5 Colleges, 3 Questions

Wondering where NDSU is headed? Curious about what’s happening in your favorite College? Five campus leaders cast their transformative vision for the future and share how NDSU alumni, friends, and industry partners can get involved in the University’s continued success.

Edited by Micaela Gerhardt | Photos by Kensie Wallner | April 16, 2024

Learn how to get involved.

Click a photo below to jump to a specific College.

College of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Natural Resources (CAFSNR)

College of Arts and Sciences (CAS)

College of Business (CoB)

College of Engineering (CoE)

College of Health and Human Sciences (CHHS)

Greg Lardy, Joe and Norma Peltier Vice President for Agriculture
Kayla Ehlis ’24, crop and weed sciences

What is your College’s greatest strength and where do you see exciting opportunities for growth as you look toward the future?

The CAFSNR has a strong history of serving stakeholder needs. We will continue to evolve our teaching, research, and Extension programs to meet the changing needs of the industries we serve. The agricultural industry in the state is increasingly reliant on data science, precision agriculture, and technology in general. Our core programs need to reflect this, and we need to be leaders in that evolution!

What is a hidden gem within your College — something alumni and friends might not know about?

NDSU Extension has a presence in all 53 counties in North Dakota. We also have seven Research Extension Centers located strategically throughout the state. Because of these links, we have a built-in channel to better understand the needs of the state, especially in rural communities. We also have strong linkages to the indigenous people of North Dakota. We hope to continue to build on that presence to better serve those communities going forward.

How can alumni, friends, and industry partners get involved with your College?

There are a variety of board service opportunities throughout our campus-based departments, Research Extension Centers, and NDSU Extension. In addition, our students are seeking mentors (formal and informal), and most of our majors have internship options or requirements.

Kimberly Wallin, Dean
Sigurd Saude ’25, physics and mathematics

What is your College’s greatest strength and where do you see exciting opportunities for growth as you look toward the future?

Our strength is our diversity of disciplines, which offer faculty wonderful opportunities to collaborate on teaching and research. Our research portfolio is the largest on campus in terms of subject matter and grants funded. We will build upon our successes by identifying previous barriers to collaboration and begin fresh conversations on old and new ideas.

What is a hidden gem within your College — something alumni and friends might not know about?

The CAS is a leader in discipline-based education research. Faculty who are experts in a certain discipline research the best methods to improve student learning outcomes, then educate based on the results. When curriculum is based on evidence, it increases student success rates, retention, and research activity across the University. Our students acquire skills that are transferable to many professions.

How can alumni, friends, and industry partners get involved with your College?

Alumni who are interested in serving on the College’s advisory board can apply at any time — we typically interview in the fall and bring on new members in the spring. Our students are also highly involved in research days, theater productions, and musical events that alumni and friends are encouraged to attend.

Kathryn Birkeland, Ronald G. and Kaye S. Olson Dean of Business
Madalyn Grate ’25, business management

What is your College’s greatest strength and where do you see exciting opportunities for growth as you look toward the future?

As an accredited business college in a fast-growing metro area, we have an opportunity and obligation to contribute to workforce development. Two areas primed for enrollment growth include the new Bachelor of Science in supply chain management and the online expansion of our Master of Business Administration program, which allows us to offer the program to professionals in North Dakota, Minnesota, and across the country.

What is a hidden gem within your College — something alumni and friends might not know about?

The Business Connections mentoring program is one of the highlights of the CoB. Students in all majors and all years can participate. Mentorship meetings have included virtual sessions, one-on-one coaching, book discussions, team meetings at the mentor’s office, board meetings, and community events. Both students and mentors rave about the experience.

How can alumni, friends, and industry partners get involved with your College?

Alumni and industry professionals can meet CoB students at recruiting fairs and hire them as interns. We also invite alumni to present to classes and student groups, participate on an advisory board, and elevate the CoB brand by sharing their experience. Alumni can also return for their graduate degree or send their colleagues!

Alan Kallmeyer, Interim Dean
Paige Sanders ’26, environmental engineering and a minor in biological sciences

What is your College’s greatest strength and where do you see exciting opportunities for growth as you look toward the future?

I hear from companies every day about their critical workforce needs. As the largest contributor to the engineering and computer science workforce in North Dakota, the CoE knows we have a responsibility to do our part. To maximize our impact, the upcoming Richard Offerdahl ’65 Engineering Complex will provide the space and resources needed to increase enrollment in high-demand areas and enhance the educational experience.

What is a hidden gem within your College — something alumni and friends might not know about?

The Engineering Leadership Learning Community is a group of first-year engineering students who live in Sevrinson Hall, where they can interact closely with other students who are driven to succeed and interested in professional development. All members participate in a one-credit Engineering Leadership Seminar where they meet alumni, from recent graduates to top executives at companies including Doosan Bobcat and Mortenson.

How can alumni, friends, and industry partners get involved with your College?

The CoE hosts numerous K-12 outreach events throughout the year. We often need volunteers to help facilitate events, judge competitions, and recruit students. Most events are local, but there are also options for people living in the region who are willing to visit their local high school and promote NDSU engineering.

Ron Werner-Wilson, Interim Dean
Alyssa Hodges ’26, pharmacy

What is your College’s greatest strength and where do you see exciting opportunities for growth as you look toward the future?

The CHHS does critical work serving the citizens of North Dakota and conducts important research that has implications for well-being. The merging of health with human sciences creates a synergy to understand the impact of human development on health care and health issues on individual growth and family relationships.

What is a hidden gem within your College — something alumni and friends might not know about?

The human development and family science (HDFS) department has been a pioneer in establishing collaborative programs in the North Dakota University System. Students can earn a degree in HDFS from NDSU while earning a degree in elementary education from Valley City State University or a degree in social work from Minot State University. Understanding relationships and family dynamics will better prepare NDSU students to become teachers and social workers.

How can alumni, friends, and industry partners get involved with your College?

We invite alumni and friends to reach out to us and let us know how students can gain internship experience. We don’t always know what opportunities are out there, and the internship experience is invaluable. Additionally, almost every department within the College has an alumni advisory group.

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