Dr. Andrew Armacost, President | University of North Dakota
Dr. Andrew Armacost, President | University of North Dakota
President Andrew Armacost recently visited the Gustafson House, now serving as the University of North Dakota’s Forensic Science lab, to meet with Assistant Professor Lavinia Iancu. Iancu, who directs both the undergraduate and graduate programs in Forensic Science, also holds leadership roles in the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and the North Dakota Chapter of the Fulbright Association.
The Gustafson House, located along the English Coulee, has a long history at UND. Originally built as a fraternity house and later used for office space, it has been repurposed into a classroom and laboratory. The facility is used by Iancu and her students as a training ground for crime scene investigation. Students participate in hands-on activities such as crime scene photography, dusting for fingerprints, and evidence packaging while wearing hazmat suits.
Iancu discussed with Armacost how the Forensic Science program has expanded in recent years. She noted that the use of Gustafson House has enabled a high level of practical education and job readiness for students in the Department of Criminal Justice.
"The program is in the final stages of earning accreditation from the Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission, referred to as FEPAC, which would position UND as the only university in the upper Midwest — and one of only 20 nationwide — to hold such a designation for its forensic science degree programs," Iancu said.
The department has also added a graduate degree to its offerings.
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