North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong appointed Minot entrepreneur Kevin Black and Grand Forks physician and healthcare administrator Dr. Joshua Deere to four-year terms on the State Board of Higher Education, along with Mayville State University student Kelby Azure to a one-year term as the board’s student member.
Black, who has served on the board since 2022 and currently chairs it, was reappointed to another four-year term. He is the co-founder and CEO of Creedence Energy Services, a Minot-based company that creates specialized chemical solutions to enhance the performance and production of oil and gas wells. He earned a degree in industrial engineering and management from North Dakota State University.
Deere is the president of Grand Forks-based Altru Health System, where he also practices as a family medicine physician. A native of Kennedy, Minn., he earned his undergraduate degree from Mayville State, his medical degree from the University of North Dakota and an MBA from the University of Mary in Bismarck. Deere succeeds board member Danita Bye, who has served since 2020 and reached the maximum term limit.
Azure, originally from Portland, N.D., graduated from Mayville State in May with a bachelor’s degree in allied health and is currently pursuing his master’s degree while playing football for the university. He is also the founder and CEO of A2K Exteriors, a student athlete-owned exterior services company.
“Kevin and Dr. Deere both bring considerable leadership experience and valuable perspectives on higher education and how it can help meet our state’s workforce demands, including in two of our largest industries, energy and healthcare,” Armstrong said. “We appreciate their willingness to serve, along with all the candidates who applied, and we are excited for Kelby to bring his perspective to the board as he represents his fellow students.”
The Board of Higher Education has eight voting members appointed by the governor, including one student member, and two non-voting members representing the North Dakota University System’s faculty and staff. The board oversees the system’s 11 public colleges and universities.