Ron Knecht, of Carson City, won the election for District 9 University Regent, outpolling David Fulstone 54 percent to 46 percent.
Knecht had 30,868 votes to Fulstone's 26,659 votes.
Knecht, 57, an economist with the Nevada Public Utilities Commission and a part-time economics instructor Western Nevada Community College's Carson City campus, served in the state Assembly from 2002-04 and is Carson City Republican Central Committee chairman.
During his campaign, Knecht, who funded most of his own campaign, said Nevada needs to provide more opportunities for higher education in Nevada, and that the K-12 system must better prepare children for college.
"We may need to give it a higher priority than we have given it and restrain growth of other government sectors," he wrote during his campaign.
Fulstone, 55, a rancher and former Lyon County commissioner, advocated public/private partnerships to help higher education.
Fulstone carried the endorsements of Gov. Kenny Guinn and other political leaders in the state.