NDSU presidential finalists and public presentation schedule announced
The NDSU Presidential Search Committee, charged by the State Board of Higher Education to evaluate candidates for the 16th President of NDSU, has narrowed a nationwide pool of over 60 highly qualified applicants to three finalists who will interview on campus between March 23-25.
Co-chairs of the NDSU Presidential Search Committee Kevin Black and Jace Beehler encourage the NDSU community and the public to take part in the daily presentations at 2 p.m. in the Anishinaabe Theater, located on the second floor of the Memorial Union. Each session will last one hour and will include a 20-minute presentation and time for questions from the audience, followed by a 30-minute meet and greet. A virtual option will be available via Zoom, and recordings will be posted to the NDSU presidential search webpage.
“Selecting the next president of NDSU is an important responsibility, and broad participation helps ensure we identify a leader who understands the university’s strengths and the needs of the state,” said Black. “We are proud to invite a strong pool of finalists to campus and appreciate the time and attention the NDSU community and our partners throughout Fargo and North Dakota dedicate to this process.”
The candidates and their on-campus visits are as follows:
Dr. Marshall Stewart
Executive vice president for external engagement, Kansas State University
On-campus visit:
March 22-23, public presentation on Monday, March 23 at 2 p.m.
Dr. Stewart feedback form, open until noon CST on March 24
Dr. Bernie Savarese
Vice president for academic affairs, research and student success, University of Tennessee
On-campus visit:
March 23-24, public presentation on Tuesday, March 24 at 2 p.m.
Dr. Savarese feedback form, open until noon CST on March 25
Dr. Alan Smith
Emma Eccles Jones endowed dean and tenured professor of kinesiology and health science and former interim president, Utah State University
On-campus visit:
March 24-25, public presentation on Wednesday, March 25 at 2 p.m.
Dr. Smith feedback form, open until noon CST on March 26
During their campus visits, the candidates will meet with students, faculty, staff, alumni, friends, as well as campus and community leaders. Feedback will be requested from these stakeholder groups, as well as through the anonymous feedback forms linked to each finalist.
After the campus visits, the search committee will officially recommend candidates to the State Board of Higher Education during a final committee meeting on Friday, March 27 at 9 a.m. Final interviews by the board will take place on the NDSU campus on Monday, March 30, with the selection of the 16th President of NDSU announced that same day. A public introduction is scheduled that afternoon from 4 to 5 p.m. in the Memorial Union’s Oceti Sakowin Ballroom A.
The new president is anticipated to assume office by the beginning of June.