Tiffany Sanderson
Tiffany Sanderson joined Lake Area Technical College as its sixth President in January 2023. Prior to her current role, she led K-12 education in South Dakota as the Secretary of Education. Sanderson’s career has focused on education and workforce development in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Notably, she led South Dakota’s technical college system as Director of Career and Technical Education (CTE) and helped develop important efforts like the Build Dakota Scholarship, the state’s reduced tuition dual credit program, and funding for technical colleges and regional CTE facilities.
Since joining Lake Area Tech, the value of technical education has continued to advance with Sanderson’s leadership: the student body is at record highs, including strong growth in the number of graduates from the college each year, scholarship funds awarded, and expansion and modernization of technical training facilities.
A South Dakota native, Sanderson grew up on a ranch and graduated from Lemmon High School. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Education from South Dakota State University and her master’s in Administration: Human Resource Management from the University of South Dakota.
Sanderson’s husband, Nathan, is the executive director of a statewide trade organization, and son, Carter, is the director of their free time. In addition to leading Lake Area Technical College, Sanderson serves on boards for the Watertown Development Company, Friends of the Goss Opera House, and South Dakota Ag & Rural Leadership (SDARL). She enjoys time with her family and friends, working at their family acreage, cheering on her hockey player, traveling, and supporting community efforts.
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Lake Area Tech, a winner of the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, exists to launch students into in-demand and well-paying, skilled professions. More than 99 percent of Lake Area Tech College’s students are employed or continuing their education following graduation.
Tiffany Sanderson
President
