5 candidates selected to interview for NDSU president's post

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — Five candidates have been selected to interview for North Dakota State University president, the state Board of Higher Education announced Tuesday.

The prospects will visit Fargo campus later this month. In addition to interviews with the search committee, they will meet with students, faculty, staff, alumni and other campus and community leaders. Finalists will be selected to return to campus final interviews on Feb. 23.

The candidates are David Cook, vice chancellor for public affairs on economic development at the University of Kansas; Hesham El-Rewini, provost and vice president of academic affairs at Marymount University; Mary Holz-Clause, acting executive chancellor at the University of Minnesota in Morris and Crookston; Debra Larson, provost and vice president of academic affairs at California State University in Chico; and Michael Tidwell, immediate past president of the University of Texas in Tyler.

“The candidates bring leadership experience from flagship universities, institutions with robust and growing research portfolios, and land grant institutions,” said state board member Jill Louters, who is co-chairing the search committee. “We’re excited to bring these talented leaders to campus.”

The search committee selected the five candidates after reviewing the credentials of 47 applicants who met qualifications for the job and conducting in-person interviews in Minneapolis earlier this month.

Current NDSU President Dean Bresciani is stepping down after a dozen years at the helm to become a tenured professor in health sciences and education. The new president is expected to assume office in June 2022.