Class Notes

1969

Clifford “Kip” Cranna, ’69, was honored by San Francisco-based Opera Parallèle for his impact on contemporary opera. Cranna is Dramaturg Emeritus of San Francisco Opera, where he spent 40 years.

1973 

Greg Page, ’73, has been named independent chair of the board for Corteva’s future standalone crop protection company, slated to launch in the fourth quarter of 2026. Page is the retired chair and CEO of Cargill Inc.

1974

Ronald Goodman, ’74, ’81, a former state district court and county judge, retired from the North Dakota Ethics Commission, where he was serving as acting chair.

1976

Tom Stroup, ’76, was inducted into the Wireless History Foundation Hall of Fame. Stroup is President of the Satellite Industry Association and former CEO of the Shared Spectrum Company.

1979

Jeffrey Myers, ’79, retired in 2025 after serving 43 years at the University of Michigan Medical School, most recently as A. James French Professor of Diagnostic Pathology and vice chair for clinical affairs and quality. He is now an Emeritus Professor in Thoracic Pathology.

1980

Jay Gibson, ’80, is Fargo Davies High School football team’s defensive coordinator.

Jon Johnson, ’80, was named Man of the Year as part of McMinnville, Oregon’s Distinguished Service Awards. Johnson retired last year as vice president and branch manager of Citizen Bank in McMinnville and continues his community service through Rotary and A Family Place relief nursery.

1983

Bill Cosby, ’83, a project engineer at Lockheed Martin Aerospace, is working on rocket capsules and docking systems for Artemis missions in 2027 and 2028.

Tim Rude, ’83, technologist, patent agent, and independent experimental physicist, was recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Scientists for his long career in military and civilian roles. He lives in Front Royal, Va.

1986

Todd Cresap, ’86, served as a North Dakota district judge since 2009. He retired in July.

1988

Jonathan Rudman, ’88, who was Assistant Chief of the Operations Training Division at Headquarters Air Force Special Operations Command before retiring in 2006, was keynote speaker at the Lycoming County Memorial Day Ceremony in Williamsport, Pa. Rudman lives in Orlando.

1989

Tim Tandeski, ’89, retired from a 41-year career as javelin and throws coach in Grand Forks. He was inducted into the North Dakota High School Track and Field Hall of Fame in 2015 and is a math teacher at Grand Forks Red River.

David Leker, ’89, was named executive director of the Bismarck Parks and Recreation District. Leker previously was the director of the Fargo Park District. 

1990

Kevin Klipfel, ’90, retired as executive director of the Bismarck Parks and Recreation District after a three-decade career.

1991

Tamala May (Scheid) Anderson, ’91, ’12, founded Single Parents Pursuing Christ, a ministry aimed at supporting single parent families based in Fargo.

1992

Paul Kadrmas, ’92, is international marketing director for Sea Foam International in Bismarck, N.D.

Jeffrey Gorder, ’92, is CEO of Mono, a boutique creative agency in Minneapolis. 

Ian Swanson, ’92, editor-in-chief of The Hill, a nonpartisan publication in Washington, D.C., spoke at UND’s Hagerty Lecture in April.

Veronica (Wigness) Holweger, ’92, CEO of Med Park Credit Union, is a member of Dakota Credit Union Association and the first vice chair representing her district, ND Division C. She lives in Grand Forks.

1994

Ben Jacobson, ’94, was named head coach of Utah State men’s basketball. He previously served as head men’s basketball coach at the University of Northern Iowa for 20 years.

Roger Hardaway, ’94, retired after 36 years as a history professor at Northwestern Oklahoma State University. He is the longest-serving faculty member in the history of the university and became professor emeritus upon retirement. He continues to teach part-time. 

Eva (Spindler) Keiser, ’94, received the Platinum Award, the Public Relations Society of America Midwest District’s highest individual honor. Keiser has owned her own consulting practice, Plural I, since 2011 after working in agency leadership and communications education for 15 years.

1995

Michelle Jackson, ’95, serves as board counsel to Public Company Accounting Oversight Board member Mark Calabria. An attorney with more than 25 years of experience, Jackson most recently ran her own law practice while serving as director of risk management and interim CEO for the Southwest Riverside County Association of Realtors in California.

Michael “Mick” Gibbs, ’95, president and CEO of The Heart Hospital of South Dakota - Avera Health, gave the spring 2026 commencement speech at Mt. Marty University, a Catholic university in Yankton, S.D.

Scott Diezman, ’95, a retired U.S. Air Force officer, military historian and battlefield guide, spoke at the Civil War Round Table of the Mid-Ohio Valley. He is a satellite engineer and program management advisor at TriSept Corporation in Chantilly, Va.

1996

Patricia Hill, ’96, recently retired chief learning officer at the National Information Solutions Cooperative (NISC), was named a 2026 Top Women Chief Learning Officer by Women We Admire.

Peter Hanson, ’96, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon, joined the Great Falls Clinic Capital City Specialty Center in Helena, Mont. 

1997

Jill (West) Fritel, ’97, is vice president/head of deposit operations at United Valley Bank. Fritel lives in Grand Forks.

Tom Dosch, ’97, is head football coach at the University of Jamestown. Dosch was head coach at Northern State University in Aberdeen, S.D., and has coached at UND and Southern Illinois.

1998

Jason Markusen, ’98, is owner and CEO of Energized 4 Life, an online leadership business. 

Jeffrey Sather, ’98, executive medical director and emergency physician at Trinity Health in Minot, N.D., was a commencement speaker at Minot State University’s spring graduation.

Esther Tailfeathers, ’98, was appointed associate dean of Indigenous Health at the Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary. Tailfeathers has served rural communities as a family physician across Alberta and Montana for more than 30 years. 

1999

Christy Hansen, ’99, is acting director of the Commercial Space Division within NASA’s Space Operations Mission Directorate at the agency’s headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Joel Bird, ’99, a private wealth advisor with Legacy Financial Planners, was named to AdvisorHub’s list of Top Advisors to Watch Over $1 Billion. Bird manages more than $1 billion in client assets and was recognized for his growth, quality of practice and character.

Jason Hastings, ’99, is the Wilkin County (Minn.) attorney. He has practiced law across North Dakota and Minnesota for nearly 30 years.

2000

Jennifer (Gienger) Schlinger, ’00, ’04, ’23, and Anne (Gregoire) Bodensteiner, ’07, ’17, developed content for an online continuing education course for North Dakota nurses, social workers and dietitians that explores the effects of emotional trauma on the body and behavior.

2001

Anne (Schiller) Riddle, ’01, a family medicine physician, joined the Essentia Health-Lakeside Clinic in Duluth, Minn.

