Staff Members

Marisa Nygord

NDSU Foundation Team Member since 2021

As a director of development in the College of Engineering, Marisa helps NDSU alumni and friends make a meaningful impact on campus by securing financial support for student scholarships, faculty research, student-focused programs, and facilities.

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NDSU Foundation Team Member since 2021

As a director of development in the College of Engineering, Marisa helps NDSU alumni and friends make a meaningful impact on campus by securing financial support for student scholarships, faculty research, student-focused programs, and facilities.

Isaac Erickson

As an accountant at the Foundation, Isaac works closely with the general ledger accounting, investments, donor pledges, and scholarships. Isaac was born and raised in Fergus Falls, Minnesota.

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As an accountant at the Foundation, Isaac works closely with the general ledger accounting, investments, donor pledges, and scholarships. Isaac was born and raised in Fergus Falls, Minnesota.

Leah Ecklund

NDSU Foundation Team Member since 2021

As a senior graphic artist, Leah creates cohesive, curated, modern, and engaging graphic designs and digital illustrations for the NDSU Foundation. She brings her creative input and specialization to the table on a variety of projects, including event artwork and branding, website and email design, and magazine layout, among others.

Leah Ecklund Read More »

NDSU Foundation Team Member since 2021

As a senior graphic artist, Leah creates cohesive, curated, modern, and engaging graphic designs and digital illustrations for the NDSU Foundation. She brings her creative input and specialization to the table on a variety of projects, including event artwork and branding, website and email design, and magazine layout, among others.

Sharon Walters

NDSU Foundation Team Member since 2021

As director of human resources, Sharon and her team support current and future business needs through the development, engagement, motivation, and preservation of human capital. She provides leadership and sets organizational strategy within the areas of training and development, talent and performance management, compensation and benefits, employee relations, compliance and employment law, and safety and wellness.

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NDSU Foundation Team Member since 2021

As director of human resources, Sharon and her team support current and future business needs through the development, engagement, motivation, and preservation of human capital. She provides leadership and sets organizational strategy within the areas of training and development, talent and performance management, compensation and benefits, employee relations, compliance and employment law, and safety and wellness.

Jennifer Price

NDSU Foundation Team Member Since 2021

In her role as senior prospect research manager, Jennifer analyzes internal and external data to help identify friends and supporters of NDSU.

Jennifer currently lives in Fargo with her husband, Brian, and their dog, Sadie.

Jennifer Price Read More »

NDSU Foundation Team Member Since 2021

In her role as senior prospect research manager, Jennifer analyzes internal and external data to help identify friends and supporters of NDSU.

Jennifer currently lives in Fargo with her husband, Brian, and their dog, Sadie.

Stefanie Kelly

NDSU Foundation Team Member since 2014

Stefanie, a director of athletic development, helps lead philanthropy and Team Makers efforts in the Twin Cities metro area. Prior to this role, Stefanie served as a development professional for Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota, and Minnesota State University, Mankato, where she was also head coach for the women’s track and field team.

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NDSU Foundation Team Member since 2014

Stefanie, a director of athletic development, helps lead philanthropy and Team Makers efforts in the Twin Cities metro area. Prior to this role, Stefanie served as a development professional for Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota, and Minnesota State University, Mankato, where she was also head coach for the women’s track and field team.

Kandi Thompson

NDSU Foundation Team Member since 2016

Kandi, the Foundation’s donor compliance services coordinator, provides general support for the donor compliance services department, which includes writing donor agreements and providing fund maintenance, administration, reporting, and compliance.

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NDSU Foundation Team Member since 2016

Kandi, the Foundation’s donor compliance services coordinator, provides general support for the donor compliance services department, which includes writing donor agreements and providing fund maintenance, administration, reporting, and compliance.

Justin Swanson

NDSU Foundation Team Member since 2018

Justin is a North Dakotan born and raised as he grew up in a rural farming community in Benson County. He’s a lifelong learner with a passion for education and received his bachelors and master’s degrees from NDSU. He credits NDSU and his education here for many of his personal relationships and professional opportunities.

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NDSU Foundation Team Member since 2018

Justin is a North Dakotan born and raised as he grew up in a rural farming community in Benson County. He’s a lifelong learner with a passion for education and received his bachelors and master’s degrees from NDSU. He credits NDSU and his education here for many of his personal relationships and professional opportunities.

Randy Schmeling

NDSU Foundation Team Member since 2013

Randy, a senior director of development in the College of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Natural Resources, works with a team of dedicated professionals in the college and his colleagues at the Foundation to promote the goals and priorities of NDSU and engage constituents to help achieve those goals.

Randy Schmeling Read More »

NDSU Foundation Team Member since 2013

Randy, a senior director of development in the College of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Natural Resources, works with a team of dedicated professionals in the college and his colleagues at the Foundation to promote the goals and priorities of NDSU and engage constituents to help achieve those goals.

Jennifer Reinhold

NDSU Foundation Team Member since 1997

As a senior accountant, Jennifer works with scholarships, North Dakota State challenge grant funds, pledges tracking, recurring gifts, capital project reporting, financial donor reporting and helps maintain the financial database.

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NDSU Foundation Team Member since 1997

As a senior accountant, Jennifer works with scholarships, North Dakota State challenge grant funds, pledges tracking, recurring gifts, capital project reporting, financial donor reporting and helps maintain the financial database.

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.