Emily Cherry Oliver, Pablo de León named UND’s 2026 Chester Fritz Distinguished Professors
Emily Cherry Oliver, professor and chair of Theatre Arts, and Pablo de León, professor and chair of Space Studies, have been named the University of North Dakota’s 2026 Chester Fritz Distinguished Professors — UND’s highest honor for faculty.
The Chester Fritz Distinguished Professorship recognizes faculty who excel in teaching, research and service. Honorees are selected through a provost-convened panel that reviews nominations and letters from deans, peers and former students.
Cherry Oliver builds programs — and community — through theatre at UND
Provost Eric Link — joined by Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs Randi Tanglen, Theatre Arts colleagues and fellow Chester Fritz Distinguished Professors — surprised Cherry Oliver in a Starcher Hall classroom as she taught students about playwrights Bertolt Brecht and Augusto Boal.
“It really is an honor to be able to grant this award to you in recognition of all the great teaching, research creativity and your work in productions across the state and nationally,” Link said to a visibly surprised Cherry Oliver. “You’re an outstanding faculty member, and we are so pleased to have you at UND.”
Letters supporting Cherry Oliver’s nomination echo Link’s praise and describe a faculty member who pairs artistry with an ability to create opportunities for students, colleagues and audiences.
“What strikes me most about Emily is her ability to build programs, people and connections,” one nominator wrote. “As she aptly says, ‘It’s easy to tear something down, but difficult to build something new.’ Putting those words into action, she has established programs that last, collaborations that inspire, and opportunities that change students’ lives.”
Supporters also pointed to the long-term impact of her programs such as UND’s Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre degree — which has grown to become the department’s largest program — and the AI and Human Innovation Initiative.
Following the announcement, Cherry Oliver said she was grateful for the recognition — and for the people who make UND feel like home.
“It is a joy to work at a place like this and with students like these,” she said. “I’m just very grateful and feel very honored.”
Beyond UND, Cherry Oliver serves as co-chair of the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF) Region 5, one of the nation’s most influential collegiate theatre networks. Under her stewardship, “Region 5 has become the best attended, most financially flush region in the country,” one nominator wrote.
She also directs professionally, including at the Black Hills Playhouse in South Dakota, where her production of “Mamma Mia!” became the highest-grossing in the company’s history.
De León brings UND to the forefront of human spaceflight
De León learned of the honor via Zoom while attending a conference in Orlando, with Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs Randi Tanglen, Provost Eric Link and UND President Andrew Armacost on the call.
“One of the most joyful things I can do as the president of UND is to recognize the accomplishments of our faculty members and to also bestow upon them certain honors that are due to them,” Armacost said.
Regarding the honor, one recommender wrote that de León’s record “exemplifies the ideals envisioned by Chester Fritz.” Moreover, noted the recommender, de León’s “internationally recognized contributions to human spaceflight engineering, dedication to student mentorship and leadership in expanding UND’s global academic presence make him an exceptional candidate for this distinction.”
During his time at UND, de León has founded the Human Spaceflight Laboratory and developed the North Dakota Experimental (NDX) series of spacesuit prototypes. He also developed the Integrated Lunar/Mars Analog Habitat (ILMAH), where participants simulate living and working on the Moon or Mars. Approximately 65% of thesis-track Space Studies students conduct research connected to the habitat.
Additionally, another nominator highlighted how de León’s work and research have made a difference beyond the University, citing the integration of his work in NASA-funded projects.
“His work demonstrates a rare combination of visionary design, operational realism and commitment to rigorous testing and documentation,” the nominator wrote. “Few faculty members have so effectively translated university-based research into outcomes recognized across the aerospace community.”
On the call, de León expressed gratitude for the honor — and for the University’s support — surrounded by colleagues in the conference room in Orlando.
“I can’t think of a bigger honor,” he said. “Coming from a farm outside Buenos Aires in Argentina, and always dreaming of working for human spaceflight, UND gave me that opportunity.”
He continued: “It has been an honor for me to work at UND for 22 years trying to bring good things to the university and have the UND recognized as a center for human space flight, and I hope to be able to contribute for many more years to come and bring new and good, interesting things to UND.”
Both Cherry Oliver and de León will be formally recognized at the UND Founders Day awards ceremony at the UND Memorial Ballroom on Feb. 19.
