Bob Otterson has invested most of his professional life in public higher education advancement across five institutions, three states, and two millennia. Elected first to the CASE District VI board of directors in 2009, Otterson served as its chair from 2016 to 2018. His 10-plus years on the board have covered two joint conferences in Chicago with District V.

When CASE leadership started working on a new governance structure, Otterson represented District VI on the District Design Task Force and previously on the District Chairs Council. His programming contributions include leading the conference’s communications track twice, serving as a moderator and panelist at several sessions, and presenting in three different CASE districts. He was named one of the inaugural CASE Laureates in 2019 for his leadership and service to the organization.

A native of Marshall, Minn., Otterson graduated from Augustana University with a B.A. in Communications and from South Dakota State University with an M.S. in Mass Communications and Journalism. He has completed coursework for an Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration at the University of South Dakota. He currently serves as director of development for North Dakota State University College of Business.

Otterson started his career in print journalism and entered educational advancement through early positions and leadership roles in public information, marketing and communications, government relations, alumni affairs, and university administration. His work has been recognized with awards from six different professional organizations including CASE, the Public Relations Society of America, the International Association of Business Communicators, and the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations.

Otterson and his wife, Lisa, a successful development professional, and former college and university instructor, live in Fargo, N.D., and pay tuition for their three children at schools in three different states.