For Release March 25
Board of Regents Announces New President for NSU
ABERDEEN, SD—Today the Board of Regents named John M. Hilpert as the new President of Northern State University. The Board made the announcement upon concluding a search that began last fall.
Hilpert is currently the interim president at NSU, assuming the position in August 1997, following the resignation of Dr. John Hutchinson.
Prior to coming to NSU, Hilpert had been an administrator at the University of South Dakota since 1990, serving as Acting President, Acting Executive Vice President, and Vice President for University Relations. He holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from the University of Michigan’s Center for the Study of Higher Education. He also holds an M.Div. from Concordia Seminary (Mo).
In accepting the appointment, Hilpert said, "It is a great honor to be selected to lead Northern State University into the next century. I am looking forward to continuing the work I have started during the past year. Northern is a fine institution with a proud history and the potential for an exciting future. I have found the campus and the community to be warm and welcoming places."
Board of Regents President David Gienapp, offering congratulations to Hilpert, said, "The appointment of John Hilpert is exciting for Northern State University. Dr. Hilpert has earned a reputation in higher education for being a creative problem solver. He brings to the campus community special skills in enrollment management and fund-raising. His experience in the South Dakota system of public higher education will provide him with a strong foundation for leading this campus."
Regent James Hart, chair of the Board’s search committee, said, "A search for a university president is not only a screening of potential candidates, but it is also a vehicle for communicating many things about a university and its community." Hart added, "One of the great things about the selection process is that it allows the campus and the Board of Regents to become better acquainted and work together on issues concerning all of us. Given what we know and have learned about NSU and Aberdeen, we on the Board believe that Dr. Hilpert will provide responsive leadership as the university plays its vital role in community and regional growth."
Hart expressed the Board’s gratitude to the search advisory council who represented NSU and Aberdeen. The council included Dr. Lysbeth Benkert-Rasmussen, Paul Everson, Lonn Sweet, Paula Carlson, Tim Kessler, Adam Coleman, Barbara Winzenburg, Deb Walker, Keith Gerving, and Heidi Ruch.
Dr. Hilpert was joined at the Board meeting by his wife, Pat, and sons Josh, Zach, and Adam.