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

Najla Amundson,
Media Relations Director

Najla joined University Relations in May 2008, as media relations director. She has a master's in journalism from Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill., and a bachelor's in journalism from South Dakota State University. Najla has worked in television news, public relations, advertising, higher education, and freelance media consulting.

Phone: (701) 231-8325
Fax: (701) 231-1989
Email: Najla.Amundson@ndsu.edu

Sadie Anderson,
Information Specialist

Sadie joined the University Relations staff in January 2007. Originally from Enderlin, N.D., she earned a bachelor's degree in mass communications and a certificate in publishing from Minnesota State University Moorhead.

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

Katie Elenberger,
Graphic Designer

Katie Elenberger joined NDSU in May 2009. She earned a bachelor of fine arts degree in art with an emphasis in graphic design from Minnesota State University Moorhead in 2005. Originally from Lowry, Minn., she has 5 years of experience working in the Fargo-Moorhead market. She also works as an adjunct instructor in the Art and Design department at MSUM.

Phone: (701) 231-6550
Fax: (701) 231-8979
Email: Katie.Elenberger@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

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

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

Nicole Scherweit,
Information Specialist

Nicole joined the University Relations staff in September 2009. A native of New Rockford, N.D., she has a bachelor's degree in mass communications from NDSU. She previously worked in marketing and communications for a local manufacturing company.

Phone: (701) 231-5853
Fax: (701) 231-5120
Email: Nicole.Scherweit@ndsu.edu