Board Appoints Former Lieutenant Governor to Lead North Dakota University System

 Chancellor Brent Sanford. (Photo by Jeff Beach/North Dakota Monitor)

(North Dakota Monitor) – North Dakota’s State Board of Higher Education voted to make interim Chancellor Brent Sanford the long-term leader of the state’s University System.

Board member Tim Mihalick said Sanford has the “it factor” that rarely comes along in a leader. The board chose not to do a national search after meeting for about an hour in a closed-door executive session.

Board member Danita Bye said a national search would have led the board back to Sanford, echoing previous statements from Board Chair Kevin Black.

Sanford’s title will change from chancellor to commissioner. The motion approving Sanford also changed the title to align with what is in the state constitution.