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NDUS Commissioner Praises New NDSU President as 'Collaborator and Visionary'
Marshall Stewart set to take over as North Dakota State University's next president on May 28.
Apr. 1, 2026 at 12:14am
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The North Dakota University System Commissioner Brent Sanford has expressed high praise for the new president of North Dakota State University, Dr. Marshall Stewart. Sanford highlighted Stewart's collaborative approach and visionary leadership, stating the board was unanimous in selecting him as the best candidate to lead NDSU at this pivotal time as the university looks to grow enrollment and consolidate colleges and programs.
Why it matters
The selection of a new university president is a significant event, as they will shape the institution's direction and priorities. Sanford's positive assessment of Stewart suggests NDSU is poised to build on its strengths and explore new opportunities under the new leadership.
The details
The search process for the new NDSU president began after former president David Cook announced his departure. The search committee reviewed around 60 candidates before narrowing it down to three finalists, with Sanford stating that Stewart stood out as the unanimous choice of the board. Sanford highlighted Stewart's collaborative nature and visionary mindset, noting his strong grasp of the land-grant university model and its potential to impact local communities through NDSU's statewide reach.
- The search process began after former president David Cook announced he would be leaving NDSU.
- The search committee reviewed around 60 candidates over the last month.
- Dr. Marshall Stewart will begin his role as NDSU's new president on May 28, 2026.
The players
Brent Sanford
The North Dakota University System Commissioner, who praised the selection of Dr. Marshall Stewart as the new NDSU president.
Dr. Marshall Stewart
The newly appointed president of North Dakota State University, described by Sanford as a 'collaborator and visionary' leader.
David Cook
The former president of North Dakota State University, who announced he would be leaving the university.
What they’re saying
“The board was unanimous in feeling that Dr. Marshall Stewart was the best candidate for this time for NDSU with this point in where it's come with enrollment and some consolidation of colleges and programs and now ready to take off again on enrollment.”
— Brent Sanford, North Dakota University System Commissioner
“Who knows, it might be an opportunity for one of the local campuses and extension can be a part in those local communities with those local campuses. They're in every county so there's a lot of reach that this unique model of a land grant has, and he's got a very strong grasp of that.”
— Brent Sanford, North Dakota University System Commissioner
What’s next
Dr. Marshall Stewart will officially begin his role as the new president of North Dakota State University on May 28, 2026.
The takeaway
The selection of Dr. Marshall Stewart as the new NDSU president signals a commitment to collaborative, visionary leadership that will leverage the university's statewide reach and land-grant mission to drive growth and impact across North Dakota.
