(GRAND FORKS, ND) – The chair of the Board of Directors of the University of North Dakota Alumni Association & Foundation, and a member the Forever UND campaign committee, has resigned.
Jim Poolman resigned from both positions effective immediately, according to Milo Smith, Senior Director of Public Relations for the University of North Dakota Alumni Association and Foundation. He said serving on the boards ‘has been a highlight’ of his personal and professional career.
“There are so many great things going on at UND and the last thing there needs to be is a distraction. I do not want to be that distraction,” he wrote. “It is in the best interest of the University and the Foundation that I resign my position on the Board of Directors and on the UND Campaign Committee, effective today.”
He released a statement on Facebook this past Monday night after a photo of himself and Holmberg was posted on social media.
Poolman, who was a state representative for almost a decade during most of the 1990’s, admits to working with Holmberg in the past but never knew about his activities. He believes he’s being targeted because he recently came out as gay and thinks he is “being falsely grouped into this social media guesswork…just one more misguided example of this rumor mongering misinformation.”
The Foundation says he fostered a strong sense of unity and purpose among the board and played a vital role in supporting the University’s continued excellence.
Vice Chair Darla Adams, Grand Forks, will assume the duties of Chair as provided in the organization’s bylaws pending her expected formal election to the position at the annual board of directors meeting next week.
