NDSU president finalists include El-Rewini, Holz-Clause

A search committee has narrowed the field of candidates for North Dakota State University president to three.

The state Board of Higher Education says the finalists include Hesham El-Rewini, provost and vice president of academic affairs at Marymount University of Virginia.

He is the former dean of UND’s College of Engineering and Mines.

Other finalists are Mary Holz-Clause, acting executive chancellor at the University of Minnesota in Crookston and Morris… and David Cook, vice chancellor for public affairs and economic development at the University of Kansas.

Higher ed board members will interview the candidates in Fargo on Feb. 23 before making their selection.

The search committee had selected five candidates from the 47 applicants who met qualifications for the job.

Current NDSU President Dean Bresciani is stepping down after a dozen years at the helm.

AP

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ND Board of Higher Education release:

The North Dakota State University (NDSU) Presidential Search Committee has advanced three finalists for consideration as the next president of NDSU. The State Board of Higher Education (SBHE) will interview these candidates on Wednesday, February 23, 2022, on the NDSU campus before selecting the next president of NDSU.

“The Board is being presented with a strong slate of finalists and each offers unique leadership skills that will serve NDSU well into the future,” said Dr. Jill Louters State Board of Higher Education vice chair. She added that the search committee thoroughly vetted the candidate pool and carefully considered broad stakeholder feedback in determining the list of finalists.

“We’re excited to bring these talented leaders to campus for their final public interviews, knowing they each have become acquainted with NDSU and the people that make our institution great. I am confident that the future of NDSU will be in good hands with these finalists,” said Dr. Greg Lardy, NDSU vice president for Agricultural Affairs, who is co-chairing the NDSU Presidential Search Committee with Louters. Both said the finalists have a broad range of experiences from institutions around the country and have held high level leadership positions that will help them propel NDSU forward as the state’s land grant institution.

The finalists 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)

The Presidential Search Committee was charged by the State Board of Higher Education (SBHE) to evaluate candidates for the NDSU presidency. Originally, 47 candidates were initially reviewed after meeting qualifications. Next, a round of in-person interviews took place in Minneapolis, January 5-6. Following those interviews, the search committee narrowed the pool to five candidates invited to campus.

The campus visits consisted of a thorough interview process from every facet of stakeholders that are integral to the campus community. The candidates met with students, faculty, staff, alumni, friends, and campus and community leaders, providing the search committee with feedback on each candidate. It is anticipated that the new NDSU president will assume office in June 2022.