2003

Loren Wold, ’00, ’03, is vice president for research at the University of Cincinnati, a public R1 University. He previously served as senior associate vice president for research at The Ohio State University.

2004

Justin Ahmann, ’04, is the land development lead at the Minot, N.D. office of Ackerman-Estvold.

Ronald Ferguson, ’04, a sociology instructor at Ridgewater College in Willmar and Hutchinson, Minn., received the 2026 Education Minnesota Human Rights Award.

2005

Branelle (Cibuzar) Rodriguez, ’05, a 21-year NASA employee, was vehicle manager of the Orion spacecraft, which carried four astronauts to the moon in the Artemis II mission. She works at Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Erika (Wishart) Brouillette, ’05, founded Reclaim, a peer-led coaching community and podcast supporting wives of people with traumatic brain injuries. Brouillette was inspired to create the resource after her husband sustained a TBI in 2020.

Nate Fiala, ’05, ’07, is maintenance superintendent at American Crystal Sugar Company’s East Grand Forks factory.

Vance Taylor, ’05, retired in July as president and CEO of North Dakota Mill and Elevator. He was the longest-serving president in the Mill’s 103-year history.

2006

Benjamin Swanholm, ’06, is crime laboratory director of the Phoenix Police Department.

2007

Joshua Plencer, ’07, is an assistant professor of American politics at SUNY (State University of New York) Oswego. 

2008

Tali Best Collins, ’08, was named a managing partner at Best Law Firm in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Kayla (Hoerth) Dornfeld, ’08, ’14, a teacher in Mapleton, N.D., was named the Empowered Woman of the Year by the International Association of Top Professionals, and will be featured on a billboard in New York’s Times Square.

Jamie (Brandenburg ) Worden, ’08, ’12, was named North Dakota Art Educator of the Year. She teaches visual arts at Hillsboro Public Schools.

Jonathan Toews, ’08, retired from the NHL after 16 seasons, which included winning the Stanley Cup three times as a Chicago Blackhawk. Toews, who was named one of the NHL’s 100 Greatest Players in 2017, played his final season with the Winnipeg Jets. 

2009

Pam Skon, ’09, is a licensed clinical social worker at Newport (Wash.) Hospital and Health Services.

Yisa Akinbolaji, ’09, is a member of the Order of Canada. He is the founder and chairman of the Creative Foundation Inc.

2010

Nicholas Vetter, ’10, was promoted to vice president of construction at Schoenfelder Renovations, a general contracting firm based in the Twin Cities.

Amber Laffin, ’10, is dean of public safety and transportation at Nicolet College in Rhinelander, Wis. She previously served as associate professor and program coordinator for the criminal justice program at Bemidji State University.

2011

Stephanie Bauer, ’11, owns Floralia Therapy and Wellness in Lake Oswego, Ore. 

Tyler Parisien, ’11, ’14, is a 2026 Bush Fellow. A member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, Parisien is working to revitalize the Michif language — a unique blend of Cree, Ojibwe and French.

2012

Carolynn (Orey) Keck, ’12, is director of accounting at Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, Minn.

2013

Jessica Gilbertson, ’13, is the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network government relations director for North Dakota and South Dakota. 

Georgia (Holmen) Schelberger, ’13, was named among the 2026 Virginia Business 40 Under 40. She is vice president and associate managing director at Town Insurance in Williamsburg, Va.

Michael Henderson, ’13, is director of the Division of Dental Therapy at the University of Minnesota. Henderson, a clinical assistant professor, is a board member of Ready, Set, Smile and a member of Critical Access Dentists – Minnesota.

2015

Sandi Luck, ’15, founder and CEO of Grand Forks-based Bully Brew Coffee and ND Coffee Roastery, was named 2026 North Dakota Small Business Person of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Patrick McClellan, ’15, is controller at Fargo Jet Center.

Holland Slick, ’15, a senior wealth advisor at Alerus in Grand Forks, earned her Certified Private Wealth Advisor certification.

Anna Kinney, ’15, is the AI instructional manager for UND’s Teaching Transformation and Development Academy. 

Marisa Gonzalez, ’15, an assistant professor in the School of Social Work at New Mexico State University, received the Fulbright U.S. Scholar award. She spent 10 months at Dalat University in Vietnam during the 2025-26 school year. 

2016

Jessica (Christofferson) Salinas, ’16, ’23, a licensed graduate social worker, joined RiverView Health’s Senior Life Solutions team in Crookston, Minn.

2017

Matthew Ipolito, ’17, was promoted to captain at United Airlines. He is based in Chicago. 

2019

Nick Niederkorn, ’19, is a process engineer at American Crystal Sugar Company’s Moorhead, Minn., factory.

Jessica (Pigeon) Rost, ’19, ’22, is a family nurse practitioner providing primary care at Rolette (N.D.) Health Center.

Carly (Dawson) Schultz, ’19, is a certified physician assistant at Essentia Health-Lisbon (N.D.) Clinic. She practices family medicine.

2020

Morgan Tuss, ’20, is an attorney practicing at the Silverman Law Office in Billings, Mont. 

2021

Lauren (McIntosh) Meier, ’21, runs True Treatment Physical Therapy in Mott, N.D.

McKenzie (Johnson) Novak, ’21, a chemistry and life science teacher at Sacred Heart Catholic School in East Grand Forks, directed the school’s spring musical, “Grease.”

2022

Hunter Cowdrey, ’22, ’25, is an associate attorney at Nilson Brand Law in Fargo.

2023

Kerry Toups, ’23, director of clinical lab sciences and instructor at Fletcher Technical Community College in Schriever, La., was nominated for a Promising Practice Award from the American College Personnel Association. She created a satellite food pantry in a student lab closet. 

Amanda Higginbotham, ’23, was crowned Miss Volunteer America 2027. Higginbotham, the Miss Texas Volunteer, is a first officer at SkyWest Airlines.

2024

Kouhyar Tavakolian, ’24, a biomedical engineering professor at UND, was inducted into the College of Fellows of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering. It is one of the highest honors in the field, recognizing the top 2% of medical and biological engineers.

Anna (Hochhalter) Wiemken, ’24, joined Essentia Health-Osgood Clinic in Fargo as an elder care practitioner.

Miranda Gardina, ’24, is an assistant athletic trainer for Brevard (N.C.) College Athletics’ sports medicine team.

2025

Nate DeMontagnac, ’25, a former UND Football wide receiver, was selected seventh overall by the BC Lions in the 2026 CFL Canadian Draft.

Sara Margit Wallace, ’25, a chemistry stockroom and safety technician at UND, was profiled by Influential Women, a media platform that highlights women’s professional achievements and leadership.

2026

Denver Flanagan, ’26, is a junior investment advisor with FS Wealth Management in Grand Forks. 

