Meet North Dakota’s New Voice In Higher Education
Gov. Kelly Armstrong has appointed Michelle Kommer of Fargo to fill a vacancy on the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education, effective immediately.
Kommer is the owner and operator of HighRoad Partners, an outsourced human resources firm providing payroll, employee benefits, Medicare advisory and consulting services. She founded the company in 2020. Prior to starting her business, Kommer spent nearly four years in state government leadership, serving as commerce commissioner, labor commissioner and executive director of Job Service North Dakota. In that role, she led efforts to revitalize the state’s Workforce Development Council.
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Kommer has also held executive positions in the private sector, including roles with Western State Bank in West Fargo, Noridian Mutual Insurance Co. d/b/a BlueCross BlueShield of North Dakota in Fargo, and Otter Tail Corp., based in Fergus Falls, Minnesota.
Armstrong said Kommer’s experience as both a business owner and former state agency leader will benefit the board as it works to align higher education with workforce needs.
Kommer earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Mayville State University, a master’s degree in management from the University of Mary and a law degree from the University of North Dakota School of Law. She is licensed to practice law in North Dakota and Minnesota.
She succeeds Levi Bachmeier, who resigned from the board in November after taking office as North Dakota’s superintendent of public instruction. Kommer will serve the remainder of Bachmeier’s term, which expires June 30, 2029. Her appointment is subject to confirmation by the state Senate.
The State Board of Higher Education oversees the North Dakota University System’s 11 public colleges and universities.
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