NISTLER COLLEGE M A G A ZINE
A L UM NI
SPOTLIGHT:
Together we rise: women in business Pg. 29
University of North Dakota | Nistler College of Business & Public Administration
HOMECOMING - GROUND BREAKING SAVE THE DATE
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HOMECOMING SAVE THE DATE
OC T OBE R 5 – 10 , 2 0 2 0
CONTENTS 3
Message from the Dean
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Adapting to a virtual landscape
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A heart for nonprofit work: Dean Bachmeier
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The Nistler impact: what our students say
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Izzy Waite’s passion to make a difference
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UND launched Henry Herr down a career path of a lifetime
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Abby Wilfert: leading from within A historic time: the new Nistler CoBPA
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Together we rise: women in business
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UAS industry on the rise with UND alumni
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Cathy Rydell leaves a legacy
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Faculty research: making an impact Editorial Management
Lead Designer/ Photographer
Laura Arneson
Izzy Waite
Director of External Relations Contributing Writers Averi Haugesag Laura Arneson Alexandria Stroh
Contributing Designer Alexandria Stroh Contributing Photographers Shawna Noel Schill
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MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN Greetings! First, I would like to thank each of you for your continued support of the UND Nistler College of Business & Public Administration. This is our first edition of the newly named Nistler College Magazine. Werner and Colleen Nistler generously provided the historic lead gift to our capital building campaign, and we were proud to officially name our College after an amazing alumnus. Werner and Colleen have a launched a new era of business education. The Nistler College will strive to reflect the strong value system and ethical foundation that the Nistlers have instilled in all of their business endeavors. I am so proud to share that our $70 million campaign is going strong with the goal to break ground in summer 2020. Please consider joining us in these efforts to finish our campaign for this state-of-the art building that will be the home of the Nistler College for future generations. With an exceptional start to our academic year in fall 2019, we, like the rest of the world, had to adjust quickly in spring 2020 to unprecedented times in higher education. Our communities, families, businesses, and colleges had to develop new strategies in business operations and everyday life. I am humbled by the resiliency and dedication shown by the Nistler College faculty, students, and staff to adjust to our new environments. Also, I have been encouraged by the entire UND community and the leadership team across campus. We are truly One UND, and our recent work has reflected this mission. I am proud that we remained committed to keeping our campus safe while continuing to provide a world-class education. As our campus continues to operate remotely through the summer months, we are actively preparing for the future arrival of students in the fall. We are also exploring all options to equip the Nistler College with the necessary protocols to ensure safe and effective learning environments. We know that these changes will not only impact us today, but into the future as we continue to navigate uncertainty and find new ways of doing business and delivering education in hybrid and virtual learning environments. We appreciate all of the support provided to the Nistler College by our alumni and friends. We look forward to seeing you all in the future when we can connect together again, safely and inperson. In the meantime, please watch for opportunities to connect through a variety of virtual events, as always, reach out to us at any time. We love to hear from our alumni and friends. Please continue to stay safe and well.
Sincerely,
Amy B. Henley, Ph.D. Dean, Professor of Management
University of North Dakota | Nistler College of Business & Public Administration
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ADAPTING TO A VIRTUAL LANDSCAPE In the spring of 2020 the Nistler College of Business & Public Administration found ourselves in a new landscape. Like most industries, we were faced with unprecedented times where all of our operations were forced to adapt to virtual environments instantaneously. The UND campus leadership team acted quickly and was well prepared when the decisions were made to shift all courses to remote learning. Faculty transitioned their coursework online, enabling students to continue to receive a high-quality education while completing their semester. The University remained operational and all non-essential faculty and staff transitioned to remote work options.
education during these challenging times. We remain committed to the future of our College and will continue to work diligently to maintain the highest quality education for our students,� says Amy Henley, Dean of the Nistler College of Business & Public Administration.
INNOVATIVE STRATEGIES Faculty and staff in the Nistler College continued to think innovatively to provide students with connections both internally within the college and externally with employers, alumni, and corporations. For decades, the Department of Accountancy has hosted an annual field trip to Minneapolis, MN, providing accounting students the opportunity to network with employers, visit businesses, and learn more about the accounting profession. Due to COVID-19 this spring, the in-person field trip had to be cancelled. This did not stop UND Accountancy. Instead they continued the tradition by working with firms to organize a 2-day virtual field trip. Dr. Kate Campbell, Kulas Koppenhaver Endowed Professor and Chair of the Department of Accountancy, said this was a new approach for a field trip, but everyone was enthusiastic about finding ways to
University of North Dakota | Nistler College of Business & Public Administration
“We are so proud of our students, faculty, staff, and alumni for their dedication to
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make it a success. Every firm that was scheduled on the original field trip was eager to participate virtually, and Pancratz Career Development Center staff Kathy Lund and Kathleen Kittridge immediately volunteered to help. University of North Dakota | Nistler College of Business & Public Administration
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“The breadth of students participating was fantastic,” says Campbell. “Firms hadn’t done anything like this before either, and they were wonderfully creative and innovative.” The Red River Valley Business Plan Competition also proceeded in full force on April 24 – 25, just in a new virtual environment.
INSPIRING STORIES Our UND alumni continue to be leaders in crisis and inspire us with their innovative strategies and compassion. UND NCoBPA Alumnus, Adam Lunde, ’09,’11, serves as the VP of Sales and Marketing for Industrial Custom Products. Their business adapted the manufacturing of their products by making tens of thousands of face shields to help workers on the frontline of the crisis. Other alumni, like Dayna Bastian, ’18, took action by developing a GF COVID-19 Community Update Resource Page to help
“I am remarkably impressed with both the quality of our
people find out about business hours and resource offerings
contestants as well as their flexibility to adjust to the virtual
during the COVID-19 crisis.
competition. As they found out, business changes quickly and their ability to change speaks well of their likelihood of success in future ventures,” says Amy Henley, Dean of the Nistler College of Business & Public Administration.
The ND Small Business Development Center (NDSBD), which is an outreach center within the Nistler College, launched the 4R Project – Recover, Re-open, Re-invent, (be) Resilient, to help North Dakota’s small businesses get “back to business.” This
The competition included nine teams representing a broad
statewide, collaborative effort spearheaded by the NDSBDC
scope across the UND campus including students from the
was designed to help all of the state’s small businesses,
Nistler College of Business & Public Administration,
regardless of industry, in weathering the hardships caused by
College of Arts & Sciences, Aerospace, and even the
the COVID-19 pandemic.
Astrophysics department.
