Lars Dyrud, ’97, ’01
Director of Development, John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences
larsd@UNDfoundation.org | 701.777.2633 | Connect on LinkedIn
Why I Wear Green
Wearing green and working at UND is like coming home. I met my wife in the lunch line in the Smith Hall basement. I earned two degrees here, and my dad completed his master's degree here as well. One of my sons graduated from the Air Traffic Management program in 2024 and is now a controller in the Twin Cities. Driving through campus and seeing so many improvements – it’s exciting to be a part of making UND an even better place for future generations of students!
Overview
Lars leads major gift fundraising for UND’s John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences, connecting with alumni, friends, and partners to present impactful opportunities that support students, programs, and new initiatives. He jumped right in as the new Flight Operations building was breaking ground, helping donors secure naming rights for spaces within the state-of-the-art facility.
With five kids, much of Lars’ free time revolves around family. He enjoys being outdoors — whether it’s working on the farm, hiking, camping, or cutting and splitting wood in the winter. He also has a passion for restoring motorcycles.
Qualifications
- BA, English and International Studies, University of North Dakota
- MA, Linguistics, University of North Dakota
Knowledge
Lars brings a strong background in fund development to his role. Most recently, he served as Executive Director of the Northland Community & Technical College Foundation, where he gained experience in every facet of fundraising and foundation operations. Now, he brings that expertise to UND, focusing on major gifts as part of a dedicated team of fundraising specialists.
Community
- Director, Red Lake Electric Cooperative
- Member, director, and past president of the Thief River Falls Lions Club