Carleton Opgaard
Encyclopedia
Carleton Opgaard is a noted American college
and university
administrator and founding president of Vancouver Island University.
in Ransom County, North Dakota
. The Opgaard family had immigrated for Norway
. Opgaard obtained his bachelor's degree
from Valley City State University
in Valley City, North Dakota
in 1952. Thereafter, he received his master's degree
from the University of Wyoming
in Laramie
and his Ph.D.
from the University of Washington
in Seattle. He attended the University of Oslo
in Norway
as a Fulbright scholar. In his initial administrative assignment, Opgaard was principal of Edmonds Woodway High School
in Edmonds, Washington
.
In 1969, he was the founding president of Malaspina University-College
now called Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo, British Columbia
, Canada
. During the centennial of the college, he was the president of Dakota State University
(1978–1983) in Madison, South Dakota
. He also served as president of Tacoma Community College
in Tacoma, Washington
, (1983–1990). He later served as interim president at Columbia Basin College
and Edmonds Community College
in Washington.
For his service to education, Carleton Opgaard received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from Valley City State University
.
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
and university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
administrator and founding president of Vancouver Island University.
Biography
Carleton Myron Opgaard was born in Fort RansomFort Ransom, North Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 70 people, 37 households, and 19 families residing in the city. The population density was 233.1 people per square mile . There were 44 housing units at an average density of 146.5 per square mile...
in Ransom County, North Dakota
Ransom County, North Dakota
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 5,890 people, 2,350 households, and 1,560 families residing in the county. The population density was 7 people per square mile . There were 2,604 housing units at an average density of 3 per square mile...
. The Opgaard family had immigrated for Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. Opgaard obtained his bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
from Valley City State University
Valley City State University
Valley City State University is an institution of higher learning in Valley City, North Dakota, part of the eleven-member North Dakota University System. Founded in 1890 as a territorial normal school, VCSU offers four-year degrees in a number of fields in five academic divisions and graduate...
in Valley City, North Dakota
Valley City, North Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 6,826 people, 2,996 households, and 1,668 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,062.5 per square mile . There were 3,250 housing units at an average density of 982.0 per square mile...
in 1952. Thereafter, he received his master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
from the University of Wyoming
University of Wyoming
The University of Wyoming is a land-grant university located in Laramie, Wyoming, situated on Wyoming's high Laramie Plains, at an elevation of 7,200 feet , between the Laramie and Snowy Range mountains. It is known as UW to people close to the university...
in Laramie
Laramie, Wyoming
Laramie is a city in and the county seat of Albany County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 30,816 at the . Located on the Laramie River in southeastern Wyoming, the city is west of Cheyenne, at the junction of Interstate 80 and U.S. Route 287....
and his Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
from the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
in Seattle. He attended the University of Oslo
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
in Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
as a Fulbright scholar. In his initial administrative assignment, Opgaard was principal of Edmonds Woodway High School
Edmonds Woodway High School
Edmonds-Woodway High School is one of five high schools in the Edmonds School District in Edmonds, Washington, USA. It serves students in grades 9-12....
in Edmonds, Washington
Edmonds, Washington
Edmonds is a city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. Edmonds has a view of Puget Sound and both the Olympic Mountains and Cascade Range. The third most populous city in Snohomish County after Everett and Marysville, the population was 39,709 according to the 2010 census...
.
In 1969, he was the founding president of Malaspina University-College
Malaspina University-College
Vancouver Island University is a comprehensive, four-year, postsecondary institution serving Vancouver Island and coastal British Columbia. Established in 1969 as Malaspina College, it has grown into an institution that plays an important role in the educational, cultural, and economic life of the...
now called Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo, British Columbia
Nanaimo, British Columbia
Nanaimo is a city on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. It has been dubbed the "Bathtub Racing Capital of the World" and "Harbour City". Nanaimo is also sometimes referred to as the "Hub City" because of its central location on Vancouver Island and due to the layout of the downtown...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. During the centennial of the college, he was the president of Dakota State University
Dakota State University
Dakota State University is a public university located in Madison, South Dakota. The university has a technology centric focus with programs in computer and information science, business, education, physical sciences, among other graduate and undergraduate programs...
(1978–1983) in Madison, South Dakota
Madison, South Dakota
Madison is a city in Lake County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 6,474 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Lake County and is home to Dakota State University.-Geography:Madison is located at ....
. He also served as president of Tacoma Community College
Tacoma Community College
Tacoma Community College is a community college located in Tacoma, Washington, with satellite operations in Gig Harbor and the Tacoma Mall. It serves the city of Tacoma and the Pierce County portion of the Kitsap Peninsula....
in Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
, (1983–1990). He later served as interim president at Columbia Basin College
Columbia Basin College
Columbia Basin College is a community college based in Pasco, Washington. The College offers many associate degrees and one baccalaureate business degree in applied management....
and Edmonds Community College
Edmonds Community College
Edmonds Community College is a college in the metropolitan area of Seattle. More than 20,000 students annually take courses for credit toward a certificate or degree at the college in Snohomish County, Washington.-History and governance:...
in Washington.
For his service to education, Carleton Opgaard received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from Valley City State University
Valley City State University
Valley City State University is an institution of higher learning in Valley City, North Dakota, part of the eleven-member North Dakota University System. Founded in 1890 as a territorial normal school, VCSU offers four-year degrees in a number of fields in five academic divisions and graduate...
.
Selected works
- Waldemar Theodor Ager, Norwegian immigrant author in America (University of Wyoming, 1957)