Fund has awarded thousands of scholarships, amounting to more than $60 million after the recent 2025 scholarship award season.
On behalf of the Alworth Board of Trustees, the President, Marieta Johnson said, “We look forward to bringing on a new executive director while recognizing Patty Salo Downs for her years of outstanding service and contributions to the Alworth Fund. Patty has laid a strong foundation for future growth, and we are committed to building on this legacy for many years to come. The board of trustees wish Patty well in her retirement.”
