Marie Hvidsten, director of the North Dakota State University Extension Service’s Rural Leadership North Dakota program, is the North Dakota Association for Communication Excellence 2007 communicator of the year.

The award recognizes an individual who has displayed exceptional expertise and professionalism in delivering educational programs and information to the public through several types of media. The association and NDSU Agriculture Communication staff selected her for the honor.

Hvidsten, also an NDSU Extension Service rural leadership specialist, has been RLND director since October 2002. Prior to coming to NDSU, she was the corporate learning and development manager at Digi-Key in Thief River Falls, Minn., for eight years.

Prior to that, she spent 11 years as a music teacher and eight years working with numerous grant programs, including a teacher center, mentorship program, arts school and Center for School Change initiative with the University of Minnesota, and was curriculum director for the Thief River Falls School District. In addition, she was part of a community team that created and implemented a nine-month leadership program for the Thief River Falls community.

Hvidsten earned a bachelor’s degree in music from Bemidji (Minn.) State University, a master’s in educational administration from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks and a Ph.D. in organization development from the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis.

A noon luncheon will be held in Hvidsten’s honor Wednesday, Dec. 12, in the NDSU Memorial Union’s Hidatsa Room. The cost is $8 per person. Sign up for the luncheon at 7 Morrill Hall or call (701) 231-7881.

NDSU Agriculture Communication