University Letter

UND's faculty and staff newsletter

Founders Day will honor faculty, staff for service and academic achievements today

The University will celebrate excellence in education and honor its long-time employees during the Annual Founders Day on Thursday, Feb. 24, in the Memorial Union Ballroom.

A reception will begin at 5:15 p.m., with the banquet at 6 p.m. In the UND Founders Day tradition, retirees, 25-year honorees, department and faculty award winners, and Faculty Spirit Award winners will be recognized during the banquet. Pianist David Henrickson will set the stage for celebrating the 100 year anniversary of the Department of Theatre Arts.

The first celebration of Founders Day was held in 1904, with the observance occupying the whole day and marking the anniversary of the signing of the act to place the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. This marked the day as the official birthday of UND.

Faculty and Departmental Award recipients are:
Individual Excellence in Teaching: Melissa Gjellstad, assistant professor, Languages; Kanishka Marasinghe, associate professor, Physics and Astrophysics
Graduate or Professional Teaching Excellence: Rebecca Weaver-Hightower
Excellence in Teaching, Research or Creative Activity, and Service: James Mochoruk, professor, History
Faculty Achievement Award for Excellence in Research: Sandra Donaldson, professor, English
Outstanding Faculty Development and Service: Michael Blake, professor, Music
Excellence in Academic Advising: Sagini Keengwe, assistant professor, Teaching and Learning
Departmental Excellence in Service: Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders
Interdisciplinary Collaboration in Research or Creative Work: Mark Askelson, associate professor, Atmospheric; Richard Schultz, professor, Electrical Engineering; William Semke, associate professor, Mechanical Engineering
Departmental Excellence in Research: Department of Chemical Engineering
Departmental Excellence in Teaching: The Honors Program

North Dakota Spirit Faculty Achievement Award Recipients are:
College of Arts and Sciences
Jeffrey Carmichael, associate professor, Biology; Emily Cherry, assistant professor, Theatre Arts; Kimberly Cowden, assistant professor, Indian Studies; Bruce Dearden, professor, Mathematics; Kathleen Dixon, professor, English; Birgit Hans, Chester Fritz Distinguished Professor, chair, Indian Studies; Andrew Knight, assistant professor, Music; Ralph Koprince, associate professor, Languages; Susan Koprince, professor, English; Krista Lynn Minnotte, assistant professor, Sociology; James Mochoruk, professor, History; Sheryl O’Donnell, professor, chair, English; Nuri Oncel, assistant professor, Physics and Astrophysics; Daphne Pedersen, associate professor, Sociology; Joelle Ruthig, assistant professor, Psychology; Isaac Schlosser, Chester Fritz Distinguished Professor, chair, Biology; Paul Todhunter, professor, Geography.

College of Business and Public Administration
Pradosh Simlai, assistant professor, Economics; Paul Sum, associate professor, Political Science and Public Administration; Sean Valentine, professor, Management; Yilei Zhang, assistant professor, Finance; Yanjun Zuo, associate professor, Information Systems and Business Education.

School of Engineering and Mines
Matthew Cavalli, associate professor, Chair, Mechanical Engineering; Sukhvarsh Jerath, professor, Civil Engineering; Scott Korom, associate professor, Geology and Geological Engineering.

College of Education and Human Development
Bonnie Gourneau, assistant professor, Teaching and Learning; Mark Guy, associate professor, Teaching and Learning; Margaret Healy, professor, Educational Leadership; Jeffrey Sun, assistant professor, Educational Leadership; James Whitehead, associate professor, Physical Education, Exercise Science and Wellness.

John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences
Paul Drechsel, assistant professor, Aviation; Paul Hardersen, associate professor, Space Studies; Jianglong Zhang, assistant professor, Atmospheric Sciences; Xiaodong Zhang, associate professor, Earth Systems Science and Policy.

School of Law
Kirsten Dauphinais, associate professor, Law.

School of Medicine and Health Sciences
Holly Brown-Borg, Chester Fritz Distinguished Professor, Pharmacology, Physiology and Therapeutics; Ann Flower, associate professor, Microbiology and Immunology; Bryon Grove, associate professor, Anatomy and Cell Biology; L. Keith Henry, assistant professor, Pharmacology, Physiology and Therapeutics; Mary Ann Sens, Chester Fritz Distinguished Professor, chair, Pathology.

College of Nursing
Jan Goodwin, associate professor, Nutrition and Dietetics; Thomasine Heitkamp, professor, chair, Social Work.

