The Animals Among Us
The UND Alumni Magazine is published quarterly with a goal of connecting University of North Dakota alumni and friends through stories of inspiration and impact.
The Summer 2023 issue was released in August. You can view the flipbook version here.
Features
Columns
From the CEO
Loyal companions, incredible creatures
Dear alumni and friends,
Animals add so much to our lives. They bring us joy, comfort and a deeper connection to the world around us. From the loyal companions who greet us with wagging tails and purring contentment to the incredible creatures that we encounter in the wild, animals hold a special place in our hearts. They possess an innate ability to touch our souls, reminding us of our shared existence and the beauty of the natural world.
In this issue, we embark on a journey into the realm of animals, where they inspire some remarkable careers. Prepare to be immersed in stories that unveil the transformative power of animals and the passion-driven work of our alumni.
My own personal love of animals can be traced to my upbringing on a northwestern Minnesota farm. My family had a registered Holstein herd and I would groom and show cattle at 4-H shows all over the region. I fondly remember my first show Holstein, Mona, and the countless hours I dedicated to meticulously grooming and preparing her and others throughout the years for fairs and competitions. Mona and I won a lot of blue ribbons!
The show ring is where I learned valuable lessons in responsibility, perseverance
and the rewards that come from nurturing a bond with animals. That bond features prominently
in the stories you’ll find in this issue.
Spirit Award
It was my honor this spring to present Dr. Joshua Wynne, Dean of the School of Medicine & Health Sciences and Vice President for Health Affairs, with the UNDAAF’s Spirit Award. The Spirit Award recognizes those with uncommon dedication to the success of the University and its students.
Dr. Wynne is so deserving of the award for all that he did for UND while serving as
interim President during the COVID-19 pandemic. Not only did he guide us through a
very difficult period, but he became a trusted advisor to the governor during this
time as well.
We surprised Josh with the award at a board of directors’ dinner during our May meeting
and he could not have been more humble or more appreciative.
Alumni Honors
The UND Alumni Magazine consistently showcases the extraordinary accomplishments of our alumni. Each summer issue, we highlight the best of the best when we share the biographies of those who will be recognized during the Alumni Honors Banquet at Homecoming. You can read about our Sioux Award for Distinguished Achievement & Leadership and Young Alumni Achievement Award recipients.
These exceptional alumni embody the true spirit of our University, demonstrating unwavering
dedication, remarkable achievements and a profound impact on their respective fields.
Each honoree has not only excelled in their chosen paths but also exemplifies the
values and work ethic that our institution instills. Their stories inspire us all
and serve as a testament to the transformative power of a UND education.
I hope you’ll be able to join me for the Alumni Honors Banquet on Thursday, October
5, during Homecoming 2023.
I hope you will also join us at 1:30 p.m. Friday, October 6, for a very special announcement. While I want to maintain an element of suspense, I can assure you that the announcement will reverberate far beyond our campus. Together, we will embark on an extraordinary journey, bound by an unwavering belief in our collective potential to do good and the opportunities that lie ahead. Together, we will change the trajectory of the University of North Dakota and declare a new era for our beloved alma mater.
Make plans now to attend Homecoming 2023 on October 2-7.
As you curl up with your pet to read this issue of the UND Alumni Magazine, allow
me to thank you for all that you do to make UND a special place for those who follow
in your footsteps.
Together, we make a difference in the lives of UND students.
- DeAnna Carlson Zink
From the President
A Door to Discovery
The theme of this issue of the UND Alumni Magazine, animals, got me thinking about a stunning new wildlife documentary film that features a UND scholar and some of her students.
Susan Ellis-Felege, a professor of biology, has appeared in these pages before, with good reason. She invites students from her wildlife management class to participate in duck banding activities as part of a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service program that tracks migration patterns to maintain duck populations and habitats.
Professor Ellis-Felege appears in the IMAX film “Wings Over Water,” which describes the epic migration of three different bird species across North American waterways. I’m grateful that her conservation efforts are included in the film, and I’m confident that it will inspire audiences to help protect the birds’ habitats. The film is narrated by the award-winning actor Michael Keaton and is being shown through early September at the Science Museum of Minnesota, along with dozens of other locations across the country. I hope you will have the chance to see it!
A lot of work happening on campus focuses on the natural world, from the macroscopic to the microscopic. Our research contributes to both the world of ideas and the sum total of human knowledge, and our scholars are working hard to open that door of discovery for our students.
That’s why UND students and faculty are on a constant quest to explore and learn.
In fact, anyone who sets foot on the UND campus should feel a palpable sense of wonder
and curiosity that arises through countless opportunities to create, to discover and
to invent.
And we now have a new way to communicate that knowledge with the world.
For more than a year, UND has partnered with The Conversation. According to its website, this unique nonprofit is “dedicated to unlocking the knowledge of experts for the public good.”
The Conversation publishes “trustworthy and informative articles written by academic
experts for the general public” that are edited by the organization’s team of veteran
journalists.
Since partnering with The Conversation, UND scholars have contributed 13 articles
on topics including how food sensitivities might be related to mood changes, why history
grades for the nation’s eighth graders have declined, how American Indian boarding
school trauma impacts long-term health and why NASA is correct to be extremely cautious
before starting the countdown to space launches.
Hundreds of thousands of people across dozens of nations around the world have read
these articles. Our UND scholars, long recognized as experts in their fields, are
now sharing their expertise with readers worldwide through this easily accessible
channel. I hope you’ll take the time to seek out and read the stories written by our
faculty members, which you can find here.
Discovery is a critical part of what we do at UND. It’s one of five pillars of our
new UND LEADS strategic plan and vision. It’s also the source of tremendous pride
at UND, because contributing to the world of ideas allows us to create a better campus
and a better world.
- Andy Armacost
On Campus
We're forever #UNDproud of the accomplishments our students, faculty, and staff make every day. This issue highlighted just a few of them:
- Leader in Action🔗: Nick Houge, ’19, ’25, is well prepared for patient care.
- Esports levels up with a state-of-the-art facilityđź”—: UND Varsity Esports team members now have permanent home in Swanson Hall.
- The human side of hockey reportingđź”—: Grand Forks Herald hockey writer Brad Schlossman goes beyond the stats.
- Making space for everyoneđź”—: North Dakota NASA Space Grant Consortium invites students with visual impairments to explore space in new way.
- Honoring those who servedđź”—: Hawk Walk, Veterans Honor Wall will venerate those connected to UND who made ultimate sacrifice for our nation.
- UND.GRO learning garden takes root on campusđź”—: Educators plant seed for lifelong environmental stewardship, sustainability and responsibility.
- A lot to celebrate at INMED’s 50th Anniversary🔗: Thanks to Indians Into Medicine program, UND remains No. 1 for graduating Indigenous physicians, allied health professionals.
- Winner, winner, chicken dinner!🔗: UND’s new Catering Leftovers Program feeds hungry students, helps eliminate food waste.
- Campus renewal blogđź”—: UND construction, planning and restoration updates.
- Carbon capture and storage project awarded $38 million🔗: Federal grant advances UND Energy & Environmental Research Center’s internationally known efforts.
Content courtesy of UND Today, the University of North Dakota’s official news source.
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