winter 2013 und alumni review

1www.UNDalumni.org |

CELEBRATE THE SPIRIT!Thanks to you, North Dakota Spirit | The Campaign for

UND raised more than $324 million.

P. 6

Phot

o: J

acki

e Lo

rent

z

alumnREVIEW

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

Winter 2013 INSIDE: Look for the special Arts & Sciences section starting on page 28.

contents

a&s

departments

features

Find the Flame: We’ve cleverly hidden the UND flame somewhere on our cover (hint: it’s not the one in the Alumni Association logo). Find it for a chance to win a prize! Simply e-mail [email protected] and give a detailed description of the flame’s location. Subject line: Found the flame. We’ll let you know if you’ve won.

ALUMNI REVIEW | VOL. 96 NO. 4 | WINTER 2013

inside this issue

30 Spectacular Science H

igh school art students explore the m

iniature world of nanotechology.

By Craig Garaas-Johnson

34 Watching W

ildlife at Hom

e Crow

d sourcing helps UN

D biologists

study wildlife. By Craig G

araas-Johnson

4 Message from Tim Success!

44 What’s New News from around campus.

45 President’s Letter Campaign supports an Exceptional UND.

54 Alumni News Who’s doing what: News about your fellow classmates.

64 In Memoriam

6 The Spirit Shines

The North Dakota Spirit Campaign raises

more than $324 million.

By Milo Smith

10 Life is Good!

Founder of successful t-shirt company shares

simple philosophy for success. By Milo Smith

12 Campaign Impact

North Dakota Spirit | The Campaign for UND

impacts every corner of campus.

By Alyssa Konickson

20 A Team Effort

A look at how the largest fundraising campaign

in North Dakota history was accomplished.

By Milo Smith

departments

aa&f

news 24 A New Leader

DeAnna Carlson Zink, ‘86, picked to head UND Alumni Association & Foundation. By Milo Smith

26 The Platinum Standard The Gorecki Alumni Center is the ‘greenest’ building in North Dakota. By Milo Smith

4 Message from Tim Success!

44 What’s New News from around campus.

45 President’s Letter Campaign supports an Exceptional UND.

54 Alumni News Who’s doing what: News about your fellow classmates.

64 In Memoriam

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

UND Alumni Association ChairKris Compton, ’77

Vice ChairLisa Wheeler, ’75, ’82

UND Foundation ChairAl Royse, ’72, ’73, ’76

Vice ChairJody Feragen, ’78

Directors: Dean Beckstead, ‘65; Cindy Blikre-Roche, ‘91; Rick Burgum, ’68; Steve Burian, ’90, ’92; Marc Chorney, ’81; Mark Fliginger, ’74; Sara Garland, ‘68, ‘72; Phil Gisi, ‘82; Bart Holaday, HON ’06; Chuck Kluenker; Linda Laskowski, ’72, ’73; Doug Mark, ’86; Rob Mitchell, ‘74; Jennifer Neppel, ’86; Carrie McIntyre Panetta, ’88; Fernanda Philbrick, ’94, ‘96; Doug Podolak, ’72; Cathy Rydell, ’88; and Terri Zimmerman, ’85.

Ex Officio: Laura Block, ’81, ’10; Alice Brekke, ’79, ’87; Robert O. Kelley; Tim O’Keefe, ’71; Tom DiLorenzo; and Lori Reesor.

The University of North Dakota Alumni Review (USPS 018089: ISSN 0895-5409) is published in August, December, February and May by the University of North Dakota Alumni Association, 3501 University Avenue, Stop 8157, Grand Forks, ND 58202-8157.

Periodical postage paid at Grand Forks, ND 58201 and other offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Alumni Review, 3501 University Avenue, Stop 8157, Grand Forks, ND 58202-8157.

For inquiries about advertising, additional copies, reprints, submissions, or general comments, contact 800.543.8764, 701.777.0831 or [email protected].

Executive Vice President and CEOTim O’Keefe, ’71

EditorMilo Smith

Associate EditorAlyssa Konickson, ‘06

DesignerSam Melquist

Contributing WritersAlyssa Konickson, ‘06

David Dodds, ‘98Juan Miguel Pedraza, ‘02

Craig Garaas-JohnsonMaridee ShogrenBrian Johnson, ‘08

Kallie Van De VenterDavid BrazMilo Smith

Contributing PhotographyJackie Lorentz

Shawna Noel Widdel, ‘06Sam Melquist

Milo Smith

On the CoverUND students, all seniors, send a big ‘Thank You!’ to the donors who made North Dakota Spirit | The Campaign for UND a success.

T: Katie Fletcher, Communications

H: John Mitzel, Banking & Financial Economics/Political Science

A: Jacob Nelson, Chemical Engineering/Honors

N: Kyle See-Rockers, Communications

K: Katy Wilson, Communications

Y: Jenna Williamson, Air Traff ic Control & Airport Management

O: Kate Berg, Electrical Engineering

U: Katrina Kotta, Occupational Therapy

!: Courtney Kenefick, Nursing, and Kevin Hohnstein, Commercial Aviation

4 | Alumni Review Winter 2013

TIM’S letterSUCCESS!

SUCCESS!Dear Alumni & Friends,

2013 Homecoming was an amazing, emotional, crazy few days of activity, focused on celebrating the tremendous success of North Dakota Spirit | The Campaign for UND.

We’re all still a bit overwhelmed at the generosity of the more than 38,000 alumni and friends who donated over $324 million to the Spirit Campaign.

As we look to the beginning of the campaign, most people thought we were crazy to sign up for a $300 million goal! The campaign target was about three times larger than any philanthropic effort ever before in North Dakota, and the largest effort at UND had raised just over $20 million many years ago.

The UND Alumni Association & Foundation Board of Directors, along with Presidents Kupchella and Kelley and their teams, worked with the UND Alumni Association & Foundation to change the philanthropic culture associated with our campus and in North Dakota higher education as a whole. The National Campaign Steering Committee was formed, and we were all convinced that we could do it with the help of UND’s generous, passionate and loyal alumni and friends!

We had a great product: the students at our Exceptional UND. A lesson we learned early was the best way to raise money involved connecting a prospective donor with a student and just getting out of the way!

The focus of the campaign was to raise money in four areas:- Endowments supporting outstanding faculty, a key to

recruiting and keeping today’s star academic leaders- Endowments creating or enhancing experiential and

academic programs for students

- Capital construction projects and technology upgrades

- Student scholarships, which are especially critical in today’s world of student debt.

Within this edition of the Alumni Review, statistics and articles speak to the campaign’s success. In the 10 years leading up to the campaign, we were fundraising $6 million - $7 million a year on average. During the campaign, the average was just over $40 million a year, which we expect to sustain into the future. Through the North Dakota Spirit Campaign, philanthropy has impacted the future for UND students unlike anything before.

Speaking for myself and our staff, I need to extend some deeply felt thank-yous.

Foremost, thanks goes out to every one of the 38,808 donors who contributed to UND through the Spirit Campaign. Philanthropy defines the societal difference between our country and the rest of the world. We are givers, not takers, and you came through as we knew you would. We are humbled to be associated with you, and I hope you fully recognize the impact you’ve created for our students no matter the size of your contribution.

Special thanks to our campaign Co-Chairs B. John Barry and Linda Pancratz. These


two extraordinary individuals saw a cause they were passionate about as a way to give back to a place that played a signature role in their personal and professional success. Trust me, we could not have achieved this outcome without John and Linda and the incredible time and leadership they contributed. We are forever grateful to them and all 30 members of the National Campaign Steering Committee for their diligence, mentoring, network connections and constant encouragement and support in so many ways beyond the obvious financial contributions.

Our Board of Directors went out on a limb and was unwavering in its support as well. Board members’ guidance, fiduciary oversight, risk management, and willingness to attach their reputations to the potential success — or failure — of this campaign was so critical to our staff, especially when the national economy tanked in 2008.

President Kelley and his wife, Marcia Kelley, deserve huge thanks as well. Bob and his team of vice presidents and deans made the success of the Spirit Campaign a top priority, and were always there when we needed them. One of the most valuable outcomes from the campaign is the evolved spirit of collaboration between our organization and our campus partners who focus on a shared mission. The benefit from this teamwork will be a lasting legacy of the campaign.

I am often asked, “What’s next?” for the Alumni Association & Foundation. I can tell you this much: the Monday after Homecoming, a tired staff gathered and, while we enjoyed the afterglow of a successful campaign and Homecoming, the focus was already turning to the next big things: the exceptional priorities of President Kelley and his team. Our team is wired toward strategies that achieve high performance and that won’t change.

For me, this Homecoming bore more than the usual nostalgia, as it marked my final gathering as the CEO of our organization. It’s been a remarkable 11 years. While I’ll be in the chair until March 31, I assume the role of CEO Emeritus Jan. 1, when DeAnna Carlson Zink takes over as my successor.

DeAnna will do a great job! She’s a 1986 UND graduate and 25-year veteran of our organization. Like me, she subscribes to a Phil Jackson philosophy, believing in the power of WE vs. the power of ME. In that regard, DeAnna knows she has an incredible team of passionate professionals around her who bring their best to the mission every day.

Much of what I’ve reflected upon here begins with numbers that show team success. When you strip the numbers away, you find relationships. The next Alumni Review will be my final chance to write to you. I look forward to reflecting on the incredible alumni, friends, staff, leadership and faculty that are the University of North Dakota.

Best regards,

Tim O’Keefe, ’71Executive Vice President and CEOUND Alumni Association & FoundationE‐mail: [email protected]

The Spirit Shines

North Dakota Spirit Campaign shatters its goal and puts spotlight on philanthropy in the state.

By Milo Smith

FEATURE storyTHE SPIRIT SHINES

NORTH DAKOTA SPIRIT | THE CAMPAIGN FOR UND


The event to announce the final tally for North Dakota Spirit | The Campaign for UND was a splashy affair with confetti cannons, nationally renowned

speaker Bert Jacobs, founder of apparel and lifestyle company Life is good®, and the big reveal that the campaign raised more than $324 million for UND!

But for all the professional production values, high-powered speeches and well wishes from famous graduates, the essence of the North Dakota Spirit Campaign may have been summed up best by someone who found himself on stage by chance.

Student Morgan Murphy held the winning ticket in a drawing for a $5,000 prize to go to the UND student organization of the winner’s choice. Murphy chose his fraternity, Sigma Phi Epsilon, to receive the money. When asked on stage why, he answered, “I was thinking about it the whole time when he (Bert Jacobs) was talking about ‘Life is good,’ and life has been good to every single one of my brothers. Whenever we can give back to the community, we just love to. It’s just such a great organization to be a part of, and this is going to help us with all our future endeavors.”

Perfect.

From the manyIf the Spirit Campaign can be summed up

by just one number — besides $324 million — it would be 38,808. That’s how many alumni and friends of the University of North Dakota have given gifts since the campaign began in 2005.

“It doesn’t always take a large gift to make a difference,” noted B. John Barry, ‘63, National Campaign Steering Committee co-chairman. “38,808 donors have made contributions during the eight years of the Spirit Campaign. The collective force of their combined efforts is already having a profound impact on campus.”

Some of those impacts are immediate and tangible, like the Gorecki Alumni Center, while endowment dollars (which nearly doubled in value during the campaign to $162 million) provide a steady stream of financial support through spending a small percent of those funds annually.

“Endowment funds are an exciting aspect of the campaign,” said Laura Block, ‘81, ‘10, Chief Financial Officer of the UND Alumni Association & Foundation. “We are careful

stewards of endowment dollars, and these sustainable funds will pay for student scholarships, faculty salaries and program expenses year after year after year.”

UND President Robert Kelley said the Campaign has touched every corner of campus and the benefits stretch beyond Grand Forks.

“Every college and unit at UND is committed to a shared vision that will contribute to the growth of the state of North Dakota,” President Kelley told the crowd at the Spirit Celebration. “Your support of this campaign has given us an opportunity to move UND — and North Dakota — from great to exceptional.

Can We Do This? Did you think it was crazy when it

was announced in 2010 that the UND Alumni Association & Foundation was trying to raise $300 million for the benefit of UND? Executive Vice President & CEO Tim O’Keefe heard that from more than a few people. In response, he would point out that at the launch of the public phase, $200 million in commitments had already been secured, but still people were skeptical.

“It was a hard number for people to get their minds around,” O’Keefe said. “The largest campaign we’d ever undertaken previously was $20 million. No one in

North Dakota had ever dreamed such a big dream.”

But a consultant ran the numbers showing it was possible, and O’Keefe says he knew something that even solid research could not reveal. “I knew how much our alumni love this University,” he said. “I just had this really good feeling that, despite the intimidating goal, we could expect those alumni and friends to step up and support an institution that had meant so much to them at a critical point in their lives.”

National Campaign Steering Committee co-chair Linda Pancratz, ‘76, said it made sense to set a lofty goal. “I was immediately struck by the fact that we were aiming high. I was excited by the vision for UND, the potential and the people. And personally, I was motivated by the opportunity to give back to the university that had done so much for me.”

Pancratz and Barry led a steering committee made up of 30 highly motivated, highly successful alumni who not only made substantial gifts to UND, but also provided guidance and insight to the fundraising effort.

“As it turns out, John and I were not the only people to be passionate about UND,” Pancratz said. “We are happy to report that our alumni family is strong and growing; they are full of the North

President Kelley and Tim O’Keefe congratulate student Morgan Murphy, who won $5,000 for his

fraternity at the Spirit Celebration.


Dakota Spirit. It’s been humbling for us to experience their generosity and to see that we are all incredibly proud of our students, our University and our state.”

By the numbersThe Spirit Campaign was founded on

five tenets: Passionate students, inspirational educators, innovative programs, extraordinary places, and priority needs. Each area saw tremendous support during the campaign.

Campaign donations to benefit students went from $13.6 million in the eight years previous to the campaign to more than $84 million during it. That has allowed the support from the UND Foundation for scholarships to jump from $2 million annually to more than $5 million. That figure varies year to year based on the value and performance of the endowments that fund those scholarships. From the start of the campaign to finish, those various scholarship endowments doubled to $60 million.

“What it boils down to is ‘opportunity’,” said O’Keefe at the Spirit Appreciation Dinner held for donors during Homecoming week. “Through your generous support of the Spirit Campaign, we have been able to open a new world of opportunity for students to not only attend

this great University, but to thrive and prosper.”

UND senior Adam Swigost was one of the featured speakers at the Spirit Appreciation Dinner, where he thanked donors for their support of current and future students. “I can tell you that your gifts are not going unnoticed on campus. Not only are you helping to fund our future educations, but through your gifts of time, talent and treasure, you continue to make the University of North Dakota a very special place to be. I can tell you that as a future alumnus of this institution, your inspiration will continue to propel me to do great things and to give back.”

Contributions to other campaign tenets also impact students. Educator endowments tripled to $30 million, while $54 million was donated for innovative programs. The Gorecki Alumni Center is the highest-profile result of the $41 million donated to Extraordinary Places during the campaign, but the UND Athletics High Performance Center is one of several building projects that will see the light of day thanks to the Spirit Campaign.

What’s next?Many of the benefits of the Campaign

are yet to be realized. Nearly half of the commitments made by donors have yet to

come in the door. That’s because donors often make a pledge to pay their donations in installments, so a $200,000 gift might be made in installments of $40,000 over the course of five years. Other pledges are known as legacy gifts, things like cash, property or stocks left to the University in a person’s will. The time frame on those gifts is, of course, unknown.

“It’s very exciting to think of what we’ve been able to do with the money that has come in so far, and to know that we still have all these commitments to be realized in the months and years ahead,” Block said. “The Campaign’s impact will only grow.”

The legacy of the Spirit Campaign will live on in other ways as well. Sonja Collin, ’13, recipient of the Dru Sjodin Memorial Scholarship while on campus, told donors at the Spirit Celebration Dinner that the Spirit Campaign sparked a desire in her to give back. “As a young professional, I feel a stronger connection to UND than ever before, and I commit to give back to UND in any way I can through my time, talent and treasure. For your generosity has not only inspired me to excel, but it has inspired me to be a better version of myself, and for that all I can simply say is ‘Thank You.’” AR


Life is GOOD!

ert Jacobs, co-founder of Life is good®, grew up in a large Boston family, who helped plant the seeds of optimism that would become a multimillion-dollar t-shirt company.

He told those attending the Spirit Celebration in the Chester Fritz Auditorium during Homecoming 2013 that his entire family of eight was expected to be at the dinner table each night at six.

“Mom would start each dinner by saying, ‘Tell me something good that happened today,’” Jacobs said. “As simple as that sounds, it would change the room.”

Jacobs preaches that we all have a choice to be an optimist rather than a pessimist. “It doesn’t just put a bounce in your step,” he said. “It makes you magnetic. It makes things happen. It connects you to other people. We believe, at Life is good, that it’s the world’s greatest secret.”

Jacobs says his company operates on the theory that once you choose to be optimistic, you enable “superpowers” like wisdom, creativity, compassion and love. “Life is good is very simple,” he said.” We project an image of those superpowers, and we let people make of them what they will.”

Jacobs believes a change in attitude can come about with some simple ways of looking at the world. “We never say ‘I have to’ at Life is good. We say ‘I get to.’ You don’t have to donate to this beautiful university. You get to donate to this university!”

Jacobs had other praise for the University of North Dakota after getting a tour earlier in the day. “Our motto is ‘Do what you like, like what you do.’ I saw that alive and well on this campus today. I want to give a huge congratulations for $300 million. I feel a great kinship with this school because I think it’s filled with optimists. I think the future is incredible.” AR

Co-founder of popular t-shirt company spreads message of optimism at Spirit Celebration.

By Milo Smith

b

Life is GOOD!



ou’ve seen the number: $324.1 million. That’s how much was raised for the University of North Dakota during North Dakota Spirit | The Campaign for UND. But you might be wondering where the dollars went, whether they’re making an impact, and how the funds raised during the campaign differ from what was raised in the years prior to the campaign in 2005.

