Gov. Kelly Armstrong announces Levi Bachmeier as the next superintendent for the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction during a press conference on Oct. 21, 2025. Bachmeier's appointment led him to resign from the State Board of Higher Education, creating an opening on the board. (Photo by Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)
BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) – Five North Dakotans applied to fill a vacancy on the State Board of Higher Education that oversees North Dakota’s 11 public colleges and universities.
One of the five candidates will take over the seat once held by Levi Bachmeier, who resigned from the board to succeed Kirsten Baesler as State Superintendent of Schools, according to a news release from the Department of Public Instruction on Monday.
The candidates are:
- Carma Hanson, Grand Forks, a registered nurse and coordinator of Safe Kids Grand Forks.
- Michelle Kommer, Fargo, chief executive officer of HighRoad Partners LLC, a human resources and employee benefits consultant. Kommer is a former state commerce and labor commissioner, and director of Job Service North Dakota.
- Alyssa Martin, Bismarck, state director for the North Dakota Center for Distance Education.
- Stan Schauer, Bismarck, director of assessments for the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction.
- Darin Scherr, Bismarck, business and operations manager for the Bismarck public schools.
The nominating committee will meet Jan. 13 and recommend the names of three finalists to be forwarded to Gov. Kelly Armstrong for his consideration.
Members of the nominating committee include: Bachmeier; Nick Archuleta, president of ND United, a union representing educators and public sector employees; Supreme Court Chief Justice Lisa Fair McEvers; state Sen. Kyle Davison, R-Fargo, the Senate’s president pro tempore; and North Dakota Speaker of the House Robin Weisz, R-Hurdsfield.
Whomever is named by Armstrong to the position would need to be confirmed by the North Dakota Senate.
Bachmeier’s successor will fulfill the remainder of his term on the board, which expires in June 2029.
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