About Phil

Philip Lewenstein

After growing up in Duluth, Minnesota, Phil earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. He later completed course work in the UCLA College Counseling Certificate program.

Following three years of newspaper editing, Phil worked for the Minnesota Higher Education Services Office and its predecessors for 31 years, mostly as director communications and legislative services.

During this time, Phil helped develop and gain passage of Minnesota’s nationally-recognized student finance policies and programs. He developed and implemented Minnesota’s student/parent information programs to encourage family academic and financial preparation for higher education. He also initiated, developed, and managed the state’s precollege early awareness programs for low income students and families. As part of these efforts, he developed award-winning publications and other college planning resources.

Retiring from state service, Phil taught writing and communication courses for 10 years for private career colleges. He also created Coaching for College, an independent college counseling service to help students and families select, apply to, and pay for a college education.

For the past 27 years, Phil has resided in Vadnais Heights, Minnesota. His wife, Frances, is a middle school math teacher at Columbia Academy in Columbia Heights, Minnesota. He has four adult children—Miriam, Jacquelyna, Ian, and Sara.