The North Dakota Spirit Campaign worked around four main areas: UND’s passionate students, inspirational educators, innovative programs and extraordinary places. The goal was to fundraise for the UND of today, while laying a solid philanthropic groundwork for all colleges and schools well into the future.

Tenet 1: Passionate Students ($84.2 million)

Support to passionate students ensures access to a UND education for every student who desires it, regardless of his or her financial ability. Students can make career choices they are passionate about without the overwhelming burden of student loan debt.

During the campaign, 9,570 donors pledged or gave $84.2 million to UND’s passionate students, up from 4,613 donors who gave $13.6 million in the eight years preceding the campaign.

“It’s really good to know that I have more than 9,500 people supporting me and wanting me to succeed at UND,” said presidential scholar Jennifer Vetter. “Thanks to our donors, I’m not the only student benefiting from a scholarship. Donors have given, or pledged to give, to UND students all across campus.”

The largest category of students receiving scholarship support was student-athletes, with $36 million; that’s followed by $20 million in “other” funds, largely Student Affairs.

“Presidential scholars like me receive scholarship dollars from this category,” Vetter said.

yBy the

NumbersA look at the numbers shows the impact of the Spirit Campaign

By Alyssa Konickson, ’06

CAMPAIGN storyBY THE NUMBERS

Athletics

$36m

$20m

$8m $7m

$4m

$2m $2m $2m$1m $1m $181k

Other CoBPA SMHS A&S Aero Eng & Mines

LawE d & Human

Dev

CNPD Grad School

Support to Students by College

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

0

20

40

60

80

100

Pre-Campaign (1997-2005)

Campaign (2005-2013)

$13,636,864

$84,177,210


Tenet 2: Inspirational Educators ($37.7 million)

The quality of UND’s academic curriculum is in the hands of our faculty and the leadership they provide. They continue to push the boundaries of knowledge and learning in all disciplines through published research and scholarship.

During North Dakota Spirit | The Campaign for UND, support for educators saw an eightfold increase to more than $37.7 million during the campaign years.

That support in part creates new positions across campus. Dr. Chih Ming Tan is a professor in the College of Business & Public Administration as the Page Endowed Chair in Applied Economics.

“What the endowed chair does is gives resources to researchers to do research,” Tan said. “The endowed chair gets people to look at UND seriously; once they do, they’ll like what they see.”

Tenet 3: Innovative Programs ($54.7 million)

Research and education opportunities at the University of North Dakota drive economic development in the region, leading to the creation of new jobs and stability for rural communities in the state. Support helps UND programs that directly address today’s societal needs.

Program support is way up, with $54.7 million raised during the campaign, up from $10.3 million from 1997-2005.

Perhaps no program is growing faster than the Petroleum Engineering Department in the College of Engineering and Mines. In less than four years, enrollment in Petroleum Engineering has grown from four students in 2010 to 350 students projected in January 2014. Perhaps it’s not surprising given the energy boom in western North Dakota and the resulting onslaught of jobs in the field.

Maxwell Johnson, a senior Petroleum Engineering student, has been one of the students affected by the support. After completing an internship with Hess Corp., he feels ready for his future. “It’s a great opportunity,” Johnson said. “The growth of the program since I started has been crazy.”

Its growth was fueled by $5 million in direct program support, but the CEM received most of its funding in the educator tenet. The College of Business & Public Administration received the most gifts of any college or school to its programs ($15.5 million).

Many of these dollars were dedicated to unique programs like the Pancratz Career Center, the Dakota Venture Group and the Student Managed Investment Fund — all programs that make UND exceptional.



0

20

40

60

80

100

$4,454,919

$37,710,191

AthleticsOtherCoBPA SMHS A&S AeroEng & Mines

LawE d & Human

Dev

CNPD Grad School

Support to Educators by College

0

3

6

9

12

15

$13m

$11m $10m

$2m

$1m$497k $281k $77k $5k $1k $0

0

10

20

30

40

50

60



$10,326,707

$54,656,270

0

5

10

15

20


Tenet 4: Extraordinary Places($41.2 million)

The living and learning environment at UND prepares passionate students to become leaders and carry their UND experience into communities throughout the world.

One of the greatest increases in support from 1997-2005 to 2005-2013 has been to the extraordinary places on campus, the facilities that make campus special. The huge growth is evident in the $41.2 million given to extraordinary places during the campaign; that compares with just $1 million in the eight years before.

A project that will be realized through the Extraordinary Places tenet is the UND High Performance Athletics Center, which was kicked off by a lead gift of $9 million from Altru Health System. Mark Harries, a junior who competes in track and field, said the program will greatly benefit from the facility, citing an injury he sustained, which he blames on running outside during the winter. “Running on the ice, running in the cold — there were a lot of injuries. A new track will keep (the teams) healthy, plus they can have home meets, not have to travel and will be able to recruit. It’ll make the team better,” Harries said.

The largest amount of funds going to Extraordinary Places was the $13 million raised for the Gorecki Alumni Center, which opened in October 2012. The building serves as a welcome center for prospective students and alumni and friends of the University.

Tenet 5:Priority Needs ($106.4 million)

In a fast-paced higher education environment, the University needs to be able to address immediate needs.

If you did the math, you’re wondering why more than $106 million hasn’t been talked about. A large portion of the funds raised were for Annual Excellence, or Priority Needs. Donors do not direct these gifts to any specific fund; rather, they are placed in a “discretionary” fund. These gifts enable the University to address immediate needs, providing flexible resources that allow the president to invest in priorities throughout the year. Gifts directed to priority needs benefit all four other tenets — students, educators, programs, and places — during the campaign. AR



0

20

40

60

80

100

$1,002,841

$41,205,462

AthleticsOther CoBPASMHS A&SAero Eng & Mines

LawEd & Human

Dev

CNPD Grad School

Support to Facilities by College

0

3

6

9

12

15

$13m

$12m

$9m

$4m

$3m

$1m$390k $84k $36k $0 $0

0

20

40

60

80

100

120



$19,031,244

$106,378,943

AthleticsOther CoBPA SMHS A&S AeroEng & Mines

LawE d & Human

Dev

CNPD Grad School

Support to Priority Needs by College

0

10

20

30

40

50

$43m

$25m

$12m

$8m$7m

$5m$3m

$2m $2m$900k

$17k


Campaign counting is confusing, because dollars raised don’t necessarily equal immediate cash in hand. Dollars for North Dakota Spirit | The Campaign for UND are also future gift pledges, as well as end-of-life gifts.

1. Deferred gifts ($101.4 million). Deferred gifts, aka

“planned” gifts, are often “end of life” gifts included by donors in their wills. They can include trusts, gift annuities, life estates, bequests, and more.

2. Endowed gifts ($95 million). Endowments fund the University of North Dakota far into the future. Gifts are invested to provide support for specific purposes with the intent of growing the principal amount. Our annual endowment payout is 4%, meaning that a fully funded endowment will pay out 4% of its average market value every year. For example, if a scholarship endowment fund stands at $100,000, it will provide $4,000 to a student or students every year.

3. Gifts available to spend ($56 million). These gifts provided critically needed support across all of campus. Current need gifts were used for a specific purpose like scholarships or a specific unit like Nursing.

4. Pledges ($50.5 million). Pledges are gifts that donors have promised to pay over a period of time, typically five years. For example, a donor may pledge $25,000 to UND through the UND Foundation. To achieve that, they may choose to pay $5,000 per year for the next five years. The $50.5 million makes up the amount left to be paid.

5. UND & related foundations ($21.2 million). The UND Alumni Association & Foundation is the fundraising arm of the University of North Dakota. However, some donors gave to other entities during the campaign. Those include UND itself, the Center for Innovation Foundation, and the UND Aerospace Foundation. Even though those gifts did not flow through the UND Foundation, they still benefited the University, so they were counted toward North Dakota Spirit | The Campaign for UND. AR

So where’s the $324 million?

$56M GiftsAvailable to Spend

109,646 total donations from 38,808 donors.

16,821 donors had never contributed to UND before.

Donations came from all 50 states, 4 U.S. territories, and 20 foreign countries.

Most Donations By State

Donation Demographics

Oldest Donor104

Youngest Donor19

Largest Donationfrom the Engelstad Family Foundation

20 Million

Smallest Donation

1 2

3 4

NORTH DAKOTA10,269

MINNESOTA7,188

CALIFORNIA1,261

COLORADO785

WASHINGTON782

12345

5

109,646 total donations from 38,808 donors.

16,821 donors had never contributed to UND before.

Donations came from all 50 states, 4 U.S. territories, and 20 foreign countries.

Most Donations By State

Donation Demographics

Oldest Donor104

Youngest Donor19

Largest Donationfrom the Engelstad Family Foundation

20 Million

Smallest Donation

1 2

3 4

NORTH DAKOTA10,269

MINNESOTA7,188

CALIFORNIA1,261

COLORADO785

WASHINGTON782

12345

5

www.GoreckiAlumniCenter.com 3501 University Ave. Stop 8157 | Grand Forks, ND 58202 | 701.777.4408

CEREMONY | RECEPTION | DANCEReserveToday!


FEATURE storyA TEAM EFFORT


A TEAM E F F O R T

How the UND Alumni Association & Foundation

team raised $324 million for the benefit of UND

—Milo Smith

When you heard the University of North Dakota Alumni Association & Foundation (UND AA & F) was going to try to raise $300 million, did you think it was possible? Did

you think someone was off their rocker? Would you be more likely to question the sanity

of those involved if you knew the largest previous campaign at UND raised around $25 million and the largest ever in North Dakota was $100 million?

Even some inside the organization were surprised to hear a consultant say $300 million was an attainable goal.

“We were so naïve,” said DeAnna Carlson Zink, ’86, incoming Executive Vice President/CEO and Chief Development Officer during the campaign . “We didn’t know what we didn’t know. So if someone was telling us that we should be able to raise $300 million, we were like, ‘OK, we’re going to raise $300 million.’ I think part of that comes from the fact that I’m pretty competitive and Tim O’Keefe’s pretty competitive and it was ‘We can do this. We can do this.’

The UND Alumni Association & Foundation development team. Back row left to right: Katie Horob, associate director of Champions ClubMark Brickson, School of LawMike Mannausau, ’99, executive director of Champions Club Dave Miedema, ’76, School of Medicine & Health Sciences Jay Erickson, ’01, Division of Student Affairs Dan Muus, ’94, College of Engineering & Mines Andrew Bjerke, ’01, College of Nursing & Professional Disciplines Sigrid Letcher, director of Sales and ProspectingKneeling left to right: Kim Woods, ’82, College of Business & Public Administration DeAnna Carlson Zink, ’86; chief development officer Tim O’Keefe, ’71, executive vice president/chief executive officer Steve Brekke, ’84, associate athletic director


“I think if we would have said, ‘This is a $100 million campaign,’ we would have had $100 million. And we would have really underperformed what we know now we can do.”

Executive Vice President/Chief Executive Officer Tim O’Keefe says that in the early days of the silent phase of the campaign, it felt as if they were “building the airplane while flying it.”

Behind the CurtainSo how did the UND AA & F raise more

than $300 million? To answer, we need to peek behind the curtain to see the inner workings of the organization.

On average, a little more than $5 million came each year of the Spirit Campaign from what is known as Annual gifts: things like Championship Club member donations, direct mail gifts and the pledges made by you when a UND student calls on behalf of the Alumni Association & Foundation.

The two largest components of the Spirit Campaign were Major Gifts and Planned Gifts. These often require a very personal touch provided by the AA & F Development team.

Development officers are the “sales” force of the organization. They make the “asks,” appealing to donors for the large gifts that fueled the campaign. Most colleges within UND have a development officer assigned to fundraise for their needs.

Dan Muus, ’94, was the development officer for the College of Engineering & Mines during the Spirit Campaign — he’s being promoted in January to Chief Development Officer. He had a hand in marshaling one of the campaign’s largest gifts, $10 million from oil man Harold Hamm tied to an additional $4 million from the North Dakota Industrial Commission. Muus says a development officer’s relationship with their dean is critical to success.

“That relationship is so important because the dean really helps you paint the picture,” Muus said. “They are able to put meat on the bones, so to speak. I am not an

engineer by education and background, so there’s a limit to how far I will go with certain ideas, whether it is research-based or strategic planning. I can take those conversations to a certain point, but the dean and department chairs and the leadership team can help fill in those gaps when you are working with donors who are really interested in digging deeper.”

You generally don’t just come out and ask someone for a six- or seven-figure gift, though. Development officers work to establish a relationship with potential donors, said Muus, in which they match a donor’s interests with specific areas of need on campus.

“We are really a conduit to something really wonderful, and you always remember that the donor is the one making something happen and we have the best seat in the house. I think that’s where you get a sense of satisfaction in getting to help connect a donor to a need and the difference it makes. You really do get to see a difference and that’s the best part of the job, witnessing that and, in a small way, being part of that.”

On the RoadCultivating relationships with alumni

from around the country can’t be done by phone alone. Development officers spend about three months of every year traveling.

“You’ve got to tell that story face to face,” Carlson Zink said. “It’s much more impactful than just having a written letter or in an email. Once you are there, alumni are just immediately engaged and want to participate, even if they haven’t been back to campus in 40 years.”

Whether on the road or back in Grand Forks, development gift coordinators are the support team for development officers. They act as travel agents, schedulers, motivators, sounding boards and administrative assistants.

Roberta Beauchamp is assigned to help keep Muus on task. “She works so fast and so well that I often times feel like I’m getting in the way more than I’m helping,” Muus said. “She is so dedicated to making a life that is often hectic much easier, to transition back to the office and then back to the road. That’s a unique skill set that all of our development coordinators have, and they do an amazing job.”

Linda Pancratz, ‘76, and B. John Barry, ‘63, co-chaired the National Campaign Steering Committee.


Campaign StrategyIt is one thing to have a consultant say

you can raise $300 million; it’s quite another to exceed that goal when a global recession hits right in the middle of your campaign.

“2008 and 2009 were tough,” Carlson Zink said. “Individuals that we were going to for those lead, major gifts all of a sudden had no appreciated stocks and they were afraid to make any long-term, large commitments. So one of the things that

we did is tell our development officers to back off those major gifts, to instead talk about annual gifts. Try to get three-year commitments of smaller gifts to get us through.”

Another concession to the recession was a delay in the launch of the public phase of the campaign. It was originally scheduled to happen in 2009, but Carlson Zink says it was delayed to allow time to reach a threshold of success.

And while pledges in fiscal years 2008, 2009 and 2010 were below the average of the other five years of the campaign ($34,838,966 vs. $41,503,704), the average number of donors during those three years was higher than during the rest of the campaign (13,502 vs. 13,319). So even amid the worst global recession since World War II, alumni wanted to make a difference. Carlson Zink says it was extremely gratifying to see that level of commitment.

Campaign GuidesDecisions like how to proceed during a

recession were often made after consulting the National Campaign Steering Committee (NCSC), a group of 30 alumni and friends of the University asked to help guide the effort. While each member was asked to make a seven-figure gift to the Campaign, they were not just figureheads. Carlson Zink says NCSC members helped open doors, hosted events in their homes, worked with

deans on their strategic planning and even asked for donations themselves.

“Each of these individuals is passionate about UND and what we can become,” said Linda Pancratz, ‘76, co-chair of the NCSC. “They are proud of their North Dakota roots, willing to get engaged and leverage their reputation and relationships to make it happen. They invested their time, talent and treasure, and I am incredibly proud to be associated with them.”

“When Linda and I were asked to co-chair the Campaign in 2006,” co-chair B. John Barry, ‘63, told a roomful of donors during Homecoming, “we agreed that no matter how smart or gifted any individual leader is, none of us is as smart as all of us. Working together as a team has ensured the success of the Spirit Campaign.”

Carlson Zink credits one other group with providing invaluable leadership during the Campaign: the Board of Directors of

the UND Alumni Association & Foundation. She says the board not only approved the Campaign plan, but made the initial investments, including a major database software upgrade and beefing up the organization’s staffing to handle the rigors of a campaign.

Members of the Board of Directors and the National Campaign Steering Committee gave more than $85 million to UND during the campaign.

A New ParadigmEven though the North Dakota Spirit

Campaign is officially over, Carlson Zink said expectations will remain high.

“We were able to build an incredibly cohesive team here that has set a new level of how we can do this going forward. There is a new expectation for any new employee who walks through the door because it’s been lifted up so much by the current team and what they bring to the table and how dedicated they are.

“Some of our fundraisers left jobs that paid them a lot more. They did it for the same reasons that other alumni are invested — because they have a passion for the University of North Dakota.” AR

“...none of us is as smart as ALL of us. Working together as a team has ensured the success of the Spirit Campaign.”

— B. John Barry, National Campaign Steering Committee co-chair

LIFE IS GOOD

AT UND 1The cold and rain did not dampen enthusiasm for the traditional Homecoming parade Saturday, Oct. 12. Hundreds of people put on

ponchos and pulled out their umbrellas in order to line the parade route and show their UND spirit.

2The singing group Tigirlily, sisters Ken-dra and Krista Slaubaugh from Hazen, N.D., entertained the crowd at the Homecoming

brunch in the Gorecki Alumni Center following the parade.

1


3Homecoming queen and king candidates dished up free ice cream for students passing through the Memorial Union. Kyle See-Rockers and

Katrina Kotta were named king and queen for Homecoming 2013.

4Homecoming kicked off with free breakfast on Monday morning for students on their way to class.Megan Schreiner (with sign) made it her personal

mission to make sure everyone was fed.

5Pep Fest attracted a big crowd of students to the Gorecki Alumni Center. To see the winning Pep Fest performance, go to undalumni.org/alumnireview.

2

3 4

5



DEANNA CARLSON ZINK TO TAKE OVER UND ALUMNI ASSOCIATION & FOUNDATION

A New Leader

SPECIAL storyA NEW LEADER

DeAnna Carlson Zink, ‘86, with (from left to right) current

CEO/EVP Tim O’Keefe, ‘71, and former CEOs Dave

Miedema, ‘76, and Earl Strinden, ‘58.


he next leader of the UND Alumni Association & Foundation put in her application for the job 25 years ago. As a recent graduate of the University of North Dakota in 1986, DeAnna Carlson Zink had a job interview with then-Alumni Association head Earl Strinden, ‘58.