Grant Richtsmeier, ’26, is a control systems engineer at American Crystal Sugar Company’s East Grand Forks factory.

1954

Wesley Waage, ’54, the first president of Fergus Falls Junior College (now Minnesota State Fergus Falls), received a posthumous Torchbearer Award for his transformational leadership in higher education. 

1955

Gerald VandeWalle, ’55, ’58, HON ’15, former North Dakota Supreme Court Chief Justice, received the inaugural Distinguished Alumni Award from the UND Law Review.

1961

Bernard “Bernie” Haley, ’61, was inducted into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame. He is also in the UND Letterwinners Athletic Hall of Fame as a member of the 1958-59 hockey team. After retiring from playing hockey, Haley was a professional hockey referee. 

1967

Spencer Peterson, ’67, ’71, coauthored the feature article in the August 2024 issue of the technical journal Fisheries. Peterson retired in 2010 as a senior research ecologist at the EPA after 39 years.

1969

Marilyn (Walter) Guy, ’69, ’71, ’76, was named the 2026 Legacy Leader by the Fargo/Moorhead/West Fargo Chamber. For more than 50 years, she served as a professor and held leadership roles at Concordia College.

1972

Tom Seymour, ’72, was re-elected to the North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Cass County Electric Cooperative. Seymour was a Professor Emeritus at Minot State University from 1985 to 2016.

1973

George Eidsness, ’73, was named 2026 Citizen of the West. Eidsness is the owner of Transwest, a full-service vehicle retailer and fleet-services company based in Brighton, Colo. In his honor, the National Western Scholarship Trust awarded two $5,000 scholarships to UND students.

John Sanderson, ’73, retired after 48 years of dentistry. He has practiced in Elgin, N.D., since 1981.

1974

Doug Mowbray, ’74, recently retired from a 40-year career in teaching and coaching. He also fully retired from serving as CEO of his family farm in southern Manitoba.

1975

Brian Bjella, ’75, ’79, was elected as honorary trustee of the Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law for his years of service to the Denver-based organization. Bjella lives in Bozeman, Mont.

1976

John Botsford, ’76, is retiring after 40 years with the Myra Foundation. He served as president for the past 25 years.

1977

Allan Peterson, ’77, retired after serving as an advisor for the Washington State University Small Business Development Center since 2004.

1979

Daniel Crothers, ’79, ’82, retired in February after serving more than 20 years as a North Dakota Supreme Court justice.

1980

Mary Farrington-Lorch, ’80, ’83, is an attorney specializing in bankruptcy and creditor rights law at the Law Office of Mary K. Farrington-Lorch in Phoenix. She was recently featured on the networking platform, Influential Women.

Robert Harms, ’80, was named to the board of the North Dakota News Cooperative. Harms is a retired lawyer and former government affairs consultant.

Allen Koppy, ’80, ’84, retired from his job as Morton County state’s attorney after working there for nearly 40 years.

1981

Kathleen Gershman, ’81, a retired UND professor and department chair, received the Community Impact Award from Fontbonne, The Early College of Boston, where she attended high school.

Cynthia Lindquist, ’81, ’06, is chief strategy officer for the American Indian College Fund in Denver. Lindquist stepped down as chair of the North Dakota Ethics Commission, on which she served since 2019.

1983

Ruth (Indergaard) Braaten, ’83, ’89, retired as director of the child development center at the Lutheran Home of the Good Shepherd in New Rockford, N.D. She has served in that position since 2005.

Chuck Schultz, ’83, ’86, an energy lawyer, will retire in September after 23 years with NextEra Energy Resources in West Palm Beach, Fla.

1985

Peter Schmit, ’85, ’89, received the 2025 Minnesota ICON Award. He has more than 35 years of trial experience and serves as chair of Robins Kaplan LLP’s National Personal Injury, Medical Malpractice, and Civil Rights Group.

1986

Jean (Trenbeath) Johnson, ’86, is chief information officer of United Valley Bank in Cavalier, N.D., where she has worked for 40 years.

1987

Dan Kadrmas, ’87, president of TrueNorth Steel in West Fargo, N.D., was elected vice chair of the board of the American Institute of Steel Construction.

1988

Bruce Cook, ’88, founded SponsorLab, an online performance analysis company serving the sponsorship market. Cook has worked on numerous commercial sports partnerships, including seven years on the leadership team at YouGov Sport. He has lived in Scotland since 2001.

1989

Steven Allen, ’89, retired U.S. Army Brigadier General, was named COO at Almonty, a global producer of tungsten critical to the defense and technology sectors. 

Liz (Schutt) Auch, ’89, retired after 26 years as director of Countryside Public Health, which serves five counties of the Upper Minnesota River Valley. 

John Odegard, ’89, partner and co-founder of 5x5 Trading, was named chair of the International Aircraft Dealers Association. Odegard brings over 30 years of aviation industry experience, including 18 years with NetJets.

1990

Bob McWilliams, ’90, retired as president and CEO of the Altru Family YMCA in Grand Forks after more than 30 years. 

1991

Shawn Mechelke, ’91, is general manager of weather & climate at Spire Global, a provider of space-based data, analytics and space services. He most recently served as president of the aviation vertical at AFV Partners.

Staci (Hartman) Satterwhite, ’91, a guest instructor at the London School of Economics, was named one of the Top 50 Women Leaders of Houston for 2026. Satterwhite was CEO for ABS Wavesight.

Shannon Schell, ’91, is president of Spectrum Aeromed. He most recently was president and CEO of REVA, Inc., one of the largest fixed-wing air ambulance companies in the Americas.

1992

Russell Carignan, ’92, is vice president commercial/ag banker and crop insurance agent at First United Bank in Grafton, N.D.

Amy (Rademacher) Cox, ’92, ’97, is an advanced practice registered nurse and certified nurse practitioner in family medicine at the Essentia Health-Osgood Clinic in Fargo.

Steve Erhardt, ’92, global manufacturing director of Kynar at Arkema Inc., was honored as a Hero of Chemistry by the American Chemical Society for his role in developing Kynar® HSV 900, a binder used in electric vehicle batteries that advances sustainability.

Dane Jackson, ’92, UND Men’s Hockey coach, was named the National Collegiate Hockey Conference Herb Brooks Coach of the Year.

Arleigh (Hunchak) Trainor, ’92, ’03, is an emergency room doctor at Brandon Regional Health Centre in Manitoba. She is also assistant dean at the University of Manitoba’s Max Rady College of Medicine satellite program in Brandon.

1993

Tony Herbert, ’93, retired as acting chief data officer with the Office of Policy Development and Research after a 25-year career with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. He co-founded and is managing partner of Punch House, a premium bottled cocktail brand based in Atlanta.