“Small businesses really are the heart of each of our
“The competition experienced a smooth transition to a virtual
communities; they make up the majority of business entities in
environment, utilizing Zoom platforms with multiple rooms for
our state, and they are the foundation of our state’s economy,”
the semifinals and finals,” said Rob Warren, event organizer and
says State Director Tiffany Ford. “Our mission is to serve, and
Marketing Instructor at the Nistler College.
we are happy to be able to provide a vast array of offerings
Firms such as Eide Bailly who typically hosted spring recruitment events on campus transitioned to virtual recruitment events so they could continue to connect with students and find new ways of engagement. Our student services remained strong with exceptional efforts provided from our Pancratz Career Development Center (PCDC), Office of Academic Advising (OAA), and our Graduate Programs Office. The PCDC continued working diligently with employers to navigate new ways of recruiting and assisting students in engaging in new internships and employment opportunities. OAA continued serving students through virtual advising appointments, as well as new online options for major changes. Additionally, they have been hosting virtual group and individual sessions for incoming freshman for the fall semester. The MBA, MPA, and MS in Applied Economics & Predictive Analytics Programs have successfully been using Zoom the past few years to deliver online synchronous courses. The use of this platform to deliver graduate online programs allows students an opportunity to enjoy the benefits of synchronous learning, such as real-time feedback and class discussions. Providing students the opportunity to network with colleagues and faculty on a weekly basis is a competitive advantage of our offerings. This excellent work was able to continue full force to support all our graduate students during this remote learning time. All of these experiences continued to provide our students with connections and engagement while continuing their education remotely.
and expertise to small businesses in order for them to re-open, to rebuild or pivot operations, and to ensure that the business owner has the support they need to be resilient and continue to grow.” We are inspired by Adam, Dayna, and the NDSBDC along with so many of our alumni, friends, and businesses providing services, support, and resources to help their communities during crisis.
FUTURE OF THE NISTLER COLLEGE UND commencement looked quite different this year for our students with virtual graduation ceremonies and celebrations. We proudly graduated our first spring semester class of the Nistler College, celebrating 250 undergraduate students and 46 graduate students now joining our alumni family. As we look to the upcoming months, all of our learning will remain online through our summer sessions, and faculty and staff will continue working remotely for the majority of the summer. We look forward to welcoming students back on campus in the fall as we evaluate new protocols for class sizes and new social distancing practices to ensure the safety of our campus and continuing to offer quality education and opportunities for our students.
“I miss in-class discussions and handson learning, online learning makes those opportunities difficult. However, my teachers have put in a great deal of effort to continue fostering a great learning environment via Zoom.� 8 University of North Dakota | Nistler College of Business & Public Administration
AUTUMN STOKES POLITICAL SCIENCE
University of North Dakota | Nistler College of Business & Public Administration
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A HEART FOR NONPROFIT WORK Throughout his life, Dean Bachmeier has had a soft spot in his heart for nonprofit work. Whether in his career, at church, or elsewhere, Bachmeier has found a way to give back.
“Let your values be your guide. If you can align your personal values and the work you do every day, it can be really rewarding.” “I’ve always had an interest in helping organizations or
program at the University of Minnesota Carlson School of
those that were underserved in some capacity,” says
Business in 1990. He started his career in the commercial
Bachmeier, “so my venture at Partners in Food Solutions
banking industry where he spent two decades. He
(PFS) was an opportunity to expand my global vision.”
transitioned into private equity investing where he spent 18 years before retiring to pursue his passion in the nonprofit
While serving as CFO at Partners in Food Solutions, a
sector. However, like many students, Bachmeier’s career
nonprofit that mobilizes corporate volunteers to share
path wasn’t set in stone post-graduation.
knowledge and expertise with small and growing food processors to improve the food value chain in Africa,
“[As an alumnus] I gravitate toward the Pancratz Career
Bachmeier was able to intertwine his personal values with
Development Center because I could have benefitted from
those of the organization.
it during my time at UND; someone to give some guidance and a little bit of reality as to what it was I was in school for
“I’ve had the opportunity to visit the continent of Africa
and what I needed to do to position myself for the future,”
twice and see firsthand the opportunities and challenges
says Bachmeier.
these companies have to deal with. Things that quite sources of power, electricity, and infrastructure like
Council, Bachmeier now finds himself giving back to the
roadways,” says Bachmeier. “Things that here we assume
College via his involvement with the Pancratz Career
are givens.”
Development Center. He and Director, Kathy Lund, have worked in tandem to bring a variety of tools to the Center
As CFO at PFS Bachmeier has the opportunity to
for UND NCoBPA students to utilize. Bachmeier is one of
strategically map out the financial future for the business –
the Pancratz Career Development Center’s first alumni to
a business he believes in.
participate in the mentor/mentee program; he also assisted
“Surprisingly Africa produces a lot of raw products, but most of that gets exported and doesn’t get produced
in the implementation of CliftonStrengths and the Pancratz Professional Closet.
locally into edible foods, so that’s one of the things we’re
“Dean really cares. He just wants to empower those
trying to improve,” says Bachmeier. “It’s been a really
around him, and he advocates for other people,” says
rewarding experience to see an organization I’m a part of
Kathy Lund, Director of the Pancratz Career Development
help better the quality and number of organizations that
Center. “He never wants things to be about him, but
are able to produce good, high quality food supply for the
without Dean, we wouldn’t have been able to move
continent, so they don’t have to rely on imported,
forward with the services we offer that I’m the proudest
finished products.”
of,” she added.
Though it’s his passion, the majority of Bachmeier’s
Some call it servant leadership, Bachmeier calls it putting
career was not in the nonprofit sector. The Grand Forks
your values to work.
native graduated from the University of North Dakota Nistler College of Business & Public Administration with
“Let your values be your guide,” says Bachmeier. “If you
an accounting degree in 1979 and completed the MBA
can align your personal values and the work you do every day, it can be really rewarding.”
10 University of North Dakota | Nistler College of Business & Public Administration
honestly, we take for granted. Things like reliable
In addition to serving nine years on the NCoBPA Advisory
THE NISTLER IMPACT: University of North Dakota | Nistler College of Business & Public Administration
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L A UR E N C A IN
Operations & Supply Chain Management / Marketing “Getting involved so early with the Pancratz Career Development Center has led me to have a strong resume, cover letter, interview skills, and knowledge of the work force. The support and encouragement that Kathy Lund and Kathleen Kittridge have offered me as a student has helped me grow professionally by making me marketable and has given me the leverage to excel in my college career and after graduation. I am extremely grateful that the Nistler College is able to support and offer all the services the Pancratz Center has to offer, because it has made such a difference in my life.”
