NDSU Foundation hosts inaugural Emerging Alumni Program for alumni of any institution

Fargo, N.D. — On Tuesday, March 26, 2024, the NDSU Foundation hosted the inaugural Emerging Alumni Program — the first of three professional development events to be held in 2024, all following the theme “Better Together.” The program was developed for emerging alumni from any institution to gather for inspiring and educational speakers and networking opportunities with peers.   

The NDSU Foundation defines emerging alumni as those who are newly graduated and looking for opportunities; ready to network with local employers and peers; new to their industry; ready for a change in their career journey; open to professional development opportunities; and/or looking for potential employees. 

“One of my favorite things about this place and the things that we do here is … we get to make sure that the tuition dollars you paid — in whatever year — continue to add value to your life,” Bethany Hardwig, vice president of alumni and donor connections at the NDSU Foundation, said in her opening statement at the event. 

“Whether that is Watch Sites, continued education, professional development, community, connection or someone to sit with at a game or an event, we care a whole lot about your sense of belonging now just as much as NDSU did when you were in the classroom — as much as Concordia or Geneva College or any college did, wherever you went to school.” 

Jill Nelson, Ph.D., Certified Daring Way™ Facilitator, Certified Dare to Lead™ Facilitator, and NDSU associate dean for professional development and leadership in the College of Health and Human Sciences, was the inaugural speaker. Her presentation, “Emerging Alumni: A Daring Approach to Leadership,” detailed the four skill sets of courage-building and how they can be incorporated into the practice of daring leadership. 

The next Emerging Alumni Program event on July 25, 2024, is a networking social at The Four & Four in Downtown Fargo following the TEDxFargo conference. The final 2024 event will be held on Oct. 29, 2024, at NDSU’s Barry Hall — speaker Bree Langemo will present “Leading with an Entrepreneurial Mindset.” All Emerging Alumni Program events are free to attend. 

Visit NDSUFoundation.com/emerging-alumni for event details. 

ABOUT NDSU FOUNDATION

The NDSU Foundation builds enduring relationships that maximize advocacy and philanthropy to support North Dakota State University.

-###- 

CONTACT
Bethany Hardwig 
Vice President of Alumni and Donor Connections 
NDSU Foundation 
412-477-9202
bethany.hardwig@ndsufoundation.com 

Margaret and her husband, Hugh Veit ’79, established the Eleanor S. Fitzgerald Memorial Graduate Student Scholarship to support NDSU students earning advanced degrees in the Department of Health, Nutrition, and Exercise Sciences or the Department of Human Development and Family Science.

Core areas of home economics remain part of current NDSU degree programs such as accounting; apparel, retail merchandising, and design; education; family and consumer science; financial planning; human development and family science; interior design; and nutrition science.

Home economics programs opened doors, particularly for women, to earn college degrees and pursue careers in education, Extension, state and federal government, business and industry, health care, and more. NDAC listed domestic economy as one of its courses in its founding year, 1890.

Established by Dr. Teresa Conner, dean of the NDSU College of Health and Human Sciences, and co-chaired by Dr. Margaret Fitzgerald ’83 and Col. Esther Meyers ’75, the Wisdom Keepers provide support and share their knowledge and expertise with students, faculty, staff, and leadership in the College.

The home management house at NDAC was the first facility built on a college campus specifically for home management practice. In 1954, it was named in honor of Alba Bales, the first female academic dean at NDAC.