Tiffany Sanderson

Tiffany Sanderson serves as Lake Area Technical College’s sixth President in Watertown, SD. Lake Area Tech, a winner of the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, exists to launch students into in-demand and well-paying skilled professions. More than 99 percent of Lake Area Tech College’s students are employed or continuing their education following graduation.

Prior to her current role, she led K-12 education in South Dakota as the Secretary of Education. Sanderson’s career has focused on education and workforce development in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Notably, she led South Dakota’s technical college system as Director of Career and Technical Education (CTE) and helped develop important efforts like the Build Dakota Scholarship, the state’s reduced tuition dual credit program, and funding for technical colleges and regional CTE facilities.

A South Dakota native, Sanderson grew up on a ranch and graduated from Lemmon High School. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Education from South Dakota State University and her master’s in Administration: Human Resource Management from the University of South Dakota.

Sanderson’s husband, Nathan, is the executive director of a statewide trade organization, and son, Carter, is the director of their free time. In addition to leading Lake Area Technical College, Sanderson serves on the Watertown Development Company Board and the board of the South Dakota Ag & Rural Leadership Development (SDARL) program. She enjoys time with her family and friends, adventure in the outdoors, cheering on her hockey player, traveling, and supporting community efforts.