Armacost honored among Prairie Business’ 2026 Leaders & Legacies
UND president recognized at reception celebrating seven regional leaders for their leadership, community impact and vision
University of North Dakota President Andrew Armacost was honored this week at a reception celebrating Prairie Business magazine’s 2026 Leaders & Legacies award recipients.
Armacost joined six other honorees at the event, which recognized leaders from across the region for their professional accomplishments, leadership and contributions to their communities. Prairie Business announced this year’s recipients in July.
Armacost, who became UND’s 13th president in June 2020, was recognized for guiding the University through a period of growth and transformation.
Prairie Business highlighted UND’s designation as a Carnegie R1 research institution in 2025 and its 2026 designation as an Innovation & Economic Prosperity University by the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities – the first and only university in North Dakota to receive the designation.
The magazine also cited UND’s record enrollment, the development of the UND LEADS strategic plan and Armacost’s efforts to strengthen partnerships in health care, aerospace, defense and energy.
“Armacost has set the example of how a leader can motivate an entire campus of students, faculty and staff,” Prairie Business wrote in its profile. “The impact he will have on UND graduates will be felt for generations.”
Before joining UND, Armacost served as dean of the faculty at the U.S. Air Force Academy and retired from the U.S. Air Force as a brigadier general in 2019. He is an educator and scholar in operations research and serves on several educational and community boards.
Prairie Business selected seven recipients for its 2016 Leaders & Legacies honors. In addition to Armacost, they are:
- Alan O’Neil, retired CEO, Unity Medical Center, Grafton, N.D.
- Damon Devillers, senior project engineer and client manager, Interstate Engineering, Wahpeton, N.D.
- Deneen Axtman, chief operating officer and executive officer, Cornerstone Bank, Fargo, N.D.
- Gregg Haug, founder and chairman, Northern Plains Group of Companies, North Dakota
- Pat McAdaragh, chairman and CEO, Midco, Minneapolis
- Rick Berg, co-founder, Great States Development, Great States Construction and Collective, Fargo, N.D. Berg is also a former interim president of North Dakota State University and a former North Dakota state lawmaker and member of Congress.
The annual Leaders & Legacies awards recognize executives who demonstrate leadership, integrity, empathy and vision while supporting their employees and communities.