As she tells the story, Carlson Zink sat in his office for about 20 minutes as people buzzed in and out and Strinden took phone calls. In a gap in the action, Strinden asked her what he could do for her.

“I thought I’ve got to say something that’s going to catch this man’s attention. I’ll never get any focus from him. So I said, ‘Well sir, some day I want to have your job and I want to know how I can get that.’ And he said, ‘Linda, hold my calls and shut the door.’”

Carlson Zink was hired on the spot and told to come in the next day to work on the phone-a-thon campaign. But the person who handled special events was ill, so DeAnna instead stepped into that area. It would be the first of several positions she would hold in the organization. Outside of a stint working in marketing for a bank, Carlson Zink has spent her entire professional career with the UND Alumni Association & Foundation.

“You get to meet so many outstanding individuals,” Carlson Zink says when asked what she loves about the job. “We are so lucky to cross paths with world leaders, people who have given everything they can to help others in the world and yet care so deeply for the University of North Dakota. That’s really been the engaging part. The other piece has to do with the students, and it is so fun to watch them grow and mature and then to see them on the alumni side after that.”

Carlson Zink will take over as CEO/Executive Vice President on January 1. Current CEO/EVP Tim O’Keefe, ‘71, will remain in an emeritus status until he officially retires at the end of March following more than 11 years with the organization.

“Tim has done a fantastic job in taking the UND Alumni Association & Foundation to a new level,” says Carlson Zink. “So I see that as a new base from which we will continue to grow.”

Carlson Zink says alumni and student engagement will continue to be important under her leadership. “We have to be able to change quickly to meet their needs,” she says. “So how do we continue to get more of our 100,000 alumni and friends engaged with what we’re doing, not just through gifts, but being involved in the career services program or mentoring programs or coming back to speak in a classroom or just being

a friend on Facebook or Twitter? It’s those types of engagement pieces that will continue to be important.”

After O’Keefe’s retirement announcement earlier this year, a committee was formed to ensure a smooth transition. The chair of the transition committee, Kris Compton, ‘77, says Carlson Zink is the only person they considered for the job, but they still did a thorough job of vetting her application. “We interviewed dozens of people: university partners, alumni, co-workers and references, and they all had nothing but praise for DeAnna’s leadership skills, her passion for UND and her fundraising expertise. It became a slam-dunk.”

“DeAnna has been a key leader in the success of the North Dakota Spirit Campaign,” O’Keefe says. “I have so much confidence in her ability to lead this organization because I’ve experienced her passion and drive every day of the 11 years we have worked together.”

“We are pleased to have a valued alum with whom we’ve worked for many years to lead the UND Alumni Association & Foundation,” says UND President Robert O. Kelley. “DeAnna will provide a leadership style with which we are very familiar and in which we have tremendous confidence. We look forward to working with DeAnna as we continue to create an Exceptional UND.”

Carlson Zink will be the first woman to head the organization, which traces its roots back to the first eight graduates of UND.

“It’s very humbling,” says Carlson Zink, “to be in a position where I’m the voice in representing 100,000-plus alumni, and there have been so many great things that have taken place at the Alumni Association & Foundation from the time we were founded in 1889. You think of the determination and hard work of those first eight graduates and how important to them this University must have been to form the Alumni Association.

“So it’s humbling, but also very exciting. I’m excited to find new opportunities in how we can help support and serve the University of North Dakota. So that’s the exciting part that gets you up every morning saying, ‘Okay, what are we doing today? How are we going to make this University even better?’” AR

— Milo Smith, UND Alumni Association & Foundation

t


LEEDTHE PLATINUM STANDARD

SPECIAL storyTHE PLATINUM STANDARD

Photo: Shawna Noel Widdel


he Gorecki Alumni Center now has bragging rights as the greenest building in North Dakota, and as one of the top 3 percent most environmentally friendly buildings in the country. This fall, the University of North Dakota Alumni Association & Foundation was notified that the Gorecki Alumni Center attained LEED Platinum certification.

The Gorecki Alumni Center, funded through the Spirit Campaign and finished in September 2012, was built to the exacting standards of Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum, but it took a year for those efforts to be certified as successful by the U.S. Green Building Council.

“We set out to build the greenest building in North Dakota,” said Tim O’Keefe, Executive Vice President/CEO of the UND Alumni Association and Foundation. “I’m thrilled that the dream of our LEED donor, the late Glen Gransberg, has been realized. The building is a testament to Glen’s belief in being a good steward of the environment.”

LEED Platinum certification required a number of steps to reduce the environmental impact of construction and operation of the building and improve the air quality for those who work in it. For instance, construction waste was separated into recycling bins rather than taken to a landfill. The building earned points for reducing water usage, and offices in the Gorecki have glass walls that allow daylight to reach into the building’s interior, reducing the need for artificial light.

Intended to lower energy use by 32 percent compared to similar buildings, the Gorecki Alumni Center has exceeded benchmarks in its first year of operation, reducing energy use by 40 percent and saving $38,075. On the roof, 207 solar panels have surpassed their original design model and have gained 8

percent more energy than projected. Over 60 percent of the Gorecki Alumni Center features high performance glass with adjustable shades, which brings natural daylight to 97 percent of the spaces and greatly reduces the need for artificial light.

The Gorecki Alumni Center also uses 38 percent less water than a traditional building of its size. Aerators and sensors on faucets and waterless urinals and low-flow toilets reduce water use.

Thanks to efficient mechanical systems, the air quality in the building is also superior to any building in North Dakota. “Our employees are breathing clean air, enjoying a connection to the outdoors and have truly embraced the ‘green’ lifestyle by recycling, reusing and reducing,” said Kris Compton, ‘77, chair of the UND Alumni Association Board of Directors. “The benefits of LEED Platinum can be seen not only on the bottom line, but in the health, productivity and emotional well-being of our staff.”

“North Dakota is in a time of unprecedented growth,” said O’Keefe. “We have a responsibility to the long-term health of our state, our citizens and our wallets to design buildings that require the lowest possible maintenance costs with the healthiest indoor environment. The UND Gorecki Alumni Center is the first of a new paradigm in building, where buildings work for their owners and occupants.

“It is the realization of the dreams and hard work of many people that brings us to this amazing milestone.” AR

— Milo Smith, UND Alumni Association & Foundation

t Photo: Jackie Lorentz

GORECKI ALUMNI CENTER EARNS HIGHEST RATING FOR BEING ‘GREEN.’

Tim O’Keefe, ‘71, unveils the plaque that recognizes the Gorecki Alumni Center for

achieving LEED Platinum status.


ARTS & sciencesFROM THE DEAN

Warm winter wishes from the College of Arts & Sciences! On behalf of our faculty, staff and students, we hope you enjoy this special edition of the Alumni

Review including the Arts & Sciences newsletter that goes out to our Arts & Sciences alumni and supporters.

During my time at UND, I have been impressed with the welcoming spirit of the community. North Dakota has a reputation for cold weather, but I have encountered only warmth and hospitality from within the University and friends of the College. Grand Forks is indeed a warm light on the northern plains, and I’m happy to call it my home.

I am pleased to have this opportunity to share with all of you some of the great work from our faculty. Truly, what you see in this newsletter reflects only a sliver of the important and exciting work faculty do throughout the year. Faculty at UND are involved in numerous collaborative activities, and I am eager for you to read about a few of these interdisciplinary collaborations geared toward answering important research questions, addressing community and state needs, educating students to become informed citizens and future leaders, and building bonds among our colleagues across campus, in the community, and around the world.

We are proud to share Dr. Nuri Oncel’s story of collaboration with Red River High School art teacher Dr. Betsy Thaden as they introduce students to nanotechnology through art. In Biology, Dr. Susan Felege is collaborating with Dr. Travis Desell, from the Computer Science Department, on a groundbreaking project that could change the way biologists study species in the field. In the History Department, Dr. Bill Caraher has partnered with colleagues across the college both to study the impact of work camps in the North Dakota oil patch and to set up an on-demand press which will publish its first book very soon. These projects illustrate the value of collaboration and the reason we have a world-class Writers Conference, the state’s first Music Therapy program, and many other products of the dynamic faculty in Arts & Sciences.

I also want to take this opportunity to welcome our newest team member, Brandy Chaffee, who will serve as Director of Development working with the Alumni

Association & Foundation. A local North Dakotan and a first generation college graduate, Brandy understands the value of higher education and brings an energetic spirit to help us take the College of Arts & Sciences into the future.

Of course, your financial gifts are always appreciated and enhance student educational opportunities. I would like to invite you to support the College and UND in additional ways. You might consider hosting an alumni event, creating an internship opportunity for students, or visiting the campus to speak to students about your profession, expertise, and educational journey. I assure you we will be good stewards of your gift no matter what form it takes. For details on some of our campaign objectives, please visit our website at arts-sciences.und.edu or scan one of the handy QR codes we have included for your convenience.

I’ve enjoyed meeting many of you in these first five months and appreciate your welcome and support. I look forward to meeting more of our many friends and alumni as we build on the remarkable legacy of scholarship and teaching in the College of Arts & Sciences.

Health & warmth,

Debbie Storrs

FROM THE DEANDean Debbie Storrs

ARTS & SCIENCES

29www.arts-sciences.und.edu |

he UND Music Therapy program started graduating students just a few years ago, but you wouldn’t know it by looking at the 52 current majors providing hundreds of hours of clinical service hours to the community each month.

“The program started as an entrepreneurial venture from the Music Department in order to expand the department’s recruiting reach,” said Andrew Knight, assistant professor of Music at UND since 2008. “The program is a great outlet for people who want to use their musical skills, but also feel a pull to be of service to others, especially those with special needs.” The Music Therapy program combines musical training with knowledge of psychology, biological sciences, and practical experiences with people who have a variety of needs.

In North Dakota, the program was a major part of passing the first licensure law for music therapy in the nation. Knight says the law is a good thing for all involved, including students, clinicians, and consumers.

“I like that it was UND alumni and current students who rallied together with current music therapy consumers and other health professionals to lobby politicians in Bismarck and get this passed. Consumers can know that they are protected by the law in receiving only the highest quality services from a trained and licensed music therapist; practitioners know that no one without a license can claim to provide that service, and students know when they come back from internship, they can set up their practice in North Dakota and know their profession is recognized at the state level.”

As the music therapy faculty members look at establishing the program’s future, they see the addition of on-campus clinical space as a priority.

“An on-campus clinic is a way to combine all the positive elements of this University’s mission while meeting the needs of the community,” said Meganne Masko, assistant professor of Music and Knight’s colleague in the program

Outreach to underserved populations remains at the core of the UND Music Therapy program. “We know that there are a lot of people we can support out there, and we know there are people who want to support programs that make a difference in the community, like Music Therapy.” A&S

PROVIDING VARIETY AND SERVICE

t

MUSIC Therapy

A Music Therapy student plays and sings for children.


ARTS & sciencesSPECTACULAR SCIENCE

Dr. Betsy Thaden and Dr. Nuri Oncel show off a sample of artwork created by students using computer renditions of nanoparticles as inspiration.

Photo: Jackie Lorentz


he progression of technological innovation is moving at a blistering pace in our lifetimes. The phone in your pocket has many hundreds of times the data processing speed of the first personal computers. However, when it comes to how fast electronic devices can get, there are limitations we will reach based on the physical structure of matter and, by most accounts, we are close.

By looking at how electronics evolve, it is safe to claim that the importance of surfaces and interfaces will keep growing

substantially in the coming years. Soon, we will reach a level where we will build devices that rely solely on physical and electronic properties of structures that have the thickness of just a few atoms. Scientists will need to keep exploring novel features of surfaces and interfaces so that they will have the know-how to engineer the next generation of devices.

At UND, Dr. Nuri Oncel, an assistant professor in the department of Physics and Astrophysics, is taking up the challenge to discover just how small these devices can get. His group is particularly interested in chains of atoms

T

When Dr. Nuri Oncel sought a way to introduce young people to the

amazing world of nanotechnology and nanoparticles, he found local

art teacher Dr. Betsy Thaden. Together they may have found the

intersection of art and science.By Craig Garaas-Johnson

Spectacular Science


and molecules. Imagine if you keep making an electronic device smaller and smaller, then eventually, you will reach a point that the active component of the device contains only a bunch of atoms and the only way to connect two such components is to use a wire that is made out of individual atoms or molecules. Oncel’s research focuses on finding new materials for making such atomic/molecular chains and exploring their properties.

In order to study such systems, his group employs a complex and state-of-the-art machine that incorporates a Scanning Tunneling Microscope (STM), a Low Energy Electron Diffraction and an Auger Electron Spectrometer. Out of all three, STM is the most intriguing. It is the one that actually makes you see the atoms and molecules. It has one very sharp wire (STMers call it a tip) actually made out of tungsten. The tip is brought very close to the surface. The typical distance between the tip and the surface is about a billionth of a meter. The interesting part: the tip and the sample never touch each other, but, thanks to Quantum Tunneling, electrons can go from one to another. While the tip is carefully scanning the surface, the

STM tracks changes in the number of electrons tunneling and records these changes as an image. As it turns out, this is closely related to the morphology of the surface. The researcher actually sees atoms not with light, but with electrons.

OutreachThat’s the science, but Oncel asked how he could communicate the

importance of such science to the public. Specifically, he wanted people to share the wonder he felt when he first saw these images. According to Oncel, “I remember how I was amazed when I first saw an STM image. The science and technology behind these images is jaw dropping.” Oncel proposed an outreach program that would utilize the beauty of STM images, and engage local art students in some cutting-edge science.

Throughout history, arts and science have always gone hand-in hand. Today, this historical connection has been obscured and students often lose sight of the impact of one on the other. We see science majors who show no interest in art and, likewise, we see art students who have no background in science. To Oncel, this seemed like a perfect time to come up with projects that would rejuvenate the relationship between the arts and science.

One of the most important aspects of collaboration across curricular areas is helping students gain an understanding of the interconnections and relationships between and across fields of study. Neither Visual Arts nor Science stands alone.

Working with Dr. Betsy Thaden, an art teacher at Red River High School in Grand Forks, high school students were selected for a unique art project interpreting the computer-rendered imagery into art. According to Thaden, students were curious to learn about the very small parts of a typically unseen world and gain knowledge and understanding of what nanoscience was in general. “The images provided them a meaningful learning opportunity that linked art with a real world application. Students had to problem solve in order to create their piece of art work that communicated a representation of the nano image.”

Students also had to write about their creations, which further demonstrated to Thaden their ability to synthesize the information they gain in the learning process. “Titles and artist statements also written by the artists,” says Thaden, “allowed them to think more deeply about what and how their ideas were being communicated to others.”

It is clear the experience working with nano images gave these students insight into new possibilities and exposure to a different form of science that they may have not known about previously. “It opened avenues for further investigation and study within the sciences which could lead to job opportunities in the field in the future,” says Thaden. “It also opened their eyes to how the arts align with and are connected to other curricular areas.” Oncel and Thaden’s partnership in the Arts and Sciences is a model of creativity and theory, and students, whether they attend the University of North Dakota or not, stand to gain. A&S

These images show nanowires. They are called nanowires because they are wires of one nanometer length, or one billionth of a meter. They are one atom thick and tens of nanometers long. Oncel and his team deposit small amounts of Iridium (Ir) atoms on Silicon (Si) surface and they modify the morphology of the pristine silicon surface


CarenLee BarkdullKristen & Henry BorysewiczBotsford Family Foundation

Caroline & Dennis CaineDuane L. Christenson

Harold W. & Jacqueline R. EvansJulie A. Evans

Patricia & Philip GisiMike Jacobs & Suezette Bieri

Craig & Kristin Garaas-JohnsonMarcia Bell & Robert O. Kelley

Patrick Luber & Jennifer NelsonJim & Fran McConnell

Richard & Penny MillspaughLynnette Mullins

Doug & Laura MunskiRuth M. Nord

Alan & Mary Jane O’NeilToni & Donald Poochigian

Randy L. RasmussenBill Sheridan & Jan Clark

Debbie StorrsDrs. Susan Farkas & Joshua Wynne*

Many know that students depend on scholarships to help make school more affordable. Many also know that theatre students depend on participating in theatre productions to get hands-on experience on and off stage. Many don’t know that scholarships and productions would not exist without the support of Burtness Angels.

UND Theatre has been supported by Burtness Angels for years. These generous donors create scholarships for students, support priority needs for the department, and provide resources for the production season. A portion of this support could even produce costumes for a production, a platform on the set, help a student’s work in lighting a production, or even support tap shoes for a student. The opportunities are endless and the effects are long-lasting.

As stewards of your gifts, we ensure that those resources are used for many years. Some platforms we have in stock are 25 years old! Costumes can be repurposed for dozens of productions, and scholarships for students are invaluable.

To become a Burtness Angel, visit our giving site at http://www.undalumni.org/theatre. This holiday season We Believe in Angels at UND Theatre!

Thank you to our current Angels whom we could not live without! Thank you for your constant support of UND Theatre.

*Denotes Guardian Angel

BECOME AN ANGEL!


ARTS & sciencesWATCHING WILDLIFE AT HOME

Dr. Susan Felege and Dr. Travis Desell show off the cameras and laptops they use in their innovative research project.


Everyday people give their time and attention to make a big difference in a new research project. By Craig Garaas-Johnson

Watching Wildlife at Home

ot so long ago, if a biologist wanted to know how an animal behaved, that biologist had to commit hours of their

time to watching that animal or collecting evidence and making educated guesses. Imagine how our collective knowledge might have improved with teams of people watching these animals every second of every day.

Asking total strangers to help with research might seem strange, but that is the theory behind crowd sourcing through the Internet and the subject of a new citizen science project, Wildlife@Home.

