Former Gov Schafer, UND interim president

FARGO, N.D. (AP) – Former North Dakota Gov. Ed Schafer has been named interim president of the University of North Dakota.

Schafer was governor of the state from 1992-2000. He was U.S. Secretary of Agriculture from 2008-2009.

Schafer earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from UND in 1969.  He has an honorary doctor of letters degree from UND.

North Dakota University System Chancellor Mark Hagerott recommended that Shafer be selected over the other finalist, UND provost Thomas DiLorenzo. Current President Robert Kelley is retiring in January after leading the Grand Forks school for nearly seven years.

The state Board of Higher Education unanimously approved Schafer’s appointment Tuesday.

Eric Murphy, a UND professor and faculty adviser to the board, says many professors favored two UND deans, Bruce Smith and Dennis Elbert, for interim president.