LEADING IN STYLE

‘Dress to impress’ is particularly important while pursuing a new career or job.

“We all know that what’s on the inside is more important than the outside,” says Angie Freeman, a 1991 UND NCoBPA graduate, “but having a strong professional presence and feeling confident are important to being your best in interviews. First impressions form quickly, and how you show up influences how employers assess who they’re going to hire and what they think about you. So if you can go into that situation with appropriate clothing you feel good in, you can focus on really smart answers and being able to ask strategic questions. You’re simply in a better position to succeed.”

This was the premise the UND NCoBPA’s Freeman Professional Closet was built on.

Freeman says the Freeman Professional Closet was the ‘brainchild’ of the Director of the Pancratz Career Development Center, Kathy Lund. UND’s former home to the NCoBPA, Gamble Hall, had a small closet tucked in the corner next to Lund’s office filled to the brim with professional clothing items for students to take and utilize.

“Professional clothing is really expensive and a lot of students don’t have extra room in their budget to afford it,” says Freeman. “After seeing so many students swap clothes, share things, or do whatever they could to look their best for interviews or career fairs, Kathy came up with this idea. She’s amazing,” says Freeman.

With the new NCoBPA building opening in Fall of 2022, Angie and her husband Rusty Freeman, also a UND grad, brought Lund’s vision to life.

While back at UND for homecoming in 2016, Rusty and Angie Freeman met Margaret Williams, former Dean of the UND NCoBPA. The three struck up a conversation and shortly after, Angie joined the NCoBPA Advisory board.

“It was such a great experience and so fun to be in the mix with all of the great things happening, especially as UND and the Alumni Association & Foundation were creating the strategy to build the new building,” says Freeman. Several years later, Freeman joined the UND Alumni Association board as well. “It’s been a total joy,” says Freeman, “I’m so grateful to the Nistler College for getting me involved with UND again.”

While touring the Pancratz Career Development Center (PCDC), Lund showed Freeman the closet. Freeman says she thought it was the coolest thing ever. “I told her that I and my friends had things we could contribute,” says Freeman, “so it started that way.” Lund says, “From the moment I met Angie, I was struck by her love for UND and her passion for helping students. She is an incredible leader and advocate, and she takes action to make things happen. She started sending clothes right away, and her items flew off the racks!”

When the new NCoBPA building, now known as Nistler Hall, was being built, Angie says she and Rusty made a commitment to contribute something significant. “It was at that point Kathy and the UND Foundation said, ‘this seems to be something you love, would you be willing to make a contribution that will go toward many things but would really help this closet come to life in a bigger way?’”

Freeman’s answer was absolutely, yes!

“Both Rusty and I are so happy to be in a position where we can support UND and to be able to give back to a place that made a big difference in our lives. We are especially attracted to things that have a direct impact on students to help them have a better experience. When the closet was brought to us as an opportunity, we felt it really fit the bill,” says Freeman. “Because of Angie and Russ, what began as racks in a conference room in Gamble Hall has transformed into an amazing resource that helps us show students how committed our college and alumni are to their wellbeing and success,” Lund says.

Angie and Rusty Freeman say clothing isn’t everything but they want students to feel secure and confident, while also presenting the best version of themselves so they can focus on what they have to say and contribute, rather than worrying about whether or not they’re wearing the right thing. Freeman says they love Lund’s vision for the Pancratz Career Development Center.

“It’s brilliant to provide coaching on how to do an interview, coaching on how to prepare, and by the way, here are some professional clothing options if that’s helpful to you,” says Freeman.

Due to the generosity of UND Alumnus Linda Pancratz, the Pancratz Career Development Center has become an integral part of the educational experience for all Nistler College of Business & Public Administration students. Linda’s commitment to helping students and providing them with a resource to support their career development continually inspires the Pancratz Center staff to find new ways to add value to the student experience.

The PCDC team assists in discovering and leveraging their strengths to help them define their professional goals and become engaged members of their communities. They provide personalized, progressive professional development, and cultivate mutually beneficial partnerships with employers and alumni.

The Freeman Professional Closet, within the Pancratz Career Development Center, is a large room outfitted beautifully to display the professional clothing items while making the experience both fun and respectful for the students. UND Nistler College students can make an appointment to shop, pick out up to 2 items and an accessory per semester, and take them home to keep. The contents of the closet include anything considered appropriate for an interview, career fair or networking event: suits, dress shirts, slacks, blouses, skirts, pants, bags, shoes, ties, and more. All in a variety of colors and sizes.

“The goal is to have enough inventory and sizes so we can accommodate as many students as possible,” says Freeman.

Freeman says the Closet is always open to donations whether they be dropped off, or shipped to the NCoBPA. Donations are also accepted. “This is a lot bigger than us,” says Freeman. “The Freeman Professional Closet has lots and lots of people who contribute.” Lund notes that donations often come in after alumni and campus visitors tour Nistler Hall and see the closet. “We are so proud to show people the beautiful space that the Freemans made possible. Visitors see how students will benefit from these items, and they are eager to contribute,” Lund says.

Though Freeman has never been at the Closet while students have shopped, she says she’s heard it’s a big hit.

“My advice (to students) would be to go out into the world with confidence, and capitalize on all of the things that UND has provided to you. The ability to think big, to build relationships, to solve problems, to take action, to be do-ers,” says Freeman. “The world needs our graduates. The world needs problem solvers, people who work hard, people who want to tackle dilemmas, and people who aren’t afraid of a challenge. Go forward confidently because UND has prepared you well,” says Freeman. “Communication is both verbal and non-verbal. Part of non-verbal communications is how you present yourself. I want our students to feel super confident that they’re presenting their best selves when they go out in the world,” says Freeman.

Angie Freeman is a Fargo native who graduated from the University of North Dakota in 1991 with two degrees: a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education. Freeman later went on to the London School of Economics where she earned her Masters Degree in Comparative Politics. Freeman started at C.H. Robinson, a $15 billion global logistics company, in 1998 During her time there she had led investor relations, marketing and communications, public affairs and now serves as the Chief Human Resources and ESG Officer.

Rusty Freeman is also a Fargo native who graduated from the University of North Dakota in 1989 with a Bachelor of Arts in Advertising. He had a career in advertising in Minneapolis and Boston, working with clients such as Ocean Spray, Northwest Airlines, Mystic Lake Casino and Andersen Windows. In addition, he spent 10 years in the ATM/Payment Processing industry as a business owner and a consultant.