R A ZIB R A HIM Masters of Business Administration “I am a UND alumni as I have graduated with my first Masters in Mechanical Engineering from UND. Therefore, UND is like a home away from home for me. I am originally from Dhaka, which is the capital of Bangladesh, however, I am from Canada too. I am grateful to the Nistler College for offering me a Graduate Assistantship appointment and Scholarships. This financial aid has a major impact on my education because without it, I wouldn’t be able to pursue my Master of Business Administration Degree. I am planning to Graduate in December, 2020 and, thus, excited about it.”
MCK IN ZIE DE GE R NE S S Entrepreneurship and Marketing “The Entrepreneurship program has impacted me in so many ways. Through this program I was able to reach out to other entrepreneurs and creators who have helped me design my own clothing line and an education course as well. This program has also allowed me to make many connections from LA all the way to Paris. Without this program, I would not have realized my full potential as an entrepreneur and I forever will be grateful for what the Nistler College of Business has given me.”
RYA N GIL BE R T S ON Political Science and Economics “It was my freshman year when I was first exposed to the story of the Irish war of independence, and it came while taking a special topics course on terrorism and its contexts from the political science department. I was immediately fascinated with this little known history, so when I had the opportunity to study the long history of Ireland’s struggle for freedom and sovereignty while in the historic city of Cork, Ireland, I jumped at the chance. I was able to see the sights firsthand that I had first learned about in Gamble Hall, and helped me to understand that what I learn in Grand Forks at UND truly has global implications”
HOW OUR SCHOLARSHIPS $752,000
$2,200
Total scholarships awarded
Average award amount
125
349
Number of donors
Number of scholarships
100% Thankful students
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IM PA C T S T UDE N T S IN 2 019 -2 0 2 0
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IZZY WAITE’S PASSION TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE As she prepares for her approach she combines a balance of strength and powerful grace as she glides across the floor launching herself perfectly over the bar with exceptional execution and form. This flawless execution is not a surprise coming from Waite, track and field athlete and recent spring 2020 marketing and graphic design alumna. Faculty and staff say within minutes of meeting Waite you know she’s someone very special. The focus, determination, and passion that you see on the field is also present in everything she does off the field – in the classroom and the office.
University of North Dakota | Nistler College of Business & Public Administration
Focus, determination, and passion radiate from Senior Isabel (Izzy) Waite as she calmly awaits her turn for the women’s high jump at the University of North Dakota’s Track & Field meet.
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“I don’t have to be a lawyer or doctor to change the world, I just need to care enough to make an impact.” Growing up in West Fargo, North Dakota, Waite found herself drawn to social impact and philanthropy at a very young age. During her sophomore year of high school, Waite’s school experienced an unprecedented number of deaths amongst her classmates within a four week time period due to a variety of tragedies including cancer, car accidents, and suicides. Waite and her friends were worried about their classmates, and felt like the school was not doing enough to help them cope with these tragedies. While talking with their high school counselor, they asked what they could do to help. Their counselor connected them to former Fargo News Anchor, Stephanie Goetz, who had lost her brother to suicide, and was looking to start a nonprofit focused on
“We couldn’t stand the idea of doing nothing, so this was
education for mental illness.
our way of coping and making an impact,” says Waite.
Waite and her classmates worked with Goetz in launching
With Imagine Thriving being Waite’s first introduction to
Imagine Thriving, which promotes mental well-being for
the nonprofit sector, she then learned about a program
all ages as well as raises awareness and understanding
at her school called PaY, which stands for Philanthropy
of mental well-being. Waite served on a student board
and Youth and is a club established by a private family
and volunteered throughout the community. Some of
foundation in Fargo, to develop philanthropic spirit in
their student projects included “love bombing” on Giving
high school students by cultivating passion and purpose
Hearts Day to area high schools, providing valentines
through leadership, skill development, and proactive
that promoted positivity and encouraging each other to
community impact.
thrive. They also took part in presentations at area schools to educate students and staff members on erasing the
During Waite’s senior year of high school she applied for a
stigma of mental illness.
PaY Internship, where she could be matched with a local
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IZZY IN FRONT OF THE ASPEN IDEAS FESTIVAL SIGN IN ASPEN, CO
nonprofit for the summer based on her interests. Waite
Waite had worked previous summers at Yellowstone
was looking at going to college for nutrition/wellness,
National Park, confirming her love for the outdoors.
so she was paired with Southeastern North Dakota
Additionally, she worked as a graphic design and
Community Action Agency in Fargo for the summer and
marketing intern for the Nistler College of Business &
was tasked with creating a wellness program. “I wanted to
Public Administration both her junior and senior year. She
do something with meaning,” says Waite.
knew leading into her senior year she wanted to find a
Today, Waite is still connected to the Foundation through Philanthropy Forward which is an alumni network of former PaY interns. Through this network Waite was able to learn about an internship opportunity for the summer of 2019 with the Aspen Institute through her former PaY internship coordinator, Jonathan Melgaard.
summer internship “outside of the box.” Waite applied everywhere, and when she learned more about the opportunities at the Aspen Institute she felt it would put her more outside her comfort zone. “I thought it would provide me with the opportunity to learn new things, and branch out and experience more big ideas. Everything I saw seemed incredible,” says Waite.
Each summer the Aspen Institute puts on an Ideas Festival that brings together thought leaders, creatives, scholars, and members of the public to address some of the world’s most complex problems. The goal is to provoke others to University of North Dakota | Nistler College of Business & Public Administration
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take action to make changes in the world. Waite was among a select group of 15 college students from around the country to receive an offer for one of these elite summer internships. As an intern, she was able to combine her creative skills and passion for philanthropy, while gaining new skills and taking part in event and project management to execute dozens of world-class events. When asked about her biggest take away Waite says, “There are so many amazing people in the world doing amazing things every day. I was able to see so many world changers, and learn that it’s ok to reach for something.” As a designer, Waite was able to take part in the design track of the festival which included listening to various speakers. “I know I want to do something in design, but thought the design industry couldn’t change the world,” says Waite. Her perspective all changed when she heard a speaker talk about how she was designing plastic out of seaweed, and another speaker talk about how adding color to a community can decrease crime rates. Through these discussions Waite was able to see how she too can take her creative design skills and apply that to impactful projects that can make a difference. “I don’t have to be a lawyer or doctor to change the world, I just need to care enough to make an impact,” says Waite. During her time in Aspen, Waite was presented with yet another opportunity, to take part in the first Fargo Ideas Festival, the first remote style ideas festival - Fargo Ideas: An Evening of Conversation. Waite along with three other interns and Jonathan Melgaard, Program Associate with the Aspen Institute, developed this event and successfully curated four big ideas/conversations at the historic Fargo Theater in the fall of 2019. “These experiences really showed me that I really care about caring. I’m passionate about the things I do, and I am a big believer in the starfish story, saving one makes an impact. Everything you do can make a difference,” says Waite. “I don’t have to completely change the world, but if I can impact one person that is a enough of a difference.”
