Bemidji State University and Northwest Technical College President Dr. Faith C. Hensrud announced Friday she would retire next year.
According to a release, her retirement would be effective June 30, 2022.
“The five years I have spent as president of these two institutions has been one of the most fulfilling times of my professional career,” Hensrud said.
“In collaboration with a truly excellent faculty and staff at both institutions, we have achieved many remarkable things together. I look forward to all we will accomplish in my final year.”
Hensrud’s tenure included efforts to improve connections between NTC and BSU and the region’s Indigenous nations, forming American Indian Advisory Councils at both institutions and dual-enrollment agreements with all four Minnesota tribal colleges.
In 2020, BSU had the largest number of enrolled American Indian students and graduates in its history, with 350 enrolled students and 65 graduates.
“The work that we’ve done within the American Indian communities and in the tribal relationships is really an area of pride for me,” she said. ‘
“There’s always more work to do if we are to become a destination institution for American Indian students, and to see us make progress towards that has been special.”
A current president at one of the Minnesota State system’s colleges or universities will be named to chair a search advisory committee, with a new president expected to be named during the Spring Semester of ’22, with a start date of July 1, 2022.
Hensrud has served BSU and NTC as President since 2016, replacing Dr. James Hanson, who had served the post since 2010.
