Previously, he worked in senior administrative roles in student services and student affairs at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill[6] and in various roles at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, including director of residence life.[6] Bresicani has also served in administrative and faculty positions at public universities in Arizona, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ohio, and California.
During his 12-year term, NDSU regained its R1 status in 2021 from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.[11] The NDSU Foundation also announced the statewide record for fundraising with the six-year "In Our Hands" campaign that raised $586.7 million.[12]
Major projects during his presidency include completion of Cater Hall,[13] Aldevron Tower,[14] A. Glenn Hill Center,[15] Sanford Health Athletic Complex,[16] and Sugihara Hall.[17] Ground was also broken for the Peltier Agricultural Complex,[18] Nodak Insurance Company Football Performance Complex,[19] and Grandmother Earth's Gift of Life Garden.[20]
In 2015, Bresciani was selected for the NCAA Division I Presidential Forum. Bresciani was the first president from any North Dakota college or university to join a major leadership group in the NCAA.[21]
Bresciani plans to become a distinguished professor in health sciences upon his resignation from the presidency in 2022.[22]
In his 2021 State of the University Address, Bresciani announced his entire estate would be left to NDSU.[3][23] On April 28, 2022, the President Dean L. Bresciani Endowed Chair in Leadership was announced by the NDSU Foundation. The endowment will support leaders on the NDSU campus.[24][25]
Fargo mayor Tim Mahoney officially recognized May 16, 2022, as Dean Bresciani Day to commemorate his last day in office.[26]
Controversies
In 2013, an investigation was launched into whether NDSU violated open records laws by intentionally deleting nearly 45,000 emails from Bresciani's university account after an open records request from North Dakota lawmakers.[27][28] Later, lawyers from both NDSU and the North Dakota University System (NDUS) said the emails had been recovered and were likely deleted due to an auto-purge function.[29]
In 2016, Bresciani sent “inappropriate” text messages regarding later reversed media rules for the NDSU athletics coverage.[30][31] The same year, Bresciani was critiqued by North Dakota lawmakers and the NDUS chancellor Mark Hagerott for purchasing a business-class ticket for a week-long trip to India. The travel policy was later changed to note all system presidents must travel coach.[32][33]
In 2021, Bresciani was censured by the NDSU faculty senate for appointing then-interim provost (education) Margaret Fitzgerald to the permanent role, despite a national search and interview process. The senate cited Bresciani's circumvention of policy for the censure.[34][35][36]
Bresciani's contract was not fully renewed by the State Board of Higher Education in 2021. This is largely credited to a single critical performance review of Bresciani which external observers broadly recognized as unfounded.[37][38][39][40][41]
Awards and honors
2022, President Dean L. Bresciani Leadership Endowed Chair, North Dakota State University Foundation and Alumni Association, Fargo, ND
2022, Faculty Senate Resolution of Recognition and Contributions, North Dakota State University Faculty Senate, Fargo, ND
2022, Chief Executive Leadership Award, Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) District VI
2021, Outstanding Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Award, U.S. Department of Defense and ESGR, Fargo, ND
2016, Distinguished Leadership Award, North Dakota Forest Service
2015, Presidential Excellence Award, National Association of Student Personnel Administrators Region IV-West