The project, “Integrating Crowd Sourcing, Volunteer Computing and Expert Observation to Robustly Classify Massive Quantities of Avian Nesting Video,” was developed by Susan Felege, an assistant professor in the Department of Biology, and Travis Desell, an assistant professor in the Department of Computer Science.

The ProcessNew camera technology is allowing avian

ecologists to perform detailed studies of avian

behavior, nesting strategies and predation in areas where it was previously impossible to gather data. Unfortunately, studies have shown mechanical triggers and a variety of sensors to be inadequate in capturing footage of small predators (e.g., snakes, rodents) or events in dense vegetation. Because of this, continuous camera recording is currently the most robust solution for avian monitoring, especially in ground nesting species.

However, continuous video footage results in a data deluge as monitoring enough nests to make biologically significant inferences results in massive amounts of data, which are unclassifiable by humans alone.

According to Susan Felege, the task would take years relying on student viewers alone. “We collect between 30,000 and 50,000 hours of video footage a year. Even with a large team of undergrads assisting in the first 30,000 hours of grouse video collected in 2012, we have only reviewed about 1/3 of it over the past year with additional data on two more species collected in 2013.”

Currently the project is looking at video of sharp-tailed grouse performing their mating dances and then examining their nesting habits and ecology. The nest cameras have been set up near western North Dakota’s oil fields and also within protected state lands.

“The videos we are collecting will shed

N


light on impacts of gas and oil on grouse nesting success, predator interactions with grouse at the nest, and nesting behaviors such as foraging,” says Felege. “In addition, data collected on piping plovers and least terns will assist us in accurately determining nest fates used in conservation efforts of these federally listed species, as well as impacts of researchers on nesting areas, nesting ecology, and nest predation.”

All of this information should help avian ecologists better understand nesting ecology and ultimately make better management recommendations for the species. Through the citizen science project, researchers have the opportunity to educate the public and provide opportunities to get the public excited about avian conservation efforts that otherwise would be difficult for them to experience.

Crunching Numbers

Handling all this video data is an immense challenge for researchers, so the team looked to volunteer computing, a form of distributed computing where people share their personal computer’s data processing and storage space. In this case, the video is stored on UND servers, but volunteers view videos on their personal computers and volunteer their interpretive skills to assess what is happening in a given video.

Volunteer computing is a part of crowd sourcing and gives people the ability to participate in real research in a way unimaginable just a few years ago. According to Desell, “Volunteer computing gives people a real democratic voice in terms of the science they support. They vote with their computers by using them on the projects they think are most important. Not only that, but it really gets the public involved

in citizen science, where they can actively participate and engage in research on different scientific projects. I think it’s a great way to get future generations involved in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields.”

Volunteers can go to the site, register, and begin watching videos quickly, making a meaningful scientific contribution in less than ten minutes. To make sure researchers get as much quality data as possible, each three minute video is watched by more than one volunteer, and a comparison is made. If one viewer says he saw an act of predation, but another viewer does not confirm this, then the video is flagged and a student watches the video to determine what happened.

And just to make the process more enjoyable, Desell and Felege added a credit tracking system, where users are awarded points for watching video, or running computer vision algorithms on video. Leaderboards track which users have processed the most video and watched the most video. Users can also collaborate in teams, and there is another set of leaderboards to see which teams have cumulatively done the most.

By all accounts, Felege and Desell seem to have succeeded at creating a model for incorporating the work of average citizens in meaningful research on endangered avian populations. To date, volunteers have reviewed thousands of hours, but there is still work to be done. And that work can be done by anyone with a home computer. A&S

For more on the wildlife project, visit http://volunteer.cs.und.edu/wildlife/

Dr. Susan Felege tracking in the field.


Robert Lewis, 82, a Chester Fritz Distinguished Professor, died in Grand Forks on Monday, Aug. 26, 2013. Lewis had served in the UND English Department since 1969. Alumni may remember Lewis as the editor of the North Dakota Quarterly, UND’s literary journal, which traces its history back to the time of our founding.

In Memoriam Robert LewisDecember 15, 1930 – August 26, 2013

n the newly published book, “Telling and Being Told: Storytelling and Cultural Control in Contemporary Mexican and Yucatec Maya Literatures,” Paul Worley, an assistant professor in the University of North Dakota Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures, explores the notion of the storyteller as a vital part of cultural transmission.

“Talk is text,” Worley says, referring to a form of cultural transmission that largely bypasses Western-style concepts of how knowledge and wisdom are stored and passed on. “Through performance and the spoken word, Yucatec Maya storytellers have maintained the vitality of their literary traditions for half a millennium.”

Peer academics who reviewed Worley’s book, published by the University of Arizona Press in October, say it’s a “significant contribution” to the research literature about Meso-American indigenous peoples and cultures.

“They’re mostly about how the Yucatec Maya look at the world,” he says. “In America, we’re so used to thinking that our literate culture began with Ann Bradstreet and John Winthrop (she was a 17th Century poet in, and he was a founding leader of, the Massachusetts Bay Colony) that we paper over several prior literatures, including Native American oral

and written traditions and all the writings of Spanish colonialists.”

In his book, Worley presents the figure of the storyteller as a symbol of indigenous cultural control in contemporary Yucatec Maya literatures and, by extension, in other non-Western traditionally oral cultures. Analyzing the storyteller as the embodiment of indigenous knowledge, Worley highlights how Yucatec Maya literatures play a vital role in imaginings of Mayan culture and its relationships with Mexican and global cultures.

Worley argues that many academics ignore an important component of Latin America’s history of conquest and colonization: Europeans consciously set out to destroy indigenous writing systems, re-emphasizing the importance of oral tradition as a key means of indigenous resistance and cultural continuity.

“The Maya themselves will tell you what’s going on. It’s a living culture; it’s not some archaeological artifact,” says Worley. A&S

— Juan Miguel Pedraza, University and Public Affairs

UND LANGUAGES PROFESSOR PAUL WORLEY PROMOTES LIVING ORAL LANGUAGES, HISTORIES IN LATIN AMERICAi

Modern Mayan StorytellingLEARN MORE

ABOUT DR. WORLEY’S WORK


ARTS & sciencesV-STEM GRANT

reating a city that runs on solar energy is in the works with the help of a new two-year, $340,000 grant awarded to an interdisciplinary team of University of North Dakota faculty members.

UND’s Dr. Mary Baker and Dr. Mark Guy, from the Teaching and Learning Department, and Dr. Tim Young, from the Department of Physics and Astrophysics, are the co-principal investigators for the grant project known as “Visualizing Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics,” or V-STEM for short. This grant will be implemented in fifth grade through eighth grade in three North Dakota school districts, which were selected based upon their students’ standardized test scores in science and mathematics. The purpose of the grant is to enhance students’ excitement and conceptual learning in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields.

The students will integrate real-life problems by building a solar city model.

“A solar city doesn’t exist yet; people want to see one. Solar energy can be foundational to all of the sciences,” Young says. “We need more scientists. Most of our energy comes through coal and wind; solar is something new.”

“These will be the students who make a real solar city possible,” Baker says.

Through the grant, UND also exposes students to scientists, mathematicians and engineers, and provides technology support to teachers and students. Students are able to connect with these professionals to get ideas on how to improve the solar city model.

Along with this grant, students also will have access to more technology and visualizations for learning including computer graphing, diagramming, 3-Dimensional models, iPad apps, simulations and visual immersion in the innovative scientific learning environment of the inflatable GeoDome planetarium, an interactive scientific teaching tool developed by Guy and Young.

“V-STEM focuses on integrating a variety of interactive visualization to create STEM learning environments that are meaningful and exciting for both teachers and students,” Guy says.

The curriculum of V-STEM, along with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), will give students “authentic real-world problems” to tackle, he adds.

The goal of the V-STEM grant is to find ways to improve student learning in mathematics and science courses.

“If we don’t interest them in middle school, they won’t be interested in high school; when it comes time to register for classes in college, they most likely will not pick a program that heavily involves science or math,” Baker says.

“We want them to be prepared before they get here (to UND),” Young says.

The results of the grant will be measured by looking at standardized test scores and other testing procedures. If the curriculum developed with the grant academically improves students’ tests scores, more schools might adopt the V-STEM approach to how students learn about science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The V-STEM grant has a possibility of a one-year extension. A&S

— Kallie Van De Venter, University & Public Affairs student writer

INTERDISCIPLINARY UND TEAM NETS ‘V-STEM’ GRANT TO HELP SPUR SCIENTIFIC INTEREST IN YOUNG MINDS c

V-STEM Grant

Timothy Young

Mark Guy

Mary Baker


igital publishing is a bit like fracking. 30 years ago, the Bakken was all but abandoned by oil companies because the oil was too hard to extract from miles below the surface. The process of hydraulic fracturing changed that and released billions of barrels of oil from the earth and into the North Dakota economy.

A decade ago, publishing was at its own dead end. Major newspapers struggled to adapt to a world of blogs and social media. Traditional publishers hesitated to embrace ebooks, open-access publishing, and mixed-media publications. As the second decade of the 21st century dawned, however, all this began to change. Traditional presses struggled to adapt to the digital world and the rapid development of ebook platforms and print-on-demand publishing created opportunities for a new kind of agile, dynamic, and low-cost publishing.

The Digital Press at the University of North Dakota is a foray into the wild west of digital publishing. Founded by Bill Caraher (History), Joel Jonientz (Art and Design), and Kyle Conway (English/Communications) and housed in the Working Group in Digital and New Media Lab, The Digital Press is a laboratory press exploring ways to bring content developed both on campus and elsewhere to a global audience.

“It’s still in an early phase,” Bill Caraher says, “but we have the basic pieces in place and have a great group of books in production for the first entries in the catalogue. Our plan is to have these books ready for the holidays!”

The Digital Press is an extension of the mission of the Working Group in Digital and New Media, which brings scholars from across campus together to explore the digital world at intersection of the arts, sciences, and humanities. The first round of books in the catalogue will feature titles dedicated to Punk Archaeology, local history and the Bakken Oil Boom.

“A press is a basic feature of an exceptional university,” says Caraher. “The Digital Press at the University of North Dakota fulfills many of the key points articulated in the Exceptional UND vision, including collaboration among faculty, experience for students, and expanding UND’s presence on a global scale.”

The Digital Press will focus on works that the small editorial staff find interesting and exciting and want to share with a larger audience. Plans are underway to do more than just “traditional” paper and ebooks, and to develop a presence in podcasts and other new media forms as well.

Like the Bakken, the world of digital publishing has untapped resources waiting for innovators willing to take risks. The Digital Press at the University of North Dakota is positioning itself to extract the potential from this major new field. A&S

WITH DIGITAL PUBLISHING INCREASING IN POPULARITY, A GROUP OF ENTERPRISING PROFESSORS HAS STARTED UND’S FIRST DIGITAL PRESS.

d

Print on DEMAND


he archaeology of Cyprus and punk rock music might seem to have nothing to do with the Bakken oil boom in western North Dakota. For UND History Professor Bill Caraher, however, these two interests provide a vital context for his newest research project studying workforce housing in the Bakken counties.

Caraher has directed archaeological projects on Cyprus for over a decade and recently hosted a conference and concert reflecting on the intersection of punk rock music and archaeology. Several of the participants in the conference contributed to field work documenting the social and archaeological environment of workforce housing, often called “man camps,” in the North Dakota oil boom.

“Ancient Cyprus was famous for its copper mines, and the workers exploiting these natural resources often lived in the equivalent of “man camps” close to the veins of copper and dependent on agricultural villages some distance away,” Caraher explains.

For the past 18 months, Caraher and Professor Bret Weber from the Department of Social Work have spent time in the Bakken describing the material conditions of life in the wide range of housing for workers in the patch. Weber, in collaboration with graduate students in the joint UND/NDSU Ph.D. program in History, has collected close to 100 long interviews with oil field workers. This work will not only provide a resource for all attempting to understand the impact of the influx of workers on the western part of the state, but will also provide an archive for later historians interested in the impact of the boom.

“Since these workers often stay for short periods of time and their housing is temporary, archaeological approaches provide a useful method for capturing a snapshot of conditions that change rapidly,” Caraher states.

Caraher’s work is associated with a cutting-edge approach to archaeological research often called the archaeology of the contemporary past. Unlike traditional archaeological approaches that focus on the remains of individuals and groups from the sometimes distant past, archaeology of the contemporary past documents material remains associated with contemporary society. The situation in the man camps of the Bakken is changing so quickly that traditional textual records provide an incomplete picture of the situation.

Caraher’s team of archaeologists documenting the contemporary workforce housing in the Bakken have fielded inquiries from around the world concerning both their research and the situation there.

When asked how this relates to punk rock music, Caraher responds, “Punk rock often involved the exploration of the seamier side of the world. Kids would come from the comfort of the suburbs to go to concerts in New York City or Detroit and come to terms with another side of life. As archaeologists in the Bakken, we’re doing the same thing. We’re wrapping our head around this remarkable situation taking place in the western part of the state and trying to use it to make sense of our present and our future. If archaeology is traditionally about the past, punk archaeology is about the present and future.” A&S

PROFESSOR BILL CARAHER WORKS IN AN AREA OF ARCHEOLOGY THAT DEALS WITH THE CONTEMPORARY PAST, LEADING HIM INTO BOTH THE PUNK MUSIC SCENE AND THE NORTH DAKOTA OIL PATCH.

t

History Research in the Moment

WHAT’S HAPPENING OUT WEST?

Aerial view of typical workforce housing in the North Dakota oil patch.



Elizabeth Harris, associate professor of creative writing in the UND English Department, recently won a national prize for literary translation from the PEN American Center.

Harris was awarded the PEN/Heim Translation Fund Award of $3,000 for her translation of “Tristano Dies” by Italian author Antonio Tabucchi.

According to award judges, Harris’ work was a “rich and textured translation” that rose “to the challenge of the complex, exuberant Italian text.” Tabucchi, who died in 2012, is considered one of Italy’s most important writers.

Harris’ translation is slated to be published by Archipelago Books.

Harris came to UND in 2004 from a position at Bluffton College in Ohio. She teaches fiction writing at UND, plus literature and the occasional course on literary translation. In her writing and literature courses, she often incorporates international literature and teaches about the seemingly invisible art form of literary translation.

Harris received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota and holds a master’s degree in creative writing from Johns Hopkins University as well as two MFA degrees from the University of Arkansas, one in creative writing and the other in literary translation. A&S

UND’s Harris wins national prize for literary translation

Winning Translation

UND Professor of Art Kim Fink has a love for print making, especially with his “new” antique Brisset Star Wheel lithography press. He has dreamed of owning a lithography press since his art school days.

While completing his second year of graduate school in Rome, Italy, Fink worked extensively on and ultimately fell in love with an Italian Star Wheel Press. Upon graduation and moving back to his home state of California, over time his love of antique lithography presses became a distant memory.

In the summer of 2012, after attending a workshop at the Arti Visive School of the Arts in Florence, Italy, he again was able to print on an antique star wheel press used at the Florentine art school. This experience rekindled his love for antique presses.

Not long after returning home, Fink saw an ad run by StoneMetal Press, located in San Antonio, Texas, selling a French Brisset Star Wheel lithography press. After some contact and negotiating with StoneMetal director Glenn Faulk, Fink purchased the press and moved it to Grand Forks last June.

Fink believes his press was constructed sometime between 1825 and 1840. He recently restored his press, taking it apart to sand it, oil it and rebuild some parts. Fink used old barn wood to replace some pieces that were in disrepair.

“It is a real joy to work with,” he says.Fink and Professor Lucy Ganje incorporate letterpress concepts in their classes

at UND, and they have their own letterpress studio in Grand Forks. During the South Central Threshing Association’s annual Threshing Bee and Antique Show at Braddock, N.D., Ganje and Fink demonstrated antique letterpress printing equipment to show how printing was done in the days of steel and lead type.

Fink is currently trying to find more information about the man who created this machine. He was told his antique French press was smuggled out of Paris in WWII and brought to the United States, landing in the art department of the University of Texas in Houston, where it was sold at auction to make space for new equipment. It resided at StoneMetal Press until Fink purchased it.

“There are around a half dozen presses in the U.S.,” Fink says. “Most are Italian, but I believe there is one other French lithography press other than mine here. I love the look of it. It has a feel to it that the new ones don’t.”

Fink’s intermediate and advanced art students will soon be able to print on his press, giving them a feel for the antique wooden presses as compared to the industrial steel presses that the students are more accustomed to. A&S

— Kallie Van De Venter, University & Public Affairs student writer

Art professor rekindles love for old time lithography with purchase and restoration of antique press

Time MachinePhoto: Jackie Lorentz Kim Fink operates his antique Brisset

Star Wheel lithography press.


ARTS & sciences

he University of North Dakota Department of Physics and Astrophysics dedicated the “Martens-Kraus Telescope” during a free community event on Friday, Nov. 1, at the Gorecki Alumni Center.

The event celebrated the department’s fully operational telescope, donated by Erwin Martens and co-named for the late UND Professor Emeritus of Physics and Astrophysics Olen Kraus.

The Martens Observatory contains the Martens-Kraus telescope, a 0.51-meter (20-inch) diameter telescope made by PlaneWave, housed in a Technical Innovations 15-foot diameter Pro-Dome observatory.

The observatory’s site in Forest River, N.D., offers very dark skies, very little light pollution, and little anticipated urban sprawl.

In addition, the telescope is designed to carry out observations over the Internet and be as autonomous

as possible. The primary mission for the telescope is research, but will include teaching and outreach projects. The research will encompass Comet ISON photometry and spectra, supernova searches to greater depths with several discoveries expected, variable star research, gamma-ray burst follow-up observations, and asteroid astrometry.

The astronomical research that is possible at the Martens Observatory will enhance UND’s capabilities and give students advanced knowledge of the operations of large telescopes. In general, telescope time is competitive on federally funded telescopes.

