New grad launches nonprofit to serve Native American students.
JAMESTOWNOFUNIVERSITY SUMMER 2022 EDITION
Feature Story
PAGE 12&ALUMNIFRIENDS
Thank you for your support, and go JIMMIES! Polly Peterson
It’s that experience, which is embedded in the mission of our University, that remains at the center of everything we do as we expand our offerings, both academically and geographically and add new opportunities for learners of all ages to pursue an education.
’89
Dr.
You’ll also read the stories of several graduates who describe the personal connections they experienced here at the University of Jamestown and how high expectations and mentoring led to their success. Whether you’re a new graduate or one well into your career, this experience is the thread that ties us together as Jimmies.
AlumniDear & Friends,
Summer is the perfect time to reflect on the accomplishments of the past academic year and to look forward to the next chapter at the University of Jamestown. In this issue of Alumni & Friends, you’ll read about University of Jamestown Accelerated, the opportunity for learners to earn certificates, bachelor’s degrees, and graduate degrees online. It’s a new division for the University, but it brings with it the academic quality and student-centered commitment that we have known since 1883.
2 Alumni & Friends
Asexcellence.youread
Often the stories about professors and courses share a few common themes. In some cases, the professor provides opportunities to experiences, goes above and beyond the call of duty to help a student, and/or forms the type of close relationship that the student was
the articles in this issue of Alumni & Friends, you will see some of these themes emerge in the stories of Dr. John Hoidal, Dr. Allison Didychuk, Kyler McGillis, Tommy Voss, and Jen and Dr. Blair Anderson. You will see how professors went the extra mile to help them and how UJ faculty provided a high-quality education that prepared them to succeed at some of the most prestigious universities in the world. You will see how UJ provided a foundation upon which important, society-changing research is now being conducted.
is that I get to speak with a lot of alumni about their experiences as students at UJ. I get to hear stories about big games from seasons past, confessions of pranks pulled on my predecessors and various other shenanigans that make the undergraduate experience so much fun. And inevitably, I hear stories about professors like Dick Smith, Harry Hong, and Bill Klaudt and courses that made a difference in the alum’s life.
Finally, as you read this issue of Alumni & Friends, I would ask that you think about the professors and courses that made a difference in your life and then go one step further. If that professor is still at UJ – or maybe she or he has retired but you still know how to contact them – send them a quick message and let them know what you are up to. We LOVE hearing from our former students and knowing what is going on in their lives! We are proud of what our alumni have accomplished and want to celebrate with you! I promise you, if you send one of your professors an email, it will make their day.
One of the great privileges that comes with my position at the University of Jamestown
A Curriculum of Academic Excellence and More
expecting when they decided to come to Jamestown. In other cases, the alumni discuss stories of professors and courses, occasionally courses that they were dreading having to take or did not see the relevance in, that turned out to change their lives. Many of the stories reveal the pride that alumni take in the tradition of academic excellence that is our hallmark; earning a UJ degree means something important to our alumni because of our commitment to academic rigor and
The great news is that while the stories you will read in this issue cover the experiences of students who graduated from the Jamestown campus, I can assure you that our current students will tell you that they are having the same kinds of experiences today and the kinds of meaningful relationships formed and challenges offered by our faculty can be found in all of the departments across our campus in Jamestown, our Doctor of Physical Therapy program in Fargo, and in our online undergraduate and master’s level programming. Our goal with University of Jamestown Accelerated, which you will also read about in this issue, is to make these kinds of experiences available to a wider audience of potential students. UJ makes an enormous difference in people’s lives, and we want to be able to provide what we have to a greater number of students across the United States and the world.
alumni & friends 3
by Paul J. Olson, Ph.D., Provost
6 Looking back on a lifetime of excellence Dr. John Hoidal, MD ’65 8 More than a steppingstone Allison Didychuk, Ph.D. ’12 10 Making moves at medical school Tommy Voss ’19 12 On the straight and Airo Kyler McGillis ’22 23 20 16 University of Jamestown puts down roots in Phoenix 20 Leadership Impact Shapes Campus Ministry Kirstie Dobson, Director of Campus Ministry and Care 23 Robust UJ Academic Experience Prepares Couple for Success in Graduate School and Beyond Blair and Jennifer (Kisch) Anderson ’08 FEATURES 10 8 6 12 4 Alumni & Friends
Stewardship Manager Joleen Steinmetz
UJ MAGAZINE
Creative Writer Natalie McKenna
Director of Development, Planned Giving, and Major Gifts
CONTENTS
Summer 2022
Allison Didychuk, Ph.D. ’12
Send address changes to: Tess Hirschkorn Office of Development and Alumni Relations 6082 College Lane Jamestown, ND 58405 or by e-mail to alumni@uj.edu
University of Jamestown welcomes your thoughts and comments about “Alumni & Friends.”
Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations
Michael Savaloja
Brett Moser x’03/’21
Director of Development, Jimmie Booster Club and Annual Giving
Alumni Board President MaryBeth Hegstad ’97
“Alumni & Friends” is published two times per year, in the winter and summer, by the University of Jamestown Office of Development and Alumni Relations for alumni, faculty, staff and friends of the University of Jamestown.
Please send letters to: Alumni & Friends 6082 College Lane Jamestown, ND 58405
Board of Trustees Chairman James Unruh ’63
Development Services Manager Tess Hirschkorn ’21
2 Letter from President Peterson 3 Letter from Paul Olson, Ph.D., Provost 22 Meet our new team members 26 Homecoming 2022 28 All School Reunion 29 Introducing Austin Hieb 38 Greetings from the Alumni Association 30 Births 34 Marriages 39 In Memoriam 40 Important Dates
Research Associate Dan Hornung
Brett Moser x’03/’21
Bryce Nybo ’20/’22
Tara Kapp ’00
Michael Savaloja
Contributing Writers
Director of Design and Publications Donna Schmitz
alumni & friends 5
University of Jamestown President Polly Peterson, Ph.D. ’89
Director of Alumni Relations
Paul J. Olson, Ph.D., Provost Abby (Greshik) Perrine ’03
6 Alumni & Friends
This good ol’ college try led him to earn a degree in Chemistry in 1965, while playing quarterback and pole vaulting. Hoidal excelled in the classroom as well, graduating summa cum laude with the President’s Key.
The decision to attend medical school at the University of Minnesota led to a lifetime of contributions to academic excellence, fusing together all aspects of medicine, including patient care, research, teaching, administration, and health policy.
Looking back on a lifetime of excellence
Dr. John Hoidal, MD ’65
This period was one of significant personal and career growth, leading him to the University of Tennessee Center for Health Sciences in Memphis, where he served as Professor of Medicine and Director of Pulmonary Medicine.
Dr.physicians.Hoidal
“For so long I was looking forward,” Dr. Hoidal explained, reflecting on the requirements of his work. “But now it is time for me to look back.” As we watched the sunset from his mountain house outside of Salt Lake City, that’s just what he did. And like all things in his life, he did it exceptionally well.
After graduating from Hopkins (MN) High School, Dr. Hoidal sought out a liberal arts education at a private college. He arrived on campus in the fall of 1961 not knowing what to expect because, “Choosing a college to attend was a much lower key activity…than it is today.”
Though Dr. Hoidal’s goal when we started talking was to reflect on the past, he couldn’t help but look to the future once more, leaving me with this sentiment: “The University of Jamestown, at its core, must remain an essential liberal arts institution. I fervently believe that the broader emphasis results in more creative, more agile individuals, who can make connections leading to major advances in technologies and knowledge. Academics needs to be the center piece of the institution.”
served in this role for 15 years until his retirement in February of 2022. Throughout his tenure, Hoidal continued to be active in mentoring, clinical care, and research.
