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
Founders Day is held the third Thursday in February and commemorates 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
2022 Founders Day Event
The 2022 UND Founders Day Celebration was held in the Memorial Union Ballroom on Thursday, February 17.
2022 Faculty and Departmental Awards
McDermott Faculty Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching
RaeAnn Anderson, Assistant Professor, Psychology
Lydia & Arthur Saiki Award for Individual Excellence in Teaching
Rick Ferraro, Chester Fritz Distinguished Professor, Psychology
McDermott Faculty Award for Excellence in Graduate or Professional Teaching
Jane Loscheider, Assistant Professor, Sociology
McDermott Faculty Award for Excellence in Research and/or Creative Activity
Cynthia Prescott, Professor, History
Feng (Frank) Xiao, Associate Professor, Civil Engineering
B.C. Gamble Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching, Research or Creative Activity, and Service
Surojit Gupta, Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering
UND Award for Departmental Excellence in Teaching
Department of Chemistry
Lydia & Arthur Saiki Faculty Award for Excellence in Service
Elizabeth Legerski, Associate Professor, Sociology
VPAA Award for Excellence in Assessment
Amber Johnson, Clinical Assistant Professor, Nurse Anesthesia Assistant Program Director, Nursing
UND Award for Departmental Excellence in Service
Department of Family and Community Medicine
Karleen Home Rosaaen Award for Excellence in Academic Advising
Leslie Martin, Associate Professor, Aviation
VPAA Award for Outstanding Professional Academic Advising
- Brittany Borgen, Academic Advisor, Psychology, College of Arts & Sciences
- Dan Cooley, Academic Core Advisor, College of Engineering & Mines
- Joan Jorde, Assistant Director/Advisor, TRIO Programs
- Jake Vivier, Academic Core Advisor, Nistler College of Business & Public Administration
- Allison Waswick, Assistant Professor, Medical Laboratory Science
- Kelsey Wattenhofer, Student Athlete Support Services Coordinator, Athletics
UND Award for Departmental Excellence in Research
Department of Education, Health & Behavioral Studies
UND Award for Interdisciplinary Collaboration in Research and Creative Activity
ROBOTS Project
- Jon Allen, Director of Simulation Center, UND Simulation Center
- Craig Burns, Assistant Professor, Social Work
- Darlene Hanson, Clinical Professor, Clinical Resources & Simulation Center Director, Nursing
- Sclinda (Cindy) Janssen, Associate Professor, Occupational Therapy
- Eric Johnson, Professor, Family & Community Medicine
- David Relling, Associate Dean for Health Sciences, Dean's Office Med
- Richard Van Eck, Professor, Population Health
UND Award for Excellence in Online Course Development & Innovative Teaching Strategies
- Anne Bodensteiner, Assistant Professor and Graduate Program Director, Nutrition and Dietetics
- Hallie Chlemo, Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering
- Nikola (Nick) Datzov, Assistant Professor, Law
- Cerynn Desjarlais, Clinical Assistant Professor, Occupational Therapy
- Shaina Mattingly, Teaching Assistant Professor, Chemistry
- Paul Snyder, Director of UAS Program, Aviation
- Robert Warren, Instructor, Marketing