The Martens-Kraus Telescope gives UND students an unprecedented opportunity to explore the night sky without time constraints. A&S

UND PHYSICS AND ASTROPHYSICS DEPARTMENT WELCOMES NEW ‘MARTENS-KRAUS TELESCOPE’

t

New Eye on the Sky

HOW CAN

YOU SUPPORT UND ARTS & SCIENCES

Gifts can be given online at www.arts-sciences.und.edu or by mail:

UND Foundation 3501 University Avenue Stop 8157

Grand Forks, ND 58202Make checks payable to:

UND Foundation with fund designation

in memo line.

Do you have questions about giving to UND? Please contact

Brandy ChaffeeDirector of DevelopmentUND College of Arts & Sciences3501 University Ave., Stop 8157Grand Forks, ND [email protected]

a

Dr. Tim Young poses after successful

installation of the new microscope.

SUPPORT THE 45TH ANNUAL WRITERS CONFERENCEaWriting Tradition


nyone who attended UND since 1970 is probably aware of the UND Writers Conference. Celebrating its 45th anniversary in 2014, it has attracted some of the top writers in the world and has become a high point on the Arts & Sciences calendar every spring.

The list of authors who have attended the UND Writers Conference includes names familiar to many: Allen Ginsburg, Jamaica Kincaid, Salman Rushdie, Norman Mailer, Sherman Alexie, and Louise Erdrich, to name just a few. In all, more than 300 authors have made the trip to Grand Forks.

And the 2014 Writers Conference continues this tradition with three-time United States Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky. That students could hear the work of such giants in the field is not only extraordinary, it is a legacy worth preserving.

“Despite the fact that we’ve never had guaranteed funding, each spring, for 45 years, the UND Writers Conference has brought some of the biggest and most influential names in contemporary literature to Grand Forks, often before they became world-renowned,” says Crystal Alberts, a professor in the Department of English.

While the English Department traces its roots to the very founding of the University in 1883, the Writers Conference only began in 1970. Founded by the late Professor John Little,

the conference had a modest beginning with the Southern Writers Conference of the Arts. Funded by the College of Arts & Sciences as well as by some of the visiting writers themselves, the conference was so successful that it became an annual event almost immediately.

Though the conference quickly had university-wide appeal and, since the mid-’70s, significant attendance from the community and region, it has always been organized by faculty, staff, and students of the English Department. In more recent years it has become known nationwide as one of the most distinctive conferences of its kind, in part because it remains free and open to the public.

“Unfortunately,” says Alberts, “with the current economic situation and increased operational costs, we know that we have to find new ways to finance the conference. We’re really hoping that there are people who want to help support this unique, nationally recognized UND tradition and will consider donating to the UND Writers Conference.”

The UND Writers Conference has been successful because of the generous support of the Red River Valley Community. Please consider supporting the Writers Conference so that we can continue to offer this exceptional experience to our students. A&S

SUPPORT THE WRITERS CONFERENCE!

An audience listens to a panel discussion during the 2013 UND Writers Conference.


What’s NewUND President Robert Kelley gives Spirit Celebration featured speaker Bert Jacobs, co-founder of the

clothing and lifestyles company Life is good®, a UND hockey jersey with Jacobs’ name on the back.

CAMPUS newsNEWS FROM AROUND CAMPUS

News from around campus A Partnership with the Division of University and Public Affairs



What’s New

T his is an exciting year at the University of North Dakota, in part because so many of you stepped up to provide your time, talent and treasure during North Dakota Spirit | The Campaign for UND. The pledges of more than $324 million exceeded

our goal and our dreams. The University will never adequately be able to thank the National Campaign Steering Committee or its co-chairs, Linda Pancratz and B. John Barry. Together, with Tim O’Keefe, DeAnna Carlson Zink, and the entire UND Alumni Association & Foundation staff, they worked tirelessly for this remarkable achievement.

While we have had many successes, we also have much work ahead of us, as I told the campus community recently in my State of the University address.

UND is administering its second-largest enrollment ever, 15,143 students, which includes a significant increase in the number of graduate students and the planned-for increase in students through the Health Care Workforce Initiative funded by the North Dakota Legislature. Two programs which have received a great deal of media attention continue to see outstanding growth as well: Petroleum Engineering and Unmanned Aircraft Systems.

However, to support the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education initiative, “Pathways to Student Success,” we need to focus on creating a university environment of student success, and that means we need to admit students who are prepared to succeed. For many reasons, this is the right time to strengthen our admissions standards and to focus on recruiting and working to retain highly prepared students who will reach their educational goals as efficiently as possible, which will mean less debt for many.

Another important reason for working toward enhanced student success is the change by the North Dakota Legislature in how it will fund higher education. Fiscal resources will now be appropriated based on a model that provides a weighted dollar amount per completed student credit hour. The model also rewards institutions for students’ progress toward graduation/completion.

UND’s funding depends on the success of our students, and that challenges all of us to achieve our goals while increasing the quality of education. That ties directly into one of our goals, “Enriching the Student Experience.” It’s one of five tenets of our Exceptional UND roadmap: “Encourage Gathering,” “Facilitate Collaboration,” “Expand UND’s Presence,” and “Enhance the Quality of Life for Faculty and Staff.” This blueprint informs all of UND’s major decisions, from curriculum development to the physical development of the campus.

In my State of the University speech, I also talked about recent capital construction activities.

In November, we celebrated the official receipt of a Platinum LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) designation for the Gorecki Alumni Center, a brilliant example of energy efficiency, sustainability and green practices at work. The Gorecki Alumni Center

is the first Platinum-level building in the North Dakota University System, and the first such alumni center in the world. UND continues its leadership in energy and environmental sustainability — we bleed green in many ways.

In September, we broke ground on the new UND Athletics High Performance Center, an indoor practice and competition facility. Altru Health System provided the $9 million leadership gift, with Scheels providing $1 million.

Earlier this year, the 2013 North Dakota Legislature approved funding for a $122 million, four-story School of Medicine and Health Sciences building. The largest state-funded construction project since North Dakota first became a state in 1889, the new building will be transformational as the School continues to focus on health workforce development for all North Dakotans. The Legislature also appropriated $11.4 million for an addition to and renovation of the School of Law, which continues its focus on preparing practice-ready attorneys who are needed in the state.

Soon we will begin work on a major renovation to the Wilkerson Hall Dining Center. Also on the horizon: a Collaborative Energy Complex in the College of Engineering and Mines. Much of the funding has been secured for this important facility, but more gifts will be needed to get a shovel in the ground.

UND is an exceptional university, as we shared with the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), which visited in October as a part of our 10-year reaccreditation process.

UND has been continuously accredited since 1913, and we believe the HLC once again found a vibrant, progressive university with world-class faculty, dedicated staff, bright, motivated students, and enthusiastic and successful alums, who in so many ways are helping the University achieve our goals and ensure a bright future for an Exceptional UND.

With the best of wishes,

Robert O. KelleyPresident

DEARALUMNI & FRIENDS

President Robert Kelley


even students from North Dakota, Minnesota and Idaho are well on their way to becoming the first at the University of North Dakota to achieve their Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degrees.

This fall, this pioneering group (class of 2015) kicked off its first semester in one of UND’s newest post-master’s degree programs at the UND College of Nursing and Professional Disciplines. All of the students already are advanced practice nurses. The DNP, a clinical practice doctorate, is the highest level of preparation for the actual practice of a discipline.

While the DNP may seem like a new concept to the general public, it is definitely not new to the health care profession. Physicians, dentists, pharmacists, and physical therapists all hold practice doctorates. The DNP provides nurses with an option to seek their terminal degree in nursing practice. This differs from a Ph.D. in nursing, which is a research-focused doctorate.

The DNP faculty at UND come from a variety of clinical backgrounds to share their expertise with the students. Drs. Maridee Shogren DNP, CNM; Christine Harsell DNP, ANP-BC;

and Jackie Roberts DNP, FNP-BC, AOCNP; are leading the program’s development.

This first cohort of students was admitted this summer with subsequent admissions decisions to take place each January.

“We are very impressed with the outstanding students admitted to this first DNP cohort,” said Shogren, program director. “They were chosen from a high quality applicant pool. Their enthusiasm is contagious. We are so excited to be a part of their journey and mentor these students as they use their creative and innovative ideas to make a difference in healthcare today.”

Students take courses online and meet once per semester for on-campus intensive experiences. These experiences provide students with professional mentoring, encourage a community of learning and enhance skill development.

The DNP curriculum includes courses in leadership, evidence-based research, health informatics and health policy. Students will also complete an additional 500 clinical hours during the program and finish their academic requirements with their Capstone, a final scholarly project that demonstrates a measurable improvement or impact on healthcare delivery and/or patient outcomes.

“I am excited to learn how to navigate the ever-changing healthcare system,” according to one of the DNP students. “This program will offer me the tools to do this.” AR

— David Dodds and Maridee Shogren, University & Public Affairs

COLLEGE WELCOMES INAUGURAL CLASS IN DNP PROGRAMsTop Nurses


Photo: Dr. Chris Harshell

To learn more: www.nursing.und.edu/programs or contact Maridee Shogren, DNP track director, at 701.777.4529 or [email protected]

Class of 2015 DNP students: Back row, left to right – Illaria Moore, Melanie Nash, Sheila Wiegman, Michelle Ullery and Bettina Thompson. Front row, left to right – Elizabeth Jahn and Jessica Ahmann.


he University of North Dakota has proven to be a critical partner to the oil and gas industry when it comes to petroleum engineering research and getting more of the valuable stuff out of the ground.

But the University also is interested in the social impacts of oil. This is especially true in the western North Dakota oil patch, the Bakken Formation, which extends into northeastern Montana. The area has rocketed the state to the No. 2 spot for oil and gas production in the nation. With increased oil activity has come more jobs and more people and a need for more of pretty much everything else to sustain changing human dynamics in once sleepy rural communities.

Unfortunately, with all the good has come its share of bad, specifically an uptick in domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking.

That’s where UND steps in again.An interdisciplinary UND team made up of faculty

members from the Departments of Social Work, Criminal Justice, Sociology and Nursing has received a nearly $500,000 award from the National Institute of Justice for a three-year project to examine the impact of Bakken oil development on domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in North Dakota and Montana.

The exploratory study will focus on 33 oil-impacted counties in North Dakota and Montana and affected tribal reservations. The findings will assist legal and criminal justice officials, domestic violence and sexual assault agencies, other health and human service agencies, government officials, policy makers, oil industry executives and local communities in addressing interpersonal violence in the oil patch, according to Dr. Dheeshana Jayasundara, assistant professor of social work in the UND College of Nursing and Professional Disciplines.

Jayasundara, a native of Sri Lanka, has a background in research on violence against women and domestic violence. Her initial training was in sociology and criminology before joining social work. “As my work looks at both health and

criminology and social work aspects, it all ties in very well for the project,” she said.

Jayasundara and co-principal investigator Thomasine Heitkamp, professor of social work, conducted a pilot study in 2012 regarding the impact of the oil boom on human service workers. Forty representatives of stakeholder groups were recruited to participate in focus groups and interviews.

Heitkamp said that UND used the preliminary analysis in its proposal to the NIJ to show a need to expand the project. “It was not a funded study,” Heitkamp said of the preliminary work, “rather it was done because of our research commitment to UND.”

Heitkamp, a former Social Work Department chair and a certified social worker with 40 years of experience, some of it as a child protection worker in western North Dakota, has seen firsthand the changes taking place in the oil patch and the need for the study.

Rounding out the team are Dr. Tracy Evanson, associate professor in the graduate nursing department; Dr. Roni Mayzer, associate professor of criminal justice; and Dr. Liz Legerski, assistant professor of sociology.

Evanson, a native of Arnegard, N.D., in the heart of the North Dakota oil patch, also brings a professional background and familiarity with the people, communities and culture of the oil patch. Her most recent research study examined the experiences of rural nurses working with victims of domestic violence and identified their training needs.

Mayzer’s expertise is in corrections, criminological theory, and women in the criminal justice system. Legerski specializes in gender, social inequality, family, and health and social policy.

Collectively, the team members bring extensive experience in qualitative research, mixed methodology and statistical analysis. They also have years of teaching experience in their varied fields of expertise. They know the issues they will be studying, but, most of all, they know the people of the area because they’ve lived and worked among them.

“I just feel strongly that UND needs to have a presence in the oil patch,” Heitkamp said. “They value us for the service and scholarship obligation we bring to examine the impacts of the more complicated issues created in oil-impacted areas relative to human need.” AR

— Brian Johnson, University & Public Affairs

UND RESEARCH TEAM TAKES ON IMPORTANT SOCIAL STUDY OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IMPACTS IN THE OIL PATCH

t

The human side of ‘The Bakken’


Dheeshana Jayasundara is one of the researchers studying the social impacts of Bakken oil development.


eterans helping veterans.Those were the words that dominated a

November ceremony at the UND Memorial Union, where members of the North Dakota Department of The American Legion officially launched the organization’s newest chapter.

Wayne Satrom, native of Galesburg, N.D., and a national vice commander with The American Legion, read the official proclamation establishing UND Post 401 before a group of about 50 fellow legionnaires and members of the University community. The temporary charter, set up a few days before Veterans Day, is the second to be designated on a university campus in North Dakota. Post 400 was established at North Dakota State in Fargo last year.

“The young veterans are getting involved now,” Satrom said, “what else can you say — this is just super.”

The UND chapter is composed of 22 veterans, including University students, alumni, instructors and staff members recently separated from the military and some who are current active duty, National Guard or Reserve service members.

The 2.4-million-member American Legion is a congressionally chartered group of veterans helping veterans and their families. The organization carries considerable political clout in Washington, D.C., for its members, according to Satrom.

Campus posts help veteran students and others affiliated with a university assimilate to civilian life, establish connections with other vets and pursue various community projects and programs.

“We are here to give our veterans a home on campus,” said Thomas DiLorenzo, UND vice president for Academic Affairs and provost. “We see ourselves as a veteran-friendly campus and this new charter certainly demonstrates that fact.”

UND consistently is ranked as one of the most military and veteran friendly schools in the nation by G.I. Jobs and other military niche publications and websites.

David A. Johnson, West Fargo, the adjutant of the North Dakota Department of The American Legion, said that the new chapters at UND and NDSU will help feed the ranks of the organization, offsetting losses from its World War II, Korean War and Vietnam era membership. He said that older generation legionnaires can learn from their younger counterparts when it comes to newer and more effective ways to communicate the organization’s messages.

“The American Legion is a tradition worth saving,” Johnson said. “The energy and skills of this generation is a resource not to be ignored.”

For membership information, contact Post 401 members James Becks at 701.330.1178, 701.777.6465, or [email protected]; or Carol Anson in the UND Veterans Affairs Office at 701.777.3364 or [email protected]. AR

— David Dodds, University & Public Affairs

THE AMERICAN LEGION LAUNCHES NEW POST ON THE UND CAMPUS AS A WAY TO SERVE MODERN-ERA VETERANS v

Photo: David Dodds

A New Post

Wayne Satrom, national vice commander with The American Legion, presents the official charter establishing Post 401 at the University of North Dakota to a group of legionnaires and supporters at the UND Memorial Union on Thursday, Nov. 7.



tudents and faculty from the University of North Dakota Departments of Nursing, Social Work, and Nutrition & Dietetics visited the rural Cass County community of Arthur, N.D., to participate in the first-ever Community Wellness Fair there.

The departments, part of the College of Nursing and Professional Disciplines, offered their professional training and expertise to local residents with the aim of improving quality of life.

The College partnered with the UND Alumni Association & Foundation, Nodak Mutual Insurance, Arthur Drug, The Community of Care, Good Samaritan Society, Northern Cass School, American Diabetes Association and Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota to provide the single-day event. More than 50 students and 18 faculty members attended.

Arthur proved to be the perfect setting for the UND College to demonstrate its skills and services and how the University partners with communities across the state and region.

“Arthur is a very small town, with a population of about 300 people,” said Ashley Ylitalo, administrator of the Good Samaritan Society for Arthur. “Everyone there knows each other. It is a very family-like community.”

At the local school, the College of Nursing and Professional Disciplines supported multiple screenings and training sessions, offering feedback to residents on a variety of health issues. Blood pressure, blood glucose, and eye examinations were conducted as local health and resource providers assessed participants on their state of health and what warning signs they should be watching for.

The event offered a variety of booths related to physical activity and safety in the home. Exercise stations informed residents how much exercise was needed to stay healthy, and focused on low impact motions such as walking and stretching. Other stations focused on dangers of everyday items in the home and how they increase the likelihood of

falling. There also were demonstrations on preparing healthier meals that give muscles and bones necessary nutrients to function properly.

Barb Kramer, assistant professor of social work at UND, said the event was important for students too, providing real-world experiences in interprofessional health care settings before entering their respective fields.

“I think the biggest opportunities for the students is to come to rural areas so they can witness some of the unique challenges rural areas face, but also observe the resources that are available,” Kramer said.

Taylor Caldwell, a junior majoring in social work, said, “I think the most important thing for the residents is to see that resources are out there and available around you.”

Rachel Tessier, a junior in the dietetics program, agreed. “You are getting a lot of the different health care professionals together in one place. There is a lot going on: some health care screenings, we have nutrition lessons and cooking demos. “Rural outreach is very important. Not everyone lives in a big city. It’s really important that everyone gets nutritional care and information.”

Arthur Mayor Steve Perry explained that the event and the services provided are invaluable to his community and the surrounding area.

“We have an aging population,” Perry said. “This outreach helps educate people about problems they may have and how to take better care of themselves.”

The second annual Community Wellness Fair will be held on Saturday, April 12, 2014. AR

— David Braz, College of Nursing and Professional Disciplines— David Dodds, University & Public Affairs

UND COLLEGE OF NURSING & PROFESSIONAL DISCIPLINES BRINGS HEALTH AND WELLNESS INFORMATION TO THE PEOPLE OF ARTHUR, N.D.

s

Reaching Out Drawing Them In

UND Nursing students interact with participants

of a community Health Fair in Arthur, N.D.


here’s no doubt that folks who graduate with engineering degrees from the University of North Dakota are technically superb.

