The University of North Dakota (UND) has celebrated the reopening of a student lounge in its Education Building, now named the Dr. Kathleen W. Gershman Student Lounge. The event took place on October 30 and marked the completion of renovations funded by donations from retired professor Kathy Gershman and her husband, Hal Gershman.
Kathy Gershman, who served as a professor and chair of UND’s Department of Educational Foundations & Research for 38 years, shared her inspiration for supporting the project. “We really need some fresh questions. That’s where your imagination will be put to its most noble use,” she said during the reception.
CEHD Dean Shelbie Witte highlighted the significance of the new space: “The Kathleen Gershman Student Lounge isn’t just a renovated space — it’s a crossroads for ideas and a home for conversation. Philanthropy like the Gershmans’ reminds us that investing in the imagination and curiosity of students is a powerful way to truly pay it forward.”
Patricia Lopez, recruitment and retention specialist with CEHD, noted that Gershman’s longstanding focus has always been on students, making this dedicated space particularly meaningful.
Gershman recounted how she would see students gathered on stairs each day, often where wet boots had left marks. She wanted them to have a safe and comfortable place to meet, discuss ideas, and deepen their learning.
The renovated lounge features comfortable seating, tables, and a fireplace. It is already becoming popular among students as a gathering spot.
Faith Vasicek, a senior in Composite Social Studies Education who spoke at the event, said that members of the College of Education & Human Development Student Council plan to hold meetings in the lounge. She thanked both Kathy and Hal Gershman for creating “a community space where students can build bridges.”
Komal Mangle, a doctoral student in Kinesiology, described the lounge as “more than just a space, but a place where ideas can grow and thrive.”
