20 Oct Gorenflo hired as Chief of Staff and Director for Innovation and Economic Development at the ND University System
North Dakota University System (NDUS) has hired Mark Gorenflo as the NDUS Chief of Staff and Director for Innovation and Economic Development beginning Sept. 28, 2023. He previously served as the Executive Director of the Evening & Weekend Masters of Business Administration Program at the Haas School of Business, at the University of California, Berkeley, the #1 part-time MBA program in the country (per U.S. News and World Report). During his tenure at Haas, Mark oversaw the development of a new online cohort with a brand-new portfolio of online courses. Mark holds degrees from the U.S. Naval Academy; the University of Oxford, United Kingdom, where he earned a master’s degree as a Rhodes Scholar; and the Haas School of Business, where he earned his MBA.
“We welcome him to the system and look forward to having him and his skills help strengthen the nexus between higher education and workplace and economic innovation that our state needs at a pivotal point in technological history. We appreciate his passion and knowledge and I know we will benefit from his exemplary leadership experience,” said Chancellor Mark Hagerott.
In addition to his leadership positions in higher education, Mark completed 35 years of federal service, both as a front-line submarine officer rising to ship command, and as a senior civilian executive, most recently serving as Director of Operations at the Defense Innovation Unit in Silicon Valley.
“I appreciate the opportunity to be part of the higher education team and work to develop and strengthen connections between higher education, innovation, and economic development within North Dakota. We have great opportunities within North Dakota to leverage innovations across the university system to meet the needs of the state,” Gorenflo said.