That’s why most of our graduates are getting good jobs right out of school, many even before they graduate.

But, says College of Engineering and Mines (CEM) faculty member Brian Tande, there’s a lot more to an engineering career than technical expertise. So he launched an effort to help students learn the ropes of business and entrepreneurship. His new Engineering Leadership Development Program has 16 students this semester.

Tande, a chemical engineer, is director of the CEM Jodsaas Center for Engineering Leadership and Entrepreneurship. Dedicated during Homecoming 2008, the center was made possible by a generous Spirit Campaign donation to the College from 1962 UND electrical engineering alumnus Larry Jodsaas. It was designed and guided by his vision to enhance the student experience by providing engineering students opportunities to develop skills beyond the traditional engineering curriculum.

“The reason we started this program was the realization that a lot of engineering alums go out into some technical role, doing engineering jobs for three to five years, then they move

into a management position,” Tande said. “That’s a typical career path for many engineers. So not long after they graduate, they’re in a position where they’re managing other people and involved with the business side of their company.”

Some engineers choose a completely different career path: they go out right away and start their own company. And some go into completely different roles: Neil Armstrong, the first person to walk on the moon, was an engineer; another astronaut, Karen Nyberg, who spent six months on the International Space Station this year, holds a mechanical engineering degree from UND.

In addition to his academic career at UND, Tande is an entrepreneur himself, running a small specialty coatings company.

“Many of the problem-solving and critical-thinking skills they learned as an engineer are put to use in a lot of different fields of business,” Tande said. “Our job in the Jodsaas Center, especially with this leadership development program, is to take our traditional, highly technical education and supplement it with different aspects of business, leadership and entrepreneurship. This is to give students a head start on the skills they’re going to need further down the road in their career. That’s basically the mission of the Jodsaas Center.”

JODSAAS CENTER LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM PREPARES GRADUATES FOR THE BUSINESS LIFE t

From the Lab to the Boardroom



Brian Tande, CEM faculty member, came up with the idea

for the Engineering Leadership Development Program.

Among the features of the leadership development program is a seminar series.

“Every semester we bring three or four alums from industry back to campus to give a seminar, telling the story of how they got from being a new graduate to where they are today,” Tande said. “We’ve found that it’s not hard to get people here to participate in these seminars. UND is blessed with successful alums who are eager to share their experiences and interact with students. So far, everyone who’s participated in our seminar series has enjoyed great discussions with students, who are eager to hear their perspectives. With this program, we’re going to be requiring a lot more alums to participate.”

To start, the leadership program will be a College of Engineering-level certificate, which means that it won’t show up on a student’s transcript.

“We will be working to get approvals from the University and from the State Board of Higher Education to make this a university-level certificate program, which means that it’ll be part of a student’s official academic record,” Tande said.

Tande emphasizes that the program is in addition to the technical and scientific education that UND engineers receive.

“Engineers already are taking a lot of credits,” he said. “We looked for ways to add leadership and business credits into existing spaces for electives.”

Each student also will be paired with a mentor who works in the same industry that the student is interested in.

“For example, I have a chemical engineering student in the program who wants to work in the pharmaceutical industry,” Tande said. “I’m in the process of identifying UND alums who are working in that industry. That’s kind of a bridge for the student to learn more about that industry.”

The program is designed to be flexible; a student can customize their experience based on their own interests.

“When I was an engineering student no one talked about business, entrepreneurship or leadership skills,” Tande said. “Things have definitely changed. The engineering education community has recognized that engineers need more than technical skills.”

Right now, this is a pilot program.“Our long term goal is that every student who

graduates from the UND College of Engineering and Mines goes through a program like this,” Tande said. AR

— Juan Miguel Pedraza, University and Public Affairs

Dear Alumni and Friends,I just came from a meeting of the Nursing Student Association and Student

Council, where I heard our best and brightest students in the College of Nursing and Professional Disciplines talking about the duty they feel to help others be healthy, fit, and well. By now, this ethic comes as no surprise to me. Since joining the College last

summer as Interim Dean, I’ve heard a similar sense of purpose from students in all three of our departments: Nursing, Nutrition and Dietetics, and Social Work.

This fall I’ve also gotten to know the College’s faculty and staff, who are equally dedicated to providing our students a first-rate education, engaging in research that betters society, and serving our communities.

For more than a decade on the UND faculty, I’ve helped students understand the important roles that law and public policy play in their lives. My research has focused on the American political system and how we interact with it, ranging from voting rights to civil rights, and documenting how the rise of casinos owned and operated by

American Indian tribes has changed reservation communities and intergovernmental relations. On these and other issues, I’ve had a chance to interact with and assist public policymakers, corporate citizens, and members of the public alike.

In the last few years, I’ve helped President Robert Kelley and UND’s leadership take us from great to exceptional as Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs. In that role, I’ve focused on strategic initiatives that include enriching the student learning experience and generating innovation in teaching and learning.

Outside the classroom, I enjoy running marathons, and am a dedicated advocate of UND’s commitment to the health and wellness of the campus community — a commitment which the College of Nursing and Professional Disciplines exemplifies.

Perhaps most importantly, I love UND. And that’s why I’m so excited to be serving as Interim Dean.

Our shared priorities this year include focusing on our core mission to teach, research, and serve in ways that improve quality of life; enhancing collaboration across curriculum and programs; advancing community outreach and partnerships; creating opportunities for leadership and professional development; and charting a shared vision and roadmap for the College’s bright future.

I’m happy to report we’ve already made strong progress on these priorities through a combination of collaboration and enthusiasm to make a difference in our College, at UND, and throughout our communities.

Having just heard our students talk about these values, our vision for an Exceptional College of Nursing and Professional Disciplines doesn’t surprise me one bit!

Sincerely,

Steve Light, Ph.D.Interim Dean, College of Nursing and Professional DisciplinesAssociate Vice President for Academic Affairs

College of Nursing and Professional Disciplines

Dean’s Corner:Getting to Know the CNPD


ou could say oil runs in the Brown family just like it does deep beneath the western North Dakota soil they call home.

Grandpa Al Brown became an oilman as a young cattle rancher growing up east of Watford City, the epicenter of today’s booming oil play in North Dakota’s Bakken formation.

Things were a bit different in the oil patch then, but the work still was rough, raw and dangerous. Al learned the business from the ground up; his classroom was the hard knocks of the drilling rigs.

Years later, he would parlay his expertise into a business of his own that specialized in “fishing” for broken parts and debris lodged 10,000 vertical feet below the surface in drilling holes — a costly part of life in the oil industry that brings drilling activity to a standstill.

Today, that business, Northern States Fishing Tool, is one of the most respected names in the region in its line of work.

Opportunity knocks Eventually, Al’s son, Gary Brown, who’d grown up in his

dad’s shop but decided to leave the state to pursue a college degree in finance and accounting, moved his family back to

Watford City to be closer to his roots.Gary rejoined the family business, but this time instead of

mopping floors and sorting tools like he did as a kid, he took on a business management role.

The menial chores of Gary’s youth fell to his son and Al’s grandson, Joel, now 22 and a UND alumnus.

Gary and his wife, Cheryl, brought their family back during a bit of a lull in local oil and gas development. Life was quieter then in Watford City, but there was still enough oil activity taking place to give young Joel a taste of what his future might entail.

Like his dad, Joel would initially leave Watford City to go to college out of state. Also, like his dad, Joel soon developed a longing to be closer to home to work in some fashion of the oil industry. But where? How?

Joel’s questions were answered when UND launched its fledgling Petroleum Engineering program in 2010.

“I hopped right on it,” said Joel, about his shot to get back to his beloved home state.

UND ALUM AND THIRD-GENERATION NORTH DAKOTAN JOEL BROWN CONTINUES FAMILY LEGACY IN OIL INDUSTRY y

Like Father, Like Father, Like Son



From left to right – Gary Brown (father), Joel Brown (son), and

Al Brown (grandfather) at an oil pumping site near Watford City, N.D.


Program pioneer Joel became one of the first students in the new

Petroleum Engineering program, part of the UND College of Engineering and Mines’ Institute for Energy Studies (IES). He graduated in only three years, but in that time the program grew from a handful of pioneering students, including Joel, to a whopping 197 now.

The UND Petroleum Engineering program is the only one of its kind in the state and is among a small number of accredited programs — about 20 or so — in the nation.

“We anticipate the classes that follow will likely have more than 20 graduates each year,” said Steve Benson, chair of the UND Department of Petroleum Engineering. “Our faculty also is increasing in size to meet the demands of the additional students.”

Industry connections The boom of students in the program is being

spurred largely by increased and sustained oil activity in western North Dakota.

Joel has seen firsthand evidence of that activity on Main Street in Watford City. The once sleepy ranching town of his boyhood has grown from about 1,500 people to an estimated 10,000 today. More than 17,000 trucks cross the town’s main intersection every day.

Demand for petroleum engineers also is being driven by an anticipated surge in the number of oil industry retirees in the next few years.

The industry has taken notice of what’s happening at UND, and students are benefitting when it comes to job prospects after graduation. It doesn’t hurt that UND has solid connections to the oil industry.

UND puts its aspiring petroleum engineers in the field as much as possible as interns — the best of all classrooms.

“Other schools focus more on the teaching side of things,” Joel said.

Because of UND people, such as Benson, Joel was able to secure a coveted internship with Whiting Petroleum in the North Dakota oil patch.

“He called them up and the next day they emailed me with an offer,” Joel said.

Experience plus degree His education at UND, the internship , and the know-

how he’s absorbed growing up in the heart of the North Dakota oil fields have all paid off for Joel as he prepares for his first job as a reservoir engineer in the Denver office of MBI Oil & Gas, a North Dakota-based company.

Joel speaks in bittersweet terms about moving away from the state he loves and about the exciting opportunities ahead. He says he wants to gain experience now elsewhere, but vows to return home to continue the Brown legacy.

“Someday I will come back to North Dakota and bring something to the table here working with Dad and Grandpa,” he said. “But for right now, Denver is the place I want to be.”

Gary said that would be good for the family and the business, as each generation of Brown brings his own expertise to the mix.

“Dad (Grandpa Al) is a much respected fisherman in the oil industry around here, but he had to learn all of it on his own by doing it,” Gary said. “I came along and brought something different on the business end. And now Joel comes along with his engineering experience.

“It was my goal to always come back here, too,” Gary continued. “If Joel comes back that would be great, but if not, his experiences here and education will be a great springboard for him whatever he does.”

Grandpa Al agreed, saying that experience in the field coupled with the scientific knowledge of what is happening underground is a rare combination.

“When you’ve got a college degree and the experience to go with it, you’ve really got something,” Al said. AR

— David Dodds , University and Public Affairs

Al Brown, Joel Brown and Gary Brown in the

Brown Family shop in Watford City, N.D.


ALUMNI news

1950sRemember when, in 1955, the heated swimming pool connected to the Fieldhouse (now Hyslop Sports Center) was completed?

1959Judy Sullivan Dawson, ’59, is the recipient of the Austin Legacy Award from the UND Center for Community Engagement. Dawson has been a successful writer, editor, columnist, reviewer and communications consultant. She lives in Lutz, Fla., with her husband, Gerald.

Monte Phillips, ’59, ’61, has received the American Society of Civil Engineers’ William H. Wisely Civil Engineer Award. The National Society of Professional Engineers also gave Monte its highest honor this year, and the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying recognized him with its award for Distinguished Service with Special Commendation. Monte taught at the University of North Dakota for more than three decades. He lives in Park Rapids, Minn., with his wife Niomi (Rohn), ’61, ’80.

1960sRemember when, in 1967, a pass-fail grading system was implemented at UND for the first time?

1962Jack McDonald, ’62, ’70, is the recipient of the Austin Legacy Award from the UND Center for Community Engagement. McDonald is a senior partner in the Wheeler Wolf Law Firm with a specialty in First Amendment and communications law. He lives in Bismarck with his wife, Constance (Schanilec), ‘64.

1964Dick Williams, ’64, president and chief executive officer of Internet security firm Webroot, has joined the board of directors of Cloudera, an analytic data management company. He lives in Boulder, Colo., with his wife, Lynn.

NEWS FROM AROUND CAMPUS

Several emailers and callers tried to help identify the people who appeared in the photo from 1956 featured on this page in the fall issue. With several people providing identification, we believe the man kneeling in the center is Warner Brand. There were several different guesses as to the identity of the student to his left. Consensus leans toward Jack Wilson. However, one name did not rise to the top for the co-ed sitting with the men.

Send an e-mail to [email protected] or call us at 800.543.8764.

Do you recognize any of these students photographed during the homecoming parade in 2007? If so, send us an email at [email protected].


Film Documents Civil Rights Watershed Moment

“The Road to Little Rock,” a documentary film about the integration of Arkansas’ Little Rock School District in 1957, had its Grand Forks debut this fall.

The film focuses on the Little Rock Nine, the teenage African-American students turned away from attending high school by National Guard soldiers, and Judge Ronald N. Davies, ’27, HON ’61, whose ruling in the case effectively ended the practice of segregation in U.S. schools.

Judge Davies’ son, Tom, ’61, ’63, and his wife, Maureen, attended the film’s Grand Forks premiere at the Chester Fritz Auditorium. Dr. Terrence Roberts, a member of the Little Rock Nine, provided presentations to several UND groups on the same day.

The film, underwritten by UND and the UND Alumni Association & Foundation, will be used in schools in North Dakota and Arkansas.

More information about the film can be found at www.theroadtolittlerock.com.

1966James Kent, ’66, was inducted into the Crookston (Minn.) High School Hall of Fame. He was also awarded the ACE (Advocate for Choral Excellence) Award by the Minnesota American Choral Directors Association. Kent taught music education in Crookston for 35 years before retiring in 2001. He lives in Crookston with his wife, Sandi.

Norm Vangsness, ..’66, has retired after a 40-year career. He operated Graphic Arts Specialists in Lisbon, N.D.

1968David Iverson, ’68, ’70, is the recipient of the Austin Legacy Award from the UND Center for Community Engagement. Iverson is a successful broadcaster who started his own broadcast network, College Athletic Radio Networks. He lives in Sammamish, Wash., with his wife, Deborah (Hagen), ..’71.

Jan Tezak, ’68, is the board president of Kitsap Mental Health Services, the primary provider of mental health services for Kitsap County (Wash.). Jan lives in Poulsbo, Wash.

1970sRemember when, in 1976, the Theatre Department production “A Dusty Echo” was performed throughout the state as part of the U.S. Bicentennial celebration?

1971Linda (Gallagher) Collins, ’71, has been appointed by Oregon’s governor to serve as a public member on the Oregon Commission on Judicial Fitness

and Disability. The Commission reviews complaints about state judges and investigates when the alleged conduct might violate the state’s Code of Judicial Conduct or the Oregon Constitution. She lives in North Bend, Ore., with her husband, Loren.

1974Ron Bendewald, ‘74, is an occupational therapist with Heart of America Rehab and Wellness Center in Rugby, N.D.

Jeff Monroe, ’74, has retired from his position with Michigan State as Assistant Athletic Director/Head Athletic Trainer. Monroe spent 27 years at MSU. Monroe lives in Haslett, Mich., with his wife, Vicki.

1975Justice Mary Muehlen Maring, ’75, will retire from the North Dakota Supreme Court at the end of December. She has served on the high court for more than 17 years. She lives in Mandan with her husband, David, ’74. 1976Paul Legler, ’76, has had his novel, “Song of Destiny,” published. He and his wife, Julie, live near Minneapolis, where he continues to do public policy consulting at Innovative Social Policy, L.L.C.

1978James “Bob” Hagerty, ’78, is the recipient of the Austin Legacy Award from the UND Center for Community Engagement. Hagerty is an award-winning reporter for The Wall Street Journal. He lives in Pittsburgh with his wife, Lorraine. 1979Gary Schindler, ’79, ’85, is the dean of students with Riverland Community College. He lives in Albert Lea, Minn., with his wife, Jeanne (Klitz), ..’78.

Tom Davies, ‘61, ‘63, and his wife, Maureen, pose next to a photo of Tom’s father, the late Judge Ronald N. Davies, ‘27, HON ‘61, in the Gorecki Alumni Center.


1980sRemember when, in 1985, the grass of Memorial Stadium was replaced by artificial turf?

1981James Austin, ’81, is the interim dean of the College of Music at the University of Colorado Boulder. Austin has been with the college since 1994.

Kathy (Blum) Johnson, ’81, has opened a physical therapy practice, Johnson Physical Therapy, in Albert Lea, Minn., where she lives with her husband, Bruce, ’78.

Dianne (McNamee) Nechiporenko, ’81, is the executive director of Catholic Charities North Dakota.

Karen (Coyle) Tripp, ’81, is vice president of Communications and Public Affairs for Phillips 66. She lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband, Ed.

1982Jeffrey Jacobsen, ’82, conductor of the Mansfield Symphony Orchestra, has been named the 2013 Outstanding Orchestra Director by the Pennsylvania Delaware String Teachers Association. He lives in Williamsburg, Va.

1983Kevin Byron, currently at the U.S. Embassy in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, was recently assigned as an Attache` to the U.S. Embassy in Panama City, Panama.

1984Richard McConnell, ’84, is the deputy executive director of Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport.

1986Jody (Laughlin) Schmitz, ’86, is a licensed realtor with Re/Max Legacy Realty in Fargo. She lives with her husband, Robert, in Gardner, N.D.

1987Diane (Glaser) Sickler, ’87, is the head of sales for Coaches Choice Corporation in Dickinson, N.D., where she lives with her husband, Randall, ’86, ’89.

1988Carrie McIntyre Penetta, ’88, was appointed by California’s governor to a judgeship in Monterey County Superior Court. She lives in Oakland, Calif., with her husband, James.

ALUMNI newsNEWS FROM AROUND CAMPUS

UND Aviation Pioneer Retires from the Cockpit

A pioneer in the UND aviation program and the U.S. aviation industry has retired from a 35-year career as a commercial airline pilot.

