FARGO -- Dean Bresciani aims to show that he's not all talk.
Bresciani, who began Tuesday as North Dakota State University's 14th president, spent his first day meeting with students, faculty and staff.
Bresciani, who spent some time on campus Monday, said he believes shared governance involves hearing from all of the constituent groups.
"Oftentimes I've seen people say some things when they're a candidate for a job," Bresciani said. "I want to get the point across that what I said is what I meant."
Bresciani is making a point to meet with representatives of NDSU's student government first.
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"Students are the focus of this university," he said. "They always have been and they will continue to be."
Kevin Black, NDSU's student body president, said leaders are excited to see that commitment to students right away.
"That says a lot about what his administration and tenure is going to be like here at NDSU," Black said.
Dick Hanson, NDSU's interim president, spent his last day on campus Monday and will be available for consultation through the end of the month.
Hanson takes over as president of Bemidji (Minn.) State University and Northwest Technical College on July 12.
The two have been in frequent contact since the state Board of Higher Education named Bresciani president about two weeks ago.
"Dr. Hanson has been wonderful about the transition," Bresciani said. "We're having it come off virtually seamless. There won't be a minute that NDSU doesn't have a sitting president."
Bresciani arrived in Fargo on Sunday afternoon, driving up from Texas, where he most recently worked as vice president of student affairs for Texas A&M University.
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Bresciani planned to move into the president's house Monday night.
Also Tuesday, Bresciani met with leaders of the NDSU Staff Senate and the University Senate and members of the president's Cabinet.
Amy Dalrymple is a reporter at The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead, which is owned by Forum Communications Co.