Jason Karsky, ’93, is a professor of criminal justice at Wayne State University in Detroit. 

Lisa Fair McEvers, ’93, ’97, is North Dakota’s first female chief justice. She has served on the court since 2014.

Shaun Riffe, ’93, director of development for the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans, won his second Emmy Award as a producer for WCCO’s annual “Home for the Holidays” broadcast.

1994

Bill Dolny, ’94, CEO of MedAire, was elected vice chair of the International Business Aviation Council Industry Advisory Forum.

Scott Johnson, ’94, retired as the deputy state court administrator for the North Dakota Supreme Court. He served more than 30 years as a trial court administrator in several jurisdictions including North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Oregon, and with the federal court system in Iowa.

Chris Kennelly, ’94, and Nan (Spooner) Kennelly, ’92, ’94, recently made a philanthropic gift to the Gonzaga University School of Law in Spokane, Washington. Recognizing their generosity, the school renamed its Center for Law, Ethics & Commerce the Kennelly Center for Law, Ethics & Commerce.

Rob Landis, ’94, is program officer for NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office. Landis works at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.

1995

Karen (MacFarlane) Basbaum, ’95, is chief business officer at MBX Biosciences, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company in Carmel, Ind.

1996

Peter Buffington, ’96, released the aviation-themed album “737 Red Eye” by Speed Brake Armed.

Susan (Arvik) Gallo, ’96, a family medicine physician at Clinic Miles City (Mont.), was honored on National Rural Health Day by WWAMI, the University of Washington School of Medicine’s multi-state medical education program serving Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho. Gallo has served as a WWAMI preceptor for 15 years.

Jeremy Roesler, ’96, ’06, director of flight operations at UND’s Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences, received the 2026 Aviation Accreditation Board International Chairperson’s Award.

1997

Carol Anson, ’97, retired from her job as an advisor to UND’s Veteran & Military Affairs programs. Throughout her 35-year UND career, she has served as an advocate for veterans and military affiliated students.

Jennifer (Klemetsrud) Puhl, ’97, ’00, was named The Forum’s 2025 Area Person of the Year. She served as the acting U.S. Attorney in the trial of Ray Holmberg.

1998

Marcia Larson, ’98, joined the Bemidji State Alumni & Foundation after a 17-year career with Bemidji Parks and Recreation.

Leander “Russ” McDonald, ’98, president of United Tribes Technical College in Bismarck, was named the 2025-26 Tribal College and University President Honoree of the Year by the American Indian College Fund.

Dustin Mitzel, ’98, CEO of Happy Harry’s Bottle Shops, was named president of the Wine and Spirits Guild of America. Mitzel began his career at Happy Harry’s as a part-time summer employee in 1996.

1999

Dan Grieser, ’99, serves as solicitor for Bucks County, Pa., where he leads the Bucks County Law Department.

Lindsey Haugen, ’99, ’02, joined O’Keeffe O’Brien Lyson Attorneys in Fargo.

2000

Kelly Armstrong, ’00, ’03, governor of North Dakota, received the Andy Mork Riverman Award. The award recognizes individuals or organizations for lifetime leadership in resource management and water development within the Missouri River corridor.

Damon Feltman, ’00, retired U.S. Air Force Brigadier General, is CEO of the Space Force Association (SFA). With three decades of experience in defense and space operations, he guides the organization’s mission to support the U.S. Space Force and its Guardians while strengthening collaboration across government, industry, and allied partners. 

Mark Friese, ’00, was named a North Dakota Supreme Court Justice. Friese was a shareholder with Vogel Law Firm in Fargo, with 25 years of criminal defense experience.

Angela (Luther) Lee, ’00, ’15, an advanced practice registered nurse and certified nurse practitioner, joined Essentia Health-32nd Avenue Clinic in Fargo. She will practice gastroenterology.

2001

Scott Diamond, ’98, ’01, was appointed to a judgeship in North Dakota’s East Central Judicial District. He brings 24 years of legal experience to the role, most recently serving as a judicial referee in the district.

Michael Kreun, ’01, joined the Minneapolis office of DeWitt LLP. He has more than 20 years’ experience handling real estate litigation and complex commercial disputes. Kreun is a state senator and is assistant minority leader of the Minnesota Legislature.

Mandy (Volk) Sorlie, ’01, ’08, serves as president on the Board of the North Dakota Academy of Family Physicians.

Bill Trew, ’01, was inducted into the University of Minnesota Crookston Athletic Hall of Fame. Trew led the university to back-to-back NJCAA National Hockey Championships in 1993 and 1994, and was named a 1993-94 NJCAA All-American.

2003

Dave Relling, ’93, ’01, was named senior associate dean for health science at UND’s School of Medicine & Health Sciences. Relling was formerly the chair of UND’s Department of Physical Therapy.

2004

John “Laddie” Bata, ’04, is a captain in the Moorhead (Minn.) Police Department, where he has worked since 2015.

Kristina (Grzadzieleski) Hokenson, ’04, a registered dietitian nutritionist and yoga teacher, is owner of Haven of Health in Minot, N.D.  She combines yoga and meditation to help people make peace with food and their bodies.

Dustin Leigh, ’04, ’10, is an emergency medicine physician at Essentia Health-Fargo.

Ashley (Helle) Samuelson, ’04, ’07, was appointed to a judgeship in North Dakota’s Northeast Judicial District. 

2005

John Lyng, ’05, received the National Association of EMS Physicians President’s Award. The physician serves as the group’s editor-in-chief. 

Chris Swenson, ’05, ’14, will begin serving as superintendent of the Monticello (Minn.) School District on July 1, after serving in the same role for Holdingford Public Schools for 11 years.

2006

Cory Hilliard, ’06, was named chief financial officer of USA Swimming. Hilliard previously spent 18 years at the University of Colorado in Boulder, most recently as senior associate athletic director for business operations/CFO.

Ashley (Hagan) Kremer, ’06, ’11, is a family medicine specialist at the Sanford Northwest Clinic in Minot, N.D.

Chris Kuper, ’06, is the Philadelphia Eagles offensive line coach.

Matt Lange, ’06, was promoted to regional operations director at KLJ Engineering, where he has more than 17 years of experience in transportation project design.

2007

Carol Wright Becker, ’07, a board-certified emergency physician and assistant professor of emergency medicine at the West Virginia University School of Medicine in Morgantown, W.V., was recognized in America’s Best in Medicine.

David Rasmussen, ’07, was reelected to the board of directors for Full Circle Ag Cooperative. He and his wife,

Jessica (Kuster), ’07, run the Rasmussen family farm in Cogswell, N.D.