Jean Haley Harper, ’75, was the first female flight instructor at UND (while still a student). She would later become the first female captain at United Airlines.

Earlier this year, Harper flew her final United flight from Los Angeles to Denver with her mother, Dorothy Haley, husband, Victor, and children, Annie and Sam, riding with her. The Boeing 757 was greeted in Denver with a water cannon, a traditional salute to a retiring captain.

Harper says her years at UND prepared her well for a rewarding and challenging career to which women were only beginning to be considered. The late John D.

Odegard hired Harper as the first female flight instructor at UND and was a strong advocate for Harper when some members of his airport crew objected to a female presence.

In Patrick McGuire’s book, “Flight of the Odegard,” Harper recounted the story of how Odegard read the riot act to the chief flight instructor upon learning she had not been assigned any students. She told McGuire, “He said he’d hired me in good faith and would hear nothing of this. He didn’t want them to give me a hard time. He used the term ‘blatant unfairness.’ Then he told the chief pilot, ‘I’m ordering you to give her a shot.’”

The next day, Harper had her students.Harper says UND’s support for her didn’t end at

graduation. “The pride and support the University staff has shown in my career over the decades has been a source of great joy to me, and I’ve always been wel-comed back to Grand Forks like family.”

Jean Haley Harper, ’75, with her husband, Victor, and children, Sam and Annie, in the cockpit of the Boeing 757 she flew on her United Airlines retirement flight.

Medicine and Health Sciences. He lives in Fargo with his wife, Lorraine.

1990sRemember when, in 1992, Shell Oil donated an $11.7 million Cray supercomputer to UND?

1991Jerry Anderson, ’91, has been promoted to colonel by the North Dakota National Guard. Anderson is the state aviation officer. He lives in Bismarck with his wife, Kristie (Schauer), ’91.

Andrew Braford, ’91, is a designer for the New York Times. He lives in New York with his wife, Holly.

Kirsten (Pederson) Stiegel, ’88, was named the 2013 Citizen of the Year in Sauk Rapids, Minn. She was nominated for her involvement in church, area schools and community. She also just passed her boards to become a Certified Multiple Sclerosis Specialist. She is employed at SPOT Rehabilitation and Home Care in St. Cloud, Minn., as an Occupational Therapist. She is married to Andy Stiegel.

1989Kent Hanson, ’89, ’10, is president of Anoka-Ramsey Community College and Anoka Technical College.

Henry “Bud” Wessman, ‘89, has been reappointed to the Elim Care Corporate Board of Directors and Elim Care Foundation Board. Bud is the former mayor of Grand Forks, former director of human services for the state of North Dakota and a professor emeritus at the UND School of

Rick Collin, ’91, is the director of the strategic engagement team with Odney, a marketing, branding and public relations firm in Bismarck, where he lives with his wife, Andrea (Winkjer), ’76.

Kim Gange, ’91, was chosen as one of the Teachers of the Year by the teachers union for the Columbia Falls, Mont., school district. She lives in Whitefish, Mont. Audrey Jaeger, ’91, has won the Women in Higher Education Achievement Award from the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) Foundation. Audrey is an associate professor of higher education at North Carolina State University and a Delta Delta Delta sorority member.

1992Staci (Kirk) Lord, ’92, is the advertising director for the Grand Forks Herald. She lives in Grand Forks with her husband, Tim, ’89.

Tony Weiler, ’92, ’98, is the executive director of the State Bar Association of North Dakota. He lives in Bismarck, with his wife, Sheila. 1993Dr. Andrew Wilder, ’93, ’97, has joined Mid Dakota Clinic in Bismarck. 1994Paul DeBoer, ’94, is vice president/private banking officer with Bell State Bank. He lives in Fargo with his wife, Jenny (Meuth), ’96.

1996Daniel Conrad, ’96, is chief legal officer with Noridian Mutual Insurance. He lives in Fargo with his wife, Rachel. Mason Engstrom, ’96, is the Director of National Accounts and Partner in Ole Smoky Moonshine. He lives in Dallas, Texas, with his wife, Kristi.

We may change APRs, fees, and other Account terms in the future based on your experience with U.S. Bank National Association and its affiliates as provided under the Cardmember Agreement and applicable law. 1 Account must be open and current to earn and redeem points. Net purchases are purchases minus credits and returns 2 U.S. Bank provides zero fraud liability for unauthorized transactions. Cardholder must notify U.S. Bank promptly of any unauthorized use. Certain conditions and limitations may apply.

The creditor and issuer of the UND Alumni Association Visa Card is U.S. Bank National Association, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc.

• Double reward points on every net dollar spent on gas, cell phone, office supplies, and airline travel1

• 1 reward point for every net dollar spent on purchases everywhere else Visa is accepted

• Free online reporting tool, ScoreBoard. Easily keep track of your business expenses!

• Redeem points for cash back, airline travel, gift cards, and merchandise – with reward redemptions starting as low as 1,500 points!

• Be protected with zero fraud liability.2

• Every purchase helps support the UND Alumni Association and valuable alumni programs. Support UND today!

Visit: usbank.com/UND_ThankYouCall: 888-327-2265 ext. 73072

THANK YOU UND VISA CARDMEMBERS FOR HELPING TO CONTRIBUTE OVER $250,000 IN SUPPORT OF THE UND ALUMNI ASSOCIATION AND ITS PROGRAMS!

UND grads are successful. Here’s a tool to make your road to success even easier. With the UND Visa Business Rewards Card, you receive:

PLUS, THERE ARE EVEN MORE BENEFITS WITH THE UND VISA BUSINESS REWARDS CARD:

Every time you make a purchase with the card, a portion of your purchase goes back to the UND Alumni Association.

58 | Alumni Review Winter2013

Tammy Peterson, ’96, is president and CEO of the Grand Forks Charter of Bremer Bank. She lives in Grand Forks with her husband, Shawn, ’96.

Dr. Tiffany (Schuler) Schultz, ’96, is the lead chiropractor at The Joint Westwood Village in Magnolia, Texas. She lives in Spring, Texas, with her husband, Jason.

1997Christopher Bjork, ’97, is news and business editor with the Grand Forks Herald.

Dr. Tonia Hoggarth, ’97, is a family medicine physician at Sanford Health Walk-in Clinic in Minot.

Donna (Kosmatka) Grandbois, ‘97, ’01, has been named a Hampton Faculty Fellow through the American Indian/Alaska Native Initiative on Cancer. Grandbois is an assistant professor of nursing at NDSU.

Barbara Kady, ’97, is superintendent of the Wilton (N.D.) School District. Michael Kobbervig, ’97, is a senior vice president/retirement division manager at Bell State Bank & Trust in Fargo. He and his wife, Bethany (Verwey), ’98, live in Casselton, N.D.

Jeffrey Row, ’97, is an adult psychiatrist with St. Alexius’ Archway Mental Health Services in Fargo.

1999Robin Schmidt, ’99, ’04, is a district judge in North Dakota’s Northwest Judicial District. She lives in Watford City.

2000sRemember when, in 2006, UND was listed on the first-ever U.S. President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for consistent excellence in community engagement?

2000Debra (Ravnaas) Forward, ’00, was named North Dakota’s History Teacher of the Year by the State Historical Society. Debra is an elementary school teacher in Bismarck, where she lives with her husband, Robin, ’92, ’95.

Bryce Huotari, ’00, is president of Coldwell Banker First Realty in Fargo. He lives in Moorhead with his wife, Jennifer.

Todd Medd, ’00, is the branch manager of JLG Architect’s Fargo Office. He lives in Fargo with his wife, Brittney.

Mark Wagner, ’00, ’01, is a family practice doctor with St. Luke’s Hibbing (Minn.) Family Medical Clinic.

2001Craig Hashbarger, ’01, is an audit manager with Widmer Roel. He lives in Fargo with his wife, Sherri (Richards), ’02. Dr. Aaron Luebke, ’01, ’03, ’07, is a member of the of the hematology/oncology department at Mid Dakota Clinic in Bismarck, where he lives with his wife, Stephanie. 2002Michael Herzog, ’02, is the head men’s and women’s golf coach at Bismarck State College. Michael lives in Bismarck with his wife, Beth (Johnson), ’04.

2003Kelly (Maki) Amundson, ’03, is an inpatient occupational therapist with Iron Range Rehab Center. She lives with her husband, Roger, in Mountain Iron, Minn. Christie Anderson, ’03, is an administrative assistant II/executive assistant with JLG Architects in Grand Forks.

2004Trent Berg, ’04, is a transportation engineer in the Fargo office of Houston Engineering.


Track & Field Day at Target FieldAlumni of the UND Track & Field team met up in Minneapolis this summer for a reunion. The day was

highlighted by a trip to Target Field to watch the Minnesota Twins, where Bob Fransen, ’77, an All-American high jumper, threw out the first pitch.

Damon Gleave, ’04, is director of finance cost and budgets with Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota. He lives in West Fargo with his wife, Heather (Liebelt), ’03.

Chris Grettum, ’04, is a personal banker at American Federal in Fargo.

Patty (Frankberg) Teagle, ’04, has completed certificate training through Postpartum Support International. Teagle is an LAPC with NuVation Health Services in Bismarck. 2005Leah Brewster, DNP, is a member of the cardiology team at Trinity Health in Minot, N.D.

Derek Flanagan, ’05, is a senior manager with Eide Bailly, a certified public accounting and business advisory firm in Fargo, where he lives with his wife, Jenica (Elsperger), ‘04.

Dr. Jennifer (Kuznia) Mullally, ‘05, ‘10, is a pediatrician with Essentia Health’s South University Clinic in Fargo. She lives in West Fargo with her husband, Nathaniel, ’04. Branelle Cibuzar Rodriquez, ’05, was awarded the Early Career Achievement Medal by the Johnson Space Center. She is a senior project manager in the crew and thermal systems division at Johnson Space Center. She lives in Houston with her husband, Scott.

2006Ryan Beste, ’06, is a manager with Eide Bailly, a certified public accounting and business advisory firm.

Phil Knutson, ’06, is a business development specialist with the Northwest Minnesota Foundation. He lives in Bemidji, Minn. Mike Munkeby, ’06, is a community service officer with the Grand Forks Police Department. Lisa (Richter) Prindiville, ’06, is a registered nurse at Linton (N.D.) Hospital. She lives in Linton with her husband, Matt, ’07.

Kirsten Williams, ’06, ’13, is a psychology resident with Child and Family Therapy Associates in Fargo.

2007Christopher Cooley, ’07, is a residential nurse with Lutheran Social Services’ Luther Hall in Fargo.

Amalia (Stankavage) Dillin, ’07, has had two books and a short novella published this year by World Weaver Press. “Forged by Fate” and its sequel, “Fate Forgotten,” weave an alternate and fantastic history from the dawn of creation into the future, exploring the question ”What if all the gods, all mythologies, were real?” Dillin lives in Schenectady, N.Y., with her husband, Adam, ‘07.

Brent Roeder, ’07, is a manager with Eide Bailly, a certified public accounting and business advisory firm in Fargo.

© Copyright 2013. CBIZ, Inc. NYSE Listed: CBZ. All rights reserved.

FINANCIAL & TAX SERVICES • BUSINESS CONSULTING • SUCCESSION & ESTATE PLANNING

VALUATION & LITIGATION SUPPORT • MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS • EMPLOYEE BENEFITS CONSULTING

PAYROLL, COBRA, FLEX & ENROLLMENT SERVICES • WELLNESS SOLUTIONS

HUMAN CAPITAL SERVICES • RISK MANAGEMENT SERVICES

CBIZ CONGRATULATES

Robert WatsonOn Being Inducted into University of North Dakota’s

Department of Accountancy Hall of Fame

Eric Hawkinson • 612.376.1264 • [email protected] • www.cbiz.com


Shane Steiner, ’07, has earned his professional engineer license. He works for KLJ, an engineering firm in Bismarck, where he lives with his wife, Michelle (Welch), ’07.

2008Donna (Frank) Anderson, ’08, is an online reputation specialist with TMI Hospitality in Fargo, where she lives with her husband, Travis.

Todd Borchardt, ’08, is vice president/business banking officer with Choice Financial at its branch in Langdon, N.D., where he lives with his wife, Abby (Downs), ’05, ’07.

Haley Cummings, ’08, is a public health nurse with the city of Grand Forks.

Dr. Chad St. Germain, ’08, is a radiologist with Sanford’s Bemidji (Minn.) Clinic.

Lauren Gessler, ’08, is an assistant buyer at Vanity’s corporate office in Fargo.

Amanda Huber, ’08, is a physician assistant with Essentia Health’s clinic in Jamestown, N.D. Mark Johnson, ’08, was awarded the Officer of the Year award for the state of South Dakota at the state Veterans of Foreign Wars annual convention. Johnson is a police officer in Huron, S.D.

Chris Kratochvil, ’08, is Walsh County’s veterans service officer. He and his wife, Catherine, live in Park River, N.D.

Lindsay (Weber) Krebs, ’08, has earned her professional engineer license in North Dakota. She works for KLJ in its municipal group in Dickinson, N.D. 2009Nathan Albaugh, ’09, is an inventory planner for Border States Electric. He lives in Fargo with his wife, Jennifer (Keller), ’09, ’12. Jennifer is a law clerk for U.S. District Court Judge Ralph Erickson, ’84.

JP Feland, ’09, is a compliance review officer with American Bank Center in Bismarck.

Aaron Hall, ’09, is a Devils Lake (N.D.) police officer.

Adam Isakson, ’09, has been hired by AE2S as an Engineer in Training in the firm’s Dickinson, N.D., office.

Nicole Kressin, ’09, ’11, is a national talent advisor for TMI Hospitality in Fargo.

Cassandra (Krueger) Lappegaard, ‘09, is an optometrist with Lifetime Vision Center in Grand Forks, where she lives with her husband, Andy.

Dana Rinke, ’09, is a commercial banking assistant/credit analyst with BlackRidgeBANK at its West Fargo location.

Freshman Scholarships - March 1 Deadline for Fall 2014ACT / SAT Scores

SAT = Math & Reading OnlyCumulative

High School GPA Scholarship Award

NEW! 25+ / 1130+ 3.50+ (unweighted) $6,000 ($1,500/year)

29-31 / 1290-1390 3.65+ (unweighted) $10,000 ($2,500/year)

32-36 / 1400-1600 3.65+ (unweighted) $12,000 ($3,000/year)

National Merit Finalist$20,000 ($5,000/year) plus $1,000 annually if “sponsored” by UND

Tell us, so we can send him or her more information about UND!

UND is one of the best education values in the nation. And thanks to the generosity of alumni and donors, UND awards nearly $7.7 million in academic scholarships each year– including a new freshman scholarship for Fall 2014.

Refer a future UND alum today!

go.UND.edu/refer 1.800.CALL.UND

do you know a FUTURe UND AlUM?

New freshmen admitted by March 1 for Fall 2014 will automatically be considered for one scholarship if they meet the criteria. Apply early! Funding is limited and not guaranteed through the March 1 deadline. See go.UND.edu for details.

2010sRemember when, in 2011, the UND Staff Senate organized a drive to gather donations of supplies and cash to help Minot residents rebuild after a devastating flood?

2010Dr. Jonathan Eklof, ’10, has joined St. Alexius Medical Center in Bismarck. Travor Frederickson, ’10, is an electrical engineer-in-training for Obermiller Nelson Engineering in Fargo, where he lives with his wife, Leah (Riske), ’11.

Elisabeth Pederson, ’10, is a hotel accountant with TMI Hospitality in Fargo. Dr. Rachel Redig, ’10, is a physician in the emergency department at Essentia Health St. Mary’s in Detroit Lakes, Minn.

Rachel (Sand) Wolff, ’10, is a project coordinator with the Bismarck offices of AE2S.

2011Kayla (Baumann) Flann, ’11, is with the Addiction Unit at South Central Human Service Center in Jamestown. Adam Landstrom, ’11, is a right-of-way specialist with KLJ Engineering in Bismarck.

Lance Leinen, ‘11, is a Field/Project Engineer for Trican Well Service in Minot.

Amy Lund, ’11, is an accounting technician in the Grand Forks City Finance Department.

Eric Netterlund, ’11, won the 2013 UND Distinguished Master’s Thesis Award.

Seinquis Slater, ‘11, is the Student Recruitment Coordinator for Minot State University. 2012Anna Jo Carstensen, ’12, is a speech language pathologist with SW/WC Service Cooperative in Marshall, Minn.

Marc Fusco, ’12, is the 2013 NASA Solar System Ambassador. The NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory Ambassador Program aims to reach out and inform communities around the country about JPL’s various exploration missions. Marc lives in Raleigh, N.C. Lindsay Harris, ’12, is an attorney with Maring Williams Law Office in Bismarck. Brian Mager, ’12, is a graduate engineer with Ulteig Engineering in Bismarck.

Sadie Olson, ’12, is a licensed addiction counselor with ShareHouse in Fargo. Jeff Wicklund, ’12, is a GIS analyst with BullBerry Systems in Bismarck.

2013Corey Robinson, ’13, is a certified nurse practitioner with Lakewood Health System in Staples, Minn. Emilee Soper, ’13, is a licensed certified occupational therapist with Altru Outreach Therapy in Grand Forks.

Matthew Upgren, ’13, is a land surveyor with Karvakko Engineering in Bemidji, Minn. AR

The information for Class News is compiled from newspapers, online postings, reader submissions, and the UND AA&F database. If you spot an error, please email [email protected].

REA is an outstanding facility to hold your reception. e facilities are unmatched and

your wedding day will be treated with class.

For information and booking, contact Chris Semrau at 701.777.4379.


4

2

3

5

7

9

12

ADDITIONSAddyson Charlotte Dombrovski was born May 24, 2013, to Noah, ’11, and Michele (Wolf) Dombrovski, ’09, ’11. The family lives in Woodbury, Minn.

Dr. Zachary Smith, ’09, and Lyndsey (Sandy) Smith, ’07, welcomed Amelia Gail to their family on Aug. 29, 2013. The family, including big brother, Gabriel, lives in rural Sheyenne, N.D.

