CSC Presidential Timeline

Dr. Ron K. Patterson announced his resignation March 10, 2025. On April 10, Dr. Jodi Kupper, NSCS Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, was appointed as Interim President, effective June 10, and became the College’s 13^th President after the Board of Trustees made her interim position permanent in October 2025.

Dr. Randy Rhine announced his retirement in November 2022, effective June 2023.  Dr. Ron K. Patterson was appointed as the 12^th President of CSC on April 18, 2023, effective July 1, 2023.

Ron K. Patterson Inauguration

Dr. Janie Park announced her plans to retire in April 2012.  Dr. Randy Rhine, Vice President for Enrollment Management and Services at CSC, became Interim President on May 11, 2012.  In January 2013, the Board of Trustees officially named Dr. Rhine as the 11^th President of CSC.

Randy Rhine Inauguration

In April 2004, Dr. Tom Krepel announced his resignation as President, effective June 2005.  Dr. Janie Park, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Montana State – Billings, was appointed as the first female President of Chadron State.  She began her role in August 2005.  

In 1997, Dr. Sam Rankin announced he would step down from the President’s office to teach history at CSC, effective no later than June 1998.  Dr. Tom Krepel, Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs, became Interim President in February 1998, and became the College’s 9^th President after the Board of Trustees made his interim position permanent on July 1, 1998.

In February 1986, Dr. Edwin C. Nelson announced his resignation as President of Chadron State, effective September 1. Dr. Sam Rankin was appointed President in September 1986.

In 1973, Dr. Edwin Nelson was asked to temporarily serve as Executive Secretary of the Board of Trustees, and Dr. Larry Tangeman became the Chadron State President.  The arrangement was to last 20 months, or until July 1, 1975.  In July 1975, Dr. Nelson returned to Chadron State and resumed his role as President.

Dr. F. Clark Elkins resigned as President, and Dr. Edwin C. Nelson was promoted from Dean to President.  

The name of the college officially became Chadron State College.  

Dr. Barton Kline resigned as President and was replaced by Dr. F. Clark Elkins.

Dr. Wiley Brooks resigned as President, effective July 1, 1954.  Dr. Barton L. Kline was appointed President July 1, 1954.

In March 1940, Robert Elliott resigned as President for health reasons and was replaced by Professor Edwin Rouse, who served as acting president for 14 months. Dr. Wiley G. Brooks became President in May 1941.

Joseph Sparks resigned as President of Chadron Normal in April 1916. At the same meeting, Robert I. Elliott was selected as the new President.

Members of the Nebraska Board of Education returned to Chadron on June 15 to select the site of the new building and to drive the stake marking the location for what became the Administration Building. That same day, Joseph Sparks was selected as the school’s first President.

A bill introduced by State Rep. Charles H. Chase of Crawford, calling for the establishment of a state normal school in what was then the Sixth Congressional District, passed in the Nebraska Legislature in April.