Jenna (Kruger) Sandman, ’07, an advanced practice nurse and certified nurse practitioner, has joined the staff at the Essentia Health-45th Street Clinic in Fargo.

Joy (Bingham) Vega, ’07, is division chief of the energy and natural resources division of the Idaho Office of the Attorney General. She has served as lead deputy attorney general in the division since 2017.

Mark Western, ’07, was appointed to a one-year term on the North Dakota Ethics Commission.

2008

Danny Freund, ’08, ’13, is offensive coordinator for UND Football. 

Justin Reisenauer, ’08, Sanford Bismarck’s chief medical officer, was named to Becker’s Healthcare 2026 list of hospital and health system chief medical officers to know.

Jon Rentz, ’08, is assistant vice president of business strategy & corporate development at Northern Plains Rail Services in Grand Forks.

Val (Sannes) Sussex, ’08, ’11, director of the North Dakota Champions Club, received the Melvin Jones Fellow Award — the highest recognition from Lions Clubs International.

2009

Jessamy (Olsen) Forsnell, ’09, is chief financial and operating officer at SRT, North Dakota’s largest telecommunications cooperative. She has served as CFO since May 2025.

Tara Mertz-Hack, ’09, was selected as the 2025 North Dakota Academy of Family Physicians Family Physician of the Year. She was honored for her role as a rural family physician and her dedication as a hospital and clinic medical director, EMS medical director, four-county public health medical officer, and nursing home medical officer. 

Karna (Plaine) Nixon, ’09, was inducted into the University of Minnesota Crookston Athletic Hall of Fame. Nixon, a standout basketball player, scored 1,642 career points, which ranks third all-time in scoring in UMC’s NCAA era.

Nick Nupdal, ’09, ’17, is a senior credit analyst at KodaBank in Fargo.

2010

Tony Schanilec, ’10, is the facility manager of the Cargill Corn Milling plant in Wahpeton, N.D.

Jeffry Tescher, ’10, is head football coach at Bismarck St. Mary’s High School. He served as assistant coach in 2025.

2011

Emily (Burkland) Montgomery, ’11, ’20, is president of the Myra Foundation in Grand Forks. She has served as a Foundation trustee for five years.

Erica (Wondrasek) Thunder, ’11, ’14, is head of tribal health equity and experience for Sanford Health Enterprise. A longtime advocate for Indigenous communities, she previously served as North Dakota’s first Native American labor commissioner.

2012

Meena Kalyanasundaram, ’12, was selected for inclusion in Marquis Who’s Who. She is president, CEO, and co-founder of WeEMBRACE, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering individuals who are neurodiverse and those with developmental disabilities. She lives in Sacramento, Calif. 

Peter Olenjniczak, ’12, co-founded a construction financial management software called “Controllr.” Olejniczak is a UND graduate in air traffic control.

Erin (Schoenrock) Roesler, ’12, ’19, deputy executive director of the Northern Plains UAS Test Site, received the UAS Sky Pioneer Award.

Elaina (Bialke) Wickman, ’12, ’24, was named executive director of the Northlands Rescue Mission in Grand Forks. 

Lori Wolff, ’12, a certified physician assistant, practices walk-in care at Essentia Health-Mid Dakota Bismarck 9th Street Clinic.

2013

Sydnie (Smith) Bahl, ’13, finished in 25th place at the Iditarod, with a total race time of 12 days and just under five hours.

Alex Johnson, ’13, is a factory manager at American Crystal Sugar Company’s Drayton, N.D., factory.

Crystal (Glaser) Koski, ’13, who has worked for Whitefish Lodge & Suites and Manhattan Beach Lodge for 18 years, was named the 2025 Crosslake (Minn.) Employee of the Year. She currently serves as director of sales for both properties, and director of operations for Manhattan Beach Lodge.

Justin Rosenau, ’13, serves as chairman of the Board of the North Dakota Academy of Family Physicians.

2014

Johnathan Gajdos, ’14, is provost at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, located at King’s Point in Nassau County, N.Y. Gajdos has decades of experience in public administration, military leadership and education.

Dixie Holland, ’14, ’23, is chief deputy clerk of the North Dakota Supreme Court.
2015

Quinn (Hochhalter) Askew, ’15, joined the Vogel Law Firm’s Bismarck office.

Joshua Hensrud, ’15, a U.S. Air Force Major based at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, won the 2025 Warfighting Acquisition Award for his work in international security cooperation.

Samantha (Stegman) Simley, ’15, ’21, a certified physician assistant, practices palliative care at Essentia Health-Fargo.

Lisa Yonker, ’15, opened Revive and Thrive Physical Occupational Therapy in Perham, Minn.

2016

Stephanie Waldref, ’16, is a freelance meteorologist on the StormTracker 4 Weather team in Tucson, Ariz. She has worked as a meteorologist in Minot, N.D., and Wilmington, N.C.

2017

Jeffrey Diemert, ’17, a staff attorney with North Dakota Legal Services under the Federal Veterans Homelessness Grant, was named manager of the Ellendale American Legion. Diemert has served 17 years in the North Dakota National Guard and was recently promoted to staff sergeant.

Rhea Goulet, ’17, was named Company Grade Officer of the Year by the Army National Guard. Capt. Goulet is an operations officer for the Headquarters and Support Company, 141st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade in Fargo.

Erik Langerud, ’17, is a project manager at AE2S. He manages civil engineering projects across the upper Midwest and Rocky Mountain regions.

2018

Kelsey (Daley) Luce, ’18, a certified physician assistant, was recognized by America’s Best in Medicine for advancing pediatric care at Sanford West Dickinson (N.D.) Clinic.

Deland Weyrauch, ’18, Montana’s deputy medical examiner, received two major honors from the National Association of Medical Examiners: the Eckert Award and the 2025 Edward J. Barbieri Forensic Toxicology Award.

2019

Morgan Schmitz, ’19, an advanced practice registered nurse and certified nurse practitioner, joined Essentia Health-32nd Avenue Clinic in Fargo. She practices neurology.

Megan (Danelski) Schneider, ’19, is an advanced practice registered nurse and certified nurse practitioner in family medicine at Essentia Hermantown and Proctor clinics in Minnesota.

2020

Se Kwon, ’20, a reporter and news anchor, joined FOX 32’s morning team in Chicago after three years at FOX 9 in Minneapolis.

Faith Schaefer, ’20, is a Moorhead Police Department officer. She spent four years as a patrol officer with the New York Mills (Minn.) Police.

2021

Kendra Bohm, ’21, is a certified physician assistant at the Essentia Health-Valley City (N.D.) Clinic.

Kyle Finseth, ’21, ’24, earned the Accredited Airport Executive (A.A.E.) designation from the American Association of Airport Executives. He lives in Denver.

