(ABC 6 News) – Dr. Laura Bloomberg is a former dean at the University of Minnesota and a former teacher in Cannon Falls. But now, she has the chance to dawn the maroon and gold once again, as she runs to become the next president of the university.

Dr. Bloomberg spoke to university faculty and community leaders at UMR on Friday morning.

She was asked hard questions about issues many students of this generation face, like mental health. Bloomberg says just because you’re going through a tough, that doesn’t mean you are a bad student.

“So, when we say ‘we choose you as a student’ and ‘our student chose us,’ we say we want all of you. All of your abilities, your disabilities, your strengths, your weaknesses, your challenges, your fears, your hopes because that’s all of you,” said Bloomberg.

She was also asked about her prior experience in Minnesota and how she would use that to lead the university.

“What makes any candidate qualified for that, is the way in which they can lead a community towards a vision from the future, and that is always going to be informed by my past here,” said Bloomberg.

Another finalist for the position is Dr. Rebecca Cunningham. She will be at UMR on Wednesday for a similar forum.