Burgum appoints Stanley woman to North Dakota’s higher ed board

3412391+060917.O.JS_.Bye,Danita.jpg — Danita Bye

By Sydney Mook

May 08, 2020 at 12:23 PM

BISMARCK -- Business consultant Danita Bye, of Stanley, has been appointed to North Dakota’s State Board of Higher Education, Gov. Doug Burgum’s office announced Friday, May 8.

Bye has been a leadership and sales development consultant since 1997 for small- to medium-sized businesses in the science, technology, engineering, manufacturing and medical device industries, according to a news release. She previously worked as an investor and sales manager for Micro-Tech, a medical device manufacturer, and in sales and sales management for Xerox Corp.

“Danita’s passion for education, deep understanding of the business sector and thoughtful insights into the new generation of learners will help the State Board of Higher Education and all North Dakota campuses respond to the COVID-19 crisis and the unstoppable forces impacting higher education: economics, demographics, culture and technology,” Burgum said. “We’re deeply grateful to her and all of the qualified candidates who expressed their intense passion for higher education in North Dakota.”

Bye will serve the remainder of former board member Dan Traynor’s term, which ends June 30, 2022. Traynor resigned from the board in January after the U.S. Senate confirmed him for a North Dakota federal district judgeship.

Bye’s appointment has to be confirmed by the North Dakota Senate, but she will begin serving on the board immediately.

Bye earned bachelor’s degrees in biology and psychology from the University of Sioux Falls and a master’s degree in transformational leadership from Bethel University in St. Paul, Minn. She serves on the board of directors for the North Dakota Petroleum Council and The Triple T Inc., an oil and gas company. She previously served on the North Dakota Economic Development Foundation board, the Innovate ND board and the University of Sioux Falls Board of Trustees.

Applications are open for another opening on the state board. Don Morton’s term as a board member will be coming to an end this summer. The North Dakota Department of Public Instruction is fielding applications for the spot.

By Sydney Mook

Sydney Mook has been the managing editor at the Herald since April 2021. In her role she edits and assigns stories and helps reporters develop their work for readers.

Mook has been with the Herald since May 2018 and was first hired as the Herald's higher education reporter where she covered UND and other happenings in state higher education. She was later promoted to community editor in 2019.

For story pitches contact her at smook@gfherald.com or call her at 701-780-1134.