Hoidal’s father was a close friend of Jamestown College basketball coach and athletic director EJ Cassell. His mother was a North Dakota native, so the prospect of attending Jamestown for college, “although unusual, wasn’t totally foreign….so I decided to give it a try,” explained Dr. Hoidal.
As he was nearing graduation, JC classmate Don Sand `65 provided the nudge of confidence Hoidal needed to pursue medical school. “I thought, ‘If Don can do this, I certainly can too!’” he joked.
Dr. Hoidal’s career started in the classroom as an assistant and associate professor of medicine at the University of Minnesota. Early in his faculty appointment, he became involved in bench research, investigating basic mechanisms of lung injury, focusing on the pathobiochemical mechanisms of emphysema.
In 1987, Dr. Hoidal transitioned to the mountains of Salt Lake City after being recruited by the University of Utah. He held the position of the Renzetti Presidential Professor of Medicine and Chief of Pulmonary/Critical Care and Sleep Medicine. After 15 years as Division Chief, Hoidal was appointed Chairman of the Department of Medicine, overseeing 1200 employees and 400
He described his time at Jamestown College with the memory of it being “like a small village where everyone seemed connected….my greatest memories are the friends I made, the interchange within classrooms – made possible because of the small class sizes, and the accessibility and dedication of the professors.”
by Brett Moser x’03/’21
Dr. John Hoidal, MD ’65 has been a leader and difference maker in higher education for the past 46 years. As I sat in his living room, I was struck by his tenacity. This is a man who dedicated his life to the future of medicine, working fervently to advance the medical field.
“These activities allowed me to travel and lecture extensively and establish collaborators and colleagues through the globe,” he explained. Dr. Hoidal contributed to scholarly work in the medical field with 177 peer-reviewed journal articles, 15 review articles, 14-chapter contributions to medical textbooks, multiple editorials, and to date – three more pending publications.
“Jamestown College fully prepared me for the rigors of medical school. The education I obtained allowed me to start broad and embrace diverse educational experiences,” he explained. “This perspective, provided by the broad-spectrum approach, afforded the opportunity to see clinical and scientific issues from an inclusive perspective, and to bring (hopefully) creative new approaches to challenges in medicine.”
alumni & friends 9
Iagreed.ended
I’m excited to return to a liberal arts institution where I can perform cutting-edge research and educate the next generation of scientists and citizens. I hope to live up to the examples set by my mentors—in teaching at Jamestown and in research at UWMadison and UC Berkeley—and use my position to make academia a more diverse, equitable, and accessible space.
Dr. Didychuk works as an Assistant Professor in the Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry Department at Yale University, where she leads a research team that studies the molecular machines of Previously,herpesviruses.shegraduated summa cum laude from University of Jamestown with Bachelor of Science degrees in Biology, Chemistry, and Mathematics. Dr. Didychuk went on to earn her PhD in Biophysics from University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2017 and was the Rhee Family Fellow of the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation at University of California, Berkeley from 2018-2022.
More than steppingstonea
This fascination with catalytic RNA led me to graduate work with Samuel Butcher at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (Bruce Jensen’s alma mater—a major factor in my decision to apply there). There, I studied the catalytic RNA that sits in the core of the
Dr. Anthony Amaro and Allison
up skipping parts of freshman orientation to study for an exam, proctored by Dr. Carl Steffan, that would let me skip General Chemistry I & II and move on to Organic Chemistry. I passed. This move ultimately allowed me to complete the requirements for three majors—Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics—in four years.
In high school, I was fortunate to have excellent teachers in music, biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics. One of them encouraged me to apply to Jamestown College and pursue science (I was considering a music performance major). I applied and was offered the opportunity to compete for the Wilson Scholarship. When I visited for my interview, I fell in love with the campus and the idea of a liberal arts education.
Whenscientist.Iarrived on campus in summer 2008, I met with my advisor—Anthony Amaro—to talk about my course selections.
I asked if I could transfer my AP credits and take higher level courses. He described my plan as overambitious, but graciously
Ispliceosome.wentontodo
When I reflect on my experience at Jamestown, I am of course thankful for the generosity of the Wilson family, for the personal attention and affection I was given from members of the Jamestown community, and for the education I received that set me up for success in graduate school.
Dr. Amaro and Steffan’s willingness to go the extra mile and give a new student extra attention before the semester even started was in no way a unique experience.
But my experience at Jamestown was more than an academic steppingstone. I am most thankful for having the time with my family, who lived within driving distance and whose support was crucial throughout my college experience. My sister, Sarah, two years my junior, also attended Jamestown (and won the Wilson Scholarship). We were able to room together my senior year and connect in a way that I am grateful for day.singleevery
The professors in the science departments—particularly Dr. Bruce Jensen, Dr. Carl Steffan, and Ashish Patel—were incredibly supportive of me. They went above and beyond to explain concepts inside and outside the classroom, help me navigate my path in academia, and help me grow as a person.
Winning the Wilson Scholarship made it possible for me to attend Jamestown College, and it started me on my journey to becoming a
Allison Didychuk, Ph.D. ’12 reflects on her time at University of Jamestown.
postdoctoral research with Britt Glaunsinger at the University of California, Berkeley to investigate the fundamental biology of human herpesviruses. I have now launched my own lab to continue this research in the Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry Department at Yale University.
About the Author
My course work in molecular biology, genetics, and biochemistry—along with my summer research experiences at the Plant Biotechnology Institute (Saskatoon, SK)— convinced me that I wanted to pursue a career in research. In my last semester at Jamestown, I gave a presentation at the Alpha Chi super-regional convention called “Hammerhead Ribozymes and the RNA World”.
Making moves at medical school
by Natalie McKenna
Tommy Voss ’19
10 Alumni & Friends
Tommy promoting healthy eating during pregnancy (WIC project).
For most people, deciding on a career takes a lot of thinking. The path is often wrought with personal hurdles and academic indecisiveness while declaring – and often re-declaring – a major. But for the rare few, like Tommy Voss ‘19, choosing a career was second nature. Something he was almost born into.
Tommy found that same supportive environment at UJ when he settled there for his undergraduate studies.
rigorous. It’s going to be tough and you need to work hard. Because that work ethic was instilled in college, it transferred easily to medical school. UJ prepared me for the hard work. I don’t necessarily think I’d be where I’m at today without Jamestown.”
According to Voss and Stewart’s 2022 case report, “Parsonage-Turner Syndrome, also known as neuralgic amyotrophy, is a rare, immune-mediated inflammatory process that is characterized by the acute onset of upper extremity pain proceeded by progressive neurological deficits including weakness and atrophy.”
“I knew how good of an academic school it was before I started,” he said. “My experience once I actually got to campus was awesome.”
in 2019 with his degree in Exercise Science and worked for a year in a neurosurgery clinic at Sanford Health. Following that job, he was accepted into the Medical College of Wisconsin, the third largest private medical school in the nation. Tommy is about to enter his third year of Althoughstudy.
“I think I want to provide care to the communities I grew up in… to those that helped me get to where I am today,” he said. “I want to use the skills I have and create a healthier community all around.” No matter which route he chooses, one thing is clear: Tommy has and will continue to honor the places that helped foster his dreams and grow his success.
“UJ is ranked as a top school each year. That’s not by accident,” he explained. “We know the coursework is
“I decided on medical school when I was seven,” Tommy, whose mom worked as a nurse, explained. “The eagerness to learn and be immersed in the medical field grew as I did. It helped that my parents were my number one fans.”
Although he’s known since he was seven that he wanted to go to medical school, Tommy is still exploring areas of medicine to pursue. He hopes to find a path in his rotations that combines his passion for medicine and procedures.
Tommy is known for being a big Jimmie fan. He’s the guy at games who gets the crowd going, who bleeds orange and black. His Jimmie pride, though, doesn’t stop at athletics; instead, it extends to the academic rigor and unmatched support he received on his journey.
