University of North Dakota President Robert and First Lady Marcia Kelley will lead more than 30 new faculty members, top administrators, and their guests on a three-day tour of North Dakota. This year’s tour—the 19th since the inaugural launch in 1990 by then-president Thomas Clifford—is the second for the Kelleys.
(For a blog of the tour, go to http://undpresidentsblog.wordpress.com/)

“We’re very excited about the tour this year, which is going to take us across the northern part of North Dakota, and we’re looking forward to meeting a lot of people.” the president said. “These tours are a great way of getting the University out into the state.”

This also will be the first trip for Phyllis Johnson, a Grafton native and former head of USDA’s flagship research facility who just took the reins as UND’s vice president for research and economic development.

Funded by the UND Alumni Association and the President's Office, these trips are designed to acquaint new faculty and administrators with the state and its landmarks as well as provide them with an opportunity to form connections with other people on campus, according to tour coordinator Fred Wittmann, director of the UND Office of Ceremonies and Special Events.  Moreoever, the tour gives new faculty a sense of where many of their students will come from.

Wittmann, a native of the farm community of Casselton about 20 miles west of Fargo, says North Dakota surprises most newcomers.

"We want to help our tour participants feel this is their home," Wittmann said. "Our intent is to give them a sample of the state."

UND's strategic plan champions the University's role as a service provider to the state and as a resource for helping North Dakota diversify its economy. In order to help North Dakota, it is important for UND's new faculty and administrators to see and understand the state.

The tours alternate each year between southern and northern routes.  This year’s tour of the northern half of the state will offer glimpses of the region’s geography, economy, culture, and heritage, and will offer participants an opportunity to learn about the challenges and opportunities that are shaping the state. The tour will start with a visit to Grand Forks Air Force Base, with a tour, talk and refreshments. Base commanders will discuss the base’s unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) mission.

On the way back to Grand Forks, the faculty members will visit Edinburg, a small town with a real “can-do” attitude, where the town together with tour organizers will host a community dinner before the final leg back to Grand Forks.

Professor Douglas Munski—a Chicago native and 30-year UND cultural geographer with an encyclopedic knowledge of North Dakota geographic, cultural, and political lore—is the tour's color commentator for the ninth year.

“Doug has forgotten more about North Dakota than the rest of us will ever know,” said Wittmann. “We depend on him to provide information on everything from ancient glacial terrain to anecdotes about individual communities. He’s a great ambassador for UND.”

“I like to think of myself as a color commentator who helps introduce people to neighbors across the state,” said Munski. “North Dakota is, in many respects, one community. Although there are regional differences and competing institutions, we still function as one community. My goal is to help people better understand what they’re part of as new North Dakota residents.”

Veteran UND motor coach driver Fran Kryzsko, though officially retired, will be at the wheel again this year; it’ll be his 18th time as tour driver.

In addition to President Robert and First Lady Marcia Kelley, new faculty and administrators on this year’s tour include the following:

* Phyllis Johnson, vice president for research and economic development; Slavka Antonova, associate professor, Communication Sciences & Disorders; Richard Aregood, Chuck Johnson Professor, of Communication Sciences & Disorders; Scott Baxter, coordinator, University Writing Program; Caroline Campbell, assistant professor, History; Emily Cherry, assistant professor, Theatre Arts.

*Qianli (Rick) Chu, assistant professor, Chemistry; Lori Esposito, assistant professor, Art and Design; Matthew Gilmore, assistant professor, Atmospheric Sciences; Melissa Gjellstad, Languages-Norwegian; Shannon Grave, instructor, Teaching and Learning; Yun Ji, assistant professor, Chemical Engineering; J. Sagini Keengwe, assistant professor, Teaching and Learning; Jeffrey Langstraat, assistant professor,  Sociology; William Martin, assistant professor, Marketing.

