David Strand

An Early Leader

David A. Strand (1935- ) was the fifteenth president of Illinois State University. Born in Evanston, Illinois but raised in Menominee, Michigan, Strand earned his bachelor’s degree from Carroll College and his master’s degree and PhD from Indiana University. After graduation, Strand worked as an administrator at Southeast Missouri State University before being hired as an executive officer in 1978 at ISU by then President Watkins. Strand served in several positions at ISU, first as Executive Officer from 1978-1980, Vice President for Business and Finance from 1980-1983, Interim Provost in 1983-1984, Provost from 1984-1994, Vice president for Business and Finance from 1994-1995, Interim President in 1995-1996, after Wallace’s departure. Strand served as permanent President from April 16, 1996 until retirement on June 30, 1999.

The Four C’s

When Strand became the interim president in 1995, he was faced with a tumultuous campus. Trust had been broken both with the university and local community, and Strand sought to immediately repair lines of communication. In his first state of the university address, Strand discussed the ‘four C’s’: cooperation, collaboration, communication, and civility. The four C’s were Strand’s way to unify the university and move the campus forward. During Strand’s presidency, shared governance was strengthened by further defining the roles of the university’s governing board, the Academic Senate, and the university president. Strand also worked to bring the Mennonite College of Nursing to ISU as the university’s sixth college on campus. The Science Laboratory Building was completed during Strand’s tenure and construction on the Center for the Performing Arts was started. Additionally, during Strand’s presidency, a record $9.5 million dollar gift, designated primarily for a new College of Business building, was secured from State Farm, and the University transitioned from being part of the Board of Regents to having its own Board of Trustees.

Remaining Active

Strand had planned on retiring in 1996 but delayed in favor of bringing stability back to campus. By 1998, Strand asked the Board of Trustees to begin the search for his replacement. Strand stepped down from the presidency on July 1, 1999. He stayed with ISU part-time to teach with the department of Educational Administration Foundations. Strand is currently active in the community, serving as the Immanuel Bible Foundation board president, serving on the Heritage Committee at the Second Presbyterian Church in downtown Bloomington, Illinois, establishing and participating in the Strand Diversity Awards at Illinois State University, and remaining active in other areas of the local community.