From today’s Argus Leader:
Former Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin is reportedly in the running to be the next president of Augustana University.
Herseth Sandlin, 46, has been with Raven Industries since 2012, and currently serves as the company’s general counsel and vice president.
and..
Augustana University would give the Georgetown Law School graduate a prominent position both in the business community of Sioux Falls and the academic community. Just the sort of role that would suit somebody who wanted to take a run at the Senate seat held by Sen. Mike Rounds in 2020.
The word I’m hearing is that this deal may be all done except for the announcement.
As noted, it comes at a time when Herseth may be looking to raise her profile in preparation for a run for US Senate against Senator Mike Rounds.
Her husband Max is telling people this is just her stepping stone to running for Senate in 2020. Another blunder by Augustana
I wouldn’t be surprised to see herseth and brenden speak highly or endorse Jackley in the primary against Noem.
That makes zero sense. Why would they be compelled to do that?
Remember the main job of a private college President is to raise money and she has proven she can do that. The academic duties are taken care of by the department chairs.
Very true
Governor or House this round seems more likely…why take on an incumbent Sen Rounds who has been surprisingly conservative.
rounds conservative HA, the very first thing he wanted as senator was insure that the poor people of south dakota be taxed for internet usage… (only 6 states in the union practiced this) rounds is for big gov’t, more control over the population etc. etc., so therefore he is ultimately corrupt. simple logic.
Augustana should have hired an experienced serious person. Herseth is a political hack of the worst kind.
I don’t think you know her.
High profile. Universities employ the best dems in SD.
Rounds would be toast and not run. I hate to say it but republicans better nominate someone strong for congress. Kristi can’t leave governor after only two years.
Pass the kool aid. Herseth would pummel Noem in a rematch.
Then what would happen to rounds or Dusty? Noem is by far a better candidate.
Absent the emotion toward your favored candidate, statistically speaking Herseth beats Noem by 10-14 points in Sioux Falls alone.
“Trust me” you don’t want a rematch.
*for ANY race
Yawn, SD and Sioux Falls has grown more conservative.
Augustana just got used by a democrat.
You say “Sioux Falls alone” as if that means something. Stephanie beat Kristi in SF in 2010 and it didn’t matter.
You are nuts! Herseth is a Demo through and through, and I think we’ve had enough of the leftwing kookery after 8 years of Barry Sotero.
Good things Rounds has good experience whipping high profile university presidents.
She won’t run. She doesn’t identify with the crazy liberals in DC. The Blue Dogs are dead.
Rounds would be at a significant disadvantage against Stephanie Herseth Sandlin as long as she distances herself from the toxic angry nutjobs active in the state Democratic Party.
It takes a woman to beat a woman.
I dunno; Trump won.
I doubt it. The demoncrat party is poison right now-as well it should be-and she is a Dem.
The Demon Crat? Was that intentional? Seriously! That is funny! 🙂
Rounds would be 66 going on 72. I’m no political expert but he also is awol across SD. Does he go anywhere when he’s not in session?
Rounds was built for running elections against weiland and Rhoden but not against the best that can be thrown at him.
He serves like a guy who isn’t running again and he isn’t raising money.
Herseth wins unless she runs against Thune or a strong woman.
Ya, you should have stopped with you’re no political expert.
Why, because of her last name? It means nothing to me, a registered South Dakota voter; I think that it is not enough to be part of whatever dynasty Herseth is. Herseth was a democrat in DC, and with the dem party going all nutsy-cuckoo, I don’t think she would be anything like the shoo-in you think she is.
If Herseth was serious about 2020, she wouldn’t have taken this job. The 2020 election is too close for her to do this job seriously and try to mount a formidable campaign against Rounds. I’d say this job is a good career move otherwise a start up for 2022 or later.
Thune probably won’t run again.
I’m guessing that’s what she’s hoping
But if the GOP messes with Obamacare and the replacement is not adequate, that reality will not only haunt the GOP but also “Bluedogs” like Herseth if she has any plans for 2020.
This scenario will greatly welcomes a challenge to her in the Democratic Senate primary in 2020, no doubt….
Messes with a steaming pile of crap? Yeah, that would be too bad! They should leave well enough alone until the whole health system collapses under the weight of the socialist dream (nightmare) that is ObummerCare. You must be one of those who is getting subsidized by the rest of us, so naturally you think positively of Obama’s “signature” legislation. Those of us who were happy with our healthcare aren’t quite as enamored of it as you are.
Raise her profile to challenge Marion? Fake news. You’re an idiot. Plain and simple.