Kelly Hutton, ’21, is deputy state court administrator for the North Dakota Court System. She has served in various roles with the courts for 19 years.

Bella Kumagai, ’21, is a piano instructor in Augustana University’s School of Music in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Chris Patullo, ’21, was promoted to director of operations at American Crystal Sugar Company. Patullo, a 22-year company veteran, leads production and maintenance operations across the Moorhead, Crookston, and East Grand Forks plants.

Shannon Silverman, ’21, an astrophysicist, is planetarium and science educator at the Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences in Charleston, W.Va.

2022

Caitlyn Fussy, ’22, ’24, an occupational therapist, joined the rehab services team of RiverView Health in Crookston, Minn.

Robert “Robby” Greicar, ’22, ’25, is an associate attorney at Gjesdahl Law. He lives in Fargo.

Sierra Link, ’22, an advanced practice registered nurse and certified nurse practitioner, joined the Essentia Health-South University Clinic in Fargo. She practices pulmonology.

Betsy Seaver, ’22, is an engineer-in-training at AE2S in Grand Forks.

2023

Petros Alex, ’23, is the assistant women’s tennis coach at the University of Southern California.

Isaac Hildenbrand, ’23, is a commercial banker at National Bank of Commerce in Hibbing, Minn.

Christina Torgerson, ’23, a board-certified nurse practitioner, is a family medicine provider at the Sanford Halstad (Minn.) Clinic.

2024

Jack Blotsky, ’24, is an associate attorney at Conmy Feste Law Firm in Fargo. He previously served as law clerk to Justice Lisa Fair McEvers at the North Dakota Supreme Court.

Philip Buque, ’24, joined the Minneapolis office of DeWitt LLP. His practice focus is real estate litigation and general civil litigation.

Justine Fosle, ’24, an advanced practice registered nurse and certified nurse practitioner, practices physiatry at the Essentia Health-Duluth (Minn.) Clinic.

Hassan Kargbo, ’24, is an engineering technician for KLJ Engineering’s construction group in Williston, N.D.

Alex Morse, ’24, is a maintenance engineer at American Crystal Sugar Company’s Hillsboro, N.D., factory.

2025

Caleb Babcok, ’25, is a staff engineer at Interstate Engineering in Williston, N.D.

Jaimee (Cariveau) Berg, ’25, an advanced practice registered nurse and certified nurse practitioner, joined Essentia Health-South University Clinic in Fargo to practice dermatology.

Heather Chatham, ’25, is founder and CEO of Chatty Learners LLC. Chatham lives in Grand Forks.

Melissa Evans, ’25, an advanced practice registered nurse and certified nurse practitioner, joined Essentia Health-West Acres Clinic in Fargo to practice family medicine.

Riley Gerhardt, ’25, a financial representative at Northwestern Mutual, received the Pacesetter First 40 Award, given to representatives who guide 40 clients toward financial success in their first six months in the business.

Ashly Hall, ’25, is an engineering assistant at Burian & Associates in Grand Forks.

Miah Lee, ’25, a certified physician assistant, is practicing internal medicine at Essentia Health-Wahpeton, N.D.

Abby Olson, ’25, is a member of The Forum of Fargo Moorhead’s Readers Board, a group of community members who provide feedback on coverage and share perspectives of local readers.

Andrea (Asp) Samuelson, ’25, is an associate attorney at Gjesdahl Law. She lives in Moorhead, Minn.

1966

John Odegard, ’66, ’67, founder of UND’s School of Aerospace Sciences, will be posthumously inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame, Class of 2026. With just two aircraft and a few students, Odegard transformed UND into a global hub for pilot training, aerospace research, and space studies.

1974

David Maring, ’74, was awarded the Richard S. Arnold Award for Distinguished Service. Maring retired as a shareholder at Maring Williams Law Office in Bismarck and Fargo after 45 years in civil litigation.

Gary Wagner, ’74, was inducted into the Crookston (Minn.) High School Hall of Fame. Wagner earned 12 varsity letters in track and field, football, and basketball.

1977

William Severin, ’77, has a courtroom named in his honor, recognizing his more than 40 years of service as a municipal court judge in Bismarck and his lasting impact on the community.

1978

Donovan Foughty, ’78, ’83, retired in September after serving as judge in North Dakota’s northeast judicial district court in Devils Lake for 37 years.

Denise Lajimodiere, ’78, ’96, ’06, North Dakota’s first Native American poet laureate, had her term extended for three additional years.

1981

Cynthia Lindquist, ’81, ’06, was named chair of the North Dakota Ethics Commission. A member of the Spirit Lake Nation, Lindquist is director of Tribal Initiatives and Collaborations at UND.

1982

David Oberstar, ’82, was selected among The Best Lawyers in America in the area of timber law. He practices at Fryberger Law Firm in Duluth, Minn.

1983

Lloyd Harsch, ’83, has completed 25 years as Professor of Church History and Baptist Studies at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He also serves on the faculty of Seminario Teológico Bautista de Cuba Oriental in Santiago, Cuba.

1986

Mark Aakhus, ’86, is interim dean of the School of Communication and Information at Rutgers University-New Brunswick in New Jersey.

1987

Scott Jagodzinski, ’87, launched Argent Alpha, a virtual community redefining men’s health. His book on the topic is an Amazon best-seller.

Lisa Hesse, ’87, retired from a laboratory science career, most recently serving as an infection preventionist.

1991

Kim Kenville, ’91, ’98, is senior consultant at ADK Consulting & Executive Search. Kim was a professor in UND’s John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences.

Bonnie (Bailey) Butz, ’91, ’09, is a special education teacher at Northwood (N.D.) Public School.

1992

Carrie (Treml) Nichols, ’92, is the family and community wellness extension agent for NDSU Extension, serving Eddy and Foster counties.

Marina Spahr, ’92, was appointed as judge in North Dakota’s South Central Judicial District. Her chambers are in Bismarck.

1993

Holly Cook Macarro, ’93, was honored in the inaugural class of Outstanding Alumni and Supporters of St. Phillip’s School in Bemidji, Minn. Macarro is a Native American political strategist and advocate, nationally recognized for her work in advancing tribal sovereignty and Indigenous representation in U.S. politics. 

1994

Daniel Traynor, ’94, ’97, a U.S. district court judge, was awarded the State Bar Association of North Dakota’s Distinguished Service Award.

1995

Monica Mayer, ’95, an emergency medicine physician and member of the Mandan Hidatsa Arikara Nation tribal council, was appointed to the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation Board of Trustees.

Mark Vollmer, ’95, ’14, is superintendent at Westhope (N.D.) Public School.

