The state Board of Higher Education has hired Mark Kennedy as the new president of the University of North Dakota.
Kennedy is currently the director of the graduate school of political management at George Washington University in Washington, DC. He’s a former Minnesota Congressman.
Kennedy told reporters he's thrilled.
"I do believe this is already the best school in a 300 mile radius," Kennedy said. "My focus is brightening that star even more."
Kennedy said he believes UND already is the "chief opportunity engine" for North Dakota.
"And I look forward to working with the team here to make that even more the case in the future," Kennedy said.
During his interview with the Board of Higher Education, Kennedy was asked about the role higher academic standards play in retaining students and raising graduation rates.
"We oght to be having the best and brightest in that system coming to the top liberal arts school in the state," Kennedy told the Board. "I think there's a conflict in your five goals, where you say you want to improve freshmen retention and graduation rates. But then you want to go up another 1000 students. When you go up another 1000 students, you're reaching deeper into the pool of students, and they may not be prepared for the kind of education we are delivering here at UND. You're faced with the decision of being the biggest or the best. My goal is to have UND be the best."
Kennedy will start as president July first. Former North Dakota Governor Ed Schafer has been serving as the interim president.
Kennedy was one of three finalists. The others were Minot State University president Steve Shirley, and University of Toledo Vice President Nagi Naganathan.
