Dianne Anastos

Diane Anastos (she/her) has a master’s degree in public administration from Hamline University and a bachelor’s degree in political science from American University. She has worked in the public and nonprofit sectors for over 20 years, in a variety of administrative and management roles. Diane has overseen communications, program management and neighborhood building for numerous organizations and cities, and was proud to serve as a city administrator for a small city in MN and nonprofit executive director in Phoenix, AZ. A natural leader, and visionary, Diane led boards and councils through strategic planning and initiatives. Currently Diane is working with the Metropolitan Council coordinating outreach efforts for the light rail project in the south and western suburbs. Before joining the Council, Diane worked with culturally diverse communities to build programs to encourage self-sufficiency, encourage civic engagement and social justice through program management and in other leadership positions. She brought in funds to support programs to improve the quality of life for underserved communities and developed dozens of partnerships to strengthen existing programs. With a creative bent, Diane writes a blog and is currently a volunteer through the University of Minnesota Master Gardener Program so she can expand her knowledge of gardening. She also tutors middle school students. She previously served on a nonprofit board focused on empowering youth in Liberia and taught English as a Second Language as a volunteer. A world traveler, she has visited over 30 countries, and learning about other cultures. She loves talking about her travels, her own cultural heritage, and often shares humorous travel stories. Diane has a deep appreciation for history and culture and believes learning about the past can guide the future.