The pair began their research in the summer of 2021 and published their findings in JSES Reviews, Reports, and Techniques in May 2022.
“Everyone [at UJ] was going to do what they could to help me reach my goals. They helped me plan my four years around getting me where I wanted to be after graduation,” Tommy
Tommy was awarded the M1 Outstanding Clinical Skills Award, an honor given by the assistant Dean to one firstyear student that demonstrates exceptional clinical skills. He even had the opportunity to be at the forefront of COVID-19 research. Tommy, along with Cory Stewart, MD, explored how the disease can present itself in a patient’s body, beyond the respiratory system. They specifically studied a patient who developed severe dysfunction in the shoulder and upper arm, associated with Parsonage-Turner Syndrome, after a confirmed COVID-19 infection.
His appreciation for his undergraduate degree moves beyond his research, too.
Hecommented.graduated
alumni & friends 11
he describes his journey at medical school thus far as one where he’s “bounced around a bit,” to the average onlooker, Tommy’s path appears focused and strategic. In just two years, he has been recognized multiple times for his exceptional work ethic and research.
Tommy was quick to explain how his experience at UJ helped him in his research: “Studying Exercise Science during undergrad helped with a lot of the terms in the shoulder. It was nice to be able to jump into the research and understand a lot of what was going on.”
Supporting family and serving his American Indian community are what’s realistic for Kyler. So, it came as no surprise that he was found helping his father, DJ McGillis, direct a youth basketball camp on the Turtle Mountain Reservation on the day of this interview. The camp served as a “break” between juggling a summer consulting job at his aunt’s behavioral health clinic in Belcourt, North Dakota, and continuing work on AIRO, the non-profit organization he’s founded to help insure Indigenous students a successful path to post-secondary education through a devised platform of practical Native American mentorship and support.
McGillis
But the natural leader, who University of Jamestown’s Dr. Mort Sarabakhsh says, “means business,” understands that visionaries like himself must first force themselves to simply place one foot in front of the other.
An electrified ambition aimed at charging higher education opportunities for Native Americans has Kyler McGillis ’22 bursting with infectious enthusiasm.
“I don’t want to walk. I just want to sprint,” laughed McGillis, who, after being showered with academic awards, received his undergraduate degree in business administration from UJ in May and will be off to Johns Hopkins Carey Business School this fall. “I always want to shoot big, but I gotta keep it realistic as well.”
Using data provided by both the United States Census Bureau and the Postsecondary National Policy Institute, Kyler appeared before UJ’s Board of Trustees in the spring and reported that only 19% of Native Americans aged 18-24 are currently enrolled in college, while
On the straight and launches non-profit to serve Native American students.
By Michael Savaloja
just 14.5% of American Indian and Alaska Native populations earned a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Kyler believes the complex issues surrounding those numbers can in some form be traced to cultural breakdowns in communication that hinder Native American students from accessing the resources and tools needed to succeed. Kyler’s high school principal Charles “Chip” Anderson agrees.
“In Indian Country, students don’t know what is out there and what’s available,” said Anderson, who also instructed Kyler at St. John High School, north of Belcourt. “Sometimes they don’t come from educated families, so if you’re not coming from an educated family, they can’t help you with your Andersoneducation.”explained processes such as applying for financial aid, registering for classes, and seeking advisement can be daunting for first-generation Native American students who may not know where to begin to seek answers. But beyond that, Kyler’s vision for AIRO, which is an acronym for “All Indigenous Recruiting Organization,” is to provide a network of support for Indigenous students from year one all the way to graduation day.
Kyler’s goal will largely be accomplished by connecting students with Native American mentors free of charge via an online application.
“How many times have coaches said, ‘That Native kid’s good, but we don’t know if he’ll stay (in school). That’s what needs to change and that’s where I’m hoping AIRO can be able to help those kids get there and stay there.”
continued on next page —Kyler McGillis
Student CoordinatorSuccess
Currently, Kyler’s AIRO team has started small by mentoring 10 students through the Spaces by Wix app. Spaces is an online application that is free to download and connects individuals with online businesses and communities, like AIRO.
As soon as a perspective college student, or a student already enrolled, is connected, answers to all inquiries will receive a response from one of the organization’s mentors. From something as simple as finding directions to study areas or locating a tutor, to connecting a budding high school athlete or artist with a coach or professor at a certain university, it’s the more simple, everyday type of support that Kyler hopes will instill confidence and motivate students to
“We’resucceed.honing
“I think this has a really good chance anywhere, but we’re talking Indian Country and it’s definitely needed in Indian Country,” said principal Anderson. “The impact that Kyler potentially has the opportunity to make is huge.”
in on the students’ needs ... to kind of be that big brother, or big sister, and to be able to say, ‘Hey, you can get past this first year, second year, third year,’” Kyler said. “We also want to have a voice for students. If an Indigenous student is struggling at school, we want to help be that voice for them.”
looked in his direction as a recruit.
“It’s the support,” Anderson added. “Our culture is so family oriented. So, when they’re leaving to go to college what supports are in place for those kids to be comfortable? Or else they’re going to come home.”
That’s also what will set AIRO apart: what it
TROTTIER,AIYANA Research &
Kyler eventually landed at Bismarck State College for two years before connecting with the University Jamestown and the Jimmies. Kyler feels some of his struggles to get noticed, both athletically and academically, stemmed from stereotypical perception.
“There’s a lot of good Native American athletes, but sometimes they’re underrepresented,” Kyler explained. “How many times have coaches said, ‘That Native kid’s good, but we don’t know if he’ll stay (in school). That’s what needs to change and that’s where I’m hoping AIRO can be able to help those kids get there and stay there.”
AIRO’s
Kyler’s perspective on the Native American college student-athlete process is firsthand. A former North Dakota Mr. Basketball finalist in high school, as well as being a tribal citizen of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians who possessed an above average GPA, only a pair of in-state junior colleges
“I was lucky enough to receive the Hunter Family Fellowship that offers a full scholarship for me to attend the program,” Kyler said. “I also wanted to choose this route because it dives deeper into the underrepresented diversities that are trying to advance their leadership skills.”
“Getting the word out on what we’re doing and also reaching out to tribes to make sure we’re supporting them in North Dakota right away,” Kyler said, explaining current progress. “We’ve been developing
the website and working on our app. I have yet to really do a lot of marketing because we can’t rush this Kylerout.”said
Kyler’s passion didn’t go unnoticed on campus. He was presented with the Knight Award from President Dr. Polly Peterson during Opening Convocation last fall, and in April he was presented with the business department’s William J. Klaudt Award.
AIRO
AIRO needs to build into a position to manage a potentially large volume of students in the coming years, hence the current 10-student pilot project. Relationship building with colleges and universities is also in the works, with one-to-one scholarships once AIRO secures funding being the hopeful outcome.
“He’s not going to be able to solve all the problems,” Sarabakhsh said, “but he wants to be a solution to some of the problems.”
plans on delivering after it guides Native American students toward potential financial aid and a home away from home.
“When I got to college … I just wish I would’ve had more direction and more knowledge,” Kyler said. “I had a high GPA in high school, but I never thought I’d fall in love with something in education and it was business I fell in love with at Jamestown. And a lot of that had to do with the professors believing in me … then it came natural.”
More information on can be found online at
“Kyler’s one of a kind and there’s no question in my mind that he’s going to carve his name somewhere,” Sarabakhsh said. “He can understand both cultures – outside the reservation and inside the reservation – and he can blend them together without any threatening situation. That’s strong social skill.”
“I want to be able to have partnerships or support from all the colleges and universities in North Dakota,” Kyler said. “It all depends on the number of mentors that wish to volunteer, too. But, I’d say, 25 staff would be good in the next few years.”
