Gov. Kelly Armstrong has appointed Levi Bachmeier of West Fargo and Patrick Sogard of Williston to four-year terms on the State Board of Higher Education, beginning July 1. Their appointments are subject to confirmation by the state Senate.
Armstrong praised the new appointees, citing their expertise in education policy, finance, and operations as essential assets for guiding North Dakota’s colleges and universities through evolving demographics and learning models.
Bachmeier, currently the business manager for the West Fargo School District, has an extensive background in education policy, including serving as an adviser to former Gov. Doug Burgum. Sogard, chairman of American State Bank & Trust Co. in Williston, brings legal and financial expertise, with past experience as a trust officer and private attorney.
Bachmeier will replace Casey Ryan, a Grand Forks physician completing his second and final term, while Sogard succeeds Jeffry Volk, a retired Fargo consulting engineer who has served since 2021.
The State Board of Higher Education oversees North Dakota’s 11 public colleges and universities and consists of eight voting members appointed by the governor, along with two non-voting representatives from faculty and staff.
By: DNU staff