South Dakota Board of Regents director Brian Maher will step down at the end of June

Morgan Matzen, Sioux Falls Argus Leader
·2 min read
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Brian Maher, executive director and CEO of the South Dakota Board of Regents, announced Tuesday he would resign at the end of his current contract, which ends after June.

Nathan Lukkes, current general counsel for the governing board that oversees the state's six public universities, the Services for the Deaf and the School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, will succeed Maher as the next executive director and CEO.

"The past few years have been a wonderful complement to a career in education," Maher said in a statement. "Beginning my professional life as first an educator, then a K12 administrator, and now as the Executive Director for South Dakota's public university system, I feel especially fulfilled."

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Maher joined the SDBOR in 2020 after serving as the Sioux Falls School District superintendent for several years. He started by leading the Senate Bill 55 task force, which launched an in-depth look at the state's higher education system and prioritized system-wide services, increased viability for the University Centers (University of South Dakota-Sioux Falls and Black Hills State University-Rapid City) and included more than 30 other initiatives.

Brian Maher, pictured here in this Argus Leader file photo, announced his resignation as superintendent of the Sioux Falls School District Office on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019. In a statement Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023, he announced he would step down from his role as executive director and CEO of the South Dakota Board of Regents at the end of June.
Brian Maher, pictured here in this Argus Leader file photo, announced his resignation as superintendent of the Sioux Falls School District Office on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019. In a statement Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023, he announced he would step down from his role as executive director and CEO of the South Dakota Board of Regents at the end of June.

Departing from the SDBOR comes with ease, "knowing the Board Office is in such great hands," Maher said, calling Lukkes a leader within the system who's highly trusted and valued.

"Brian's leadership over the past three years truly impacted higher education in South Dakota," BOR President Pam Roberts said in a statement. "The board tasked Brian to focus on accessibility, affordability, and retention for our public universities, and he delivered. These issues were at the forefront of every meaningful conversation he had with the board. We are excited to continue Brian’s work with our next executive director."

Lukkes joined the SDBOR in 2014, beginning as the system assistant vice president for research and economic development, and now serving as the chief of staff and general counsel. Before serving on the SDBOR, he was deputy commissioner of the South Dakota Governor's Office of Economic Development and an attorney in Sioux Falls. He also served 10 years in the South Dakota Army National Guard.

"Throughout the years, Nathan has shown strong leadership within the public university system and successful collaboration with our stakeholders," Roberts said in a statement. “The board is confident Brian and Nathan will work together in the coming weeks to ensure a smooth transition.”

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: South Dakota Board of Regents director Brian Maher to step down