Stephanie Herseth Sandlin serves as the 24th president of Augustana University in Sioux Falls, South Dakota — the first woman to lead the university since it was established in 1860.
As a result of Herseth Sandlin's leadership, the university developed its transformational Viking Bold: The Journey to 2030 strategic plan — supported by the largest and most comprehensive campaign in Augustana’s history. Key accomplishments in the Viking Bold journey to date include new and innovative academic programs, record enrollment, the addition of Division I men’s ice hockey, construction of Midco Arena and new and renovated student housing.
Herseth Sandlin graduated summa cum laude from Georgetown University, and cum laude from the Georgetown University Law Center. Called to public service, she was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2004, serving four terms. She was the first woman elected to the U.S. House from South Dakota and the youngest woman serving in Congress during that time. Following her time in public office, Herseth Sandlin became a partner in a Washington, D.C., law firm and later joined Raven Industries in Sioux Falls as the company’s first general counsel and vice president of corporate development.
Herseth Sandlin has had the honor of serving on numerous local, regional and national boards, including as president of the Network of ELCA Colleges and Universities from 2023 to 2024, and currently as chair of the Audit & Compliance Committee for the Sanford Health Board of Trustees. She was inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame in 2017, and, in August 2020, was named to USA Today Network’s select list of “Women of the Century,” in recognition of her significant contributions to the state of South Dakota and the country.
Herseth Sandlin is married to former Texas Congressman Max Sandlin. She and Max live in Sioux Falls with their teenage son, Zachary. They also have four older children and 10 grandchildren.