Angela Dows, ’02, and her husband, Nicholas Jess, welcomed their first child, Evette Helen Jess, in April 2012. The family lives in Las Vegas.

Dan Hendrickson, ’12, and Savanna Wissbrod, ’11, are the proud parents of Jaxon Kyle Hendrickson, born on June 29, 2013. They live in Minot, N.D.

Stella Faith Pohl was born Sept. 15, 2013, to Sarah and Casey Pohl, ’03. The Pohls live in Coon Rapids, Minn.

Brian Jung, ’06, and Heather (Hanson) Jung, ’06, are the proud parents of Harper Claire Jung, born on July 17, 2013. The family lives in Moorhead, Minn.

Hudson Ayden Albaugh was born on Sept. 28, 2013, to Nathan Albaugh, ‘09, and Jennifer (Keller) Albaugh, ’09, ’12. The family lives in Fargo.

CELEBRATIONSShannon Belgarde, ’01, ’05, ’10, and Kristofor Paulson, ’02, ’05, ’07, were married on Aug. 17, 2013, at the Hopper-Danley Spiritual Center on the UND Campus. They held their reception in the Gorecki Alumni Center.

Amber St. Germain, ’09, and Taylor Sannes were married Aug. 10, 2013. The couple has a home in Argyle, Minn.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

ADDITIONS & celebrationsCELEBRATING LIFE, LOVE AND HAPPINESS

1


5

7

8

9

10

11

12

6

10

11

12

Claire Larson, ’12, and Anthony Wehri, ’13, were married July 13, 2013, and now reside in Sioux City, Iowa.

Mary Loyland, ’64, ’79, and Don Berntsen, ’61, ’69, ’71, were married in June 2013 in rural Grand Forks. They are the parents of four children and have seven grandsons.

Jennifer Ingstad, ’04, and Jamie Weisz, ’03, were married May 25, 2013, in Orono, Minn. They live in St. Paul.

If you would like your addition or celebration to be included in the next Alumni Review, send a high-resolution photo to [email protected]. We do not accept Facebook or mobile uploads. Photos will be published in the order in which they were received, space permitting, and at the discretion of Alumni Review staff. We look forward to helping you celebrate!


In Memoriam1930sJosephine (Sylvester) Archer, ..’35,

Steilacoom, Wash.

Agnes (Haraldson) Johnson, ..’36, Nevis, Minn.

Eugene Krebsbach, ..’36, St. John, N.D.

Betty (Borene) Greening, ..’39, Visalia, Calif.

1940sSara (Bashara) Heberle, ‘41, Lodi, Calif.

Gen. David Jones, ..’41, Sterling, Va.

Paul McCann, ‘43, Polson, Mont.

Carolyn (Lunseth) Havig, ..’44, Maple Grove, Minn.

Albert Steinbach, MD, ‘44,

Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich.

Virginia (Peschel) Larson, ‘45, Spokane, Wash.

Dorothy (Norman) Premac, ..’45, Arvada, Colo.

Beverly (Gunness) Moe, ‘47, McLean, Va.

Gladys (Thompson) Rizzi, ‘47, Alameda, Calif.

Leif Thrane, ..’47, Harlingen, Texas

Dale Youngern, ‘47, Grand Forks

Dr. Robert Becker, ‘48, Corvallis, Ore.

Dr. Donald Hoesl, ..’48, Wenatchee, Wash.

Isabelle (Hoffman) Nehring, ‘48,

Presque Isle, Maine

Joan (Theby) Sathe, ‘48, Charlottesville, Va.

James South, ..’48, Daytona Beach, Fla.

Bill Beatty, ..’49, Lakota, N.D.

Wallace LaBerge, ‘49, ‘51, Urbana, Ill.

Russell Langseth, ‘49, Fergus Falls, Minn.

Nils Simonson, ‘49, Kalispell, Mont.

1950sCharles Parkman, ..’50, Hope, N.D.

Benjamin Tillotson, ‘50, Sequim, Wash.

Robert Bustin, ..’51, Grand Forks

Dolores (Stonestrom) Forney, ‘51,

Thief River Falls, Minn.

Richard Hjellum, ‘51, San Francisco, Calif.

Marilyn (Miller) Knutson, ..’52, Fargo

Robert Opland, ‘52, ‘54, Anchorage, Alaska

Daniel Twichell, ‘52, Scottsdale, Ariz.

Douglas Walery, ‘53, Brookings, S.D.

Henry Landis, MD, ‘54, Litchfield Park, Ariz.

Lowell Lundberg, ‘54, ‘56, Fargo

Joseph Roden, ..’54, Fargo

Bonnie (Olson) Stiles, ..’54, Minot, N.D.

Gary McCarthy, ..’55, Naples, Fla.

James Schneider, ‘55, Bismarck, N.D.

Mary Kay (Jacobson) Dehen, ..’56, Brainerd, Minn.

Erna (Grantier) Nesbitt, ‘56, Medford, Ore.

David Rognlie, ‘56, Bernardsville, N.J.

Eugene Sailer, ‘56, Edina, Minn.

Karl Swenson, ‘56, Houston, Texas

Mary (Picard) Embertson, ‘57, San Diego, Calif.

Arthur Morlock, ‘57, Hillsboro, N.D.

Henry Weyers, MD, ‘57, Fargo

Ronald Johnson, ..’58, Winnebago, Minn.

Kenneth Krenzel, ..’58, Grand Forks

Howard Pearson, ‘58, Binford, N.D.

Joseph Solstad, ..’58, Grand Forks

Paul Roy Zimbelman, ..’58, Westport, Wash.

Kenneth Werner, ‘59, Canonsburg, Pa.

1960sCharles Christopher, ‘60, Mankato, Minn.

Curtis Geatz, ‘60, Thief River Falls, Minn.

Glen Olson, ..’60, Eden Prairie, Minn.

James Carney, ‘61, Austin, Texas

William Henry, MD, ‘61, Camarillo, Calif.

Andrew Burnfield, ‘63, Bellingham, Wash.

John Resell, ‘63, Fargo

Lillian (Heigaard) Ferguson, ‘64, ‘70,

Drayton, N.D.

S. Jeanette (Rindy) Ferrie, ‘64, ‘70, Grand Forks

Don Hopwood, ..’64, Olympia, Wash.

Homer Mittelstadt, ..’64, Cable, Wis.

Fred Hessinger, ‘65, ‘68, Encinitas, Calif.

George Kalliokoski, ‘66, East Grand Forks, Minn.

Stephen Larson, ‘66, Willow City, N.D.

David DeLano, ..’67, Alpharetta, Ga.

Eleanor Ford, ..’67, Grafton, N.D.

Dr. John Garry, ‘67, Dillon, Mont.

David Schuur, ‘67, Millersville, Md.

Donald Benkusky, ‘68, Annandale, Minn.

Timothy Johner, ..’68, Suwanee, Ga.

Marjorie (Score) Bjerkager, ‘69, San Jose, Calif.

Wayne Brininger, ..’69, Devils Lake, N.D.

Walter Callan, MD, ‘69, ‘71, Farmington, Conn.

1970sCorella (Moe) Baker, ‘70, Lakota, N.D.

Ronald Becker, ‘70, Bismarck, N.D.

Phyllis (McFall) Carlson, ‘70, Bismarck, N.D.

Gregory Cleveland, ‘70, Scottsdale, Ariz.

Richard Hager, ‘70, Minneapolis

David Halvorson, ‘70, Sidney, Mont.

Lowell Johnson, ‘70, West Fargo, N.D.

Mary (Ferry) Klave, ..’70, Grand Forks

David Paggen, ‘70, Camarillo, Calif.

Florine (Towers) Rohn, ‘70, ‘71, Grand Forks

John Knapp, ‘71, Wahpeton, N.D.

Robert Waddingham, ‘72, Billings, Mont.

Peggy (Wagar) Jernigan, ..’73, Stockton, Calif.

Robert Johnson, ‘73, Williston, N.D.

Richard Kamm, ‘73, Fort Wayne, Ind.

Dale Stein, ..’73, Wahpeton, N.D.

John Stevenson, ‘73, Minot, N.D.

Constance (Robinson) Isaak, ..’74, Bismarck, N.D.

William Cress, ‘74, Hastings, Minn.

Mark Foster, ‘75, Freeport, Minn.

Christopher Knudson, ‘75, Eagle River, Alaska

Eleanor (Neilson) Swartz, ..’76, Grafton, N.D.

Mark Pancratz, ‘77, Edwards, Colo.

Frances Clark, ‘78, Las Cruces, N.M.

Julie (Mack) Buxa, ‘79, Harvey, N.D.

Jerome Clemetson, ..’79, Riverton, Wyo.

Leota (Bickler) Dalthorp, ..’79, Grand Forks

1980sRosemary Arneson, ..’80, Mckenzie, Ala.

Ruby (Dearinger) Johnson, ..’80,

Golden Valley, Ariz.

Michael Jones, ..’80, Fargo

It is with great honor we dedicate these pages to alumni and friends of the University of North Dakota who have recently passed away. These members of the alumni family helped ignite the spirit of UND, paving the way for a bright future.


David Demarce, ..’81, Fort Totten, N.D.

Roger Kennedy, ..’81, Howell, N.J.

Sharon Gadbaw, ‘82, 1, N.D.

Harold Michels, ‘83, Minot, N.D.

Eric Rodenbiker, ‘84, Rocklake, N.D.

Kelly Blum, ‘85, Linton, N.D.

Glen Olson, ‘85, Grand Forks

Robert Demmers, ‘86, Grand Forks

Michael Gerlach, ‘87, Two Harbors, Minn.

Judy Anderson, ‘89, Tucson, Ariz.

1990sErick Bohlman, ‘90, Crystal Lake, Ill.

Helen Nadeau, ‘90, Belcourt, N.D.

Curtis Benson, ‘93, Grand Forks

Thomas Holter, ‘93, Sierra Vista, Ariz.

Dean Gisvold, ‘94, Walhalla, N.D.

Krista Suronen, ‘94, Rogers, Minn.

2000s Ray Ganyo, ‘00, Grand Forks

Rachel Stori, ‘07, Lake City, Minn.

Faculty/StaffCharles Allen, Vancouver, Wash.

Robert Lewis, Grand Forks

Harold Mahnke, Grand Forks

Annsley Mickelson, Grand Forks

Arlene Ott, Hatton, N.D.

Raymond Tozer Sr., Thompson, N.D.

Mildred (Schatz) Wagendorf, Grand Forks

Larry Johnson, Grafton, N.D.

FriendsGary Christofferson, Cambridge, Minn.

Alan Cunniff, Denver

Jean (Mason) Guy, West Fargo, N.D.

Rita (Clingman) Hadland, Grand Forks

Leona (Kelly) Holt, East Grand Forks, Minn.

Don Holweger, East Grand Forks, Minn.

Arnold Ingulsrud, Edmore, N.D.

Wendell Krause, Grand Forks

Burnell (Axness) LaGrave, Waite Park, Minn.

Janice (Feldman) Lapp, Elk Grove, Calif.

Ernest Michelsen, Moorhead, Minn.

Nancy (Trosen) Schrader, Niles, Mich.

Ethel Simenstad, Osceola, Wis.

Norman Skabo, Hope, Idaho

Sandra Smith, Grand Forks

Sen. Malcolm Tweten, Fargo, N.D.

Gerald Udell, Columbia, Mo.

Miriam Ugland, Grand Forks

Brady Vollmers, Bismarck, N.D.

Dr. Edward Waldron, Portland, Ore.

John Wenberg, International Falls, Minn.

Find out how Forum Communications Printing

can help you dramatically increase your

response rates, which will deliver a stronger

return on investment.

1:1 marketing -it just may be the missing piece of your

overall marketing strategy.

Want to learn more?Call us today at 800.765.2937


THE wrapTIDBITS, NEWS AND NOTES FROM THE UND AA&F

Back on EarthKaren Nyberg, ‘94, wrapped her six-

month stay on the International Space Station in November.

In August, Nyberg delivered the UND Summer Commencement address via a video link from the ISS. “I am ex-tremely proud to be a graduate of UND,” she told the new grads. “My time there provided a great foundation for me, not only as an engineer, but also as a person.

“Be proud of yourselves and your school. Keep dreaming and keep reach-ing for your stars.”

Nyberg brought home a UND hock-ey puck she carried among her personal belongings on the station.

Celebrate the SpiritCouldn’t make it to Homecoming to

celebrate the success of North Dakota Spirit | The Campaign for UND? Well, we are bring-ing the party to you!

The Spirit Celebration Tour has already made several stops since Homecoming ended, and several more events are planned:

Jan. 25: DenverIn conjunction with the Men’s Hockeypregame party

Feb. 1: Marco Island, Fla.

Feb. 11: Los Angeles

March 11: Scottsdale, Ariz.

March 13: Tucson, Ariz.

March 18: Washington, D.C.

As each tour date draws near, infor-mation will be emailed to alumni in those areas and will be included in the AroUND enewsletter that is sent every other Wednes-day. Don’t get emails from the UND Alumni Association & Foundation? Share your email address with us at alumnireview@ undalumni.net.

BUILT TO INSPIREBUILT TO LAST

From one generation of UND students to the next, UND’s buildings are enduring symbols of vision, spirit

and the pursuit of knowledge. P. 6

Phot

o: S

am M

elq

uist

INSIDE: Homecoming 2013: Celebrate the success of the Spirit Campaign!

alumnREVIEW

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

connect . engage . grow

Fall 2013

Find the Flame Winners!

The fall issue “Find the Flame” contest was perhaps our hardest so far. Despite lots of submissions, fewer than 20 correct answers were received. The flame was hidden in the branches of a tree (see above). Our three winners chosen at random from all the correct entries are Kila Szymanski, Dan Hamalainen and Keith Brauns. Don’t forget to play “Find the Flame” on the cover of this issue!

Real Estate Sales - Land Auctions Machinery Auctions - Livestock Auctions

Livestock Marketing

Land Management

Real Estate Sales - Land Auctions

Legend

Pifer’s AUCTION & REALTY and Land Management

Land Sales

877.700.4099www.pifers.com

Pifer’s, the 4th largest land auction company in America, sells 50,000 acres annually. Call for a free consultation today for recommendation on selling your land. The hallmark of Pifer’s is to consistently do the very best for its clients.

Pifer’s specializes in managing farmland for individuals, families, retirees and investors.

Pifer’s team of farmland managers are seasoned negotiators, astute managers and

the best in their field.

“Ranked as the 4th largest land auction company in America,” - Land Report Magazine 2011

Kevin Pifer, ‘[email protected]

701.238.5810

Pete Pifer, ‘[email protected]

720.587.7600

1506 29th Ave SMoorhead, MN 56560

Land Management

Kevin Pifer inspects a field of dry land potatoes near Larimore in June.

Record high farmland prices have prompted many farmland owners to hire professional managers to manage their land. This asset class has experienced unprecedented returns in recent years. What’s more, farmland owners

have decided to capitalize on these record high prices by selling their land. Either way, the firm to call is Pifer’s.

500,000 + ACRES SOLD IN THE PAST 12 YEARS

At Record Setting Values!

Call Today for a FREE Consultation!

WHY CHOOSE PIFER’S?

Land Auctions • Farm Land Management Real Estate • Machinery Auctions

Commercial Auctions • Residential Auctions

Pifer’sAUCTION & REALTY

Real Estate Sales - Land Auctions Machinery Auctions - Livestock Auctions

Livestock Marketing

Land Management

Real Estate Sales - Land Auctions

Legend

Pifer’s AUCTION & REALTY and Land Management

Land Sales

877.700.4099www.pifers.com

Pifer’s, the 4th largest land auction company in America, sells 50,000 acres annually. Call for a free consultation today for recommendation on selling your land. The hallmark of Pifer’s is to consistently do the very best for its clients.

Pifer’s specializes in managing farmland for individuals, families, retirees and investors.

Pifer’s team of farmland managers are seasoned negotiators, astute managers and

the best in their field.

“Ranked as the 4th largest land auction company in America,” - Land Report Magazine 2011

Kevin Pifer, ‘[email protected]

701.238.5810

Pete Pifer, ‘[email protected]

720.587.7600

1506 29th Ave SMoorhead, MN 56560

Land Management

Kevin Pifer inspects a field of dry land potatoes near Larimore in June.

Record high farmland prices have prompted many farmland owners to hire professional managers to manage their land. This asset class has experienced unprecedented returns in recent years. What’s more, farmland owners

have decided to capitalize on these record high prices by selling their land. Either way, the firm to call is Pifer’s.

500,000 + ACRES SOLD IN THE PAST 12 YEARS

At Record Setting Values!

Call Today for a FREE Consultation!

WHY CHOOSE PIFER’S?

Land Auctions • Farm Land Management Real Estate • Machinery Auctions

Commercial Auctions • Residential Auctions

Pifer’sAUCTION & REALTY

TO BOOK YOUR TRIPCall 800.842.9023 or to view all UND alumni travel opportunities,

visit www.undalumni.org/alumnitours.

Spanish SerenadeSeptember 23 – October 4, 2014Lisbon to Rome Savor the sights and sounds of Spain, Gibraltar, Morocco, France, Monaco and Italy from aboard Oceania Cruises’ luxurious Marina. Discover celebrated landmarks, exotic structures and natural wonders as you sail the beautiful shores of the Iberian Penin-sula to the French Riviera and Italy’s revered west coast.* Early booking rates expire March 12, 2014

Autumn in America’s HeartlandSeptember 26 – October 4, 2014

St. Louis to St. Paul Discover autumn beauty along the Mississippi from St. Louis to St. Paul on an authentic

river cruise aboard the luxury steamboat American Queen. This all-American voyage features the river in its most classic glory, with rich fall colors, spectacular bluffs and

communities born of the spirit immortalized by Mark Twain. *Early booking rates expire March 13, 2014

University of North Dakota Alumni Association3501 University Ave Stop 8157Grand Forks, ND 58202-8157