Board appoints former lieutenant governor to lead North Dakota University System

MINOT, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) – North Dakota’s State Board of Higher Education voted Tuesday 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.

Student board member Max Eriksrud said he felt the title change did not change the University System leader’s role, adding that students he has talked to have been impressed by Sanford.

Sanford pointed to his time as North Dakota’s Republican lieutenant governor, where one of his duties was chairing the North Dakota Higher Education Challenge Grant Fund that awards state dollars to match private fundraising at the 11 public colleges and universities in the state.

He also helped build higher education budget proposals for Gov. Doug Burgum.

“I knew your budgets before I knew you,” Sanford, a certified public accountant, told the State Board of Higher Education and campus representatives during a meeting at Minot State University.

Sanford was asked by Black to give a presentation on his vision for the North Dakota University System and take questions from the board.

One question was about what some perceive as Sanford’s lack of academic credentials. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Dakota but doesn’t hold an advanced degree.

That’s when Sanford referenced his six years of Challenge Grant experience under Burgum.

Sanford admitted he has limited experience in academia. He served briefly as the interim president of Bismarck State College before being named interim chancellor in April.

He said being chancellor has been “a better fit than I thought it would be.”

He described chancellor as being an administrator job.

“It’s not like running a campus,” he said.

Brent Sanford, left, speaks with State Board of Higher Education member Tim Mihalick Sept. 23, 2025 in Minot, North Dakota, after Sanford was named commissioner of the North Dakota University System. (Photo by Jeff Beach/North Dakota Monitor)

UND President Andy Armacost said Sanford’s presentation did a good job highlighting his unique strengths including being able to connect with the state Legislature. “He articulated that very well,” he said after the board’s vote.

Armacost said he has been speaking at least weekly with Sanford.

“He has exceptional connections across the state,” he said. “His appointment yields, I believe, great benefit.”

Lisa Montplaisir, a North Dakota State University professor who represents faculty on the higher ed board, said some faculty told her they favored conducting a national search while others supported endorsing Sanford.

“It’s not possible that all faculty are going to be on the same page for every issue,” said Montplaisir, who does not have a vote but is able to participate in board discussion.

The board tapped Sanford for interim chancellor after Mark Hagerott announced he would move up his retirement from the end of the year to the end of April.

Sanford’s compensation was not immediately finalized. Sanford is being paid $425,000 a year to be interim chancellor.

Sanford said after the meeting that some of his first priorities would be working on the University System’s policy for presidential searches and improving communication with the Department of Public Instruction and the Department of Career and Technical Education.

He said improving communication with K-12 programs will mean more high school graduates will continue their education in the state.

In his presentation, he said 40% of North Dakota high school graduates don’t seek more education. He said that while that is the 10th lowest in the country, it’s a metric where he would like North Dakota to be at the top.

“We have the capacity to do better,” Sanford said after the meeting. “Let’s be No. 1 by a lot.”

North Dakota Monitor Deputy Editor Jeff Beach jbeach@northdakotamonitor.com.