Dr. Michael Wanous serves as the provost and vice president for academic affairs for Northern State University, starting in that position in July 2019. Wanous earned a B.S. in agronomy and international agriculture from the University of Minnesota, M.S. in plant breeding from Texas A&M University and Ph.D. in genetics from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Wanous previously served as vice president for academic affairs at Huntington University for five years. Prior to that, he worked at Augustana University for 17 years, holding positions of professor of biology, department chair, natural science division chair, and associate academic dean of the university. His teaching was in the areas of genetics, cell biology and molecular biology, and his research focused on plant molecular cytogenetics and gene expression. 

Wanous¡¯ professional experience also includes completing a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Missouri-Columbia and spending a sabbatical year with his family in Norwich, U.K., where he worked at the John Innes Centre on plant genetics research.

Wanous serves on the board of directors of ACAD, a national professional development organization for academic leaders. He is past president of the South Dakota Academy of Science.  

Wanous and his wife, Martha, have two grown children and two grandchildren. Outside of work, his hobbies include gardening, hiking and reading.