I think he goes by Mike, not Marion. If he does, why don’t you use that name? Oh, because you think you’re scoring points by calling him Marion? Wow, what a zinger!
I am beginning to think the people on this blog are not in touch with reality.
Herseth beat Noem, you are crazy….7 years in the house with high approval ratings, 100% name ID and lots of money all advantage Noem
Herseth beat Rounds, you are crazy AGAIN…Rounds has become MORE conservative not less, i am surprised, but pleasantly so. rounds has 100% name ID and can raise money too.
Herseth would beat Huether for anything, but i suspect they will talk to each have their own race.
Huether is damaged goods politically.
Rounds will be old and he doesn’t get out across the state.
Do I need to shake his hand if he is doing good things for the country and the state? Nope. Just keep it up, Senator!
With the exception of Abbot running for Governor, there isn’t much history of University/College presidents running for office. In fact being President of Augie has been a career in the past, not a stepping stone.
Actually the DWU president ran too, same result
Have had texts and calls from several Augie alumnus- fair to say we’re not quite understanding this one. But, Augie has changed a lot from the conservative bastion we all graduated from, so maybe it makes sense. The risk is that it accelerates the hemorrhaging that has been plaguing a once growing college. Time will tell
Definitely a sexy high profile pick.
From what I hear Augustana is going more left; that is why my kids won’t be going there. I’d much prefer a Hillsdale or Liberty U to Augustana. Just because the culture is going to Hades doesn’t mean a Christian university must go along for the ride.
If she didn’t rule out a run for office to the Trustees/Regents, they should be removed from their positions and the offer withdrawn.
1). Whether it be two or four years when she would run (serving as Pres for 1-3 years because of campaign), Augie should have expectations of her serving 10 years plus (probably average over last 35 years since I was there).
2). Augie lives on private donations and they need every dollar. The President is chief fundraiser. Even the hint of partisanship in the President will hurt Augie and their students.
So if the person at the top is right and SHS has plans to run for office in the near term combined with reality of Lee’s comment on the crossroads Augie is at, the gurgling you hear is Augies death rattle.
But, I hope otherwise and SHS laid out a vision to the Trustees/Regents to better deal with the changing higher education environment and she is committed to seeing it through.
I agree with Troy, I don’t see how she runs in 2020. And the Trustees had to have asked her that question.
Remember, she is 46. She could do this job for 10 years, like Troy said, and run for Governor or Senate in 2026. Governor will be an open seat and even if Rounds runs in 2020 I highly doubt he would in 2026 so that would be an open seat.
What does the job pay does anyone know?
It had been reported that she was making $600,000.00 at Raven.
I’m not an Augie alum, but frankly I’m not surprised by this pick. It seems a nice fit for her and the University. Just as Abbott was and is a great fit for USD. Neither of them fit my politics, but it seems they are better fits for University presidents in this state than anything else.
Certainly it does raise her profile, but I tend to agree that this is no short term gig. This is a long-term commitment. If she was looking to run in 2020 — she’d have 18 months in the Presidents chair before that campaign. Not enough. And I don’t think she wants to run against Mike Rounds. Despite the changes in Sioux Falls, our state is still conservative and Mike Rounds easily handled two crowded races last time despite the hand wringing by some R’s and the blathering of many Slick Rick supporters.
Cowboy,
I attended Augie until I transferred, I have a daughter who graduated from there. I love the place on a whole lot of levels.
If the Trustees/Regents (can’t remember what they call the governing board) gave any weight to her political experience or political outlook, they made the decision on the wrong basis.
If Augie is still in existence in 15 years, it will because leadership successfully navigated what is going to be a very difficult time in higher education (especially small private colleges). SHS’s prior experience which is most relevant to Augie’s survival and prosperity is her experience at Raven, who itself has been navigating some rather choppy waters.
SHS’s predecessor did some very good things during his tenure related to its endowments and improving/replacing aged infrastructure/buildings.
But, the challenge now is to grow enrollment. Augie has less students than when I attended 35+ years ago. Places which can impact enrollment:
1) Focus of curriculum/position in the marketplace. Higher education expectations are changing and Augie needs to be at the forefront of meeting these expectations.
2) Keeping tuition affordable. I think this is possible in two ways:
-Raise $ for endowments and tuition assistance. Oliver was great at raising money for mostly infrastructure and buildings (needed to be done) but the focus must change.
-Restructure/reduce costs. Over the last 30 years, the only industry whose costs have risen more than medical is higher education. However, with medical costs we have a better product (better pharmas, better technology, better outcomes) than we had 30 days ago. The higher education output has not improved over the last 30 years.