Margaret Dahlberg, Ph.D., vice president for academic affairs at Valley City State University, was recognized for her service as VCSU’s interim president at a reception held in the Student Center on campus Nov. 29.Guests from the North Dakota University System and the Valley City and VCSU communities turned out to thank Dahlberg for her exemplary work in the local community, on campus and within the system. Larry Robinson, VCSU executive director of university advancement, gave brief remarks in recognition of Dahlberg’s service. A framed portrait of Dahlberg with the dates of her interim presidential service was also presented; that portrait will be hung in the President’s Room in the VCSU Student Center, along with the portraits of all past VCSU presidents.Dahlberg has served two stints as VCSU interim president. The first came in 2014 when former president Steven Shirley departed VCSU for the presidency at Minot State University; Dahlberg served from July 1, 2014, until Tisa Mason assumed the VCSU presidency on Dec. 15, 2014.Dahlberg has most recently served as interim president since former president Mason left VCSU for the presidency at Fort Hays State University in December 2017. Dahlberg will return to her role as VCSU vice president for academic affairs with the arrival of incoming president Alan LaFave on Dec. 17, 2018.As interim president, Dahlberg has put her signature on VCSU’s strategic plan and successfully led the university through a period marked by budget cuts and declines in state funding. She also embraced and emphasized the VCSU vision statement—“As an innovative university, we deliver distinctive, learner-centered experiences”—encouraging and supporting innovation while strengthening VCSU’s core programs. The trend of enrollment growth at VCSU has also continued under Dahlberg’s leadership.As a child, Dahlberg attended the Model School of Valley City State Teachers College when her father, H.O. Pearce, served as school superintendent. The Pearce family moved to Platteville, Wis., during Dahlberg’s childhood, but she returned to Valley City State as an English professor in 1996.Dahlberg holds three degrees in English: a doctorate and a master’s degree, both from the University of North Dakota, along with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin–Platteville.She and her husband, Paul Dahlberg, make their home in Valley City. The couple has three adult sons, who all attended VCSU.