UND Chemistry Homecoming Events 2026
Join us for our Homecoming Lecture!
Dr. Felix N. Ngassa ‘02
Assistant Vice President for
International Enrollment & Academic Partnerships
Professor of Chemistry
Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI
Presents:
“From UND to Academic Leadership: A 24-Year Journey in Higher Education”
Friday, Oct. 2, at 4 p.m.
Abbott Hall Room 101
Bio: Dr. Felix N. Ngassa is the inaugural Assistant Vice President for International Enrollment & Academic Partnerships and a Professor of Chemistry in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Grand Valley State University. He earned his undergraduate degree in Chemistry (with Honors) at the University of Yaoundé 1 in Cameroon, West Africa, his doctorate in Organic and Physical Chemistry from the University of North Dakota, and his MBA from the Seidman College of Business at Grand Valley State University. Felix joined GVSU in August 2003.
Dr. Ngassa led both the University Academic Senate and its Executive Committee at Grand Valley State University for nine years — two years as Vice Chair and seven years as Chair — before serving as Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs in the Office of the Provost from 2024 to 2026. In May 2026, he was appointed the university’s inaugural Assistant Vice President for International Enrollment & Academic Partnerships, serving as the operational bridge between the Division of Enrollment Development & College Futures and Academic Affairs. He completed the prestigious American Council on Education (ACE) Fellowship during the 2023-2024 academic year and the 2025-2026 NAFSA Executive Internationalization Leadership e-Institute, and in June 2026 he completed the Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Institute for Management and Leadership in Education. Dr. Ngassa’s leadership qualities and attributes include significant experience with faculty governance and a proven ability to lead within a system of shared governance. He embraces a leadership style that fosters collaboration, respect, and team building. Dr. Ngassa’s current portfolio encompasses international enrollment strategy, academic partnerships and transfer pathways, international student retention and success, faculty and academic engagement, and assessment, data, and compliance.
Dr. Ngassa’s expertise lies in the field of synthetic organic chemistry and computational physical chemistry. His research in these areas has contributed significantly to the academic community, resulting in numerous peer-reviewed publications. He has won several teaching and research awards, including the following: Professor of the Year; the Pan-Hellenic Association Excellence in Teaching; the GVSU Alumni Association Outstanding Educator Award; the GVSU Center for Scholarly and Creative Excellence (CSCE) Outstanding Undergraduate Mentoring Award; the GVSU CLAS Annual Faculty Service Award; and the Glenn A. Niemeyer Award for faculty excellence.
Abstract: When I defended my Ph.D. dissertation in Chemistry at the University of North Dakota in 2002, I could not have imagined the diverse and rewarding journey that lay ahead. The rigorous training, collaborative research environment, and mentorship I received at UND provided the foundation for a career that has evolved from bench scientist to department faculty member to university-level academic leader. My presentation will capture the key milestones, achievements, and lessons learned over the past 24 years.
There will be a Reception from 3-4 PM in Abbott Hall 232 prior to the lecture. We invite all of our alumni, donors, guest speaker, scholarship award winners, Chemistry students, faculty, and staff to join us!
Other Events of the week include:
We look forward to celebrating our scholarship award winners with a banquet and awards presentation on Friday evening.
For more exciting Homecoming 2026 events, visit the Alumni Association Homecoming Page
