Submitted Photo Dan Leingang, interim president of Bismarck State College, speaks during the school's commencement ceremony at the Bismarck Event Center on May 10, 2024. Leingang is one of six semifinalists identified by the college's presidential search committee that could take on the permanent role. Photo by Michael Achterling, North Dakota Monitor

Two North Dakotans are semifinalists for the Bismarck State College president’s job as North Dakota State University narrows its presidential candidate list.

Valley City State University also is searching for a new president, with an application period closing this month.

Six semi-finalists who hope to become the next president of Bismarck State College were named on Thursday. Feb. 26, in a University System news release with each of the participants coming to Bismarck for in-person visits this week, including community forums Monday through Wednesday.

The Bismarck State semi-finalists are:

— Phillip King, executive vice president and provost at Milwaukee Area Technical College.

— Gaby Hawat, principal at Catalyst Partners.

— Clint Cowden, assistant superintendent and vice president of instruction and student services at Palo Verde College.

— Brian Kalk, chief research officer at the University of North Dakota Energy and Environmental Research Center.

— Dan Leingang, interim president of Bismarck State College.

— Rai Kathuria, former provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at Empire State University.

The semi-finalists were chosen from 51 applicants and 11 follow-on interviews, according to the state University System.

Kevin Black, chair of the State Board of Higher Education and co-chair of the North Dakota State University Presidential Search Committee, said the committee reviewed over 60 applications. The committee is planning off-site interviews with candidates March 9-10 and campus visits with semifinal candidates March 23-27.

“We’re really excited about taking the next step and there’s some very quality people in there,” Black said.

Meredith Larson, chief operating officer for the University System, said the presidential search committee for Valley City State University has held one meeting so far with the application deadline closing for the position March 15. She added the first round of candidate deliberations by the search committee will be March 27.

“I would encourage anyone in the system who is interested in moving forward with additional leadership obligations to think about applying and encourage your peers to do so,” she said. Larson said about 30 applicants have applied so far, but she anticipates more will come in as the deadline approaches.

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