Staff Members

Allyson Peterson

NDSU Foundation Team Member since 2011

As CFO, Allyson focuses on the long-term protection and investment of NDSU Foundation assets and fulfilling fiduciary responsibilities to donors. She leads the Finance and Operations teams at the Foundation including, accounting, information services, compliance, and human resources. Allyson is responsible for monitoring and directing all financial and operational aspects of the NDSU Foundation.

Allyson Peterson Read More »

NDSU Foundation Team Member since 2011

As CFO, Allyson focuses on the long-term protection and investment of NDSU Foundation assets and fulfilling fiduciary responsibilities to donors. She leads the Finance and Operations teams at the Foundation including, accounting, information services, compliance, and human resources. Allyson is responsible for monitoring and directing all financial and operational aspects of the NDSU Foundation.

Lisa Otterson

NDSU Foundation Team Member since 2019

In her role as senior managing director of development, Lisa builds enduring relationships that maximize advocacy and philanthropy for NDSU and supports development staff in their efforts.

Lisa Otterson Read More »

NDSU Foundation Team Member since 2019

In her role as senior managing director of development, Lisa builds enduring relationships that maximize advocacy and philanthropy for NDSU and supports development staff in their efforts.

Benita Olson

NDSU Foundation Team Member since 2013

As a financial coordinator, Benita processes and deposits checks and processes credit card gifts. She also opens and distributes the office mail and orders supplies.

Benita is an avid reader and always has a book in progress. She enjoys playing games with her granddaughters who live in Bemidji.

Benita Olson Read More »

NDSU Foundation Team Member since 2013

As a financial coordinator, Benita processes and deposits checks and processes credit card gifts. She also opens and distributes the office mail and orders supplies.

Benita is an avid reader and always has a book in progress. She enjoys playing games with her granddaughters who live in Bemidji.

Ty Olschlager

NDSU Foundation Team Member since 2017

Ty, a director of development in the College of Health and Human Sciences, works with alumni and friends to align their passion for NDSU with the University’s needs in order to help them make the largest possible impact.

Ty Olschlager Read More »

NDSU Foundation Team Member since 2017

Ty, a director of development in the College of Health and Human Sciences, works with alumni and friends to align their passion for NDSU with the University’s needs in order to help them make the largest possible impact.

Megan Myrdal

NDSU Foundation Team Member since 2019

Megan joined the NDSU Foundation as a director of development to support the vital work of the College of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Natural Resources. Coming from a farming family, she says she has seen the value of high-quality agriculture education, research, Extension, and 4-H and wants to support and grow those opportunities at NDSU and make them more accessible to all.

Megan Myrdal Read More »

NDSU Foundation Team Member since 2019

Megan joined the NDSU Foundation as a director of development to support the vital work of the College of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Natural Resources. Coming from a farming family, she says she has seen the value of high-quality agriculture education, research, Extension, and 4-H and wants to support and grow those opportunities at NDSU and make them more accessible to all.

Jennifer St John

NDSU Foundation Team Member since 1997

As the senior prospect manager, Jennifer works directly with directors of development, development managers, and the vice president of development at the NDSU Foundation. Together, they manage and work through major gift portfolios. With more than 20 years of experience at the Foundation, Jen has also worked in information services and served as interim director of the Harry D. McGovern Alumni Center.

Jennifer St John Read More »

NDSU Foundation Team Member since 1997

As the senior prospect manager, Jennifer works directly with directors of development, development managers, and the vice president of development at the NDSU Foundation. Together, they manage and work through major gift portfolios. With more than 20 years of experience at the Foundation, Jen has also worked in information services and served as interim director of the Harry D. McGovern Alumni Center.

Nancy Holm

NDSU Foundation Team Member since 2006

Nancy, a senior gift processing coordinator, processes all gifts that come into the Foundation.

Her favorite place to be is at home with her four very opinionated dogs, Bella, Ziggy, Lacie, and Jasmine. She loves spending time with her family, especially her nieces, nephews, and great nephews.

Nancy Holm Read More »

NDSU Foundation Team Member since 2006

Nancy, a senior gift processing coordinator, processes all gifts that come into the Foundation.

Her favorite place to be is at home with her four very opinionated dogs, Bella, Ziggy, Lacie, and Jasmine. She loves spending time with her family, especially her nieces, nephews, and great nephews.

Lana Hillius

NDSU Foundation Team Member since 2007

In her role as a database and reporting specialist, Lana manages and updates the Foundation database and generates requested listings for office and campus staff.

Lana lives in the Minnesota lakes area with her husband. They have two grown sons. She enjoys gardening (mostly flowers, though she has tried tending a small, raised-bed vegetable garden as well), reading, and cross-stitching, which all come in handy as she is not very good at sitting still.

Lana Hillius Read More »

NDSU Foundation Team Member since 2007

In her role as a database and reporting specialist, Lana manages and updates the Foundation database and generates requested listings for office and campus staff.

Lana lives in the Minnesota lakes area with her husband. They have two grown sons. She enjoys gardening (mostly flowers, though she has tried tending a small, raised-bed vegetable garden as well), reading, and cross-stitching, which all come in handy as she is not very good at sitting still.

Shane Herman

NDSU Foundation Team Member since 2019

Shane, the associate director of technology services, provides information technology systems and support services for staff, oversees the NDSU Foundation web presence, manages platforms for email and event marketing efforts, and plans and implements strategic technology initiatives for staff.

Shane Herman Read More »

NDSU Foundation Team Member since 2019

Shane, the associate director of technology services, provides information technology systems and support services for staff, oversees the NDSU Foundation web presence, manages platforms for email and event marketing efforts, and plans and implements strategic technology initiatives for staff.

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.