*Sarah Mosher, assistant professor, Languages-French; Igor Ovtchinnikov, associate professor, Biology; Carolyn Ozaki, assistant professor, Teaching and Learning; Timothy Pasch, assistant professor, Communication Program, Dept. of Psychology; Wenyi Qin, research assistant professor, Research Affairs; Robin Runge, assistant professor, School of Law; Heather Terrell, assistant professor, Psychology; Harry Tsang, assistant professor, Economics; Paul Worley, assistant professor, Languages-Spanish; Weizhu Zhu, research assistant professor, Research Affairs.

The full trip itinerary is included in this release. For media inquiries, contact Peter Johnson at (701) 740-5398.

Trip Itinerary
Monday, August 17
Summary of the day: Start with a tour of Grand Forks Air Force Base with information provided about the UAV mission; lunch in the flood plain of Devils Lake with a discussion about water issues, tourism, and recreation in the region; tour Cankdeska Cikana Community College; dinner at Black Butte Ranch near Velva to experience life in rural North Dakota.

• 7:00-7:30 a.m.—check-in at the Chester Fritz Auditorium (south) parking lot.
• 7:40 a.m.—depart from UND/Grand Forks.
• 8:30 a.m.—Grand Forks Air Force Base with a tour, talk, and refreshments. Deputy Wing Commander Col. Quinn will lead tour of Predator unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) hangar.
• 11:00—lunch at the Woodland Resort, Devils Lake. Special guest and comments by State Senator Dave Oehlke, Devils Lake.
• 1:00 p.m.—Cankdeska Cikana Community College our hosted by Vice President of Academics Leander Mcdonald; this institution is one of five tribal colleges in North Dakota.
• 4:30 p.m.—Black Butte Ranch, Velva for tour and home-cooked meal with hosts Jerry and Norma Effertz and family.
• 7:45 p.m.—Holiday  Inn Riverside, Minot.

Tuesday, August 18
Summary of the day: Tour the Prairie Wind project, hosted by Verendrye Electric; lunch with community leaders and friends of UND in Watford City; drive through the north unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park and the Badlands; tour the Scandinavian Heritage Center in Minot and buffet dinner with UND alumni and friends of UND.

• 8:30 a.m.—tour the Prairie Wind Project with refreshments following the tour; hosted by Verendrye Electric.
• 11:30 a.m.—community meet-and-greet luncheon, Outlaws Restaurant, Watford City.
• 1:00 p.m.—depart Watford City for a tour of the north unit of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Gene Vedeer, form UND staff member and Director of McKenzie County Economic Development will guide the tour.
• 5:45 p.m.—Scandinavian Heritage Center, Minot, refreshments and tour.
• 6:45 p.m.—Scandinavian Heritage Center—community dinner with UND alumni and community leaders and friends, local host Lowell Latimer.
• 8:00 p.m.—Holiday Inn Riverside, Minot.

Wednesday, August 19
Summary of the day: Tour UND Center for Family Medicine, Minot; explore the International Peace Garden; experience rural life in North Dakota in the small town of Edinburg.

• 8:15 a.m.—tour UND Center for Family Medicine, Minot.
• 11:30 a.m.—International Peace Garden tour and lunch. The garden is one of the region’s most visited attractions.
• 4:30 p.m.—Edinburg  (population 200)—experience Small Town USA with a tour and community dinner. Bernice Flanagan, owner of the Edinburg General Store, will be the host.
• 8:30 p.m.—arrive at UND/Grand Forks—Chester Fritz Auditorium parking lot.

Useful links
http://sos.und.edu/bustour/
http://sos.und.edu/bustour/2009FacultyBusTour.pdf

Contacts
Fred Wittmann, director, Office of Ceremonies and Special Events
701-777-4267 fredwittmann@mail.und.edu

Peter Johnson, executive associate vice president for university relations
Office of University Relations peterjohnson@mail.und.edu
701-777-2731 (office) 701-740-5398 (cell)
--30--