1996

Marc Adams, ’96, is on Essentia Health’s board of directors and retired as executive vice president and chief digital officer of Ecolab Inc.

Dave Hakstol, ’96, is assistant coach of the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche.

Mary “Misty” (Roussin) Wilke, ’96, ’98, ’02, is a clinical professor at the University of Minnesota School of Nursing, where she also serves as director of the Doctoral Education Pathway for American Indian/Alaska Native Nurses and the Center for Indigenous People, Health and Nursing.

1997

Barrett Ziemer, ’97, executive director of the Chisholm-Hibbing (Minn.) Airport Authority, was appointed to the Metropolitan Airports Commission in the Twin Cities area.

Thomas Matzke, ’97, ’01, is a dermatologist at Essentia Health-South University Clinic in Fargo.

1998

Esther Tailfeathers, ’98, serves as assistant dean of Indigenous Health in the Indigenous, Local and Global Health Office at the University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine (Alberta). She is a family physician and an associate professor in the school’s Department of Family Medicine.

1999

Sarah (Hanson) O’Connell, ’99, an immunization nurse with the Spirit Lake Early Childhood Tracking Program, was recognized as North Dakota’s 2025 CDC Childhood Immunization Champion.

Kimberly (Sobolik) Svendsen, ’99, joined Winthrop & Weinstine as a shareholder in its regulatory and litigation practice. She brings extensive experience as an assistant U.S. attorney for the District of Minnesota. 

2000

Jeff Cox, ’00, is principal/assistant director of the Southeastern Career Center, a high school in Versailles, Ind.

2001

David Haring, ’01, is CEO of the Spokane (Wash.) International Airport and Felts Field.

2004

Terry (Ferebee) Eckmann, ’04, was inducted into the Minot (N.D.) State University (MSU) Academic Hall of Fame. Eckmann is an MSU professor in kinesiology.

Robert Guttormson, ’04, a board-certified general surgeon and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, works in general surgery at CHI St. Alexius Health in Bismarck.

Christopher Kallenbach, ’04, is a radiologist at Essentia Health-32nd Avenue Clinic in Fargo.

Zach Parise, ’04, will be inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in December. After playing at UND for two years, he played 19 NHL seasons with the New Jersey Devils, Minnesota Wild, New York Islanders, and Colorado Avalanche, and on two U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Teams.

Brandon Wade, ’04, was named 2024 Trooper of the Year by the North Dakota Motor Carriers Association. Wade, based in Jamestown, works for the North Dakota Highway Patrol.

2005

Michael Kjelshus, ’05, is vice president, business banker at the Grand Forks location of Frandsen Bank & Trust.

April (Quinnell) Price, ’05, is a family nurse practitioner in the emergency department of CHI St. Alexius Health Williston (N.D.).

2006

Janet Alkire, ’06, ended her term as the first woman to serve as chair of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. She is a 15-year Air Force veteran, USA Today Woman of the Year, and mother of two.

Max Huber, ’06, ’08, is parish director at Lumen Christi Catholic Community in St. Paul, where he previously served as director of communications. Max and his wife, Lisa Persuitti-Huber, ’05, ’08, also own The Magic Travel Guy.

Ryan Mickelsen, ’06, was selected for inclusion in “Marquis Who’s Who.” Ryan has served as president and CEO of SMP Health, St. Aloisius in Harvey, N.D., since 2023.

Angela Morrison, ’06, is interim head coach of women’s soccer at San Diego State University.

2007

Tom Barrett, ’07, won the Entrepreneur of the Year 2025 Heartland Award from Ernst & Young. He owns Barrett Petfood, a premium petfood producer in Brainerd, Minn.

Josh Honeyman, ’07, is a member of Essentia Health’s board of directors. He is an emergency medicine physician at Essentia Health Fargo.

Ellen (Brekke) Slaught, ’07, is chief operating officer at Beyond Campus Innovations in Greenwood Village, Colo.

2008

Marcelo Lima, ’08, vice president of planning and development at the Birmingham (Ala.) Airport Authority, was named the 2025 Airport Professional of the Year by the southeast chapter of the American Association of Airport Executives.

John Sampson, ’08, made national news after rescuing a boy from the monorail at Hershey Park in Pennsylvania. Sampson owns Richboro Veterinary Hospital in Richboro, Northampton Township.

Jonathan Toews, ..’08, signed with the Winnipeg Jets after winning three Stanley Cups with the Chicago Blackhawks. Toews has played in the NHL since 2007.

2009

Sarah (Winger) Anderson, ’09, Kelly (Munter) Entzel, ’12, and Emma (Munter) Preston co-founded Wildflowers of Hope, a nonprofit offering support to those in North Dakota’s Red River Valley experiencing pregnancy or infant loss.

Jacqueline DeMolee, ’09, ’12, is associate registrar of academic records at Northeastern University in Iowa City, Iowa.

2010

Dean Ekkaia, ’10, was appointed director of product management for optical sorting solutions in Duravant’s Food Sorting and Handling Group in Fairfax County, Va.

Chris Gergen, ’10, is chief information security officer for the North Dakota Information Technology department in Bismarck.

2011

Mike Demuth, ’11, ’13, is assistant vice president/business banking officer at the Baxter, Minn., location of Deerwood Bank.
Taylor (Raboin) Demuth, ’11, is principal at Baxter Elementary School in Brainerd, Minn.  

Alex Vari, ’11, is CFO at MainStreet Bank in Fairfax, Va.

2012

Matthew Gassen, ’12, is vice president-commercial banker at National Bank of Commerce based in Bemidji, Minn.

Kara Nunziato, ’12, volleyball coach at Our Redeemer’s Christian School in Minot, N.D., was voted the District 12 coach of the year for the eighth time. Nunziato is an assistant professor at the Minot State University Communication Disorders Clinic.

Evan Trupp, ’12, joined the coaching staff of the University of Alaska Anchorage hockey team.

2013

Andrew Eyre, ’13, was appointed judge in North Dakota’s Northeast Central Judicial District. Eyre won the Jim Vigness Peacemaker of the Year award in 2023 from the Community Violence Intervention Center in Grand Forks.

Alissa Hoban, ’13, an advanced practice registered nurse and certified nurse practitioner, joined Essentia Health-Park Rapids (Minn.).

2014

Steve Inglish, ’14, is medical director at Jacobsen Memorial Hospital Care Center in Elgin, N.D. Inglish continues to practice medicine at the Jamestown Regional Medical Center.

James Lyght, ’14, is community lending executive, SVP at Old National Bank in St. Louis Park, Minn., leading the Empowerment Loan Program for underserved communities in the Minneapolis, Greater Minnesota, North Dakota, and Western Wisconsin markets.