Johns Hopkins Carey Business School Leadership Development Program awaits Kyler this August in Baltimore, Maryland. Who knows what keys will further unlock his steady mind on the East Coast?
Having just recently achieved 501(c)(3) status, Kyler’s current objective for AIRO is to hit the road and build private-sector partnerships to help promote his organization and secure funding to propel AIRO into the future. Along with himself as executive director, AIRO’s initial management team includes President Shane Martin ‘97, Vice President Chad Dahlen, Secretary/Treasurer Jen Parisien, Research & Student Success Coordinator Aiyana Trottier and Ambassador SaNoah Larocque.
alumni & friends 15
And, oh yes, there’s graduate school to attend.
Business professors such as Dr. Sarabakhsh, Karen Crane and Teddi Jo Paulson, who helped guide Kyler after he first envisioned AIRO in October 2020. Kyler worked intensely with Sarabakhsh and his UJ Community Alliance for Management Consulting (CAMC) classmates, defining AIRO’s mission statement and logo while exploring research.
airomovement.org
Kyler also envisions AIRO eventually connecting graduates to employers as well.
Sarabakhsh said research concluded that Native American populations need college-educated expertise to serve in roles such as computer security, counseling, and financial planning, which AIRO could ultimately help to provide.
Walking around Park Central, the new home of University of Jamestown Accelerated, feels like stepping into the future. What was once Phoenix’s first shopping mall is now a modern mixed-use space, teeming with businesses focused on innovation, education, and healthcare. Self-driving cars roam the streets. There’s even campus security. But unlike in Jamestown, this one is a robot. A regular Rosie Jetson if you will.
is new, it is far from a startup. It’s a business rooted in 140 years of history.
But it’s so much more than that.
Walking into the UJ Accelerated office within Park Central is no different. It feels like a startup. A sleek new office waiting for furniture and ideas to fill the space.
So, what exactly is University of Accelerated?Jamestown
An inside look at how UJ is moving into the future, while staying true to their history.
But as the UJ team paints the picture of what this division will become, one thing is immediately evident: Although UJ Accelerated
In its simplest form, UJ Accelerated gives learners the opportunity to earn a certificate, a bachelor’s degree, and/or a graduate degree – all available exclusively online.
“We need to recognize that there are learners who want a ‘step-up approach’ to education that allows
“UJ Accelerated is our non-residential academic opportunity,” explained President Dr. Polly Peterson.
University of Jamestown puts down roots in Phoenix.
This past year, University of Jamestown had record enrollment, with nearly 1,300 students.
Forone.”those only interested in learning a new skill to upscale, they may stop there. For others, UJ Accelerated rewards learners with something tangible to improve their employment while simultaneously working towards their degree.
University of Jamestown has done education exceptionally well for 140 years, but for a very small subset of the
Dr. Peterson explained her enrollment goals for the future of the University, saying, “I hope we’re at least double, if not triple our current enrollment as we think about welcoming an additional population of learners into what we all as alumni are very proud of.”
Plus, as Dr. Gordon explained it, “Phoenix is the Silicon Valley of online education.” There’s a large pool of talent, as well as networking opportunities to collaborate with businesses and employers to help establish and develop
“We allow them to learn their way, in the timeframe that they have, without having to move,” explained Dr. Peterson, as she differentiated UJ Accelerated from other online programs. “That certificate is stage
Why now? And why Phoenix?
them to get credentials while they’re working towards something bigger,” continued Dr. Peterson. “For a lot of non-traditional learners, it’s hard to think about going on a four-year journey to get a new opportunity at work.”
“Nowpopulation.we’resaying, we can do this for all learners who want education beyond high school,” expanded Dr. Peterson. “This is an opportunity far greater than anything we’ve seen in our history.”
Those alumni Dr. Peterson referred to were considered when selecting Phoenix as the home of this new division, since UJ has a strong alumni base in Arizona. Although courses are offered online, the Park Central office is centrally located and is walking distance from public transportation, making it accessible for in-person meetings and any future alumni support opportunities.
“Everything is tested,” explained Nola Czarnik, Associate VP of Academic Innovation & Development. After the courses and dashboards are designed, Czarnik’s team focuses on how learners use the technology available to them. They can see, in real-time through testing, how a user interacts with their platform.
How is UJ Accelerated different from other online programs?
selection is driven by employer needs,” continued Dr. Gordon. The team is constantly reviewing data and talking with employers from different industries to determine demand.
“Ourcourses.course
For one, UJ Accelerated is, by design, easy to do business with. The technology behind UJ Accelerated is targeted and simplistic – made to be intuitive to students.
“We look at how to evaluate the model, iterate on it, and ensure its effectiveness,” continued Czarnik. “We want to understand each part of a course. If something doesn’t make sense to a user, we change it. We’re in a constant state of improvement which is very exciting.”
“If it makes sense for us to provide the opportunityeducationaltostudents to better prepare them for the workforce and it aligns with our integrity, values and mission, then we should consider adding it,” said Dr. Peterson.
Dr. Danielle Gordon, Executive Vice President of UJ Accelerated, expanded on this thought. “It’s skillbased learning. But we’re keeping the UJ heart and spirit.”
The holistic learning experience. The personal touch. The commitment to knowing your name. It’s all there. But with UJ Accelerated, it’s available to a larger population of learners.
“We have to be willing to accept that, especially coming out of the pandemic, the world changed,” explained Dr. Peterson. “People are looking for new opportunities that are different than they were four or five years ago. We have to look at where the market is, and I truly believe we can do that in a way that makes every UJ alum proud.”
That’s where UJ Accelerated steps in. Learners can register to earn a certificate—but not just any professional or licensure certificate. UJ’s certificate courses are built with the same academic structure as their in-person courses and are approved by the Higher Learning Commission. That means when a student completes a course, they are awarded college credit that can be seamlessly stacked into an undergraduate or master’s level degree.
alumni & friends 17
course, students have the opportunity to demonstrate the skills they learn, all in an effort to remediate and ensure they are ready when it’s time to test.” If you’ve mastered a skill, the technology let’s you move on. If not, you keep working at it. Everything’s done at the learner’s pace.
very important,” explained Zack Lesak, Vice President of Operations. “We have admissions counselors who work with our new students every step of the way. And we’re hoping to add a student services team.”
Another main difference between UJ Accelerated and other online programs is the relationship aspect.
“It’s not just a numbers game. Our goal is not 100,000 students. We are a niche model,” explained Dr. Peterson. “We want all our students to experience smaller class sizes and relationship building. And we want them to have access to financial aid and career resources, to their faculty and to each Universityother.”of
Education is made very real and accessible to learners. Every program is broken down into skills, with students earning badges along the way to help them track their progress.
“Some of those core Christian values are embedded in how we deliver this curriculum,” said Dr. Peterson as she explained how providing a Christian education is more than just offering a religion course. “It’s about how we live out the virtues of Christianity – how we accept and encourage others, acting with kindness, respect, accountability, and Eachdiscipline.”ofthose
values are part of the experience a student has as they interact with faculty, staff, and with each other.
The UJ Accelerated team is building partnerships with businesses and government entities to grow their programs and expand their offerings. They’re assessing grant programs and work-based learning opportunities to continue to make a UJ education more accessible to all
“It’s relationship-style learning,” explained Dr. Peterson. “We aspire to be someone who knows our graduates. And ten years later, maybe we go visit them or they come back, and they’re proud. Even though many of these new students
Registration for UJ Accelerated programs is currently open at ACCELERATED.UJ.EDU. Certifications are available in Cybersecurity, Digital Marketing and Analytics, Nonprofit Leadership, Business Leadership, and Project Management –among others.
