Five presidential candidates invited to North Dakota State University campus

(Bismarck, ND)--The North Dakota State University Presidential Search Committee, charged by the State Board of Higher Education to evaluate candidates for the NDSU presidency, has narrowed a large, nation-wide pool of highly-qualified applicants to five candidates who will interview on campus between January 24-Feburary 3, 2022.

“The candidates bring leadership experience from flagship universities, institutions with robust and growing research portfolios, and land grant institutions,” said Dr. Jill LoutersState Board of Higher Education vice chair. “We’re excited to bring these talented leaders to campus.” Dr. Louters is co-chairing the NDSU Presidential Search Committee with Dr. Greg Lardy, NDSU vice president for agriculture. Both said they were impressed with the extremely strong pool of candidates.

The candidates include presidents, chancellors and vice chancellors, and provosts. The pool of candidates has an exceptional range of experience with diverse student bodies and a remarkable body of work in engineering, agriculture, advanced technology, business, economic and work force development.   

The candidates are:

David Cook, Ph.D.

Vice Chancellor for Public Affairs & Economic Development

University of Kansas (at Lawrence)

Hesham El-Rewini, Ph.D., P.E.

Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs

Marymount University (in Washington, D.C. area)

Mary Holz-Clause, Ph.D.

Acting Executive Chancellor

University of Minnesota (dual campus, at Morris and Crookston) 

Debra Larson, Ph.D.

Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs

California State University (at Chico)

Michael Tidwell, Ph.D.

Immediate Past President

University of Texas (at Tyler)

During their campus visits, the candidates will meet with students, faculty, staff, alumni, friends, and campus and community leaders, with the search committee soliciting feedback from these key stakeholder groups.

Following the on-campus interviews, the search committee will recommend an unranked slate of finalists to the State Board of Higher Education. The board will conduct final interviews on the NDSU campus on Wednesday, February 23, 2022, with the selection of the next NDSU president announced thereafter. It is anticipated that the new NDSU president will assume office in June 2022.

Originally, 47 candidates met qualifications and were forwarded to the Presidential Search Committee for their initial review. The committee met in executive session on Wednesday, December 8, 2021, to discuss candidates. A round of in-person interviews took place in Minneapolis, January 5-6. Following those interviews, the search committee narrowed the pool to the five candidates invited to campus.