Burton D. Cohen

College of Liberal Arts, October 18, 2005

Burton D. Cohen, 1955 graduate of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, has spent nearly five decades in the field of journalism and publishing. He has had an outstanding career, which has taken him to a variety of publishing companies in management roles, including The New York Times Media Company, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich and Modern Medicine Publications. He became president of MSP Communications in 1978. MSP Communications publishes Mpls. St. Paul Magazine, Twin Cities Business Monthly, and MSP Custom Publishing Interactive. Currently, he serves as its Founding Publisher. He has demonstrated his commitment to the University of Minnesota over the course of his career, serving as an advocate on numerous occasions. He played a pivotal role in helping the School of Journalism set the stage for the new media initiative and in clarifying and expanding its mission. He has served on the alumni board, the College of Liberal Arts Business Advisory Council, the School of Music advisory board, and the board of the Foundation, and has served as a mentor for dozens of young journalists.