Although the robot security guard that roams the halls near UJ Accelerated was a nice touch, you don’t need to see it in person to know University of Jamestown is growing. With a focus on the future and lifelong learning, it’s clear the University is remaining relevant in the 21st century and beyond.
students can choose from about 40 different programs,” explained Dr. Peterson. “I’d like to see UJ Accelerated grow to around that number of courses, if not more as we see new demand from learners and employers.”
“Ourlearners.in-person
18 Alumni & Friends
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE.
Jamestown Accelerated can achieve those goals through technology. With easy-to-use chat applications, learners can connect with their peers and subject-matter experts to garner real-time support. Plus, UJ Accelerated is growing their team to further foster relationships with “Ilearners.findcommunity
Consider coming back to the University you already know and love. Visit ACCELERATED.UJ.EDU to explore course offerings. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! If you are an employer interested in partnering with UJ Accelerated for workforce development, contact: DR. ROBERT
Director of Business and Governmental Affairs Robert.Stenson@uj.edu
alumni & friends 19
Interested in continuing your education? STENSON
UJ Accelerated team members walk through Park Central location. (left to right) Dr. Robert Stenson, Dr. Danielle Gordon, and Nola Czarnik
At the University of Jamestown, our response to these questions is to come alongside our students – serving and loving them while encouraging an atmosphere of self-discipline, responsibility, and concern for their continuing growth.
This atmosphere aims to give students space to explore their faith, asking tough questions related to their worldview, processing life experiences, and exploring philosophy of ministry and theology.
“There are three areas that Campus ministry focuses on,” explained Dobson, who just completed her first year at UJ. “I want every student to know that they are loved and cared about and that this is a safe place for you. Second, we desire to help with transitions in the lives of students as there are many of them. And third, we desire to see students leverage their lives as conduits of service to the UJ community, to the community of Jamestown, and to the world.”
“What am I missing in life?” “I have a place in me that feels empty.” “Faith for me in my childhood was kind of just going through the motions.” These types of statements have been common among our students at UJ, according to Kirstie Dobson, Director of Campus Ministry and Care.
MinistryCampusShapesImpactLeadership
by Brett Moser x’03/’21
Whether it is developing relationships, addressing tough questions, leading ministry teams, participating in bible studies, or worshipping and recording, Campus Ministry at UJ is seeing some special things.
The fruit of the impact of what is happening on campus is
Holmes ’22 compared campus ministry to an anchor that held onto him through one of the darkest
“Iministry.havesometimes
up to 12 team meetings a week with our 12 student-led ministry teams, that currently involves 85 student-leaders.”
This past year, Azure and Holmes teamed up with fellow UJ senior Kamree Carson to record an original song, titled, “The Well.”
Left to right: Logan Berggren, Kamree Carlson, Sarah Azure, Emily Dinius, Andy Dalbol, Nathaniel Holmes
This focus mirrors Jesus’ directive to his disciples to be his witnesses and servants… “In Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
Leadership teams focus on a variety of areas including bible studies, prayer, worship, and social media. This development can only be accomplished with the development of relationships.
“Through the worship team, I met some of the greatest and most talented people I know,”
“Sinceevident.stepping
UJ Student’s Record “The Well” Available on Spotify and Apple Music
“Whenstorms.I
said Azure. “I experienced God working through us every week in our rehearsals and at chapel. It was such a blessing to be a part of it.”
Student Leadership
Holmes gave the backdrop to this work that was released around Easter 2022:
An encouraging trend at UJ has been the rise of leadership teams and students involved in campus
foot on campus, I was welcomed with open arms into campus ministry,” reflected Sarah Azure ’22. “Though most of my childhood faith was just going through the motions, in college I was exposed to different forms of prayer, worship, and bible study. This is where I dove into my Nathanielfaith.”
first got to UJ, I was going through changes. God was breaking me down to mold me the right way,” he explained. “Without campus ministry, I’m sure I would’ve lost my way to the point of no return. I believe campus ministry is a beacon of hope and life for those who are lost in this world.”
Soli Deo Gloria
Kirstie’s philosophy in building relationships comes down to accessibility. “I spend so much time in Knight Hall,” she explained. “This is kind of like the kitchen island for me… It is where students eat, but also where they pause and slowdown from their rigorous schedules of classes, studying, athletic practices, and performance rehearsals.”
“I wrote ‘The Well’ during a period in my life where I felt like I had no more fight in me! I was completely lost, alone, and couldn’t feel God’s presence anymore. I just sat at the piano and literally cried out. I was holding a lot of pain and grief inside, and I wouldn’t let it go. The more I played, the more I began to be open and honest, and it was like the words of the song just fell from my lips. Last August, I was able to learn from Grammy winners Maverick City Music, learning the importance of worshipping as a collective. I couldn’t wait to get back on campus and see my sisters and sing together.”
The trio along with Logan Berggren, released a new song, “Trust” on July 22.
“It is exciting to be back ‘home,’” she explained. “The University of Jamestown and the Jamestown community have been very welcoming, and I am excited to continue building friendships and relationships with past and future Jimmies!”
Meet some of our newestmembersteam
Please help us welcome two new UJ employees to the Department of Development and Alumni Relations!
Relations and Friends of the Arts,” he said. “I am looking forward to building relationships with my fellow Jimmie alumni to give current and future students the same opportunities that I was
with concentrations in Management & Marketing, as well as a Minor in andhercatfriendslakespendingWhenTechnologyInformationin2021.she’snottimeatthewithfamilyand(andherlovableJack),youcanfindenjoyingagoodbookloggingmilesonarun.
Brycegiven.”and
Director of Alumni Relations and Friends of the Arts
his brother Jace Nybo ’15 were both persuaded to attend the “college on the hill” by their neighbor, “third grandparent”, and proud Jimmie grads Ruth (Mayer) x’51 and James Gray ’51.
During his undergraduate time at UJ, Bryce participated in Men’s Soccer, SNDU (an education organization), and travelled abroad. He even met his wife, Addie Keller ’20—who is the Coordinator of Student Engagement at UJ—in Watson Hall. Bryce graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education in 2020 and went on to earn his Master of Arts in Leadership in May 2022.
Bryce Nybo ’20, ’22
During his free time, Bryce enjoys walking his dog Lulu, sporting events, golfing, and being active in events around campus.
Tess (Scott) Hirschkorn ’21 Development Services Manager
Tess grew up near Spiritwood Lake and attended Barnes County North through high school. She made her way to UJ in 2017, spending her freshman year on the basketball court. Tess earned her Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration,
ALUMNI DEPARTMENT
After living in Center, ND for a year and commuting to Bravera Bank in Mandan for work, Tess and her husband Levi returned to Jamestown in May 2022, leading Tess to her new position as the Development Services Manager.
“I couldn’t be more excited to continue to call the University of Jamestown my home with my new role as the Director of Alumni
Born and raised in Bismarck, Bryce has called UJ home since 2016, when he began his undergraduate studies. After serving as the graduate assistant coach for the men’s hockey team for two years, Bryce began his new journey at UJ in the Department of Development and Alumni Relations.
When high school sweethearts Blair and Jennifer (Kisch) Anderson ’08 headed to the University of Jamestown, they knew they had embarked on an exciting new chapter of their lives together.
By Abigail (Greshik) Perrine ’03
alumni & friends 23
Robust UJ Academic Experience Prepares Couple for Success in Graduate School and Beyond
24 Alumni & Friends
Blair, meanwhile, was finding his own passion in the rigorous science programs offered by UJ, particularly the classes on molecular biology and genetics taught by Dr. Bruce Jensen. Blair, a third-generation Jimmie, loved his classwork with Dr. Jensen, which included basic genetics lab experiments on plant bacteria, researching current papers and articles on genetics, and discussions about evolutionary biology. He found himself hooked on biochemistry.
