Watford City native appointed as Interim President of Bismarck State College
Editor’s Note: Brent Sanford recently visited with Scott Hennen on The Flag - KTGO Radio (AM 1090/FM 92.7) regarding his new position.
The Farmer will publish the full interview in the Jan. 22 edition.
BISMARCK, N.D. - The State Board of Higher Education (SBHE) has appointed Brent Sanford, former North Dakota lieutenant governor, as the interim president of Bismarck State College (BSC) beginning Jan. 9, 2025. Dr. Dan Leingang has been serving as the acting president of BSC since Jan. 2, after the departure of former President Doug Jensen. Leingang is currently the BSC vice president for academic affairs, and he has chosen to remain in that position. The SBHE will now begin the process to search for the permanent presidential position.
SBHE Chair Tim Mihalick said, “Our highest priority remains prioritizing the success of students at Bismarck State College and to continue to ensure a smooth transition of leadership. Our goal is to sustain the work that has been done to position BSC as a polytechnic institution. Brent Sanford has leadership experience in business and state government and can ensure that connection between workforce and BSC remains strong and continues to serve both BSC students and the community.”
Sanford graduated from the University of North Dakota with a bachelor’s degree in accounting in 1994. He worked for Eide Bailly from 1994 through 2002, and then became the chief financial officer of Transwest Trucks in Colorado. He moved back to Watford City, North Dakota, in 2004, taking over his family-run car dealership. He was elected to the Watford City Council in 2006 and was elected mayor in 2010. Sanford served as lieutenant governor for the first six years of former Gov. Doug Burgum’s two-term tenure.
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