David Tandberg, Ph.D.
President
President Tandberg brings both a deep knowledge of higher education and personal ties to Adams State and the San Luis Valley. A nationally recognized expert on higher education who has been invited to consult with and present at The White House, U.S. Senate, and U.S. Department of Education, Dr. Tandberg served as senior vice president of policy research and strategic initiatives at State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO).
Dr. Tandberg joined SHEEO in July 2016, leading SHEEO’s policy evaluation and research initiatives and SHEEO’s efforts to connect empirical research to state practice and policy. He also directed SHEEO’s strategic direction and partnerships. Dr. Tandberg is the lead editor of a book dedicated to the investigation of the state higher education executive officer that was published in July 2018 by Teachers College Press. While at SHEEO, Dr. Tandberg led or assisted in securing over $8 million in grant funding and contracts.
President Tandberg previously served as a tenured associate professor of higher education and co-founded the highly successful Center for Postsecondary Success at Florida State University. As an academic researcher, he was published in numerous peer-reviewed outlets and quoted in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Associated Press, and appeared on multiple national news programs. Before joining Florida State University, Dr. Tandberg was a special assistant to the secretary of education in the Pennsylvania Department of Education, focused on postsecondary policy development and implementation.
Dr. Tandberg earned a Bachelor of Arts in history/social studies education from Adams State in 2002. While a student, he was elected president of Adams State’s student government (Associated Students & Faculty) and competed as member of the cross-country and track teams. Dr. Tandberg earned a master’s in political science and a Ph.D. in higher education from Penn State University.
President Tandberg’s wife, Darin, is also a graduate of Adams State, Class of 2002. They have three children Allyson, Bryce, and Kai.
Carol Osborn
Executive Assistant to the President
719-587-7341
cosborn@adams.edu