He succeeds Kevin Satterlee, who’s retiring after more than five years as ISU’s president.

Wagner will officially take the helm at ISU on Jan. 29, 2024. His initial contract is for 30 months with an annual salary of $420,000.

The State Board of Education on Thursday appointed Brian Sagendorf, ISU’s vice president of operations, to serve as ISU’s acting president Jan. 1 through Jan. 28. Satterlee’s last day at ISU is Dec. 31.

Wagner addressed an audience of about 50 people, mostly ISU officials and employees, at Thursday afternoon’s announcement ceremony at the ISU Alumni Center.

Wagner spent time expressing thanks to members of the State Board of Education, board staff members and the presidential search committee. Wagner also conveyed gratitude toward Satterlee and his “outstanding leadership and vision directing ISU for over five years with values that are readily apparent (such as) trust, compassion, stability and hope with a strong culture of Bengal pride.”

Wagner then paid a special tribute to his family who were in attendance, reflecting on their fortitude during his many years at USU and their resilience as he earned his bachelors, master’s and doctorate degrees.

“My own experiences as a student instilled in me compassion for every student who has embarked on the arduous, demanding and rewarding journey of pursuing a college degree,” Wagner said. “I feel honored to have witnessed the grit and success of many students who achieved noble goals while conquering individual unique difficulties. One of my challenges was being a non-traditional student, balancing family and work in pursuit of education and opportunity.”

Wagner remarked that his appointment as ISU president coincided with the winter solstice on Dec. 21. During his speech at the Alumni Center, he compared how this time of the year represents a turning point and that the days following mid-winter grow longer and brighter.

“Idaho State University has been and is growing noticeably brighter and I have every expectation we will continue to grow brighter and brighter moving forward,” Wagner said. “There is something special about this institution. To the faculty, staff and alumni of all of Idaho State University’s campuses across this great state and even reaching Alaska, and to the diverse and vibrant populations and people whose history makes our collaborations richer and more meaningful, I pledge to you my unwavering support and dedication to this great institution and to our students. You are why we are here. ISU will continue to be a student centric university. (We will) find innovative ways of supporting students and providing the highest caliber of education with a focus on affordability, relevance, and impact. I’m so happy to be part of an undeniably special university and I will work with you all to make it even more extraordinary as the days grow brighter into the future. We will make an impact.”

When asked what message he would want to send to ISU’s faculty, Wagner said: “First of all, the faculty of this institution are foundational to what we do from a teaching perspective. Research, working with our students, our undergraduate and graduate students, and faculty are incredibly important. I’ve spent my career not only as a faculty member but working with faculty. I’ve been part of a faculty senate for many years. I appreciate the value of shared governance. That’s important and that’s something that will continue here at Idaho State University and will be a focus. I will seek to understand their needs and look forward to working with them.”

Regarding ISU athletics, Wagner wants to see a continuation of the current momentum while ensuring that student athletes receive the support they require.

“The institution is seeing great success,” Wagner said about ISU. “I want to focus on the needs of our student athletes, making sure they’re getting the academic and life support that they need. As an institution, those student athletes are incredibly important to us not only to our athletic teams and our Bengal pride and spirit, but the great opportunities for them from an educational perspective. We want to focus on our student athletes, focus on their success on the field, on the court, and in the classroom.”

State board member Cindy Siddoway, the search committee’s co-chair and an ISU alumna, said she’s optimistic about ISU’s future with Wagner at the helm.

“Dr. Wagner is a very sincere person,” Siddoway said. “He cares deeply about ISU and its campus community. He’ll work hard to establish strong relationships with alumni and community leaders, and he will build on ISU’s recent momentum and be an outstanding leader and advocate for higher education in Idaho.”

Wagner’s previous positions at USU in Logan, Utah, include vice president of academic and instructional services, executive vice provost and dean of academic and instruction services, and vice provost of regional campuses and distance education. Prior to joining USU, Wagner served as special assistant to the president of the State University of New York at Albany.

Wagner earned his doctorate in political science at the State University of New York at Albany and holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Utah and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Brigham Young University.

The state board said this about Wagner when he was named as a finalist for the ISU president position earlier this month: “A 16-year veteran at USU, Dr. Wagner oversees various facets of the institution’s operations including student success, academic programing, fundraising, marketing and student recruiting and retention. He recently co-chaired the development of USU’s first strategic plan in 20 years. He also led USU’s online delivery programs, which have been ranked in the top 25 in the nation for eight consecutive years by U.S. News and World Report.”

Linda Clark, the state board’s president, pointed out that Wagner was selected from an impressive pool of over 80 candidates to replace the retiring Satterlee.

“We had an outstanding group of finalists,” Clark said. “Dr. Wagner’s depth of leadership experience in various roles at a larger institution just 90 minutes south of ISU’s main campus and his vision for the institution moving forward helped make him the top candidate.”