UND Founders Day
Founders Day is the annual celebration of our history and a time to honor members of our campus community.
It marks the anniversary of the signing of the Dakota Territory legislation, establishing the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. It is the official birthday of UND! The first celebration of Founders Day was held in 1904.
About the Founders Day Celebration
Founds Day is held the third Thursday in February — commemorating the founding of the University in 1883.
Those traditionally honored at an event include:
- Retirees with 15 or more continuous, full-time, benefited years of service
- Employees with 25 years of service
- Outstanding faculty, departments, advisors, and researchers
2021 Founders Day Event
The 2021 UND Founders Day Celebration was held virtually on Thursday, February 25.
2021 Founders Day Program
2021 Faculty and Departmental Awards
McDermott Faculty Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching
Christopher Felege, Teaching Assistant Professor, Biology
Lydia & Arthur Saiki Award for Individual Excellence in Teaching
Wayne Barkhouse, Professor, Physics & Astrophysics
McDermott Faculty Award for Excellence in Graduate or Professional Teaching
Denitsa Mavrova Heinrich, Rodney & Betty Webb Associate Professor of Law; Director, Lawyering Skills & Trial Advocacy Programs, School or Law
B.C. Gamble Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching, Research or Creative Activity, and Service
Frank Bowman, Associate Professor & Chair, Chemical Engineering
UND Award for Departmental Excellence in Teaching
Department of Theatre Arts
Lydia & Arthur Saiki Faculty Award for Excellence in Service
Dana Harsell, Associate Professor of Political Science and Public Administration, MPA Director, Political Science & Public Administration
UND Award for Departmental Excellence in Service
Department of Teaching, Leadership & Professional Practice
Karleen Home Rosaaen Award for Excellence in Academic Advising
Sally Pyle, Associate Professor, Biology
VPAA Award for Outstanding Professional Academic Advising
- Lindsay Archer, Academic Advisor, Dean's Office Aerospace
- Kayla Hotvedt, Lead Academic Advisor, College of Arts & Sciences, Student Academic Success & Career Engagement
- Judy Jahnke, Leade Academic Advisor, Office of Academic Advisement, Nistler College of Business & Public Administration
- Linnea Nelson, Academic Advisor, AVP Student Success
- Kaylee Scheer, Academic Core Advisor, AVP Student Success
UND Award for Departmental Excellence in Research
Department of Economics & Finance
McDermott Faculty Award for Excellence in Research and/or Creative Activity
Gautham Krishnamoorthy, Ann and Norman Hoffman Associate Professor of National Defense/Energetics, Chemical Engineering
UND Award for Interdisciplinary Collaboration in Research and Creative Activity
Behavioral Health Bridge Project
- Andrew J. McLean, Clinical Professor and Chair, Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, UND School of Medicine & Health Sciences
- Shawnda Schroeder, Associate Director of Research and Evaluation, Center for Rural Health; Research Associate Professor, Department of Population Health, UND School of Medicine & Health Sciences
- Thomasine Heitkamp, Chester Fritz Distinguished Professor, Nursing, College of Nursing & Professional Disciplines
- Stephen Wonderlich, Vice President for Research, Sanford Health Fargo
UND Award for Excellence in Online Course Development & Innovative Teaching Strategies
- Stacy Bjorgaard for Introduction to Engineering and Computer Applications in Engineering, Lecturer, College of Engineering & Mines
- Frank Bowman for Chemical Engineering Fundamentals, Associate Professor & Chair, Chemical Engineering
- Steven Finney for First Year Norwegian II, Lecturer, Languages
- Amanda Haage for Human Anatomy & Physiology I, Assistant Professor, Biomedical Sciences
- Douglas Munski for Geography of North America I, Professor, Geography
- John Shabb for Biochemistry, Associate Professor, Biomedical Sciences
- Lisa Vojacek for Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment, Part-time Instructional, Teaching & Leadership
- Deborah Worley for The College Student, Associate Professor, Education, Health & Behavior