THE IMPACT OF PHILANTHROPY “It is incredible to witness the exponential growth in philanthropic support that the Nistler College of Business & Public Administration has received from our generous alumni, corporations and friends. These amazing gifts continue to change the lives of our students in so many ways. The financial support allows the Nistler College to recruit and retain exceptional students and faculty through student scholarships, endowed faculty, programming and a new building. It is a privilege for me to hear firsthand how grateful our students are for both scholarships and experiential learning support and that they hope to be in a financial position to provide an impact to future students in the Nistler College. The passion and continued support from our alumni, corporations and friends is very exciting as we continue to fundraise for future generations of business leaders.�
Kim Woods Associate Vice President and Senior Director of Development Nistler College of Business & Public Administration
FINANCIAL SUPPORT 2009
2019
$2,026,642
$14,344,133
$2,602,960
$24,539,122
$13,275,468
$50,252,075
Endowments for educators
Student scholarships
NCoBPA total endowments
Endowments for educators
Student scholarships
NCoBPA total endowments
University of North Dakota | Nistler College of Business & Public Administration
O V E R T HE PA S T 10 Y E A R S
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University of North Dakota | Nistler College of Business & Public Administration
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CAREER PATH OF A LIFETIME
UND L E D HE NRY HE R R DO W N A
After graduating from the University of North Dakota College of Business & Public Administration with a B.A. in Accountancy in 1968, alumnus Henry Herr was deployed to Vietnam by the U.S. Army. Once discharged from his assignment in the Vietnamese jungle, Herr says he didn’t feel ready to jump into his career in public accounting, so he went back to UND to pursue his Master of Accountancy. “I considered it my rescue period,” says Herr. While at UND the second time around, Herr took classes in tandem with working as a Graduate Assistant at the College. In 1971 he graduated from the program and started searching for his first accounting position.
to work for the acquiring corporation following the acquisition. However, after a great deal of consideration, Herr and four other senior leaders who had worked together for several years made the decision to instead start their own business venture from scratch with Herr serving as CFO. “In 1981 we raised about $25 million in venture capital and debt funds based solely on our business plan and our combined experiences covering various phases of healthcare. We then were off and running for the business experiences of our lifetimes,” says Herr with a chuckle. Over the years, Herr and his colleagues founded a number of disease management and outpatient surgery businesses. “We pioneered and were one of the leaders in the chronic disease management industry in the 1980s and 90s,” says Herr. “What we had seen in healthcare was a need to focus attention on more focused care for individuals
chairman at UND who knew me fairly well and who had
with chronic diseases. Take a disease like diabetes for
numerous contacts with regional and national public
example: in the 1980s and prior, health insurers and
accounting firms said, ‘I know a place that you would
government payors would likely provide enrollee coverage
fit in really well,’ It was this Portland office at Arthur
under their plans when someone was in the hospital
Young, which at the time was one of the ‘Big8’ national
for having a diabetic episode but wouldn’t pay for the
public accounting firms; it was also their primary national
enrollee’s diabetes education, blood sugar monitoring,
headquarters for healthcare,” says Herr.
meters or strips that might have assisted in avoiding the hospital episode. We had the experience and the research
Little did Herr know, that one referral from a UND faculty
that it would be better for insurers and enrollees to cover
member would not only lead him to meeting his wife of 47
the costs of chronic disease management for diabetes
years, it would also lead him down the career path
(as well as other diseases) and for other various wellness
of a lifetime.
programs which in the medium to long run would reduce
“I spent my entire career in healthcare which was the basis of that connection,” says Herr.
healthcare costs and provide better outcomes for the enrollee. We were early leaders in providing the cost/ benefit research, the tools and the program services
At Arthur Young, Herr started out as an auditor but quickly
to insurers. Such programs have evolved in some form
moved into healthcare management consulting. After a
into accepted coverages and services in most of today’s
few years of management consulting, Herr decided he
healthcare insurance marketplaces. By the early 2000s
wanted to get his hands on some operational experience
our company that did this, Healthways, was providing
for a bit so he could be more well-rounded. Herr soon
services to millions of people in the United States, Europe,
found himself in Nashville, TN where he was the Controller
South America and Australia. It wasn’t easy to be among
for a billion-dollar diversified healthcare services company.
the pioneers in this developing area of healthcare but it was exciting and we were definitely improving healthcare.
In 1981, the healthcare company he was working for
It was also so very rewarding for the thousands of our
was acquired by Hospital Corporation of America. Senior
colleagues who participated in furthering this mission.”
leadership including Herr were given the opportunity
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“When I was looking for a placement the department
University of North Dakota | Nistler College of Business & Public Administration
“It wasn’t easy to be among the pioneers in this developing area of healthcare but it was exciting and we were definitely improving healthcare.”
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In addition to Healthways, Herr and his colleagues started
“I characterize that culture as one that inspires,
a number of other smaller companies including AmSurf,
challenges, and supports its primary beneficiaries – the
which grew to become the largest outpatient ambulatory
students. I admire any organization that can maintain that
surgery center operator in the United States.
culture over various conditions and staff changes over
“I’ve been lucky to work with some of the greatest colleagues in patient care and management – many of them for almost 40 years. Having been able to work for
the years,” says Herr. “For me, it’s a culture that has also been a benchmark for our organizations over the years,” he added.
such a long time with people who I knew and respected
Had it not been for that culture, exposure and one simple
has been a great blessing and reward,” says Herr.
connection, Herr may not be where he is today.
Reflecting back on his career, Herr says he attributes a
The Nistler College would also like to congratulate Herr for
great deal of his professional success to the UND NCoBPA
his recent honor of receiving an honorary doctorate degree
Department of Accountancy and the culture that it’s
from UND. We are so proud of his accomplishments and
maintained over the years.
grateful for all of his support to UND.
R E OUR W H AT AOUR R E CERNETCE N T
GRADS ARE DOING?
Grad school
4% Employed part-time
12% Unemployed
15%
Employed full-time
69% Allison Bauman ‘18 Currently full-time employed with 3M
DO T HO S E JOB S R E L AT E T O T HEIR DEGR E E ? Somewhat related
32%
Related
Not related
63%
5%
Sophia Priem ‘19 Sales Development with United Health Care
HO W DID T HE Y P R E PA R E ?
