Gen Olson (born May 20, 1938) is a retired teacher and Republican politician who is a former member of the Minnesota Senate representing portions of Hennepin and Wright counties in the western Twin Cities metropolitan area.

She served as an assistant minority leader from 1989 to 1990 and president pro tempore from 2011 until 2013.

In addition to her professional work in vocational education administration, Olson has been active in public service for many years, working for the Minnesota Department of Education, and serving on the boards of several organizations and on various commissions in her home community of Minnetrista, where she was also a member of the city council from 1979 to 1981, and mayor from 1981 to 1983.

She was later Senator Norm Coleman's running mate when he ran for governor in 1998.

[5] Her special legislative concerns included education, property tax reform, cost of government, environment and natural resources, tax policy, agriculture, economic development, and local government.