Brent Askvig, PhD

North Dakota Center for Persons with Disabilities, Minot State University

Brent A. Askvig, Ph.D., is the Executive Director of the North Dakota Center for Persons with Disabilities at Minot State University in Minot, ND. Dr. Askvig holds the rank of Professor of Special Education in the Department of Special Education, College of Education and Health Sciences at Minot State and has been on the faculty for 25 years. He has served as chair of the Department of Special Education, as well as coordinator of the undergraduate program in intellectual disabilities and the graduate programs in severe disabilities and early childhood special education. In addition he served as Assistant to the Dean for the MSU Graduate School.

Dr. Askvig completed his undergraduate studies with a double major in Special Education and Elementary Education at Minot State University, and his completed his Master's degree in Special Education/Severe Disabilities also at MSU. He completed his Doctorate in Special Education at the University of Idaho with a focus on higher education and research.

Dr. Askvig began his career as a direct service provider to individuals who moved from the state institution to community programs. He started the first public school classroom for students with significant support needs in Bismarck, ND. Dr. Askvig has also provided home based early intervention services to rural ND families, and was the program coordinator for a regional Part C early intervention program.

Personnel preparation, deinstitutionalization, and international disability issues are the most frequent research, writing and presentation topics for Dr. Askvig. He has directed several federal personnel preparation programs, written on ND's institution for persons with intellectual disabilities, and co-hosted the Midwest's only international Nordic conference on intellectual disabilities. Dr. Askvig serves on numerous state committees and task forces including the state council on developmental disabilities and state committees on transition and seclusion and restraint.