North Dakota – Governor Kelly Armstrong announced the appointments of Levi Bachmeier of West Fargo and Patrick Sogard of Williston to four-year terms on the State Board of Higher Education, starting July 1.
“Levi and Pat bring valuable experience in education policy, finance, and operations to the State Board of Higher Education as our colleges and universities are being challenged by changing demographics and learning models,” Armstrong said. “Our University System is still the best workforce recruiting tool we have, and we need our campuses to align their offerings with workforce needs, adapt to trends, and thrive, not just survive.”
Bachmeier has served as business manager for the West Fargo School District since 2019. Previously, he worked as an education policy adviser and policy director for then-Governor Doug Burgum from 2016 to 2019. Bachmeier holds a bachelor’s degree in education from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn., and currently serves on both the North Dakota Board of Public School Education and the North Dakota Career and Technical Education Board.
Sogard, a long-time leader at American State Bank & Trust Co. in Williston, has chaired the board since 2003 and served as a trust officer from 2000 to 2005. He earned his bachelor’s degree in geological engineering from the University of North Dakota and his law degree from the UND School of Law. Sogard also serves on the board of the UND Alumni Association & Foundation.
Both appointments are subject to confirmation by the state Senate. Bachmeier will succeed Casey Ryan, while Sogard will succeed Jeffry Volk.
