Molly Nelson was appointed by the board Monday and took the oath of office Friday morning from district Superintendent Josh Porter.

She replaces Lisa Shimkat, who resigned Feb. 11.

Nelson is a Fort Dodge Senior High School graduate who served as the first director of the Fort Dodge Community Schools Foundation from 2017 to 2019.

“I am honored to have this opportunity to give back to the district that gave me so much,” Nelson said in a statement released by the district.

“The Fort Dodge Community School District board, leadership and educators are doing amazing things,” she added. “I look forward to learning from my fellow board members and serving in this volunteer role.”

Nelson is a TV host and content strategist for Merkle Retirement Planning.

She is a graduate of Drake University in Des Moines and worked as a broadcast journalist. She moved back to Fort Dodge in 2017 after living and working in Des Moines for about 20 years.

The new board member is a mentor in the school district. She is also a member of First United Methodist Church and serves as a youth sports coach.

She and her husband, Kole Petersen, have four children.

Nelson will complete the unexpired term of Shimkat.

Shimkat had been reelected to her third term in 2021 and was the vice president of the board. She did not respond to a phone message seeking comment on her resignation.