Research project
4% Study abroad
4% Volunteered
12% Co/op or internship
80% Ethan Leingang ‘20 Interned for Senator John Hoeven
University of North Dakota | Nistler College of Business & Public Administration
ABBY WILFERT LEADING FROM WITHIN
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It was senior Abby Wilfert’s own experience in her first year of college that led to the evolution of a leadership and peer mentoring organization that still remains a tool for UND NCoBPA students today.
been able to apply the techniques I’ve learned to different
Wilfert says she always knew she wanted to pursue an
group all saw a need within the Nistler College of Business
area of business but wasn’t exactly sure which one. As a freshman coming from Independence, Minnesota, Wilfert started her college career as an accounting major at the UND CoBPA. Realizing the management patterns instilled within her from the leadership positions she held in her extracurricular activities in high school, Wilfert soon decided to change her major to Business Management and Honors. “Leadership has always been easy for me; I knew management would be the best fit,” Wilfert says. “I’ve
situations that I am in; it’s a natural fit for me.” Wilfert says making a decision on a major wasn’t easy. “I didn’t know what area [to pursue] and I found out that I wasn’t alone in that,” she says. Wilfert says she and her peers from the Page Scholar & Public Administration for an entry level business leadership organization. The organization’s purpose would be to help guide underclassmen in deciding their business major and career path. It would offer professional development workshops, leadership activities, guest speakers, and more. With more than 30 students involved; peer mentoring is something the Business Leadership Club prides itself in. The club gives top business students the opportunity to meet one on one with new students, answer any questions he or she might have, as well as relieve any stresses. Wilftert says they “wanted something that
students could start out on; to give them a guide towards
bit of reassurance, especially since I switched my major at
the right academic and professional paths. We wanted to
least two times,” she says. Despite having swapped her
give them the information and connections to make those
majors a few times, Wilfert is still on track to graduate in
decisions that will ultimately fulfill them.”
just three years.
Wilfert’s vision for the peer mentoring program sprouted
“I feel like [my story] is a bit of an encouraging story for
from her own struggle as a freshman, and she wanted to
them... they are going to be okay,” she says.
turn that into a learning opportunity for other students in the same boat. Wilfert felt that she could offer effective advice to students, speaking directly from experience. “Usually students are very stressed out about their progress and where they are at. I feel like I can offer a little
Wilfert expresses that there is nothing wrong with taking the time to figure out their academic or career path. “Even if you go for say, five years, if it’s a major that you love, it was worth it,” says Wilfert.
24
NCoBPA has 24,389 alumni all over the globe. Here you can see just how large our reach is.
University of North Dakota | Nistler College of Business & Public Administration
WHERE IN IN THETHE WORLD? WHERE WORLD?
University of North Dakota | Nistler College of Business & Public Administration
25
Dear UND graduates: Blessed with the finest educations offered, we have always believed in the importance of paying it forward and doing whatever we can to aid future generations. By giving back to UND and helping to build the Nistler College of Business & Public Administration, we are able to leave a lasting legacy influencing the lives of students and others decades into the future. After growing up on a farm near Golva in the southwestern part of the state, Werner attended UND. He pays tribute to and thanks UND for the outstanding education he received. It laid the solid foundation for his career and has influenced his life ever since. We hope to inspire you to join in this effort. While we don’t live in the state, that didn’t stop us from realizing the impact we can make. We realized we could make the future brighter and better for people. We decided to make a gift that influences not only those studying and teaching at the College but one that swells and flows through all alumni and their families, helping people in and outside of North Dakota and, indeed, around the world. We ask that you, too, consider joining this wave of excellence that is happening at UND. Respectfully yours, Colleen and Werner Nistler
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University of North Dakota | Nistler College of Business & Public Administration
University of North Dakota | Nistler College of Business & Public Administration
27
JOIN T HE
SHAREHOLDER SOCIETY
at the Nistler College of Business & Public Administration The final push is in your hands. With your gift of any size, you are helping to build a home for the next generation of business leaders. As a member of the Shareholder Society, your name will be proudly displayed within the Nistler College of Business & Public Administration to inspire future UND students who will walk these halls. Make your mark today! Visit UNDalumni.org/shareholdersociety or contact
Kim Woods, ’82
Associate VP, Senior Director of Development 701.777.4106 | kimw@UNDfoundation.org
Jay Erickson, ’01
Director of Development 701.777.3693 | jaye@UNDfoundation.org
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University of North Dakota | Nistler College of Business & Public Administration
University of North Dakota | Nistler College of Business & Public Administration
ALUMNI IMPACT - BIO GIRLS/ EMPOWER
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LESLIE WOLF, MISSY HEILMAN, SARAH NUPDAL, AND MACY FRANCISCO
TOGETHER WE RISE BY L IF T ING E A CH O T HE R UP
Alumnae of the Nistler College of Business & Public Administration (NCoBPA) are passionate about women in business and inspiring the next generation of female business leaders.
Supporting and empowering women started at an early
“I feel so lucky to be a part of this organization -- pulling
age through the visionary work of UND alumna Missy
amazing women together, of women supporting women,”
Heilman, Founder and Executive Director of BIO Girls.
says Wolf.
BIO Girls was established in 2012 with a mission to improve self-esteem amongst adolescent girls through empowerment of self and service to others. Heilman’s
Wolf says after she heard Heilman speak for the first time, she was hooked.
vision and dynamic leadership has since grown the
“Listening to Missy gives me goosebumps every time,”
organization to currently serve 2,000 girls, with 52 sites
says Wolf.
across the Midwest. Wolf had the opportunity to sign up as volunteer mentor BIO Girls uses outcome-based research to combine
at one of the sites. She says she enjoys that this program
mentoring and life skills to increase self-esteem with age
provides girls a place to celebrate their uniqueness.
appropriate lessons for girls in 2nd – 6th grade. Macy Franciso, yet another NCoBPA alumna who graduated with a marketing degree in 2018 also has had
3rd grade and plummets in 6th grade,” says Heilman. “We
the opportunity to serve as a site mentor while working full-
want to teach them the skills to use in life to combat this.”
time as the Marketing Manager for BIO Girls.
BIO Girls focuses on instilling bravery and confidence so
“Serving as a mentor was an awesome experience and
that young women can be leaders, which not surprisingly
really brought the mission to life for me,” says Francisco.
caught the interest of numerous NCoBPA alumnae who either work for the organization, serve on the board of
As a recent UND NCoBPA Department of Marketing
directors, or volunteer with the BIO Girls.
graduate, Francisco utilized skills learned at UND to bring insight to sessions for the girls. Francisco conducted a
Sarah Nupdal, a 2019 NCoBPA Business Management
lesson on real-beauty and social media that taught girls
alumna and UND Law grad, currently resides in Fargo,
about the various apps people might use to Photoshop
North Dakota and is the Vice President, Legal Counsel,
and edit images.
