Vice President for University Relations Staff Directory

Keith Bjerke,
Vice President

Keith joined NDSU on January 1, 2001. He is responsible for University Relations, Legislative Affairs and Community Outreach. He attended North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Animal Husbandry in 1961.

Prior to moving to Fargo and working for NDSU Keith served as the Adjutant General of the North Dakota National Guard from July 31, 1993 until December 31, 2000. He served as the Administrator of the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service and Executive Vice President of the Commodity Credit Corporation from 1989 to 1993. Before moving to Washington, DC, Keith and Marian owned and operated Spruce Row Farm near Northwood, ND, for 25 years.

Phone: (701) 231-1068
Fax: (701) 231-1989
Email: Keith.Bjerke@ndsu.edu

Laura McDaniel,
Assistant Vice President

Laura has been with University Relations since 1989, and is the assistant vice president. She has a master's degree from NDSU and a bachelor's from the University of North Dakota. Her previous work experience includes news reporting and corporate communication.

Phone: (701) 231-8330
Fax: (701) 231-1989
Email: Laura.Mcdaniel@ndsu.edu

Sadie Anderson,
Information Specialist

Sadie joined the University Relations staff in January 2007. Originally from Enderlin, N.D., she earned her bachelor's degree in mass communications from Minnesota State University Moorhead. Before coming to NDSU, Sadie worked at Barnes and Noble Booksellers Inc. in Fargo.

Phone: (701) 231-8326
Fax: (701) 231-8969
Email: Sadie.Anderson@ndsu.edu

Laurie Baker,
Public Relations Director

Laurie joined the University Relations staff in March 2008 as public relations director. She received her master’s degree from NDSU and her bachelor’s degree from Minot State University. Laurie worked in journalism, public relations, project management and free-lance writing. She teaches Women’s Studies as an adjunct at Minnesota State University Moorhead.

Phone: (701) 231-8327
Fax: (701) 231-1989
Email: Laurie.Baker@ndsu.edu

Steve Bergeson,
Senior Writer/News Coordinator

Steve joined the staff in August 1996. He has a bachelor's degree in mass communications from Minnesota State University Moorhead. Before coming to NDSU, he worked for 19 years as a broadcast journalist in the Fargo-Moorhead market.

Phone: (701) 231-6101
Fax: (701) 231-1989
Email: Steven.Bergeson@ndsu.edu

Char Goodyear,
Assistant to the Vice President

Char joined the Vice President for University Relations staff in October 2000. She earned a legal secretarial degree from Northwest Technical College in 1978. Prior to joining university relations, she worked for the NDSU Extension Service from 1980 to 2000.

Phone: (701) 231-1068
Fax: (701) 231-1989
Email: Char.Goodyear@ndsu.edu

Beth Hagemeister,
Graphic Designer

Beth joined the Publications Services staff in November 2006. She worked 3 1/2 years at a local design agency and six years at a graphic design agency in Des Moines, Iowa. Beth earned a bachelor's degree in industrial technology (graphic design emphasis) from Bemidji State University in 1997. An Argusville, N.D., native, she now lives on her grandparents' homestead near Argusville.

Phone: (701) 231-9418
Fax: (701) 231-8969
Email: Beth.Hagemeister@ndsu.edu

Joel Hagen,
Staff Writer

Joel joined the staff in January 2007. He has a bachelor’s degree in writing from The University of Evansville, Ind., and a master’s degree in creative writing from Minnesota State University Moorhead. He previously reported for The Daily Journal in Fergus Falls, Minn., where he wrote news and features and edited the weekend insert. He also worked as an adjunct instructor in the English department at MSUM.

Phone: (701) 231-7113
Fax: (701) 231-8969
Email: Joel.Hagen@ndsu.edu

Linsey Hegvik,
Public Relations Coordinator NDSU Downtown

Linsey joined the University Relations staff in August 2005. Originally from Cooperstown, N.D., she earned her bachelor's degree in mass communications from NDSU in 2003. Before coming to NDSU, Linsey worked for a magazine publisher in Grand Forks, N.D., and the Hotel Donaldson in downtown Fargo.

Phone: (701) 231-0650
Fax: (701) 231-5773
Email: Linsey.Hegvik@ndsu.edu

Melissa Hintermeister,
Graphic Designer

Melissa joined the Publications Services staff in January 2007. Originally from Frazee, MN, she earned her bachelor's degree in studio art from Concordia College in 2000 with a concentration in graphic design and illustration. Before coming to NDSU, she worked in a leading Fargo advertising agency for over six years as a graphic designer and art director. In addition to working in publications services, Melissa also spends time teaching local college-level graphic design courses.

Phone: (701) 231-6550
Fax: (701) 231-8969
Email: Melissa.Hintermeister@ndsu.edu

Janelle Kistner,
Senior Graphic Designer

Janelle joined the Publications Services staff in August 2000. She earned her bachelor's degree in graphic communications from Minnesota State University Moorhead in 1998. Before coming to NDSU, Janelle worked in the printing and web design industries both locally and in Omaha, Neb.

Phone: (701) 231-7010
Fax: (701) 231-8969
Email: Janelle.Kistner@ndsu.edu

Dan Koeck,
University Photographer

Dan, a native of St. Paul, Minn., has a bachelor's degree in photojournalism with a minor in history from the University of Minnesota. He was a photographer at the Minot (N.D.) Daily News from 1984 to 1992 and joined NDSU Publications Services in 1992. Koeck's assignment work has been published in Smithsonian Magazine, Forbes, The New York Times, USA Today and other national and regional publications.

Phone: (701) 231-8334
Fax: (701) 231-8969
Email: Dan.Koeck@ndsu.edu

Kathy Laid,
Customer Service Rep.

Kathy has been with Publications Services since April 1972. She earned a degree from Interstate Business College in 1965. She worked in the Department of Agricultural Economics from 1965 to 1971 and in the Transportation Institute from 1971 to 1972.

Phone: (701) 231-8321
Fax: (701) 231-8969
Email: Kathryn.Laid@ndsu.edu