Lindsey Moffitt, ’14, a full-time corporate music therapist for residents at Valley Senior Living (VSL) facilities in Grand Forks, and Jill (Useldinger) Swingen, ’15, part-time therapist and VSL executive assistant, organized the “Voices of the Valley Variety Show,” a VSL fundraiser.

Ben Prout, ’14, ’20,  a fellow in abdominal imaging and intervention at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, won the Kalender Competition Early Career Investigators Award Recognizing Outstanding Scientific Research.

Danelle Tibbetts, ’14, is an advanced practice registered nurse and certified nurse practitioner at the Essentia Health St. Joseph’s-Brainerd Clinic in Minnesota.

2015

Thomas Erickson, ’15, a family medicine physician, joined Essentia Health-52nd Avenue Clinic in Fargo.

Jackson Knudson, ’15, is a project engineer at Fehr Graham’s West Union (Iowa) office.

Shane Martin, ’15, Turtle Mountain Community School superintendent and athletic director, is serving as the Native American At-Large Representative on the North Dakota High School Activities Association Board of Directors.

Brent Noonan, ’15, is a distinguished honor graduate at Army Flight School. Noonan, a civil engineer at KLJ’s Bismarck office, was recognized by the National Society of Professional Engineers as a 2024 outstanding young engineer of the year. 

Jennifer Schneider, ’15, is assistant principal at Horace Mann Roosevelt Elementary School in Fargo.

2016

Erik McLaughlin, ’16, and Ryan Emmerich, ’16, cofounded Bold North Roofing and Contracting in Minneapolis, which was recently ranked the 62nd fastest growing private company in the U.S.

Ian Glidden, ’16, launched a family medicine practice at RiverView Health, serving patients in Crookston and Fertile, Minn. 

Pam Rangen, ’16, joined Essentia Health-Mid Dakota Bismarck Gateway Clinic to practice elder care.

Mark Rostad, ’16, is medical director at HIA Hospice. He leads the organization in providing compassionate end-of-life care throughout North Dakota and Minnesota.

Callie (Berg) Stadem, ’16, a Grand Forks composer, harpist, and educator, received a $5,000 grant from the North Dakota Council on the Arts.

2017

Jordan Barth, ’17, is a family medicine specialist at Sanford North Mandan (N.D.) Clinic.  

Alyson Dahl, ’17, a board-certified physician assistant and founder/co-owner of Resurgent Health, presented on safety, stress management and mental wellness for farmers and ranchers at Agweek 360.

Cassandra Hovet, ’17, owner of Amber Waves Therapy in Grand Forks and a mental health therapist with BetterHelp, was named to Marquis Who’s Who.

2018

Amber Starkey, ’18, ’24, is a third grade teacher at Northwood (N.D.) Public School.
2019
Robert Kraft, ’19, a hematology and oncology specialist, joined Essentia Health-Duluth (Minn.) Clinic.

2020

Adrian Martinez, ’20, was promoted to captain of the North Dakota Highway Patrol. He serves as the agency’s division commander at its Bismarck headquarters.

Derek Schaff, ’20, is chief financial officer at the Jamestown (N.D.) Regional Medical Center.

2021

Cherie Dowell, ’21, a certified physician assistant, joined the Essentia Health-West Acres Clinic in Fargo.
Jackson Keane, ’21, is assistant coach for men’s hockey at Bemidji (Minn.) State University.

2022

Jonah Warwick, ’22, an internal medicine specialist, joined Sanford Bismarck.

2023

Moones Alamooti, ’23, ’24, leads GeoTinkers, a geothermal energy company. She represented North Dakota at the Citizens’ Climate Lobby National Conference in Washington, D.C., last summer.

Danya Carroll, ’23, a postdoctoral associate in epidemiology and biostatistics at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry in London, Ontario, and her professor are exploring the intersection of Indigenous knowledge, public health and environment policy.

Lauren Larsen, ’23, is a meteorologist and member of Storm Team 4 at TMJ4 in Milwaukee.

2024

Elle Thorson, ’24, is assistant coach for track and field at Bethel University in Arden Hills, Minn.

Alex Blumenthal, ’24, is a program manager for the UND Space Operations Group.

2025

Morgan Giuseponi, ’25, is a project manager for the UND Space Operations Group.

Kimberly Hinkel, ’25, is a certified physician assistant at the Essentia Health-32nd Avenue Clinic in Fargo. 

Desmond Little, ’25, is head girls basketball coach of the St. Cloud Crush at St. Cloud (Minn.) Technical High School and dean of students at North Junior High.  

Ellie McGlynn, ’25, opened a mobile flower truck, “Lilies of the Valley,” in the Grand Forks area.

Jennifer (Ellis) Reynolds, ’25, is a family nurse practitioner-certified at Tioga (N.D.) Medical Center.

Emma Wedar, ’25, is a marketing specialist at Town and Country Credit Union in Minot, N.D.

Five UND graduates were among the nine recipients of Prairie Business Magazine’s 2025 Leaders & Legacies award.  

Mike Bittner, ’09, Director of Strategic Initiatives and a Principal at Bolton & Menk, Inc., a 1,100-plus-employee firm based in Fargo.

Joshua Deere, ’06, President of Altru Health System, which recently opened a new hospital in Grand Forks.

Dan Kadrmas, ’87, President of TrueNorth Steel in Fargo.
Joan McCusker, ’87, recently retired executive vice president, operations and corporate strategy for Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota.

Peter Stenehjem, ’07, CEO of First International Bank and Trust (FIBT) in Watford City, N.D.

Several UND alumnae were among the Top 50 Women Leaders of North Dakota for 2025, selected by Women We Admire, a membership organization composed of women executives and leaders across the U.S. and Canada.  

Richelle (Schnepf) Bishoff, ’09, vice president of procurement at Border States. 

Twylah (Butler) Blotsky, ’93, president & CEO of Butler Machinery Company
Stefanie Ellison, ’00, president of the West Market at Essentia Health. 

Laurie Geller, ’98, vice president for academic affairs at Minot State University.

Cassie Gerhardt, ’96, ’08, senior associate vice president for student affairs at UND.

Sheila (Heil) Gerszewski, ’07, senior vice president, director of retail of First International Bank & Trust.

Kristi Hall-Jiran, ’90, chief philanthropy officer of Altru Health System. 

Jill (Gustafson) Nelson, ’04, director of operations and community relations for the Grand Forks Park District.  
Sema Oncel, ’22, CEO of Oncel. 

Leigh Thompson, ’14,  chief financial officer at Sanford Health.  

Erin (Campbell) Wood, ’17, vice president of Advancement and Community College Foundation Executive Director at Lake Region State College.