Chris Olsen, who has more than 20 years of higher education leadership experience, will become the 19th president of Northern Michigan University, effective January 1. He has served Indiana State University as provost and vice president for Academic Affairs since 2021, and previously as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and chair of the Department of History. The NMU Board of Trustees unanimously approved his appointment.
"We are confident that his wide-ranging experience, along with his constant connection with students and collaboration with leaders across campus, the region and the state have prepared him well to lead Northern as its next president,” said Board Vice Chair Missie Holmquist ’02 BS, ’04 MAE.
"I was very selective and intentional about where I applied because I wanted a university that would be a good fit professionally, has a mission that I believe in and is a place where I can hopefully make a difference. Northern checked all of those boxes."
Among his career accomplishments at Indiana State, Olsen highlighted the following: his administrative reorganization of Academic Affairs; his leadership in the area of student success, which includes the university's all-time-high student retention and graduation rates, and record enrollment in the Honors College; his management as dean of ISU's largest and most diverse college—Arts and Sciences—which teaches more than half of all student credit hours; and the record of faculty scholarship, teaching and service produced during his 14 years as chair of the Department of History.
“I'm incredibly excited to have this opportunity to serve as NMU's next president,” Olsen said. He and his wife, Jennifer, were also highly impressed with Marquette. The couple has three adult children: Emma, Charlotte and Ross.
“The university is located in a community where we felt extremely comfortable during our visit,” added Olsen, a native of Fargo, N.D. “In fact, Jenn and I agreed it felt like home. Neither of us have ever wanted to live in a big city. Marquette has a lot to offer for its size, from businesses, services and activities to outdoor recreation and, of course, the most amazing Great Lake. We're excited to become better acquainted with the city and surrounding Upper Peninsula after we make the move north this winter.”
Olsen earned his bachelor's degree in history from North Dakota State University, followed by a master's in U.S. History from the University of Nebraska and a doctorate in the same discipline from the University of Florida. His academic work examines the history of the 19th-century United States, focusing on politics and political culture.
See a more in-depth story with Dr. Olsen at news.nmu.edu