Andrew Armacost named University of North Dakota president

The State Board of Higher Education has selected Dr. Andrew Armacost as the 13th president of the University of North Dakota.

During his interview, Armacost talked about his leadership philosophy. “We are here because of students. Universities exist to prepare members of society to be good citizens. I have a long track record of being a positive mentor, and I pride myself on being available for both small daily interactions and more formal interactions. I envision a campus that’s closely connected, with accessibility to the president and senior staff. My philosophy is to love your people. Take care of them, involve them, and offer an opportunity for growth.”

Armacost will replace Mark Kennedy, who was named president of the University of Colorado System last spring. Dr. Joshua Wynne is currently serving as interim president.

Andrew Armacost recently completed his service as the Dean of the Faculty at the U.S. Air Force Academy. With more than 30 years on active duty and 20 years at the Academy, Armacost served in the rank of Brigadier General as the Chief Academic Officer for this nationally ranked institution.

Prior to this role, Armacost served as the head of the Academy’s AACSB-accredited business management program, leading 40 faculty members and the Academy’s largest academic major. As a faculty member, he attained the academic rank of Professor while sustaining a particular focus on developing and delivering applied learning opportunities for his students.

His degrees include a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Northwestern, and a Master of Science and PhD in Operations Research from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Andrew says his wife, Kathy, has been a great partner in supporting the Air Force Academy and the city of Colorado Springs. They have two daughters: Ava, a 2018 graduate of Northwestern, and Audrey, who will graduate from the University of Oklahoma in 2020.