New NDSU, Bismarck State presidents sign contracts

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KVRR Staff,

Marshall Stewart Named Ndsu President. — FARGO, ND - MARCH 30, 2026: Marshall Stewart gives the Òhorns upÓ sign at a press conference after The North Dakota State Board of Higher Education on Monday chose Stewart as the next president of North Dakota State University.

BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — The new presidents of North Dakota State University and Bismarck State College have agreed to contracts with the North Dakota University System.

Marshall Stewart will be paid a salary of $550,000 to lead NDSU, with the contract running from May 25, 2026 to June 30, 2027.

New BSC President Brian Kalk will earn a salary of $310,000 beginning Thursday and running through June 30, 2027.

Kalk also will receive a housing allowance of $2,000 per month. Bismarck State doesn’t have a president’s home, unlike NDSU and some other colleges in the University System.

Stewart, whose current job is at Kansas State University, will be paid moving expenses of nearly $46,000.

Kalk, who was the chief research officer at the Energy and Environmental Resource Center in Grand Forks, part of the University of North Dakota, will get nearly $26,000 for moving expenses.

Both the moving expense figures are equivalent to one month of salary, according to the contracts.

UND President Andrew Armacost is paid $526,542 annually. UND is the state’s largest college by enrollment, followed by NDSU and Bismarck State.

Stewart and Kalk were selected by the State Board of Higher Education at the end of March.

Stewart replaces David Cook, who resigned to become president of Iowa State University.

Under a five-year contract, Cook will receive an annual salary of $700,000 and a five-year deferred plan with annual $100,000 contributions.

Kalk replaces Doug Jensen, who left in January 2025. In his separation agreement, Jensen was paid more than $500,000, equal to Jensen’s salary of $388,428 plus a retirement contribution and a payment to go toward health benefit premiums.

Valley City State University also is undergoing a search for a new president. Finalists are expected to visit the campus later this month.

Reach North Dakota Monitor deputy editor Jeff Beach at jbeach@northdakotamonitor.com.