Jen had long felt a calling to ministry, and by her sophomore year, had decided on a Religion/Philosophy major. Jen speaks warmly about how UJ prepared her for seminary. During a yearlong directed study with Dr. Stephen Reed, she learned Greek and translated 1 John. She spent countless hours discussing her faith with Dr. Brian Lang, saying, “His philosophy classes made me stretch my mind and wonder and think through different ideologies and different ways of seeing the world…to really start deconstructing my faith, figuring out what I believed.” She strongly believes those difficult conversations prepared her for her later seminary studies.
Succeeding at Duke University
While at Duke, Jen and Blair welcomed two of their three children, now ages 8, 5, and 2. Blair continued his studies, while Jen accepted her first appointment out of seminary at
Upon Jen’s conferral in 2011, Blair decided to pursue his own graduate education. Though it had been three years since his graduation, Blair found that his UJ professors were happy to write the necessary letters of recommendation. Soon, he began pursuing a Ph.D. in genetics and genomics at
BlairDuke.admits
In 2008, Jen and Blair graduated from UJ. While Jen, who had received a full-ride scholarship to Duke University, completed her Master of Divinity, Blair worked in one of the renowned university’s research labs.
Blair agrees that the faculty at UJ are unique, saying, “My professors were really invested in their classes and their students—they wanted me to succeed, and they sought out ways to do that. I don’t think that’s widespread. The professor-to-class relationship was just so strong at UJ.”
the Calvary United Methodist Church, the first reconciling church in the Carolinas. Jen’s pride in her work as a reconciling pastor comes through in how she talks about that appointment. “The folks there taught me what it was to love unconditionally. You are loved. End of sentence. Done.” In later appointments, Jen worked to find ways to help congregants learn to love and accept one another.
A few years ago, Blair and Jen moved their family to Minnesota, where they welcomed their third child. Jen is in now in her third year as a Pastor of Discipleship at Centennial United Methodist Church, a unique one-church/ two-campus setting. There, her ministry focuses on small groups and spiritual formation across all age groups.
alumni & friends 25
he was anxious at first, knowing many of his classmates came from elite institutions. But he quickly realized, “UJ was really on par with those schools. We had the same background, used some of the same textbooks even. I felt very well prepared.”
Meanwhile, Blair works as a clinical project manager at IQVIA, where he leads a team conducting clinical trials in rare disease and gene therapy, primarily focusing on sickle cell disease. He is looking forward to moving into a clinical science role in the coming months.
Strong Faculty Support
“My professors were really invested in their classes and their students—they wanted me to succeed, and they sought out ways to do that. I don’t think that’s widespread. The professorto-class relationship was just so strong at UJ.”
Where They Are Now… and Where They’re Headed
Jen and Blair may have started off as high school sweethearts. But their strong work ethic and a desire to improve the world—something they were able to build upon while at UJ—has transformed them into the power couple they are today.
In the summer between their junior and senior year, the couple celebrated their wedding. Jen accepted a position as a part-time student pastor—a job she held while also being a full-time student. She credits the close, 1:1 professor-student connection as the key to balancing both. Those relationships were pivotal to her career path and overall ministry.
—Blair Anderson
what’sreminisce,CATCHnewon We hope to see you in your ORANGE HOMECOMING FESTIVITIES Booster Club luncheon, alumni sporting concerts, tailgating, and of course, the Check the UJ website at UJ.EDU for updates and registration Stay tuned to the 2022-2023 Home Schedule on JimmiePride.com for additional
Charlotte & Gordon Hansen Stadium
3 pm Men’s Soccer vs Northwestern (Iowa) College
1992 Softball Team
7 pm Men’s Hockey vs Minot State Wilson Arena
FOR INFORMATIONMOREBRYCENYBO Director of Alumni Relations (701) 252-3467 ext. Bryce.Nybo@uj.edu4104 additional events throughout the weekend!
8:30 pm All Class Alumni and Friends Social Shady’s Bar and Grill
Rollie Greeno Field
Reiland Fine Arts Center and Voorhees Chapel
1 pm Football Game vs Doane
Brandon Lemer ’05
Gladstone Inn and Suites
1971 Football Team
8 am 5k Run/Walk, Starts at Larson Center
3 pm Baseball Double header Alumni Game (Contact Coach Hager or Coach Illif if you are able to attend.)
Heritage Room in Nafus Center
Sunday, October 2
Voorhees Chapel
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
10-10:30 am Campus Tours
8:30 am Chapel w/ light breakfast
5 pm Chili Feed
Saturday, October 1
Athletic Hall of Fame
Lyngstad/Student Engagement Center
alumni & friends 27
9 am Athletic Hall of Fame Breakfast Harold Newman Arena
Jeanne Tews ’80
Jack Brown Stadium
7:30 pm Homecoming Band and Choir Concerts
2022 INDUCTEES
Rollie Greeno Award
Lyngstad/Student Engagement Center
September 30–October 2, 2022
8 am-noon Welcome & Check-in
Shannon (Fee) Bachmeier ’11
Dan Stoudt ’07
Friday, September 30
CATCH
Gladstone Inn and Suites
11 am-1 pm Booster Club Tailgating Party
Senior Night for Men’s Soccer Turf Field
Voorhees Chapel Noon Women’s Hockey vs Northern Alberta Inst. of Tech. Wilson Arena
5-7 pm President’s Banquet & Celebrations of 50th Anniversary Alumni (Class of 1972)
Athletic Hall of Fame
8:30 am Jimmie Jane Breakfast
UP, reminisce, and see on ORANGEcampus! and BLACK! FESTIVITIES INCLUDE: sporting events, Band and Choir the Homecoming football game. details.
1 pm Women’s Soccer vs Northwestern (Iowa) College Turf Field
10:30-11 am Class/Alumni Photos
MARKCALENDARYOUR FOR THE UJ REUNIONSCHOOLALLHOMECOMING2023 MORE DETAILS TO COME!
I look forward to meeting even more of you as our new school year gets underway. I can’t thank everyone enough for welcoming my family and me to the community over the last few months. We could not be more excited to be Jimmies!”
ATHLETICS
21-22 PerformancesGreatest The Jimmies performed exceptionally well this past year. Here, we highlight our National Tournament teams and All-Americans. National Tournament Teams Men’s Basketball Men’s Hockey Men’s Women’sWomen’sWomen’sVolleyballSoccerVolleyballWrestling (Won another KCAC conference title) All Americans Mason Walters (First Team) // Men’s Basketball Samuel Jackman (First Team) // Men’s Volleyball Tanner Woods (Second Team) // Men’s Volleyball Korben Phillips (Honorable Mention) // Men’s Volleyball Braden Neumann (Honorable Mention) // Men’s Volleyball Jada Shorter // Women’s Diving Kamryn Fiscus // Women’s Soccer Anna Holen (First Team) // Women’s Volleyball Kalli Hegerle (Second Team) // Women’s Volleyball Corina Huff (Honorable Mention) // Women’s Volleyball Jordynn Toliver // Women’s Track & Field Allie Baudhuin // Women’s Wrestling alumni & friends 29
UJ’s New Athletic Director
Introducing: Austin Hieb
that UJ Athletics gets from the University, alumni, and community cannot be overstated. Special things can happen when everyone is bought in, and that’s what we have here. I’ve gotten to meet a lot of Jimmie supporters over the last few months, and nothing makes me happier than seeing the passion the people in this community have for the University of Jamestown.
