The North Dakota State Board of Higher Education will convene this week to discuss interim presidents for both North Dakota State University (NDSU) and Valley City State University (VCSU). Meetings are scheduled for Thursday, December 4, 2023, and will occur in separate, closed sessions.
Meredith Larson, Chief Operating Officer for the North Dakota University System (NDUS), indicated that while a candidate for VCSU may be identified quickly, the process for NDSU could take longer. “I don’t know that the board will complete that process on Thursday. I doubt that,” Larson stated regarding the timeline for NDSU.
NDSU currently has some leeway, as President David Cook is set to leave in February 2024 to assume the presidency at Iowa State University on March 1, 2024. Cook was appointed to lead his alma mater on November 11, 2023, marking a significant career move as he returns to Ames, where he and his wife, Kate Cook, have deep roots.
In contrast, Alan LaFave, president of VCSU, will transition to a new role as president of Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota, beginning in January 2024. LaFave has a long history with Northern State, having earned his undergraduate degree there and worked for nearly 30 years before taking over in Valley City.
The board is also tasked with finding a new president for Bismarck State College, where Dan Leingang has been serving as interim president since the departure of President Doug Jensen in January 2023.
Process for Appointing Interim Leaders
Under NDUS policy, the selection of interim presidents can follow various procedures. Commissioner Brent Sanford prefers to gather letters of interest from potential candidates and conduct interviews before making a recommendation to the board. The board can then choose to appoint the recommended individual, seek further recommendations, or directly appoint someone else.
Given the multiple steps involved, Larson suggested it might take at least another month before an interim president for NDSU is finalized, unless the board convenes a special meeting to expedite the decision. The search for an interim president runs concurrently with the process of identifying a permanent successor for Cook. The NDSU Presidential Search Committee is set to hold its first meeting at 13:30 on Friday, December 5, 2023, at the Memorial Union on campus.
Larson noted that the primary goal of the committee’s initial meeting will be to determine whether to hire an external consultant to assist in selecting Cook’s successor. The committee is co-chaired by SBHE Chair Kevin Black and Jace Beehler, NDSU Chief of Staff. Other members include faculty and staff from various disciplines, alongside student representatives.
Context of Recent Changes
While it is somewhat unusual for NDUS to have three presidential searches occurring simultaneously, Larson emphasized that this situation arises from positive circumstances. Both Cook and LaFave are returning to their respective alma maters and hometowns. “We’re excited we’re going through this process of trying to recruit new talent and keep the momentum going at these schools,” she remarked.
The developments at NDSU and VCSU are significant as they reflect broader trends in higher education leadership transitions and the ongoing efforts to maintain stability and progress within the North Dakota University System. The coming weeks will be crucial as the board finalizes interim appointments and the search committee begins its important work.
