10 apply for open higher ed board seat

Ten North Dakotans have applied for a seat on the State Board of Higher Education.

John Warford of Bismarck is giving up his seat on the eight-member board that oversees North Dakota’s public colleges and universities. The four-year term begins July 1.

The candidates are:

• Autumn Bennett of Walhalla, middle/high school music and math teacher, Cavalier Public School, Walhalla.
• Donald Campbell of Mandan, vice president and chief human resources officer, Sanford Health, Mandan.
• Alan Goos of Fargo, electrician, Advanced Electrical Systems, West Fargo. 
• Kari Cutting of Beulah, consultant and former vice president of North Dakota Petroleum Council.
• Nadine Hagen of Turtle Lake, speech language pathologist, Underwood Public School.
• Christie Jaeger of Esmond, farmer, rancher and crop insurance adjuster.
• Wendy Kopp of Bismarck, chief nursing officer, Sanford Health.
• Ruth Plenty Sweetgrass-She Kills of New Town, director of food sovereignty, Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College.
• Patrick Sogard of Williston, owner and chairman, American State Bank & Trust Co.
• Stan Schauer of Bismarck, director of assessments, North Dakota Department of Public Instruction.

State Superintendent of Schools Kirsten Baesler, who chairs the nominating committee that screens candidates for the board, announced the candidates in a news release Monday. 

The committee is scheduled to meet at 4 p.m. Wednesday to discuss the applicants and suggest finalists to Gov. Doug Burgum, who will make the appointment.

State Board of Higher Education members may serve no more than two consecutive terms.