08 Sep NDUS hires Gorenflo for Chief of Staff and Director for Innovation and Economic Development position
North Dakota University System has hired Mark Gorenflo as the NDUS Chief of Staff and Director for Innovation and Economic Development beginning Sept. 28, 2023. He currently serves 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 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 masters degree as a Rhodes Scholar; and the Haas School of Business, where he earned his MBA.
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, Defense Innovation Unit (Silicon Valley); Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy, Department of Veterans Affairs; and Principal Director for Policy for the Secretary of the Navy. He will be a most welcome team member as he makes North Dakota his new home and works to develop and strengthen connections between higher education and innovation and economic development within our state.
“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.