Those to be honored for 25 years of service are:
Faye Aker, administrative assistant, Office of Medical Education, Medicine and Health Sciences; Donna Joann Hager Altepeter, instructor in Accountancy; Lori Anderson, administrative assistant and Residency Program coordinator, Surgery; Ted Richard Aulich, senior research manager, Energy and Environmental Research Center; Biswanath Bandyopadhyay, professor, Mechanical Engineering; Roberta Beauchamp, development coordinator, School of Law and School of Engineering and Mines, Alumni Association and Foundation; Patsy Bergan, account technician, Family Medicine, Center for Family Medicine, Minot; Mary Bohlman, administrative secretary, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Vincent Cadreau, Building Services technician, Facilities Management; Richard Clay, head coach for Women’s Track and Cross Country, Athletics;

Bruce Dearden, professor, Mathematics; Ronald Depue, lead helicopter instructor, Flight Operations; Darlene Hanson Ekstrom, clinical associate professor, Nursing; Brad Gibbens, associate director for Community Development and Policy, and assistant professor, Center for Rural Health; Delwyn Hager, training coordinator, Children and Family Services Training Center; Patricia Hanson, associate director, Human Resources and Payroll; Lisa Heher, assistant controller, Student Account Services; Sukhvarsh Jerath, professor, Civil Engineering; Mark Johnson, associate director, Facilities Management; Diana Knain, communications specialist, Facilities Management; Kimberly Lawrence, administrative assistant, Student Wellness Center; Barbara Lewis, associate professor, Music; Roy Loken, courier, Mailing Services; Deborah Melby, director, Admissions;

Mark Musich, research engineer, Energy and Environmental Research Center; Terrance Nelson, business manager, Office of the Dean/Administration and Finance, School of Medicine and Health Sciences; Gail O’Connell, supervisor, Flight Operations Test Center; Helen Oberg, subscription specialist, Chester Fritz Library; Gayle Olufson, insurance specialist, Payroll; Debbie Raasakka, laboratory animal technician, Pharmacology, Physiology and Therapeutics; Mary Riske, assistant professor, Pediatrics; Lori Shafer, budget specialist, Television Center; Edward Steadman, senior research advisor, Energy and Environmental Research Center; LaVonne Thompson, dietary research technician, Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center; Robyn Wald, office manager, Housing Office; Patricia Wride, building services technician, Facilities Management.

Retired and retiring faculty and staff are:
David Abbott, associate professor, Clinical Neuroscience; David Antonenko, professor, Surgery; Gayle Bergeron, production manager, Wilkerson Dining Center; Sandy Botnen, research specialist, Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center; Karen Bowles, administrative secretary, Political Science and Public Administration; Melva Brend, Library associate, Harley E. French Library of the Health Sciences; April Byars, administrative assistant, Harley E. French Library of the Health Sciences; Donald Cox, project resource analyst, Energy and Environmental Research Center; Betty Dacar, medical technician, Center for Family Medicine, Bismarck; Judy DeMers, associate dean for Student Affairs and Admissions, School of Medicine and Health Sciences; Craig Eken, technology development operator, Energy and Environmental Research Center;

Rebecca Garman, animal laboratory technician, Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center; Shirley Hagen, snack bar attendant, Wilkerson Dining Center; Phyllis Hustoft, academic librarian, Harley E. French Library of the Health Sciences; Jerry Johnson, journey carpenter, Facilities Management; Marlys Kennedy, administrative secretary, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Diane “Dee” Larson, program assistant, TRIO Programs; Donald Larson, lead technical support specialist, Information Resources, School of Medicine and Health Sciences; David Miller, senior research analyst, Energy and Environmental Research Center; David Nelson, assistant professor, Languages; Harriet Powers, administrative officer, Dean’s Office, College of Education and Human Development; Judy Schumacher, recruitment nurse, Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center;

Richard Shockey, research engineer, Energy and Environmental Research Center; Ralph Snobeck, automotive mechanic, Transportation Department; Desmond Sporbert, assistant director of Human Resources and Information Systems manager, Division of Finance; Sharon Steinke, assistant cold food preparer, Dining Services; Joyce Sundby, personnel assistant, Energy and Environmental Research Center; Rosemary Thue, assistant to the vice president for Research and Economic Development; James Weber, academic maintenance supervisor, Facilities Management; Thomas Wiggen, associate professor, Computer Science; Elizabeth Wilkens, dining room attendant, Dining Services; Fern Wood, secretary, Physical Education, Exercise Science and Wellness.