Banking at Bell Bank. She serves on the Board of Directors for BIO Girls and loves giving back to the girls
“I hope to teach them that they don’t need to be
who utilize the program.
comparing themselves to other women, and provide a positive impact for them,” says Franciso.
“This is something I really needed when I was younger. I struggled with self-confidence and if I would have had
The mentorship opportunities these women provide are
these skills, I would have had a better start,” says Nupdal.
the cornerstones of the BIO Girls program. Heilman says research has shown that girls who have a mentor in their
Leslie Wolf, a 2013 grad of the NCoBPA master’s in business administration program is a Finance Manager at Sanford Health and also serves on the Board of Directors for Bio Girls.
life have a higher self-esteem.
30 University of North Dakota | Nistler College of Business & Public Administration
“Research shows that girls’ self-esteem is the highest in
University of North Dakota | Nistler College of Business & Public Administration
31
“When we ask girls their favorite part of the program, the relationships they have with their mentor always lands in the top three,” says Heilman. “The program is not just a place to go and learn, but a place to go and develop relationships. It is so important for every kid to know someone believes in her,” says Heilman. Mentors in the program challenge the girls to grow and work through adversity while also serving as positive role models. “Nothing is more important than seeing women supporting other women as mentors. We need to empower girls and support their leadership goals,” says Nupdahl.
UND ALUMNA INSPIRE NEW INITATIVES For the Nistler College of Business & Public Administration this theme of women supporting women and mentorship continues to rise with their newest initiative titled LeadHer: A Women in Business Summit, which has been envisioned and brought to life by UND alumna, Mary Fischer and the NCoBPA team. Much like the mission of BIO Girls, the NCoBPA LeadHer Summit is designed to empower young female leaders through education and support as they are entering the workforce. Fischer, a 1990 NCoBPA Marketing & Management Graduate, and Director of Sponsorships for UnitedHealth Group, has a passion for promoting other women and lifting each other up. Fischer has been a part of the Mentor Program through the Pancratz Career Development Center and has mentored over a dozen students since the inception of the program. Prior to that Fischer had been informally mentoring students by giving career advice and revising resumes.
NCOBPA ALUMNA MARY FISCHER IS EXCITED ABOUT THE LEADHER EVENT SET FOR 2020
Fischer has shared her leadership skills
“We are so grateful for all of the
with the College by serving nine years
leadership and contributions that Mary
on the Nistler College of Business &
has brought to the College. Through
Public Administration Advisory Council,
her support as well as the generous
serving as a former Hultberg Lectureship
contributions from the Mellem family,
Speaker, speaking at numerous
and the Hultberg Family Endowment,
conferences, and was recognized by the
we are able to establish something very
UND Alumni Association & Foundation
unique for our college that should raise
as a Young Alumni Achievement Award
awareness to some of the national
recipient in 2004.
trends women in business may face,”
Fischer brought this concept to the NCoBPA leadership team in the fall of 2019 as a way to create an impact
says Amy B. Henley, Dean of the Nistler College of Business & Public Administration.
for future generations of female
The inaugural LeadHer: A Woman in
business leaders.
Business Summit was scheduled to take
“It is very important for women to have their own tribe,” says Fischer.
place in the spring of 2020 but due to the COVID-19 outbreak has been postponed to launch in Spring 2021. The summit
Fischer hopes this event can serve as a
hopes to inspire and motivate young
launching pad for young professionals
leaders to take charge of their next life
to start creating their tribe and hopes it
stage in a way they hadn’t previously
will generate more questions to provide
thought possible, creating strong
women a jumpstart into their careers.
personal transformation through this half-day conference.
Topics such as negotiation, networking, “When you help another woman, we all
and finding comfort with conflict are just
shine. We can make an impact if we all
a few of the themes Fischer has identified
work together,” says Fischer.
for the summit.
The UND NCoBPA is so proud of
“These are the ones I see more
Fischer, the extraordinary women of BIO
predominately in the workplace,”
Girls, and all of our exceptional alumnae
says Fischer.
that continually work towards the goal of empowering young women. Their
“Women are far less likely to network, but
mentorships and commitment to
we need to network sideways, upwards,
these initiatives and the College are
downwards to build relationships,”
truly remarkable.
says Fischer. Fischer also shared a shocking national trend: for every 100 women who get promoted, 130 men get promoted. “These are harsh realities,” says Fischer. Through this conference, Fischer hopes that future female leaders will have the opportunity to explore some of these challenges before they may encounter them in the workplace.
32 University of North Dakota | Nistler College of Business & Public Administration
executive presence, sexual harassment,
University of North Dakota | Nistler College of Business & Public Administration
33
UAS INDUSTRY ON THE RISE WITH UND ALUMNI Lt. Gen. Vern “Rusty” Findley II, a highly decorated, retired member of the U.S. Air Force with a military career of more than 35 years says his first encounter with unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) was in the Middle East after 9/11.
As a 1983 graduate of the NCoBPA’s Master of Business
Findley worked in the Air Operations Center around the
prepare me for some of the challenges that I encountered
time when the United States started to utilize the devices
as a senior leader in the Air Force,” stated Findley.
Administration (MBA) program himself, Findley is grateful for how his business degree further shaped his career in aviation. “You’d think the MBA doesn’t apply directly to a guy that flies airplanes for the Air Force, but it helped in terms of broadening my perspective. A large organization like the Air Force needs to manage a budget and plan for the future so I think that having an MBA from UND helped
for intelligence, surveillance reconnaissance and airstrike. Since graduating, Findley has kept close ties with “To some degree the Air Force led the way in the
UND and the Grand Forks community. He served as a
deployment of UAS over in the Middle East,” said Findley.
moderator at the 2019 Olafson Ethics Symposium and a
“As a senior leader, I watched the revolution of the
consultant for Grand Forks Country in regard to the
unmanned arena that has come about over the last decade
UAS industry.
or so.” “I was lucky enough to fly airplanes for a long time. The Air Force wasn’t the only organization Findley holds in
By 2030 I don’t think we’re going to have unmanned
high regard as a leader in the UAS industry, he also gives
passenger flights, but I think that will come down the road.
accolades to the University of North Dakota and the City of
Technology will expand its usage and utilization across the
Grand Forks.
spectrum. I think it’s exploding; I really do,” said Findley.
