CEHD Connects with Acclaimed Alumni to Form New Board
Teachers, educational researchers, and two retired professors. A principal and an assistant superintendent. A director and a COO in STEM. A nurse. A poet. A former SPED and PE instructor. A Fulbright scholar and a former North Dakota state senator. What do these accomplished individuals have in common? They are all esteemed alumni who are now coming together for a common purpose.
For several months, the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) at UND has been working towards putting together a team of motivated and talented alumni members with the purpose of strengthening connections with students, alumni, and the UND community through collaboration and engagement. Last month, a giant step was taken towards realizing that goal with the formation of CEHD’s inaugural College Alumni Advisory Board (CAAB).
Per its website, CAAB’s purpose and mission is to “foster meaningful engagement between alumni and the College, enhance alumni experiences, and support the institution’s growth. CEHD Dean Shelbie Witte spoke about the board’s potential to effect real and lasting change for students and more.
“I’m excited for the inaugural CEHD College Alumni Advisory Board to bring alumni together in a powerful way—building real connections, sparking mentorships, and creating valuable networking opportunities for both graduates and current students in all of our programs.” Witte continued, “By working as a team, we can help the college thrive, amplify the good work happening among faculty, students, and staff, and make a lasting impact on UND and North Dakota.”
CAAB’s next meeting is in April, but the team is already hard at work cementing its structure and bylaws. Board members have elected Monte Gaukler, a retired teacher, UND professor, and GFPS board member, as its first chairperson. Gaukler is slated to serve a two-year term as chair.
In addition to Gaukler, the board is comprised of a dozen other CEHD alumni as well as four ex officio members from CEHD and the UND Alumni Association & Foundation. A full list of board members can be found on CAAB’s website.
Going forward, the board will serve in an advisory role to CEHD leadership, providing recommendations and guidance on a host of topics, including workforce needs, funding opportunities, strategic plan alignment and implementation, and more. In addition, they will be instrumental in establishing selection criteria for the Torchbearer Awards, CEHD’s own Alumni Awards, which will launch later in 2025.
Questions about the CEHD College Alumni Advisory Board can be directed to Kenya Zarns, CEHD Director of Communications, Outreach and Recruitment.
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