“Accepting the position as the Athletic Director at the University of Jamestown in March was a dream come true for me. I’ve wanted to be an athletic director for quite some time now, and the University of Jamestown checked all of the boxes. I’ve always said that I want to be at a place where people care and that’s why UJ was so appealing to Theme.support
8. Diane (Westerhausen) Flieth ’07 (BA) and Randy Flieth, daughter Zoe Jean Flieth born June 20, 2020 (not pictured)
10. Jessica Friesz ’20 (BS) and Jerome Byndloss x’18, daughter Jaalaea Rose Byndloss born January 14, 2022
E
1. Kristin and Alex Anderson ’21 (DPT), daughter Britton Indi Anderson born February 12, 2022
7. Kadie (Savage) Eriksson ’15 (BS) and Beau Eriksson ’16 (BA), daughter Presley Jan Eriksson born January 25, 2022
15. Jayma (Odermann) Kvale x’13 and Jordan Kvale ’10 (BA), son Briggs Dawson Kvale born February 21, 2022
J
12. Josie (Bopp) Holen ’16 (BA) and Benjamin Holen ’13 (BA), daughter Eleanor Loretta Holen born May 15, 2022 (featured on page 33)
Listed in alphabetical order by family last name.
BIRTHS
4. Caroline (Ortman) Blumenshine ’13/’18 (BA)/ (MED) and Kyle Blumenshine ’13/’16 (BS)/(DPT), daughter Sophie Lynn Blumenshine born June 4, 2022
11. Leah (Jystad) Herrmann ’12 (BA) and Dustin Herrmann ’12 (BA), daughter Ellie Laine Herrmann and son James Philip Herrmann born January 10, 2022
13. Stacey (Johnson) Koomson ’11 (BA) and Emmanuel Koomson, son Eli John Koomson born February 2, 2022
2. Josie (Hegerle) Beckman ’20 (BA) and Corey Beckman, daughter Libby Lou Beckman born June 21, 2022
5. Sarah (Telehey) Burgess ’17 (BA) and Marshal Burgess ’19/’22 (BS)/(DPT), daughter Brinley Ann Burgess born July 10, 2022
3. Heather (Cellmer) Bivens ’12 (BA) and Nate Bivens x’12, daughter Charleigh Kathleen Bivens born September 20, 2021
9. Katie (Kachel) Florhaug ’10 (BA) and Ross Florhaug ’10 (BA), son Aiden James Florhaug born February 4, 2022
14. Chelsey (Cotney) Kuznia ’15 (BSN) and Josh Kuznia, son Finley Ray Kuznia born December 23, 2021
6. Mikaela (Young) Combo and Christopher Combo ’13 (BA), daughter Charlie Ann Combo born May 22, 2022
16. Makenzie (Bebo) Larsen ’18 (BA) and Justin Larsen ’18 (BA), daughter Theo Sandra Larsen born June 2, 2022
F
H D G N O QP C K
B
L alumni & friends 31
Births (cont.)
V
21. Sydney (Greenlund) Reif ’16 (BS) and Alex Reif, son Aiden Lee Reif born May 11, 2022
22. Mackenzie (Schwartz) Tadych ’16 ‘18 (BA) (MAL) and Tyler Tadych, daughter Liv Marie Tadych born March 26, 2022
W
19. Abigail (Wenzel) Olson ’17 (BSN) and Jake Olson ’18 (BSN), son Manning James Olson born June 26, 2022
17. Darci (Purath) Moch ’09 (BA) and Tim Moch ’09 (BA), daughter Lucy Viola Moch born February 8, 2022
R
S
U
20. Gabrielle (Lane) Parks ’14 (BS) and Nolan Parks ’15 (BA), daughter Winona James Parks born August 16, 2021
W V
18. Sarah Nygard and Nate Nygard ’11 (BS), daughter Ruthie Sue Nygard and daughter Harriet Jane Nygard born May 26, 2022
T
T
Eleanor Loretta Holen born May 15, 2022 (daughter of Josie (Bopp) Holen ’16 (BA) and Benjamin Holen ’13 (BA) )
Bryce Nybo ’20/’22 and Addie Keller ’20/’22, July 16, 2022
WE WANT TO CELEBRATE WITH YOU! Recently engaged and planning for the big day? Have you had an addition to your family within the last year? Update your information at uj.edu/update to receive a free t-shirt for your new future JIMMIE or a flag for photos on your wedding day! After you have received your t-shirt or flag, be sure to send us your photo so we can include it in the next issue of the Alumni & Friends magazine. EMAIL PHOTOS TO BRYCE.NYBO@UJ.EDU R M alumni & friends 33
Jennifer
and
Brooke
2022 Listed in alphabetical order by brides last name. H G D
and Beau
’19
5. Fuchs (BS) Noah Bechtold, May 13,
Marriages F
ReeAnn
2. Cleaver Rabedeaux (BA), June 18,
’18
Aleesha
30, 2021
’16
’19
B
2022
Kennedy
3. Cupido Folsom (BA), May 21, 2022
’19
and Justin
’18
4. Entingh Joshua Knutson (BA), June 24, 2022
C
and
1. Christianson (BS) Jacob Rice (BA), July
and
6. Amy Folkestad ’04 (BA) and Rusty Bigelow, September 21, 2019 7. Charli Foot Bear-Vetter and Christopher Koppinger ’15 (BA), June 13, 2022 8. Tracy Gustafson ’13 (BA) and Ryan Illif ’18 (BA), June 11, 2022 9. Courtney Hammer ’15 (BS) and Jack Hartley ’15/’19 (BA)/(MCC), July 2, 2022 10. Sarah Holen ’16 (BA) and Jonathan Doll, June 10, 2022 I J E Marriages
W L M N Marriages O Q V 9 36 Alumni & Friends
17.
12. ShaeLynn Johnson ’19 (BSN) and Tyler Ludlow ’18 (BS), June 4, Stacey Johnson ’11 (BA) and Emmanuel Koomson, June 4, 2022 Heidi Kadoun ’10 (BA) and Zachary Turner, September 11, 2021 Kathleen Karppinen ’98 (BA) and Darin Zins, June 11, 2022 Addie Keller ’20/’22 (BS)/(MAL) and Bryce Nybo ’20/’22 (BA)/(MAL), July 16, 2022 Britta Knudson ’20 (BA) and Coleman Farthing ’20 (BA), July 9, 2022 Lexie Krapp ’21 (BSN) and Jaden Carlson, June 4, 2022
2022 13.
14.
11. Marly Holmquist and Addie Schnabel ’22 (BA), June 4, 2022
16.
15.
18.
21.
22.
25.
R Brittany Matejka ’17 (BS) and Cody Kilgore ’16 (BA), June 18, 2022 Nicole Morrison ’20 (BS) and Julio Abreo, June 25, 2022 (not pictured) Teah Poyner and Ben Weisbeck ’19 (BA), November 6, 2021 Brittany Rheault ’18 (BA) and Nathan Kapaun ’18/’20 (BA)/(MAL), June 10, 2022 Brienne Roehrich ’20/’23 (BS)/(DPT) and Brodie Stairs ’19 (BA), February 22, 2022 (not pictured) Martha Scheaffer ’21 (BA) and Cameron Jenkins ’20 (BA), July 2, 2022 Tess Scott ’21 (BA) and Levi Hirschkorn, October 9, 2021 Kali Weinmann ’18 (BSN) and Drake Boyer, May 6, 2022 Miriah Yoder ’19 (BA) and Eli Luna, June 18, 2022
27.
19.
26.
20.
23.
S Z T 8 P Y
24.
Dr. Harry Hong’s enthusiasm for history captured my imagination for the world.
Emily Paulson ’15, Fargo, ND
Kyle Blumenshine ’13/’16, Jamestown, ND Matt Gooding ’94, Clive, IA Deb (Clark) Hornung ’85, Jamestown, ND
Prof Robert Coles’ social psychology of human history informed me that humans are linked and connected, a circle (not ranked, not a hierarchy) instead of a pyramid. Professor Tanner in math shared with us how he would do all the chores in the home for a week for mother’s day.
