BURGUM ANNOUNCES MEMBERS OF TASK FORCE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION GOVERNANCE

Nowatzki, Mike to Mike Dec 21

NEWS: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Mike Nowatzki, 701.328.2424; Kelly Ivahnenko, 701.328.2937

Burgum appoints members to newly created Task Force for Higher Educa on
Governance

BISMARCK, N.D. (Dec. 21, 2017) – Gov. Doug Burgum today announced the members of a task force that will evaluate
the governance structure for North Dakota’s higher educa on system and determine if improvement opportuni es
exist to be er meet the state’s educa onal and workforce needs for the 21st century.

The 15-member Task Force for Higher Educa on Governance was created by execu ve order last month and consists of
the governor as chair and 14 members appointed by the governor. Burgum appointed the members from a pool of
more than 230 applicants.

“We are incredibly grateful for the intense interest in serving on this Task Force, which demonstrates the passion North
Dakotans feel toward their higher educa on system,” Burgum said. “This group represents a wide range of
backgrounds and exper se that will ensure a though ul assessment of our nearly 80-year-old governance structure
and whether the higher educa on system is opera ng at its full poten al to prepare students for success in a world
undergoing rapid technological disrup on.”

The Task Force members are:

Gov. Burgum, who earned a bachelor’s degree from North Dakota State University and a master’s of business
administra on (MBA) from Stanford Graduate School of Business.
North Dakota Supreme Court Chief Jus ce Gerald VandeWalle, who under the state Cons tu on is a member of
the State Board of Higher Educa on nomina ng commi ee. VandeWalle earned a bachelor’s degree from the
University of North Dakota and a law degree from the UND School of Law.
State Board of Higher Educa on Chairman Don Morton, a re red Microso execu ve and former head coach of
the North Dakota State University football team. Morton earned a bachelor’s degree from Augustana College in
Rock Island, Ill., and a master’s degree in educa on from Western Illinois University.
State Sen. Brad Bekkedahl, a den st from Williston and finance commissioner on the Williston City Commission
since 1996. Bekkedahl earned bachelor’s degrees from the University of Jamestown and University of Minnesota
and a doctor of dental surgery degree from the University of Minnesota School of Den stry.
State Sen. Joan Heckaman, a re red teacher from New Rockford. Heckaman earned a bachelor’s degree from
Valley City State University and a master’s degree in special educa on from Minot State University (MSU).
State Rep. Mike Nathe, a funeral home owner from Bismarck and former chairman of the House Educa on
Commi ee. Nathe earned a bachelor’s degree in mortuary science from the University of Minnesota.
State Rep. Shannon Roers Jones of Fargo, a orney for Roers Companies. Roers Jones earned a bachelor’s degree
from the College of St. Benedict in Collegeville, Minn., an MBA from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul,
Minn., and a law degree from the UND School of Law.
Dr. Ellie Shockley, ins tu onal research analyst at Bismarck State College and a former postdoctoral fellow at the
University of Nebraska Public Policy Center. Shockley earned a bachelor’s degree from Duke University and
master’s and doctoral degrees in social psychology from the University of Chicago.
Dr. Paul Markel, professor of psychology at MSU and former president of the Council of College Facul es. Markel
earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Mary in Bismarck and master’s and doctoral degrees in
psychology from the University of Colorado Boulder.
Dr. Angie Koppang, vice president of quality assurance for AdvancED, a nonprofit that conducts reviews of
educa onal ins tu ons and systems. Koppang earned an associate’s degree from BSC, a bachelor’s degree from
the University of Mary and a master’s degree and doctoral degree in philosophy from UND.
Jonathan Sickler of Grand Forks, chief legal officer for AE2S, an environmental and civil engineering consul ng
firm. Sickler earned a bachelor’s degree from UND and a law degree from Harvard Law School.
Tim Flakoll, provost of Tri-College University in Fargo-Moorhead, current chairman of the Midwestern Higher
Educa on Compact and a former state senator. Flakoll earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from NDSU and
 graduated from execu ve programs at Harvard Kennedy School of Execu ve Educa on and the University of
Oxford in England.
Thomas Erickson, CEO of the Energy & Environmental Research Center at UND. Erickson earned bachelor’s and
master’s degrees in chemical engineering from UND.
Jeffry Volk, president and CEO of West Fargo-based Moore Engineering Inc. Volk earned a bachelor’s degree in
civil engineering from NDSU.
Ka e Mastel of Bismarck, a marke ng major and student body vice president at NDSU.

The Task Force has received broad support since Burgum announced it Nov. 7. The student senates at NDSU and UND
recently passed resolu ons suppor ng crea on of the Task Force.

The governor is working with Task Force members to schedule the group’s first mee ng in January. Therea er, the Task
Force will meet monthly or at the call of the chair. The group will provide recommenda ons for the Legislature to
consider during its 2019 session.

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