Gov reappoints Higher Ed chair, names new member

Estimated read time: Less than a minute

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota's governor has reappointed the Board of Higher Education chairwoman and also selected a Fargo optometrist to serve his first four-year term.

Gov. Jack Dalrymple named Kirsten Diederich to a second term and named Dr. Kevin Melicher to replace Duane Espegard, who has served since 2007. His term expires June 30.

Melicher served on the Fargo School Board for eight years and has practiced optometry for 38 years. He received his undergraduate degree at North Dakota State University and his doctor of optometry from Illinois College of Optometry.

Diederich was first appointed to the board in July 2010. She has a bachelor's degree in psychology, a master's in entomology and a doctorate in zoology from NDSU. She is a retired biology professor.