At the Adams State University Board of Trustees meeting on June 5, 2026, a three-year contract renewal for President David A. Tandberg, Ph.D., was unanimously approved.
Since assuming the presidency, Dr. Tandberg has helped guide Adams State through a period of renewed institutional focus and accomplishment. As Colorado’s first designated Hispanic-Serving Institution and the state’s only designated Rural Anchor Institution, Adams State champions affordability and access as the cornerstone of its identity. President Tandberg is proud of the University’s long history of serving the Valley and underserved and first-generation students.
During his time as president, the University’s collective efforts have resulted in growth in enrollments, expanded community and philanthropic partnerships, launched major capital initiatives, and deepened its commitment to the economic and social vitality of the San Luis Valley.
“The Board of Trustees has full confidence in President Tandberg’s leadership and his deep commitment to Adams State’s mission,” said Board of Trustees Chair Tom Kim. “Over the past three years, he has helped steady this institution, reverse a long enrollment decline, and remind all of us, students, faculty, alumni, and the community, why Adams State matters.”
Over the last four years, President Tandberg led the completion of a five-year strategic plan, an innovative direct admissions policy, and successfully advocated for Adams State with the state and federal legislatures, as well as prestigious foundations and institutions.
“I am humbled and grateful for the Board’s continued trust,” said President Tandberg. “Darin and I returned to Alamosa because of our strong belief in Adams State and who it serves. I am deeply proud of what this team has accomplished, and I am more committed than ever to doing my part in helping ensure Adams State remains an engine of opportunity for the San Luis Valley and beyond. Working among the faculty and staff of this University is one of the greatest honors of my life.”
The contract renewal positions Adams State for continued progress on its strategic priorities, including student success initiatives, capital improvements, endowment growth, and strengthening its role as a rural anchor institution in the San Luis Valley.
Dr. Tandberg first joined Adams State as interim president in July 2022, before being named the 12th president by unanimous Board vote in April 2023. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Adams State in 2002, and received a master’s and a Ph.D. from Penn State University. He previously served as senior vice president of policy research and strategic initiatives at the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO), as a tenured associate professor and co-founder of the Center for Postsecondary Success at Florida State University, and as a special assistant to the Pennsylvania Secretary of Education.
