Breeann Flesch named director of Essential Studies
Breeann Flesch has been appointed to the position of director of Essential Studies at UND.
Flesch currently serves as a professor and interim dean of Graduate Studies and Research at Western Oregon University. Her start date at UND as the Essential Studies director will be Feb. 18, 2025. The appointment was made by Eric Link, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs.
The position will report to Karyn Plumm, UND’s vice provost of Undergraduate Studies and Student Success.
“I am excited to welcome Dr. Flesch to UND to serve as our next ES director,” Plumm said. “Her experience in program review and evaluation, commitment to liberal arts learning, awareness of student struggles within general education, and strong experience in teaching and pedagogy will lend strength to her leadership of the ES Program. I look forward to the program having the attention and consideration needed from a dedicated director so that it will continue to be a strong undergraduate general education program.”
Flesch expressed her enthusiasm to assume the leadership role.
“I’m thrilled to take on the Director position and am eager to channel my enthusiasm for Essential Studies into meaningful collaborations with faculty and staff. I look forward to working across campus to enhance the quality of undergraduate education at UND and create enriching experiences for our students.”
As director, Flesch will provide vision and leadership for the Essential Studies program and advocate for excellence in general education for all undergraduate students at UND. She will be responsible for the coordination of the program which includes collaborating with academic units in the development and ongoing validation of a broad array of Essential Studies courses; working closely with faculty, staff, and advisors to inspire innovative teaching and campus-wide understanding of the program; communicating the value of the liberal arts; and supporting student success in interactions with individual students and the larger campus.
Additionally, Flesch will work collaboratively to develop strategic initiatives and promote innovation across the undergraduate Essential Studies curriculum while ensuring its academic quality and integrity.
About Breeann Flesch
Breeann Flesch is currently professor and interim dean of Graduate Studies and Research at Western Oregon University. Flesch earned an M.Ed. in Interdisciplinary Studies (Computer Science and Math Education) from Montana State University Billings, and her master’s and Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from the University of Colorado Denver. She has served Western Oregon University as co-chair of the General Education Task Force, Mathematics Department Head, and Computer Science Division Chair. Much of Flesch’s externally funded work has focused on the recruitment and retention of underrepresented women and minorities in STEM.
Flesch is currently co-PI of a multi-institution NSF EPIIC (Enabling Partnerships to Increase Innovation Capacity) grant, working to enhance the applied research capabilities of primarily undergraduate institutions, and recently presented on the technological, economic, and social impacts of artificial intelligence to Congress, in September.
Throughout her career, Flesch has been dedicated to fostering student, faculty, program, and institutional success across disciplines through her work as General Education Committee Chair, her support and advocacy for undergraduate research as interim dean, and her wide-ranging work at WOU and the Monmouth community to promote a diverse, welcoming, inclusive environment for all. Flesch is a passionate advocate for providing access to high quality undergraduate education, with the success, satisfaction and timely graduation of students as her highest priority. She is eager to bring that wealth of experience in developing initiatives in support of, as well as in removing barriers to, student success, to the University of North Dakota.
