In his initial administrative assignment, Opgaard was principal of
Edmonds Woodway High School in
Edmonds, Washington. In 1969, he was the founding president of
Malaspina University-College, now called
Vancouver Island University in
Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada. During the
centennial of the college, he was the president of
Dakota State University (1978–1983) in
Madison, South Dakota. He also served as president of
Tacoma Community College in
Tacoma, Washington, (1983–1990). He later served as interim president of
Columbia Basin College and
Edmonds College in Washington. For his service to education, Carleton Opgaard received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from
Valley City State University. == Death ==