NE North Dakota News

A recent event at the University of North Dakota (UND) highlighted how various campus leaders are aligning their work with the university's strategic plan, UND LEADS. The plan was introduced by President Andy Armacost in 2022 to encourage colleges and divisions to develop initiatives that align with UND’s vision.

The event, titled "Celebrating UND LEADS: An Update on the Strategic Plan," took place at the Memorial Union. It featured a panel discussion moderated by Ryan Zerr, professor of Mathematics and associate vice president for Strategy & Implementation. Zerr noted, “We have accomplished much that has advanced UND LEADS,” as he introduced the panelists.

The panelists included Zeineb Yousif from the Chester Fritz Library; Cassie Gerhardt from Student Affairs; Beth Valentine from the Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX; Casia Steinhaus, an undergraduate research assistant; and Nathaniel Johnson, assistant professor of Nutrition and Dietetics. They each discussed their contributions towards realizing the core values of LEADS: Learning, Equity, Affinity, Discovery, and Service.

Yousif emphasized how the Scholarly Commons helps students contribute to human knowledge under the Learning core value. “When we make their work publicly available, we send the message to students that their work is that valuable,” she stated.

Gerhardt highlighted how the Angel Fund supports students facing financial crises under Equity. She shared that over $625,000 has been awarded to 891 students in need.

Valentine spoke about Affinity and efforts to ensure digital accessibility at UND. She stressed that everyone involved in creating content plays a role in fostering a sense of belonging through accessible digital spaces.

Steinhaus addressed Discovery by emphasizing both large-scale research excellence and personal discovery during internships. These experiences help students determine their career paths through practical exposure.

Johnson focused on Service by discussing his experience publishing articles in The Conversation to share academic insights with a broader audience. He explained that such platforms help bridge academic research with public understanding.

Each speaker illustrated how their roles support UND's strategic goals through practical applications within these core values.