— Official News Release —
Gov. Jack Dalrymple today announced the appointments of Nicholas Hacker and Greg Stemen to the State Board of Higher Education. Hacker, of Bismarck, will replace Terry Hjelmstad following the completion of Hjelmstad’s term on June 30. Stemen, of Fort Ransom, will replace Grant Shaft whose term also expires June 30.
Gov. Jack Dalrymple today announced the appointments of Nicholas Hacker and Greg Stemen to the State Board of Higher Education. Hacker, of Bismarck, will replace Terry Hjelmstad following the completion of Hjelmstad’s term on June 30. Stemen, of Fort Ransom, will replace Grant Shaft whose term also expires June 30.
Hacker is a former North Dakota senator and the president of North Dakota Guaranty and Title Co. The title insurance and real estate closing company employs more than 100 people at 10 locations in North Dakota and western Montana. Prior to joining the title company, Hacker served as the state government affairs manager for the American Land Title Association in Washington, D.C. A graduate of the University of North Dakota, Hacker also served as an entrepreneur consultant and financial analyst at UND. He served in the North Dakota Senate from 2004 to 2008 and has maintained strong working relationships with legislators, government officials and leaders within the private sector. Hacker graduated from UND with a bachelor’s degree in managerial finance and accounting. His community involvement includes serving the Williston Rotary Club and on the university system’s Roundtable on Higher Education.
Stemen is president of First State Bank of North Dakota in LaMoure and Marion. Although he has extensive experience in banking and other business ventures, Stemen’s professional career began as a teacher and coach. After teaching secondary math at Wahpeton Public Schools, he moved on to coaching basketball at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, North Dakota State College of Science, and Southwest Minnesota State University. Stemen earned a Bachelor of Science in mathematics education at Valley City State University, and a Master of Science in Educational Leadership at Southwest Minnesota State University. He also serves in several leadership roles on state and local boards, including the Fort Ransom City Council, the North Dakota Bankers Association’s Agriculture Committee, and he is president of the Litchville-Marion Dollars for Scholars.
“Greg Stemen and Nick Hacker are consensus builders and proven leaders who are committed to educational excellence in North Dakota,” Dalrymple said. “Serving on the Board of Higher Education carries a tremendous amount of responsibility and both Greg and Nick will bring to the board valuable experience and strong leadership skills.”
In announcing the appointments, Dalrymple also thanked Grant Shaft and Terry Hjelmstad for their dedicated service to the North Dakota University System.
The nine-member State Board of Higher Education is the policy-setting body for the North Dakota University System. The Board consists of seven citizen members who are appointed to serve four-year terms, one student appointed by the governor for a one-year term and one faculty advisor selected by the Council of College Faculties.
According to the North Dakota State Constitution, the Governor appoints members of the Board of Higher Education from a list of nominees selected by a committee composed of the President of the North Dakota Education Association, Chief Justice of the North Dakota Supreme Court, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and the Speaker of the North Dakota House of Representatives. The student member is appointed from a list advanced to the governor by the North Dakota Student Association.