MaryBeth Hegstad ’97
They broadened my horizons with their lectures. My educational Professor McGlinsky taught me the concept of life-long learning – with the possibility of students of my generation having five jobs in a lifetime, that work structure had never crossed our minds; Prof Cameron Fischer’s classes on western civilizations exposed the notion that those pillars of society were shaped by situatedness: the way people interpreted and responded to the world around them based on their own experiences and to make sense of ‘how norms were created, stretched my own perspective of humanity;
Summer was just shy of her third birthday June 12, 1975 when I graduated with a double major. I can still hear her calling out hello to Professor Bob Coles on the back of my bike!
Like their experiences, the impact of UJ’s faculty on my life was substantial. Comparing collegiate experiences with friends who attended other institutions imparted upon me the extent of UJ’s faculty’s commitment to academic excellence and their involvement, guidance, and investment in my educational and professional success. Like our Hall of Fame inductees, I am eternally grateful to them.
There’s no doubt she soaked up the goodness and feeling of belonging that pervaded the campus.”
—Mary McLain ’75 ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD 38 Alumni & Friends
ASSOCIATIONALUMNI
I encourage you to take a walk down memory lane and reflect on the quality of the education you received and UJ and its impact on your life. UJ’s fantastic faculty is one of the many reasons UJ is such a special place, and I thank Glen, David, and Mary for this important reminder.
Tonya (Schlaht) Holmstrom ’04, Vice President, Bismarck, ND Carol (Prentice) Land ’80, Secretary to the Executive Committee, Bismarck, ND
We celebrated the induction of three new members to the University of Jamestown Alumni Hall of Fame in May – Glen Cameron ’73, David Evinger ’74, and Mary McClain ’75.
Kelly Rachel ’84, Jamestown, ND
“UJ Professors welcomed me in class, many times, with [my daughter] Summer in my lap.
Jack Lawrence ’98, West Fargo, ND
Carlyle Scott ’09, Bismarck, ND
Dan Stoudt ’07, Lake Elmo, MN
Prof Carter, expanded the artist in us and Prof Smith commanded the ethereal language only music can bring while directing our UJ Choir singing for President Richard and Pat Nixon at the Rotunda — after our extra car following the bus was stopped by an Indiana police officer and brought to the station for questioning as he couldn’t believe these long hair kids from North Dakota weren’t up to any good— in that socially divisive time music was a unifier, a common
In accepting the honor, each of these incredibly accomplished alumni expressed their deep gratitude and appreciation for their formative experiences at UJ. They emphasized that the quality academic foundation they received at UJ—through its exceptional faculty—provided the springboard for success in their further education and their careers. After continuing their education at illustrious institutions including Harvard University, St. Andrew’s University, University of Notre Dame, and Pepperdine University, they characterized their academic preparedness as second to none and UJ’s faculty as among the best of the best.
Jackie (Schneider) Maggers ’01, Powell, OH
Alumni and Friends,
MaryBeth Hegstad ’97, President, Fargo, ND
Andrew Klose ’08, Sioux Falls, SD
Sami King ’98, Moab, UT
Excerpt from Mary McLain’s HOF Acceptance Speech
Alexis Young ’18, Denver, CO
Erwin Johnson x’48, January 19, 2022
Laqcricia N. Hodges x’15, April 20, 2022
Orvis W. Eklund ’61 (BS), May 10, 2022
Shirley R. Meidinger, May 3, 2022
Janet Wager, January 2, 2022
Terry J. Williams ’04 (BA), May 5, 2022
Charlotte Grohnke x’90, June 15, 2022
Robert E. “Bob” Keim ’51 (BS), March 30, 2022
Former Employees
Friends
Morris Ost, January 28, 2022
Philip W. Martin ’68 (BS), April 1, 2022
Patricia (Shirley) Allen ’50 (BA), February 21, 2022
Marlene J. (Barker) Krein ’57 (BS), February 21, 2022 Henrik Voldal ’59 (BS), March 1, 2022
Dale W. Anderson x’60, March 14, 2022
Darald O. Olson x’60, January 30, 2022
Arvel E. Koehn, February 10, 2022
Alvera M. Bergquist ’50 (BA), February 7, 2022
Walter Bullock x’70, August 14, 2021
William Klose x’85, January 29, 2022
Jean (Anderson) Seekins ’62 (BA), February 14, 2022
Christine (Kuzel) Crowe x’99, February 9, 2022
Robert B. Wheeler ’63 (BS), June 24, 2022
Candy (Minion) Rice, January 27, 2022
EDITOR’S NOTE:
Dr. Cameron B. Mikkelsen, April 29, 2022
Joan (Cann) Edson ’61 (BA), February 21, 2022
Dr. Joseph M. Mattson ’61 (BS), February 12, 2022
Paul Stahlhut, March 21, 2022
Julie (Engelter) Helgaas ’63 (BA), April 21, 2022
alumni & friends 39
Betty (Koetke) Ringman x’47, May 26, 2022
Diane Weispfenning, July 8, 2022
G. Lorraine (Klose) Zimney, March 27, 2022
Janet L. (Beattie) Johnson ’60 (BA), March 21, 2022 A. F. “Bud” Iwen x’60, April 4, 2022
Wayne R. Gerig x’50, February 20, 2022
Eileen A. (Holthe) Patrick ’54 (BS), March 30, 2022
Larry Woiwode, April 28, 2022
Shirley L. (Peter) Huber ’49 (BS), March 19, 2020
Diana M. Lange x’05, May 9, 2022
Galen A. Wilson ’52 (BA), April 11, 2022
Alumni who received a degree are designated by the year of graduation followed by the degree they received. Non-UJ graduates are denoted by an “x” in front of the class year.
Gretta (Hjelseth) Van Horn x’12, April 20, 2022
Alice Wiest, February 4, 2022
Betty A. (Bestland) Rinde x’50, July 7, 2022
Charlotte Bellon, July 7, 2022
Dr. James S. Walker, May 1, 2022
Mary (Hendrix) Keating O’Neill ’69 (BA), June 9, 2022
Cynthia A. (Roe) Smith, February 11, 2022
Lois J. (McGregor) Gallagher-Ramaley x’47, January 16, 2022
MemoriamIn
Wesley Skow ’54 (BS), March 4, 2022
Dr. Ernest J. Larson x’50, February 18, 2022
Doris D. (North) Householder x’56, May 26, 2022
Shirley Baenen, February 21, 2022
Alumni
Donelle Nitzkorski, October 29, 2021
Duane F. Hyde ’47 (BS), May 24, 2022
William “Bill” Robb, June 21, 2022
Karen (Bolinske) Sampsell ’74 (BA), June 3, 2022
Shirley A. (Fredrickson) Briss x’59, March 9, 2022
Mary Anna (Johnson) Holloway x’56, May 17, 2022
Clair E. Rolfe ’53 (BS), April 16, 2022
Joseph M. Howell ’77 (BA), February 27, 2022
Patricia R. (Spitzer) Hagerott ’63 (BA), July 6, 2022
Robert K. Tkach x’81, May 19, 2022
Glenda J. (Brock) Truesdell x’78, March 11, 2022
Curtis Liudahl x’68, April 25, 2022
Former President Emeritus
Office of Development and Alumni Relations 6082 College Lane Jamestown, ND 58405 All School2017Reunion MARKCALENDARYOUR FOR THE UJ REUNIONSCHOOLALLHOMECOMING2023 Important Dates Community Block Party August 24 Opening Convocation/Young Alumni Medallion Awards September 1 Homecoming 2022 September 29–October 1 Board of Trustees Meeting September 29-30 Alumni Association Meeting September 30 Athletic Hall of Fame October 1 Character in Leadership Conference Keynote Speaker: Erin O’Malley October 6 Alumni Social, Minneapolis October 6 Alumni Social, Fargo November 7 Alumni Social, Bismarck November 14 Visit UJ.EDU/ALUMNI-AND-FRIENDS for additional alumni events coming soon!
