PIERRE, S.D.(DRGNews)- South Dakota Board of Regents Executive Director and CEO Dr. Brian Maher will resign at the end of his current contract, which runs through June (2023). Nathan Lukkes (lucas) will succeed Maher.

Board President Pam Roberts says Maher’s leadership over the past three years truly impacted higher education in South Dakota. She says the Board tasked him with focusing on accessibility, affordability and retention for the state’s public universities– and he delivered.

Roberts says Lukkes has shown strong leadership within the public university system and successful collaboration with stakeholders. She says the Board is confident the two men will work together in the coming weeks to ensure a smooth transition.