“Grand Forks, North Dakota, leads the way in the UAS industry, serving as a key, unique center for the country in regard to Unmanned Aerial Vehicles,” said Findley.
BY THE NUMBERS 1800
4
Undergraduate students
Graduate programs
225
15
Graduate students
Undergraduate programs
34 University of North Dakota | Nistler College of Business & Public Administration
University of North Dakota | Nistler College of Business & Public Administration
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C AT H Y RY DE L L
LEAVES A LEGACY
UND Alumna Cathy Rydell recently retired as one of the longest tenured CEOs after serving 21 years as CEO of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN).
According to Rydell, her professional success all started
After three or four calls from one recruiter she was told,
in her hometown of Grand Forks, North Dakota, when
“No one is more shocked than I am that I continue trying
she made the decision to attend the University of North
to put the hard sell on a young woman from North Dakota,
Dakota. While Rydell was in her third year of college, her
but your name keeps coming up.” A statement that would
husband, Chuck (‘71) was commissioned as a Second
be very inappropriate today.
Lieutenant in the US Army so she left school to go with him. After her husband’s service they moved their family to Bismarck where Rydell worked as a stay-at-home mom and community volunteer. She later was elected to the North Dakota State Legislature where she served for 12 years as a member of the House of Representatives. While working as a State Legislator, Rydell ran into former UND President Tom Clifford at the capitol. “I told him that I wanted to graduate as it had been 17 years since I started my degree,” says Rydell.
This was the extra push Rydell needed to apply. She was quickly chosen as one of the eight finalists, and the only female candidate. She received the job, making her the first female CEO of the AAN and the 2nd woman to head a major national medical association. “This was a scary decision, but the best professional decision of my life,” says Rydell. Serving in this role for 21 years, Rydell said she became very confident and comfortable in her leadership role and always enjoyed new challenges. On a personal level she
Clifford offered his support, and much to Rydell’s surprise
valued the relationships she was able to build with her
the Dean of the business college called the next day to
staff, her members, and the CEOs of other associations.
discuss how he could help her obtain her degree. At this
Of the 36,000 neurologist and neuroscience professional
time, in 1987, the only thing available was on campus
members, nearly 7,000 volunteer their time and talent for
classes but UND worked with Rydell to find a way to
their profession through the AAN.
help her graduate. Rydell was partnered with an oncampus student who would share her course notes by fax, and Rydell would take her exams at Bismarck State College. Rydell was committed to this process as she was
“Some of these relationships have become life-long friendships with people that have truly enhanced my life,” says Rydell. Professionally, when Rydell reflects on her tenure she
North Dakota, even if it wasn’t until 20 years after
says she is most proud of the growth in the organization’s
she started.
national presence. The AAN operated with a small budget
Successful Beginnings
of $11 million and 65 staff and today operates as an
According to Rydell, a great deal of her success came from other people seeing things in her she did not previously see herself. This began when Rydell received a call from St. Alexis Medical Center in Bismarck, N.D. She had been serving on the advisory board of the hospital and was encouraged to
$80 million organization with 200 staff. Back then, they had very little national presence so Rydell and her team worked extensively to build relationships at a national level, over doubling the membership during her tenure. “Social media became a large focus, along with the critical importance of earned media,” says Rydell.
apply for a management position. When she heard about
Throughout all of the pathways in her life, Rydell has
the position, she didn’t feel she had the experience but
continued to emphasize the importance of relationships.
thought the work sounded fascinating, so she decided
Through this approach to leadership, Rydell has built
to apply. Shortly after, she was offered the job, which
exceptional teams, achieved tremendous success in her
served as her launchpad into the healthcare industry.
professional roles, and continues to serve as an exemplary
Through this position Rydell had the opportunity to work
leader for our future business leaders.
with numerous physicians, which later led to her next role as the Executive Director of the North Dakota Medical Association, where again she was recruited, applied, and got the job. Rydell’s role at the North Dakota Medical Association gave her the opportunity to learn about the work associations did; she soon became immersed in advocacy and providing a voice for physicians and patients. When the American Academy for Neurology (AAN) had an opening for a new CEO, Rydell started to get calls from recruiters.
As Rydell transitions to her next journey she happily says, “I leave this job with no regrets.” She is excited for the opportunity to engage in a variety of new things and become more involved with organizations she is passionate about. When reflecting back to the start of her career at UND Rydell says, “I bleed green. UND is such a part of me and part of the reason I had success in my life. l have a love for the institution and the people, and will always have a commitment to UND.”
36 University of North Dakota | Nistler College of Business & Public Administration
determined to receive her degree from the University of
University of North Dakota | Nistler College of Business & Public Administration
37
DR. SEAN VALENTINE AND DR. CONNIE BATEMAN
FA CU LT Y R E S E A RCH :
MAKING AN IMPACT Looking ahead, moving forward Groundbreaking research is a pillar of the University of North Dakota’s Nistler College of Business & Public Administration (NCoBPA), the largest school of business in the State of North Dakota.
“Business ethics is very intradisciplinary as a field. No matter what discipline you’re in, you can use many of the same theories and models to test how variables are interrelated,” says Dr. Valentine. “So, working with somebody who is in marketing and does ethics research is actually very easy because we often investigate many
In addition to the College’s commitment to providing
same concerns, we’re just looking at different kinds
educational and social opportunities to their 1,800
of issues.”
undergraduate and 225 graduate students, the College is
Ethics across disciplines
committed to impactful faculty research.
With ‘behave ethically’ as one of the six core values at
In October of 2019, Department Chair, MBA Program
the UND NCoBPA, ethics are inherently incorporated
Director and Professor of Marketing, Dr. Connie Bateman
into many of the courses within the curriculum across
and Professor of Management, and Robert Page Endowed
disciplines at the College.
Professor of Leadership and Ethics, Dr. Sean Valentine received a letter of acceptance from the Journal of Business Ethics (a journal that is in the highest tier of the College’s journal quality list) for their publication, Consumers’ Personality Characteristics, Judgment of Decision Involvement. “We are excited about what we learned from this research and what it means for the design of sales ethics training programs,” says Dr. Bateman.
that focus their research efforts on ethics. Dr. Valentine said students learn about ethics as well via their textbooks, in-class lectures, and even lectureships outside of the classroom. The UND NCoBPA is home to the Olafson Ethics Symposium, an annual, interactive event that provides a platform for students and the business community to explore the importance of both personal and professional ethics. The Symposium brings in powerful individuals such
What Dr. Bateman and Dr. Valentine discovered in their
as Lisa Ellman, one of the world’s foremost authorities on
study was when customers are confident and aware of
drones and law; and Mark Chipman, Executive Chairman
their emotions when entering into a sales encounter, and
& Governor of True North Sports & Entertainment.
perceive the salesperson is treating them ethically, they will become more involved in the purchase decision. By training salespeople to reinforce and increase customer confidence levels, properly manage customer emotions, and treat the customer ethically, customer involvement in the purchase decision increases which may contribute to
This annual event is funded through the support of alumnus, Robert Olafson and his dedication to ethical business practices and the University of North Dakota. 2019 was the 15th anniversary of the event.
firm-level performance.
