Tim Flacco honored with Sorokin Award for decades of service to Midwestern Higher Education Compact

Tim Flacco, the North Dakota governor’s designee to the Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MEC), received the Sorokin Award at an MEC meeting, where colleagues praised his decades of service and regional leadership.

The award presentation opened with an introduction naming the prize after Phil Sorokin and announcing Flacco as the recipient. Meeting presenters highlighted Flacco’s long tenure with MEC and listed leadership posts including chair (2017–18), vice chair (2016–17) and past chair (2018–19). The introducer initially said Flacco was first appointed in 2001 and had served 'more than 24' years; Flacco corrected that account during his remarks, saying he began serving in 1999 and that his total service amounts to 26 years.

Why it matters: MEC is a multistate compact that promotes collaboration among higher-education institutions in the Midwest. Presenters and Flacco emphasized that his outreach—meeting with commissioners and legislators across state capitals—and committee work expanded MEC’s programs and visibility in North Dakota.

During remarks, Flacco credited the personal networks formed at MEC as the chief benefit of participation, saying the exchanges helped him bring improvements back to students, faculty and administrators in his state. Presenters also credited Flacco with helping North Dakota become the second state to join a state authorization agreement for distance-education programs, a multistate arrangement that simplifies cross-state offerings for institutions (organizers described it as a state authorization agreement; no statute or ordinance was cited in the meeting).

Former state senator Kyle—introduced by the meeting host as someone who served with Flacco in the legislature—called Flacco "a role model" and praised his mentorship of newer lawmakers. Flacco thanked colleagues, shared brief personal anecdotes about growing up in a small South Dakota town, and recounted that he had missed only one MEC meeting in decades, attributing that absence to open-heart surgery. He also recalled faculty mentors such as Professor Johnny Johnson and reflected on a brother who worked as a researcher and teacher.

Organizers noted Flacco chaired the search committee that led to hiring MEC’s current president and said he provided critical guidance during the leadership transition from former president Larry Isaac. They also said the organization’s finances have improved in recent years, allowing it to sustain program work; the transcript references a president named "Susan," but no last name was provided.

The presentation closed with applause and congratulations. No formal motions, votes, or legal authorities were taken or cited during the award presentation portion of the meeting. The meeting moved on after the award remarks.