NDSU Launches National Search for Vice President of Research

President Marshall Stewart announced an update on the search for NDSU's next permanent vice president for research and creative activity. Dean Teresa Conner and University Distinguished Professor Chad Ulven will serve as co-chairs of the search, supported by Academic Search, a firm with experience leading executive searches in higher education. 

The committee was assembled after nominations from the deans of NDSU's five colleges, Graduate Council leadership and other campus leaders. It began its work this week and will conduct a national search throughout the fall semester, with a goal of identifying and naming the next permanent vice president for research and creative activity by the end of the fall semester. The co-chairs will share updates with campus and opportunities for faculty, staff, students and other community members to take part in the process as the search progresses. 

Search Committee 

• Teresa Conner, Co-Chair and Dean, College of Health and Human Sciences 

• Chad Ulven, Co-Chair and University Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering 

• Barry Batcheller, NDeavor Board Member and Business Leader 

• Ben Geaumont, Wildlife and Range Scientist, Hettinger Research Extension Center 

• Carrie Anne Platt, Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs 

• David Parish, President and CEO of AIS AG Consulting, LLC 

• Dean Webster, Chair and Professor of Coatings and Polymeric Materials 

• Diomo Motuba, Associate Professor, Department of Finance, Supply Chain and Transportation, College of Business 

• Elizabeth Gertz, Doctoral Student in Microbiology 

• Jean Voorhees, Member, Bank of North Dakota Board of Directors 

• Kristine Steffen, Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences 

• Lauren Hanna, Professor of Animal Sciences 

• Mark Birdsall, Chairman and Commissioner-at-Large, North Dakota Wheat Commission 

• Qifeng Zhang, Associate Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering 

• Scott Engel, Vice President, Sanford Research, Division of Biobehavioral Health 

• Stevan Bobb, Retired Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, BNSF 

• Mark Genkinger, Director of Human Resources (ex officio) 

• La Donna De Geldere, Executive Assistant to the President and Committee Support (ex officio)