The Nistler College of Business & Public Administration
Coming from two different departments within the UND
With the recent lead gift to the building campaign from
NCoBPA, one might wonder why the two collaborated on
Werner and Colleen Nistler to construct a new NCoBPA
such a project together.
building, there will be a lot of changes at the College, and not just in terms of physical infrastructure.
38 University of North Dakota | Nistler College of Business & Public Administration
Salesperson Ethical Treatment, and Nature of Purchase
There are a number of faculty within the UND NCoBPA
“What this gift from the Nistlers’ does is enable us to bring this college to another level. From here, we will be looking forward and moving forward,” says Dr. Chih Ming University of North Dakota | Nistler College of Business & Public Administration
39
Tan, Associate Dean for Research, Director of the MSAE Program, and Page Endowed Chair in Applied Economics. “We’re looking forward in terms of research, we’re looking
The Institute of Policy and Business Analytics In addition to its new official name, the UND Nistler College of Business & Public Administration will be rolling out a new initiative come 2020: The Institute of Policy and Business Analytics.
at the challenges and also the opportunities in this
The Institute of Policy and Business Analytics will be an
evolving environment,” he added. “I’m feeling very, very
intermediary to the University and all of the stakeholders
good about the future of the UND NCoBPA.”
outside of the University. Dr. Jensen, who will serve as
After the University was faced with budgetary challenges beginning in 2017, the administration was forced to look everything over and make some tough decision regarding programs, departments, faculty and staff. “I think we’ve turned the corner at UND, and at the
Director of the Institute, said the institute will conduct applied research, or research that resolves practical, real world problems. “It’s really exciting, we’ve been working on this idea for several years,” says Dr. Jensen.
College in particular, I think it’s a really exciting time,” says
Dr. Jensen and Dr. Tan say one of the institute’s main goals
Dr. Jason Jensen, Professor of Political Science and Public
is to do impactful work for the State of North Dakota.
Administration. “All the pieces are in place so what we’re starting to see is the College emerging from the depths of
“Since UND is a public University, we have to be able to
the budget cuts and hiring some new faculty again.”
show that our work is helpful to the State as a whole. Not
“There’s a lot of optimism from the gift,” says Dr. Tan.
all across the State - we need to get research externally
just to the community of Grand Forks, but stakeholders funded, it allows researchers to do more impactful work,” says Dr. Tan.
DR. JASON JENSEN AND DR. CHIH MING TAN
A lot of the push from within the Institute is going to be between the business school and other units on campus that allow them to pursue both of these things. “Take (The School of) Aerospace and autonomous vehicles, for example,” says Dr. Tan. “Those researchers are engineers, who are likely to be thinking about technical problems: How can we make the machine fly further for longer? How can we make it smaller? But there may be space for our expertise to be helpful to their work. We at the business school could be looking at issues such as, if you want to commercialize this technology, how do you construct a business plan? We may also be helpful in the discussion about the public regulation of such technologies, and so forth.” As the State of North Dakota’s first AACSB International accredited business college, the Nistler College of Business & Public Administration will continually
a College receiving AACSB accreditation, it attracts and retains the best and brightest faculty, as well as improves the reputation of our disciplines which feeds into the quality and reputation of our programs. “Research reputation is the only free-market valuation of professional quality available,” says Dr. Tan. “Yes, I might be academically qualified, I have my PhD and went to a reputable school, but that could be years ago. How do you know that the current state of my knowledge is cutting edge? Can you really trust me to properly train your kids in the latest methods and applications? Having an up-todate research portfolio is essential in demonstrating that a professor is a current expert in his or her discipline, and that’s what qualifies him or her to teach your children.” Dr. Tan and Dr. Jensen envision connecting the Institute to the Nistler NCoBPA’s educational mission as well by involving students in projects.
prioritize research and expand the reach further with the
“Students would be working directly with faculty members
implementation of the Institute.
on research where it’s not necessarily part of their degree program, it’s a deep learning experience and therefore a high impact practice,” says Dr. Jensen.
40 University of North Dakota | Nistler College of Business & Public Administration
in terms of looking for multi-disciplinary collaborations
Dr. Tan pointed out that not only does research feed into
University of North Dakota | Nistler College of Business & Public Administration
41 “You’re helping the process of fulfilling an actual grant,
will make us the envy of other schools. We can show our
an actual contract,” says Dr. Tan. “This wouldn’t just be
value proposition to both the University and the State,
a homework assignment you’re doing in class; your work
says Dr. Tan.
will contribute to an issue of immediate importance. I think that’s how students get inspired by what they learn and that is the true benefit from this new iniative (the Institute).
Dr. Jensen said the Institute plans to unveil its website in the summer of 2020. Through this, faculty will be publishing white papers, policy white papers, applied
Dr. Tan and Dr. Jensen are confident that the Institute will
studies and more. They will also be pushing these
really set the Nistler CoBPA apart from other
initiatives out via social media.
business colleges.
Supporting research
“Dean Amy Henley recognized the Institute as a great way
With the support of the Nistlers, Dean Henley, the State
to capitalize on our distinctiveness,” says Dr. Jensen. “Our
of North Dakota, current students and alumni, the Nistler
distinctiveness is business and public administration. We
CoBPA will continue to look and move forward.
don’t do a lot to capitalize on the connection between those two things; this institute will be a very visible way
Dr. Tan tips his hat to alumni like Paul Korus. Korus served
that we’re doing that. That’s what’s really exciting to me.”
on the UND CoBPA Advisory Council for nine years and has been what Tan describes as a, “prime example of an
“What we have in relation to our competitors is this very
alumnus who really understands and supports research.”
unique structure. What we want to do with initiatives like this Institute, is really build out our strengths. To say
“Paul understands that in North Dakota, you need to
as a business school, we are not just good at research
maintain your intellectual connection to the discipline –
in business disciplines; we’re certainly focused on that.
you might be geographically isolated, but you can’t let that
But we are going to be impactful in other areas – in
translate into intellectual isolation.”
externally funded research, in research that will have a demonstratable impact on our community and State – that
Which is why research will continue to be a priority now, and as the Nistler CoBPA looks and moves forward.
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