Institutional Transformation
Aligning Purpose, People, and Performance
Presenting a Presidential Appreciation Award to David Dodds acceptiong on behalf of the UND Today team.
“Transformation is not about disruption for its own sake—it’s about aligning institutions with the future. That requires clarity of purpose, a cohesive team, and a culture that attracts and retains talent.”
All organizations are in the talent business. Whether in education, research, national security, or policy, success depends on the ability to attract, retain, and empower people to innovate, adapt, and lead. Across universities, civic platforms, and strategic institutions, I have led transformation by building inclusive leadership teams, forging shared direction, and aligning systems to deliver lasting results.
Transforming Universities: Team-Led, Talent-Driven Change
University of North Dakota (UND)
Strategic Positioning, Cultural Stewardship, R1 Trajectory
At UND, I united a leadership team that blended seasoned leaders I inherited with new talent I recruited, aligning them through a shared planning process—“One UND”—co-created with broad faculty and community input. Together, we drove institutional progress that continued and grew after my departure.
- 10-point increase in graduation rates
- Positioned UND on the path to R1 research status
- Positioned UND to outpace its peer in enrollment by 25%
- Advanced a $500M campus revitalization through P3s and state funding
- Led a respectful, unifying identity transition post-Sioux name
- Promoted 2+2 healthcare education partnerships with tribal colleges
“Almost all progress and innovation at UND currently flows from the work you started.”
UND was awarded the 2022 American Council on Education Award for Institutional Transformation, recognizing team-based leadership that delivered enduring, measurable outcomes.
University of Colorado (CU)
Systemwide Planning, Inclusive Culture, Research Leadership
At CU, I built a high-functioning leadership team that combined trusted veterans and newly recruited talent, aligning four campuses around a single strategic plan—adopted unanimously by a politically divided Board of Regents. The resulting cohesion and culture of performance continued beyond my tenure.
- Achieved $1.4 billion in annual research and $455 million in annual fundraising
- Improved student success across all demographics
- Maintained four years of flat net tuition while expanding access
- Navigated COVID-19 response and $396M budget shortfall
- Encouraged cross-campus collaborations that spurred greater biomedical/defense/space research funding
- Strengthened CU Denver’s path toward Hispanic-Serving Institution designation
- Earned a “green light” free expression rating from FIRE
“You helped move the university forward... pushed me to be the best person and leader I can be.”
Building Institutions to Shape the Future
Economic Club of Minnesota
Creating a Civic Platform to Elevate Awareness of the Benefits of Global Engagement
Recognizing a void in public discourse around trade and global engagement, I founded the Economic Club of Minnesota to foster civic understanding and convene leaders.
- Created the Bill Frenzel Champion of Free Trade Award, the only such award in the U.S.
- Hosted speakers from across political and international lines
- Hosted heads of state, U.S. and international cabinet members and central bank leaders
- Built a nonpartisan platform that continues to elevate policy dialogue
Wahba Institute for Strategic Competition (WISC)
Creating a National Platform for Strategic Talent and Insight
WISC was founded to fill a critical gap in America’s strategic toolkit—connecting economic statecraft, tech leadership, and alliance-building into a cohesive approach to great-power competition. Today, it serves as a platform to attract and amplify top thinkers and doers.
- Engaged with OSTP, USTR, DFC, State, and the White House
- Co-hosted side events aligned with WTO Global Forum in Geneva and AI Action Summit in Paris
- Built a global network of over 25 scholars and practitioners
- Now scaling through institutional partnership to deepen its reach
WISC reflects the kind of transformation that begins with insight—but succeeds through collaborative execution and institutional staying power.
Lessons from Leading Lasting Change
- Build a team that endures. Blend existing talent with new perspectives—and align them with a shared purpose.
- Prioritize talent and trust. Institutions thrive when they attract, engage, and retain people who believe in the mission.
- Act before the storm. Transformation must anticipate change—not react to it.
- Lead transparently. Trust grows when leaders share credit, seek input, and focus on impact.
- Deliver on mission. Real transformation shows up in access, innovation, trust, and performance.